The 2023 Founder’s Day CUAA Award was held on February 9, 2023 in the Rose Auditorium. Opening Remarks were made by CU President, Laura Sparks. Laura announced that this is the 5th consecutive year that tuition has not increased and the portion of the tuition covered by scholarship continues to increase. The average scholarship for the class beginning in the fall of 2023 will be for 80% of the tuition. Laura reminded all present, that the school is hosting Cooper Alumni Together Events throughout the week all around the world. And Laura invited all alumni who are in New York City next Tuesday, to attend the annual wreath laying ceremony.
Ciera Lowe Fowler ChE’14 gave introductory remarks and explained the significance of each of the awards that were to be presented. then she asked the winners of the 2022 awards who were with us in the auditorium, to come to the stage to be recognized. (Because of the COVID Pandemic, we were unable to have an in-person ceremony in 2022.) Jennifer Le AR’97, Susan Shaw A’77, Steve Welby ChE, and Anna Brook Eng’04 were recognized.
Irwin J. Gruverman ChE’54 received the Gano Dunn Award. He was ill and unable to attend in person. He was introduced via video by his brother Stan, and his son, Steve Gruberman was present in-person to accept the award and tell us some about Irv’s career. Irv Gruberman rose to the Director position at New England Nuclear. He also edited the Proceedings of the Annual Mossberger Effect Methodology Symposium sponsored by the New England Nuclear Corporation, Boston.
Samuel Anderson AR’82 received the John Q. Hejduk Award. He was introduced by Steve Hillyer and Alice Coverd via video. Sam Anderson is a celebrated Conservation Architect. His firm employs several Cooper alumni. Sam is an architecture professor at The Cooper Union. He teaches Building Technology and Architecture Integrated Design Studio.
John Peter Cerone Eng’95 received the Peter Cooper Public Service Award. Lauri Belch’95 who is a classmate of John Peter Cerone Eng’95 introduced John via video. While students both Laurie and John worked on the Cooper Pioneer student newspaper and John was the Editor and Chief for 2 of those years. John Peter Cerone was ill, so he gave his acceptance speech via video. John shared that public service is a way of life in his family. For him, public service began with his service to St. Francis Hospital where he was a Candy Striper while still a teenager. John told some humorous stories about his life as a student at The Cooper Union and he thanked Dean Eleanor Baum, dean of the engineering school, the dean of students, and Professor Alan Wolf who taught the importance of ethics in engineering. He also thanked a large number of classmates and alumni. Scott Lyne ChE’92, member of the Peter Cooper Public Service Award Committee, accepted the award on John’s behalf.
Mitch Epstein A’76 received the Augustus Saint-Gauden’s Award. He was introduced by Brian Rose A’79. Mitch Epstein is a film maker and photographer. His film, American Power 2003-2008 is about America’s dependence on fossil power. His project, Property Rights 2017-2020 describes people’s resistance to government land grabs. Today Mitch is working on a project documenting ancient trees. His goal is to create photos that inspire wonder in the viewers.
Kelly Occhiuzzo-Jack A’90 received the Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award. She was introduced by Laura Spinner. Kelly has been active in the CUAA for more than 10 years. She has been active in CUAA events for just as long and has been VP, Alumni Events since 2015.
Ciera Lowe Fowler thanked the members of the award selection committees, members of the communications committee and CUAA president Robert Tan who all helped to make this event successful. She asked Jennifer Durst, Cooper Union Deputy Director of Alumni Affairs and Development to come on stage and thanked her for her support of this event. She then invited all to attend the reception in the foyer.
The formal ceremony was followed by refreshments and networking in the vestibule area outside both the Rose Auditorium and 41 Cooper Square Gallery. Attendees also had an opportunity to meet with student teams that set up displays in LL01 and were on hand to explain their projects.