Steve Wozniak to be 2013 Commencement Speaker

This past week, Steve Wozniak, most famous for co-founding Apple Inc. with the late Steve Jobs, was announced as UC Berkeley’s 2013 commencement speaker.  

Wozniak, popularly referred to as “Woz”, had dropped out of Cal in 1971, barely a year after enrolling, to pursue his passion for computer development.  On April 1,1976, Jobs and Wozniak formed Apple Computer, Inc., which was later shortened to the household name we know today.  That same year, Apple launched its first personal computer, the Apple I, which more closely resembled an old typewriter than the sleek, minimalistic products that Apple is famous for now:

After getting married, Wozniak returned to Berkeley and finally graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) in 1986, having studied under the pseudonym, “Rocky Raccoon Clark”.  

When asked in a 2005 interview why he did not use his real name, Wozniak replied, “When I went back to finish my degree, Apple was already well known. I was going to take computer classes and get A-minuses and B-pluses and I didn’t want people thinking, “Why didn’t Woz get all A-pluses?” 

Although he left his job at Apple in 1987, he has always been associated with the company because without him, Apple would arguably not be the titan that it is today.  Since leaving Apple, Wozniak founded several new companies, developing technology as varied as the first universally programmable remote control to wireless GPS capabilities.  In his spare time, he plays on a Segway Polo team, the Silicon Valley Aftershocks, and enjoys playing Tetris.   

A major pioneer and one of the most famous names to come out of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s, Wozniak has been a great source of pride for the university, not to mention a highly respected role model for countless engineers, programmers, inventors, and technology enthusiasts; accordingly, this speaker announcement was received with a great deal of admiration and anticipation.

Sources:

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/…

http://www.dailycal.org/2013/0…

http://articles.latimes.com/19…

Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F…

http://coe.berkeley.edu/forefr…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F…

Quote: http://coe.berkeley.edu/forefr…