Celebrating Our Donors

Pictured: Newly inducted members of the President's Forum: Bert J. Cunningham (B.F.A. ’69), Hank and Karin Foley, Thomas J. Van Laan (M.B.A. ’84), Michael F. Puntillo, Jr., and Andrew Berner.

On March 10, friends and supporters of New York Institute of Technology recognized the university’s top donors and celebrated more than a dozen new inductees into the President’s Forum at an evening dinner reception.

“The New York Tech President’s Forum was created to recognize major donors who have made significant, often multiyear, commitments for capital and endowment purposes, with an emphasis on student scholarships, facility improvements, equipment acquisition, and program development,” Board of Trustees Chair Peter J. Romano (B.Arch. ’76), told the 60 attendees at NYIT de Seversky Mansion on the Long Island campus. “These gifts support and enhance the student experience, providing important resources for college- and school- based dean’s funds, academic departments and programs, and named awards.”

In his welcome remarks, New York Tech President Hank Foley, Ph.D., noted this was “a special night as we are finally able to honor our 2020 and 2021 inductees in person, as well as our 2022 inductees.” He shared many of the significant advances made to enhance the student experience, including upgrades through reinvigorated facilities, enhanced programming, academic support services, and technology advancements, and thanked the donors for their generous support.

Board of Trustees Vice Chair Daniel Ferrara (D.O. ’86), who chairs the Development Committee welcomed each of the inductees able to attend in person and acknowledged all new members of the President’s Forum for 2020-2022:

Trustee emeritus Kevin Silva and Board of Trustees Chair Peter Romano (B.Arch. ’76) enjoy the festive evening.

2020

• Gregory William Berner, who established the Gregory William Berner Endowed Scholarship at NYITCOM-Arkansas and has also supported Project H.E.A.R.T. and the Stethoscope program at NYITCOM Arkansas.
• Crittenden Memorial Hospital Foundation, which established the Crittenden Memorial Hospital Foundation Endowed Scholarship at NYITCOM-Arkansas.
• Heskia Heskiaoff, Ph.D., for his support of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences
• Tom Van Laan (M.B.A. ’84), who established Thomas J. Van Laan ’84 Annual Scholarship Award and has supported the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

2021

• Trustee Catherine Allen, for her support of the Annual Fund and Women’s Technology Council.
• Bert Cunningham (B.S. ’69), who has supported the Dean’s Fund within the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Dr. and Mrs. David Goldman, who have generously supported the Dean’s Fund within NYITCOM.
• Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hyman, who have supported the Center for Biomedical Innovation Tech Scholarship Program at NYITCOM.
• Janet and Michael F. Puntillo, Jr., who named the Michael S. Puntillo Auditorium in Harry Shure Hall and have supported the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.
• John Sorrenti (B.Arch. ’72, M.B.A. ’78), in support of the Dean’s Fund and FRIENDS of School of Architecture and Design.
• Trustee Caroline Watteeuw, who has supported the Student Emergency Fund and the Dean’s Fund in the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

2022

• President Hank Foley and his wife, Karin, in support of student scholarships and program development.
• Trustee Ted Moudis (B.S. ’80), for establishing the Ted Moudis Scholarship within the School of Architecture and Design.