Class of 2022 Showed Grit and Perseverance!
As the spring semester came to a close, Hillier College graduating students closed one chapter in their lives. On May 13, 2022, after the University Convocation Ceremony, Hillier College of Architecture and Design hosted a Graduation Celebration with a cocktail reception and awards ceremony at the Weston Green. The graduates gathered together with family and friends for an outdoor celebration of their transition from academic to professional life.
“You made it to the finish line! Next Tuesday your degrees will be formally conferred by President Bloom in a ceremony at the Prudential Center; at that moment, you will no longer be considered students and you will join the Highlander Nation as proud alumni!,” said Dean Branko Kolarevic.
The celebration, which followed the stage-walking convocation, was held in-person after three years. In delivering his remarks to the Class of 2022 Kolarevic was joined by Kelly Hutzell, Director of the School of Architecture and John Cays, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interim Director of the School of Art and Design. In their remarks, all three touched on the profound impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on students, on our community, and the world at large.
“Architecture students - you have all spent multiple years with us at NJIT to reach this point, and I’m honored to have spent the last year with you. As the new Director of the School of Architecture, I’ve been reflecting on when I first met many of you, at our fall awards ceremony here in the Gallery, and in the hallways and studios. I got to know many of you through your creative work, and through your incredible engagement in our community. After in-person and remote rounds of education throughout your college career, with masks on and masks off, I thankfully got to know many of you “in-person,” and for that I am grateful,” said Hutzell.
This year, 124 students received bachelor’s and graduate degrees. And they all persevered. As Cays noted in his remark: “We know that your future success is influenced by your character and especially by the effort you give in pursuing your goals. Your presence here today reflects your grit and perseverance. It bodes well for your future endeavors as you press forward into the future and into a world that needs your talent, your focus, and your continued contributions as design professionals. Congratulations to you all.”
The School of Architecture awarded ten awards to undergraduate and graduate students who were nominated by individual faculty members. The award recipients were judged and selected by the Hillier College faculty Awards Committee based on their academic performance, leadership, character and contribution to our community.
The School of Art and Design presented eight awards to students in recognition of their design and academic excellence. Students in Digital, Industrial and Interior Design were evaluated by their instructors using objective metrics (GPA) and expert evaluation.
Okyhun des Lauriers, Interior Design student, was the distinguished student speaker. In her address to the Class of 2022, she advised them to always remember the foundation. “We are standing on the new starting line in our life wondering what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. No worries! Your school years are a good foundation for starting the next step of your life. We are counting on discovering new things that we didn’t learn at school. Be ready and challenge yourself using all that you learned here,” said Lauriers.
List of award recipients:
The School of Architecture award recipients:
Mostoller Prize - Iman Syed
School of Architecture Alpha Rho Chi Medal - Casey Crown
School of Architecture Integrated Studio Award – Undergraduate - Reyne Bennet
School of Architecture Integrated Studio Award - Graduate - Noelle Cruse
School of Architecture Urban Design Award - Miluska Franco
AIA Medal for Academic Excellence - Ebony Payne
AIA Medal for Academic Excellence – Graduate - Noelle Kruse
The ARCC King Student Medal winner - Peter Zhang
School of Architecture Medal - Bachelor of Architecture - Ebony Payne
School of Architecture Medal - Master of Architecture to Noelle Kruse
School of Art and Design award recipients:
School of Art + Design Digital Design Senior Designer of Distinction - John Jannone
School of Art + Design Industrial Design Senior Designer of Distinction - Lemmuel Escalona
School of Art + Design Interior Design Senior Designer of Distinction - Okhyun Des Lauriers
School of Art + Design - Digital Design Award for Academic Achievement - Alison Wong
School of Art + Design - Industrial Design Award for Academic Achievement - Andrew Elcock
School of Art + Design Interior Design Award for Academic Achievement - Okhyun Des Lauriers
School of Art + Design - Award for Outstanding Service - Mirka Cruz
The School of Art + Design Medal - Okhyun Des Lauriers
The Commencement Ceremony with conferral of degrees of all candidates was held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.