The IESNYC Announces Marta Casarin and Evan Wilson as the 2017 Scholarship Recipients

The IESNYC has selected two winners — Evan Wilson, who will receive an MSc in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Marta Casarin, who will earn her MFA in Lighting Design at Parsons New School of Design — for the 2017 IESNYC Scholarship.

Wilson received a BFA Theater Design and Technology with a focus in lighting design from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After he graduates from RPI, he plans to work for a large MEP, AE, or lighting consulting firm as a lighting designer or project manager and pass his LC exam and LEED AP certification within the first year of employment, followed by becoming a Certified Lighting Designer (CLD). In addition, he would eventually like to serve on the board of a section of the IES.  

“Evan Wilson’s background in theater and architectural lighting design primed him for advanced study in lighting to augment his design acumen with a deep understanding of emerging research technologies and he now is well positioned to bring his knowledge of light and health, connected lighting, and design metrics to an active design practice in a leadership role,” says Russ Leslie, AIA, FIES, head, graduate programs In lighting and LRC associate director. Dan Frering, LC, LRC Director of Educational Programs, adds that “the IESNYC Scholarship is essential support for expanding graduate lighting research and scholastic achievement at the highest level.”

Prior to attending Parsons, Casarin received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Università IUAV di Venezia, Italy, and earned a Master of Music (Diploma) in the Conservatory B. Marcello of Venice. In addition, she was selected for several lighting design internships at architectural firms in Europe and at the Gran Teatro La Fenice. Upon graduation from Parsons, she would like to focus on lighting for centers of culture such as museums and galleries which integrate many aspects of art, and offer the visitors a multi-sensory experience. In addition, she would like to explore entertainment lighting design, a thriving and constantly developing sector.

"Marta Casarin has demonstrated high quality design work and a strong commitment to architectural lighting design since joining Parsons this fall," says Glenn Shrum, IALD, director MFA Lighting Design, Parsons School of Design, School of Constructed Environments. “The IESNYC’s financial support will impact not only her career, but also the continued growth of Parsons program and the lighting design profession more broadly.”  

This year, the committee added two celebrated guest jurors – Stephen Bernstein, IALD, a founder and principal of Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design (CBBLD), and Susannah Zweighaft, LC, CLD, LEED AP, IALD, a partner at AFK Group, who are both recent IESNYC Members of the Month and their prolific firms are multi-IESNYC Lumen Award winners

“We wanted to add diversity to the review and scrutiny of this year’s submissions,” says Caleb McKenzie, IESNYC 2017-2018 president elect. “With the strength of this year’s applicants we were so very fortunate to have the insightfulness and talent of Stephen and Susannah to help the committee make the best decision.”