A Night at the Museum: Brooklyn Tech Future World Vision Celebration

October 30, 2025

On the evening of October 23, 2025, the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, Long Island, a hub of innovation and inspiration, hosted the Long Island Chapter of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation's Future World Vision Celebration. The event welcomed guests from consortium middle schools and Tech community to honor the achievements of alumni, educators, and students shaping the future of STEM education through the vision of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Future World Vision initiative.

Led by President Andrew Parton ’75, the Cradle of Aviation, a monument to human ingenuity, proved to be the perfect setting for a night dedicated to imagining and building the world of tomorrow. The museum’s galleries, normally filled with historic aircraft and space artifacts, echoed with the energy of young minds and seasoned professionals united by a shared vision: to build a better world through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

At the heart of the celebration was the Future World Vision STEM Pathways Consortium, a collaborative initiative between Brooklyn Tech, the Alumni Foundation, seven (soon to be eight) partner middle schools, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. This program connects middle school students with high school students and faculty engaged in real-world engineering challenges, creating dynamic pathways for underrepresented middle school students to study STEM at the high school level.

“The LI Chapter was proud to host the Future World Vision celebration. The work that is done in the STEM Pathways program to encourage students in underrepresented communities to pursue careers in STEM is so important for the future of the students and our country. The Pathways program dovetails nicely with the ASCE's Mega City 2070 project. In order to achieve the cities of tomorrow, we need to develop the engineers of tomorrow.”

Ray Beckett, the Chapter’s President

Student Voices: Building the Future

The evening’s emcee was the Foundation’s Chief Educational Officer, Dr. Matthew M. Mandery ’61, and the program featured four student speakers, each sharing their personal experiences in STEM and mentorship through the Pathways Consortium.

“Tutoring the dozens of kids I have with the Scholarship program these past three years, and seeing some of them now in the hallways of Brooklyn Tech, has by far been one of my most rewarding life experiences. What’s accomplished by this program is so important, to give more disadvantaged and underrepresented students the resources and support they need to make it and succeed at our amazing school. To my research and knowledge, I am the first Black and female SGO President at Tech, but I do not want to be the last.”

Brielle Hall ’26, Student Government President

“My responsibilities include coordinating tours for the middle schools, working with Dr. Mandery to develop a schedule for the two large FWV events, and coordinating Brooklyn Tech student volunteers to help facilitate the event. We generally have over a hundred volunteers and student presenters helping with the event, each with their own role and responsibilities. Being a part of the process to make the consortium events possible has been one of the most rewarding experiences.”

Gilbert Jiang ’26, Student Representative, Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation

“Last year, I remember when I was teaching at M.S. 313 and I was helping Ashley out with her final project—a vase. At first, she was shy to take on the challenge. Yet, step by step, we were able to work through the problems together. I saw her face light up as she started enjoying the process of assembling her masterpiece. At the end, I felt proud that I was able to play a role in igniting her ambition in STEM.”

Nikita Malinovskiy ’26, Creative Director, NextGen Innovators

“Together, we make up NextGen Innovators, a program that introduces middle school students to subjects in STEM. In the past school year, we’ve worked with two wonderful schools—M.S. 354 and M.S. 313—teaching basic sketching and extruding skills to the students, allowing them to turn 2D dreams into 3D realities.”

Nathan Yelin ’26, Treasurer, NextGen Innovators

Honoring Educators and Lifelong Dedication

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of two outstanding Brooklyn Tech faculty members: Mr. Michael Boulis, honored as an ASCE Fellow for his leadership and contributions to civil engineering education, and Dr. Elisa Margarita, named a New York State Finalist for the 2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The evening also featured a surprise presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Matthew M. Mandery, presented by LI Chapter President Ray Beckett.

Beckett shared: “Matt Mandery bleeds Tech blue. There is no person past, present, or future that has given or will give so much of themselves for Brooklyn Tech. Our chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award truly describes the lifetime of service to Tech that Matt has given.”

Dr. Mandery reflected with humility and pride: “Brooklyn Tech has always stood for opportunity. When I look at today’s brilliant, passionate, and driven students, I see the same spark that built this great school more than a century ago. My hope is that through programs like the Future World Vision Consortium, we continue to open doors for generations to come.”

A Vision for the Future

Guests enjoyed a light dinner while networking with BTHS alumni, faculty, and students before viewing the IMAX ASCE film Cities of the Future, which offered a glimpse into the possibilities of urban innovation and sustainability.

Courtney Ulrich, Executive Director of the Alumni Foundation, noted:

“What makes Brooklyn Tech extraordinary is our ability to unite generations of alumni, educators, and students around a shared vision of innovation and service. The Future World Vision Celebration reminds us that the future isn’t something the Tech community waits for; it’s something we build, together.”

More than just a celebration, the event was a reaffirmation of the school’s commitment to educational excellence and the Foundation’s role in shaping the next generation of engineers, scientists, and visionaries.

As attendees explored the museum’s exhibits and engaged in conversations about the future, the spirit of scientific discovery and human progress was palpable. At the core of that spirit lies the objective to attract underrepresented middle school students to study STEM as they prepare for high school and to inspire the future STEM industry leaders of tomorrow.

“Our goal,” said Dr. Mandery, “is to build on our community of inspiration, support, and learning, so that our consortium students pursue STEM studies in high school and beyond.”