CITYarts Recognizes Digital Art and Design Chair Rozina Vavetsi and Student Award Winners

Pictured: New York Tech Vice President for Real Estate Design and Sustainable Capital Planning Suzanne Musho, right, presents Associate Pofessor and Chair of Digital Art and Design Rozina Vavetsi with CITYarts’ 2021 Making a Difference Through the Arts award. Photo Credit: Wendy Nadler

One New York Tech faculty member and her students were in the spotlight at CITYarts’ June 23 annual masquerade gala. Rozina Vavetsi, M.Sc., associate professor and chair of the Department of Digital Art and Design, received the nonprofit organization’s 2021 Making a Difference Through the Arts award, joining Brooklyn Councilwoman Alicka Amprey-Samuel and independent curator Charlotta Kotik as this year’s honorees. In addition, three digital art and design students were recognized as winners of a CITYarts design contest, with 3-D replications of their designs shared with event sponsors. 

Vavetsi, who was honored as a dedicated educator and award-winning designer, has involved many students in two CITYarts initiatives aimed to engage youth with professional artists in the creation of public art. New York Tech Vice President for Real Estate Design and Sustainable Capital Planning Suzanne Musho presented Vavetsi with the prestigious award, designed by Vera Manzi-Schacht, at the hybrid in-person/virtual event.

“I can think of no one more appropriate to receive an award that honors those committed to the education of students through the arts,” notes College of Arts and Sciences Dean Daniel Quigley, Ph.D. “Rozina’s dedication and tireless efforts to use the newest and most innovative artistic methods to make art and design engaging to students is unparalleled."

At the awards gala, two New York Tech-CITYarts collaborations spearheaded by Vavetsi were noted: in 2015, she participated in a project with her students to create 3-D and laser-cut ornaments for the CITYarts Holiday/Peace Tree at Lincoln Center Square; this year, she coordinated the participation of New York Tech students, faculty, and staff in CITYarts’ Cooking with Color initiative aimed to empower at-risk youth with hands-on instructions in cooking and making healthy food choices.

As part of this project, New York Institute of Technology digital art and design students were invited to create an original design for 3-D printed salt-and-pepper shakers to celebrate the culinary arts and the importance of the organization’s initiative. Three New York Tech students were recognized for their award-winning designs:

• First-place winner: Matthew Neville, mentored by faculty member Anila Jaho
• Second-place winner: Olivia Flores-Nieves (B.F.A. ’21), mentored by Technical Support Specialist Brian Lau
• Third-place winner: Yi Chen Sun, also mentored by Anila Jaho

Three New York Tech digital art and design students were recognized for their original designs of 3-D printed salt-and-pepper shakers that celebrate the culinary arts and the importance of the organization’s initiative. Matthew Neville’s design, shown here, took first place.

“It is such an honor to receive the CITYarts award,” said Vavetsi. "But it is even more of an honor to be part of this wonderful organization, which is focused on inspiring youth and supporting educational and social reform. At New York Tech, we strive to tie students’ projects to real-world applications and connect them with our local communities where art and design lives and breathes.”