New York Tech Students Feted for Volunteer Work

Three New York Tech students have been recognized by the New York City Mayor’s office for completing over 100 hours of volunteer service during the last year.

Now in its second year, the Mayoral Service Recognition Awards program highlights exceptional volunteer projects in New York City. New York Tech student honorees are Floyd Bass (B.S., Mechanical Engineering), Elis Cucka (B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering), and Vaishali Kriplani (M.F.A., Computer Graphics).

“We thank each and every volunteer and organization who contributed to New York City in 2020. Your efforts assisted the City to provide critical resources and support in one of its most intense times and shows the power residents have to help shape the path to recovery in the coming months and years,” noted New York City Acting Chief Service Officer Laura Rog, in an email.

New York Tech’s Office of Experiential Education, led by Senior Director Amy Bravo and Director Adrienne McNally, submitted to Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s office the names of students who volunteered for more than 100 hours, based on data collected and verified via GivePulse. Highlights of the students’ efforts include:

• Floyd Bass supported outreach efforts for donations to Bear Bytes food drives and for donating food and toys to the Pillars in Harlem.
• Elis Cucka provided website support for St. Philip’s Church in Harlem and volunteered in Puerto Rico as part of R-Cubed: Relief x Reconstruction x Resiliency. His service in Puerto Rico was in preparation for replicating the initiative in New York City.
• Vaishali Kriplani is heading an app development project that will connect college students with older adults through shared interests to provide intergenerational social interaction.

“Experiential education is a hallmark of New York Tech, and we could not be prouder of these students and all others here who commit to internships, shadowing, volunteering, and service-learning opportunities. These experiences support their professional development and encourage civic engagement and, equally important, enrich their lives and the lives of others,” said McNally.

The Mayor’s office provided McNally with Mayoral Service Recognition certificates for each of the three students. “We hope you’ll be able to present these certificates to volunteers as a token of the City’s appreciation for their hard work and the commitment of your organization—as you continued to provide critical services to New York City communities in 2020. Your support and actions have been critical in a time like no other in our City,” noted Rog.

McNally presented the certificates, via email, to the student honorees and the deans of their respective colleges.