These are among the defining characteristics of S&T’s 30 most dynamic young alumni.

All of our “30 Under 30” alumni profiled in this issue were born after the Empire struck back, Bill Murray declared war on gophers and the Blues Brothers went on a mission from God. Despite coming of age during a job-killing recession, two wars and the threat of terrorism, these S&T grads are steeped in digital technology, optimistic about their own economic futures and eager to solve society’s technological problems.

They have good reasons to be upbeat. If the following stories are any indication, S&T grads are faring better than their peers as they enter into careers and first jobs. Flip through the pages and you’ll find profiles of many successful engineers working to improve everything from the F-15 and bullet-proof vests to the Chevy Volt and high-temperature ceramics. You’ll also read about an actuary, business owners, a lawyer and an Olympic athlete.

Regardless of their occupations, these alumni have built time into their schedules to support philanthropic causes ranging from multiple sclerosis to hydrocephalus. Many of them also support their alma mater. Of the 4,778 alumni age 30 and under who earned undergraduate degrees from S&T and have contact information on file, 28 percent give back annually (a figure that trumps the university’s overall participation rate of 18 percent).

So go ahead. Keep reading. Find out more about these 30 up-and-coming alumni. You’ll want to keep an eye on them. We certainly will.