22 | ATELIER MAGAZINE
FEATURES
The Grit & Grace of NYSID’s Veterans Three Veterans Are Designing Their Futures at NYSID
T
he New York School of Interior Design attracts career-changers as students. They bring a wealth of perspectives to the classroom, experience that informs
the way they approach the built environment. This is particularly apparent in the stories of NYSID’s veterans. Nine veterans are studying at NYSID in 2018 through the GI Bill and other armed services programs. These students have overcome obstacles to study what they love: interior design. Here are just a few of their stories.
AMY RICHARDS, MFA-1
“A lot of the places we live and work in
SHANE CURNUTT, BFA
“Everything is set up for you in the
MAMIE ROCHELLE, AAS
“I’d like to work with the Veterans’
in the Army aren’t the nicest places:
military, so not knowing how I was
Administration to improve the buildings
bases, barracks, hospitals, what I call
going to make a living was terrifying,
veterans receive services in. I want to
brown and green buildings. I want
but then I thought about something my
update buildings so wounded veterans
to make spaces that make people feel
grandfather Mack Ferrick, a marine,
can go through front entrances. I have
embraced.”
told me. He said, ‘Find something you
a dream to design a patriotic restaurant
love to do; get paid to do it; and you’ll
that honors veterans in one of those
never work a day in your life.’”
buildings. Imagine that!”
