A Legendary Night for Student Scholarships

On October 10, Pratt Institute held its Legends gala, the annual scholarship benefit that celebrates icons of art, design, and architecture, and serves as a fundraiser for scholarships that prioritize diversity, inclusion, and equal access to education. The event is essential for the nearly eighty percent of Pratt students who rely on financial aid to pursue their educational and creative ambitions.

This year, nearly 250 guests gathered at Lavan Midtown, an elegant space in the heart of Manhattan, to honor award-winning filmmaker Charles Burnett, celebrated architect Toshiko Mori, FAIA ’22 (Hon.), and internationally renowned packaging designer Marc A. Rosen ’70. The vibrant, verdant energy of Pratt’s main Brooklyn campus was invoked in Manhattan through ambient live music, luscious floral arrangements, and videos of campus projected onto the walls, creating a bucolic, immersive experience.

In her welcoming remarks, Pratt President Frances Bronet celebrated the achievements and contributions of Pratt’s Legends honorees, as well as the Institute’s alumni, faculty, and students. She also acknowledged the transformative creativity cultivated at Pratt, and the importance of scholarships in making it possible for students to learn and grow.

“Our role as an institution is to support our students holistically, so they have the capacity to take risks, work together, the freedom to fully and boldly create, and the visionary and pragmatic tools to design for a more just future,” said President Bronet. “Our ultimate hope is to encourage individuals to live lives of responsible creativity and positive impact. This evening is really about our students and their forging that trajectory AND honoring our creative icons who are doing and have done exactly that.”

A video featuring Board of Trustees Chair Gary Hattem ’75 highlighted the unique character of Pratt and the beauty of its Brooklyn campus. Hattem appeared on stage to introduce Evelyn Meza, BFA Communications Design ’25, as the Legends 2024 Student Speaker. A first-generation college student, Meza reminisced about the momentous day she received her scholarship and the encouraging community she found once at Pratt. “Pratt’s support reaffirmed the belief in the path I have chosen for myself was the right one, and I am here as just one—one—example,” she said. “Almost everyone I run into in Pratt has a flame within them keeping them going, and a story to share. It’s the continued encouragement that gives us the opportunity to create communities and support each other’s dreams for this new generation of expression.”

In the expansive spirit of the evening, Kimberly Pirtle, an auctioneer at Sotheby’s, led an energetic call to action to raise critical funds for student scholarships. 

The Awards Ceremony

Juliana Curran Terian ’90, president and CEO of Rallye Motor Company, kicked off the awards ceremony by presenting the Legend Award to the evening’s first honoree: renowned international packaging designer and founder of Pratt Legends Marc A. Rosen. Rosen is a Pratt alumnus, professor, trustee emeritus, and the founder of a scholarship and education fund at the Institute. He spoke about one of his professors at Pratt who encouraged him to show his fragrance bottle design to a beauty company, ultimately launching his career in perfume packaging design. Reflecting on the students just starting out in their careers, Rosen said “I hope I inspire them as much as my professor did me,” adding that “perfume is ephemeral, sensuous, glamorous, aspirational, and inspirational. Tonight, the air is filled with Eau de Pratt!”

President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library Linda E. Johnson presented the Legend Award to architect and professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design Toshiko Mori. In her acceptance speech, Mori celebrated the communities formed through education, the importance of scholarships, and the value of passing knowledge from one generation to the next. “I believe that the ‘Legend’ is not necessarily—or not really—about an individual but instead is a story that a lot of us here all together create,” she said.

Co-founders of Milestone Films Dennis Doros and Amy Heller presented the Legend Award to Oscar® Winning Film Director Charles Burnett. Burnett spoke about his experience enduring and overcoming rejection in the film industry. He closed his remarks with a piece of hard-earned advice: “What you have to do is be principled and have something that you’re fighting for and that will get you through the day.”

The Art Behind the Award

Each honoree was presented with a Legend Award—a beautiful glass and metal sculpture designed by Arzu Oran, BID ’25, and created under the mentorship of Dana D’Amico, adjunct associate professor of industrial design. This year marks D’Amico’s fourth year as a faculty advisor for the project. A short video of the thoughtful design and fabrication process was shared at the event. 

President Bronet closed out the evening’s festivities with a heartfelt expression of gratitude and congratulations, marking the evening as “another step towards a more equitable and inclusive Pratt Institute.” Bronet acknowledged once more the inspiring legacies of the honorees, encouraging them to “carry the honor of being a Pratt Legend” and “display your beautiful Legend Award with pride.”