2023 Ingenium Awards Celebrate Alumni, Industry Partners

Pictured: College of Engineering and Computing Sciences Dean Babak Beheshti addressing attendees at the second Ingenium Awards ceremony on April 26.

On April 26, at NYIT de Seversky Mansion on the Long Island campus, guests commemorated the accomplishments of alumni and industry partners at the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences’ second Ingenium Awards ceremony.

Dean Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., welcomed guests in his opening remarks. “There is so much to celebrate tonight,” he said. “We have grown to have eight undergraduate programs and nine graduate programs, including two Ph.D. programs added in the past three years. We are proud that in the 2022–2023 U.S. News and World Report rankings, the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences was ranked among the top 50 best undergraduate engineering degree programs nationally.”

More than 150 attendees attended the event, including New York Tech President Hank Foley, Ph.D., Board of Trustees Chair Peter J. Romano (B.Arch. ’76), faculty, staff, and industry leaders, including Thomas Falcone, chief executive officer of the Long Island Power Authority. Students from the college involved in building prototypes for NASA and other projects in the Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC) showcased their work in the final stages of development and answered the attendees’ questions.

The event supports the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences’ mission to offer a broad range of outstanding, accredited academic programs; support faculty members who are effective teacher-scholars committed to a student-centered, stimulating learning and research environment; engage students in applied projects, innovative design, and computing solutions to real industry questions; foster connections and partnerships with employers, alumni, and the community at large; and provide the physical space and modern facilities that benefit a premier technology institute.

Awards were presented in three categories. Here are the 2023 winners:

Hall of Fame

This award recognizes exemplary alumni who demonstrate extraordinary achievements and accomplishments in their profession and demonstrate exceptional service and commitment to their field, the community, and the university.

The award was presented to David Schieren (M.S. ’06), chief executive officer at EmPower Solar. More than 16 years ago, Schieren was a student at New York Tech. In his remarks, he expressed his gratitude for his connection to the university. “As a community on Long Island, we have to figure out ways to promote and enhance project-based learning. I am excited to continue that work. It is one of the reasons why I am so excited to re-engage and increase investment working with New York Tech. The school is a vital resource in this network, this ecosystem on Long Island, and I am really proud to continue to be affiliated with it.”

David Schieren, right, and Dean Babak Beheshti. Schieren was presented with the Hall of Fame award.

Rising Star

The Rising Star award recognizes alumni who demonstrate a commitment to the college by serving as a mentor and resource to current students as they chart and explore their career goals. The awardee must show a willingness to go above and beyond to advance the goals and mission of the college.

Oliver Vasquez (B.S. ’12), founder and chief executive officer of Vasquez Integrators, was presented with the award. During his speech, he thanked New York Tech for the opportunities it offers. “Overall, a thank you to New York Tech for providing opportunities for students who are underprivileged,” he said. “I think it’s a moral duty to pursue what’s meaningful, and I think that you often have to bring people along that road.”

Oliver Vasquez accepts the Rising Star award.

Industry Partner of the Year

This award recognizes a company or firm that has played an important role in supporting the college’s growth and transformation and has shown outstanding service to the college, its students, and its mission through financial support and technical collaborations that benefit students as well as support for internship and employment pathways for students and graduates.

Carter, DeLuca & Farrell, LLP, a law firm in Melville, N.Y., received the award. A separate award was presented to George Likourezos, a partner at the firm, for his work on the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board and contributions to help make New York Tech’s annual Biotechnology Conference a success. Carmella Stephens, a patent attorney at Carter, DeLuca & Farrell, accepted the award on the firm’s behalf.

Carmella Stephens with Dean Babak Beheshti. She accepted the Industry Partner of Year award on behalf of Carter, DeLuca & Farrell, LLP.

College of Engineering and Computing Sciences students presented their projects at the annual Ingenium Awards.