On March 16, the Pratt Institute 2016 Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented to six accomplished alumni at a private luncheon at the new Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan. The awards honor distinguished alumni whose work is recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally in their fields. Recipients are chosen by a committee of similarly accomplished professionals, including past Alumni Achievement Award honorees.
This year marks the first time that the Alumni Achievement Awards will be held at the Whitney Museum, which opened in 2015 to widespread critical and public acclaim. With its stunning architecture and unsurpassed collection of modern and contemporary American art, the Museum was selected as a uniquely inspiring setting in which to celebrate the 2016 Alumni Achievement Awards honorees.
The following alumni will be presented with the Career Achievement Award for living Pratt’s values of aesthetic judgment, professional knowledge, collaborative skill, and technical expertise and making lasting contributions to society:
Harry Allen (M.I.D. ’94), the founder of Harry Allen Design, which works across the industrial design spectrum, from one-off projects to mass-produced design. Harry Allen Design’s work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, among others.
Melisa Goldie (B.F.A. Photography ’91), the chief marketing officer of Calvin Klein, Inc., who oversees all global consumer-facing marketing initiatives. Hired by the company’s founder, Goldie has successfully led the company’s brand into the digital age.
Mitchell J. Silver (B.Arch. ’87), an internationally recognized award-winning planner with almost 30 years of experience, specializing in comprehensive planning, placemaking, and implementation strategies. Silver has been the commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation since May 2014.
Jed Winokur (M.S.L.I.S. ’07), a senior archive manager at Coach who oversees an archive of 25,000 items that comprise the product, materials, and ephemera collections that inspire the company’s designers.
The Early Career Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni who have earned distinction in the early stages of their career and who demonstrate tremendous future potential, will be presented to:
Katie Middleton (B.F.A. Painting ’07), a special effects makeup artist for television and film. Her current projects include PBS’s medical drama Mercy Street, and AMC’s Revolutionary War series TURN: Washington Spies.
The International Career Achievement Award, which honors international alumni for living Pratt’s values of aesthetic judgment, professional knowledge, collaborative skill, and technical expertise and making lasting contributions to society, will be presented to:
Carl L. Olsen (B.I.D. ’57), an internationally known industrial and automotive designer who has worked for companies including Ogle Design Ltd. and Citroen. Olsen is recognized as one of the most important automotive designers in the world.
Learn more about the 2016 Alumni Achievement Awards here.
Photos (left to right, top to bottom): Carl L. Olsen (photo: courtesy of Carl L. Olson); Katie Middleton (photo: courtesy of Katie Middleton); Melisa Goldie (photo: Calvin Klein); Harry Allen (photo: Stefan Hengst); Jed Winokur (photo: Coach, Inc.); Mitchell J. Silver (photo: Joe Szurzewski)