News Brief: New York State Senator Meets with Friends of NYIT

Pictured from left: Dave Busch, a scholarship committee member; John Sorrenti; Laura Smiros, one of the five founding members of the Friends of NYIT School of Architecture and Design and scholarship committee member; Isaac Kalema; Eliana Colina; Bernarda Franco; Jinal Patel; School of Architecture and Design Dean Maria Perbellini; and Senator Elaine Phillips.

New York State Senator Elaine Phillips was the guest of honor at the September 12 NYIT School of Architecture and Design Friends Lecture at NYIT de Seversky Mansion. She spoke to students, alumni, and faculty about the architecture and design industry’s impact on communities and the role government plays in the building process, including the changing of laws, modifying zoning codes, and revisiting local fire codes.

The annual event, sponsored by the Friends of NYIT School of Architecture and Design, was coordinated by Friends executive committee member John Sorrenti (M.B.A. ’78).

The group also presented four NYIT architecture students with Friends of NYIT School of Architecture and Design scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year: Eliana Colina (a senior in architectural technology), Isaac Kalema (a fifth-year architecture student), and Jinal Patel (a senior in interior design) each received $5,000. Bernarda Franco (a fifth-year architecture student) was awarded $2,500.