INSPIRE THE GIVING NEWSLET TER OF PRAT T INSTITU TE
FALL 2014
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR BILL HILSON ESTABLISHES GRADUATE COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN SCHOLARSHIP Bill and Barbara Hilson Scholarship Will Attract Top Students and Drive Innovation and Performance
Bill Hilson
Pratt has shaped a long and illustrious career for Adjunct Professor of Graduate Communications Design William Hilson, who began his studies at the Institute’s School of Architecture and has since focused his professional life on graphic design, typography, and educating the next generation. “The creative problem-solving processes that I learned at Pratt have helped me in whatever I was doing,” says Hilson, who has worked on everything from print pieces and large-scale interactive media to web design. “And I try to teach my students the importance of being flexible in using what they learn and always saying yes to new opportunities.”
merit scholarships, which will be offered every other year, will attract top candidates to apply to Pratt and allow recipients to take fuller advantage of every aspect of the Graduate Communications Design program.
That freedom to “say yes” is part of what inspired Hilson to establish The Bill and Barbara Hilson Scholarship. The scholarship fund will offer three renewable, partial-tuition scholarships to incoming Graduate Communications Design students beginning in fall 2015. Hilson hopes that by significantly defraying tuition costs, these new
Hilson agrees that the timing is right. “Our department is redefining itself and moving forward, rolling out new courses, and integrating new ideas into the curriculum,” he says. “I love being a part of what’s going on here as a teacher. So giving to Pratt is just another way of contributing to my community.”
The creation of the scholarship fund couldn’t come at a better time, according to Santiago Piedrafita, the new chair of Communications Design at Pratt. “The Bill and Barbara Hilson Scholarship will help ensure that we attract the most promising students and that they’re able to fully focus on academics instead of worrying about financial concerns.”
MOVING BACK INTO MAIN BUILDING
Fine Arts Students Take Their Place in Newly Redone Studios For the first time since the February 2013 fire,
The return to hallowed ground isn’t the only excit-
Main Building’s fifth and sixth floors are filled once
ing thing about the department’s move. Major
again with the hustle and bustle of students from
improvements were made to the department’s
the Fine Arts program, who began using newly
Main Building spaces thanks to the hundreds
reconstructed studio spaces and seminar rooms
of gifts made towards Pratt’s fire recovery. These
this fall. While administrative offices and staff
improvements include energy-efficient lighting,
began to move back into the building as spaces
ceiling fans for increased ventilation, and new
were restored, this marks the first opportunity
spaces for critiques. The new oak floors, storage
for students to return to the permanent studios.
lockers, and redone seminar rooms have exceeded
The reopening of these studios carries particular
everyone’s expectations, according to Bright.
importance for seniors, who have returned
Donors and the larger Pratt community have
to new and improved spaces on the sixth floor
played an integral part in bringing students,
of Main Building after temporarily setting up
academic departments, and staff back to Main
shop in provisional studios in the ARC building.
Building, which has come a long way since
More than 42 art studios have been rebuilt
the upper floors were destroyed by the fire and
on the sixth floor, providing individual space for
the entire building suffered water and smoke
seniors to work on thesis projects, with new
damage. The many contributions received from
shared spaces for juniors on the fifth floor.
alumni, faculty, and friends helped to ensure
“Having a senior studio in Main Building is a greatly anticipated rite of passage,” says Chair
that Main Building was not only restored to its former glory, but also improved along the way.
Senior painting student Ashley Reyes (B.F.A. ’15) in one of the new Main Building studios
of Fine Arts Deborah Bright. “Students especially
While the restoration has benefited all of the
value the natural light that floods into those upper
building’s occupants, the Fine Arts department
floor spaces, and the high ceilings and archi-
is particularly thankful. Adjunct Associate
of permanence and commitment made to the
tectural character of Main make it an inspiring
Professor Greg Drasler, who teaches senior-level
students and the painting and drawing program
place to work.”
painting seminars, puts it best: “The feeling
is conspicuous.”