Milo Kessler ’21
Math Majors Fellow Reception Celebrates a Legacy of Excellence
Milo Kessler ’21
Math Majors Fellow Reception Celebrates a Legacy of Excellence
On Friday, January 9, 2026, the Brooklyn Tech community gathered in the Math Majors Room (5N7) for the annual Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows Reception, held in conjunction with Recent Alumni Day 2026. The afternoon brought together Milo’s family, friends, classmates, alumni Fellows, current Fellows, faculty, and supporters to celebrate the remarkable impact of a program that continues to grow in both scale and significance.
The emcee of the presentation was Dr. Tom Blozy, Milo’s now-retired mentor and math teacher, and speakers included Milo’s father, Daryl Kessler, and Dr. Matt Mandery ’61, Chief Educational Officer of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation. Fellows from each cohort also participated.
“What makes the Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows program so extraordinary is not only the academic excellence of the students, but the community it creates — one rooted in mentorship, generosity, and a deep love of learning. This fellowship captures the very heart of what Brooklyn Tech strives to be.”
Dr. Matt Mandery ’61, Chief Educational Officer, Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation
This spring will mark the fifth graduation anniversary of Milo Kessler — a beloved and gifted member of the Class of 2021 whose passion for mathematics and extraordinary spirit continue to inspire new generations of Brooklyn Tech students.
Thanks to the generosity of Milo’s family, friends, and the broader Tech community, more than $300,000 has been raised to date for the Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows Fund, creating life-changing academic opportunities for students at a formative stage in their educational journeys.
“Through this sustained outpouring of support, we are not only honoring Milo’s legacy, but empowering brilliant young mathematicians to pursue research, innovation, and service that will shape their futures and our world.”
Courtney J. Ulrich ’90, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Foundation.
A Community Built on Mentorship, Friendship, and a Love of Math
This year’s reception celebrated the 2025 cohort of nineteen exceptional seniors in the Applied Mathematics Major — the program’s fourth cohort — who joined a growing community of 47 Fellows since the program’s inception. The room was filled with current Fellows, alumni Fellows now thriving in colleges across the country, and members of Milo’s extended community, all connected by their shared love of mathematics and by Milo’s enduring legacy.
Daryl Kessler challenged Fellows to continue to build on their bonds with each other and to strengthen their own community as a way of keeping Milo’s memory alive. Current Fellows reflected on the projects and research they had completed over the past summer, while returning Fellows offered mentorship, encouragement, and perspective from their own academic journeys. What has emerged is a vibrant and supportive network that continues to expand.
“It is amazing to be part of this growing community established to honor Milo, and built with the support of over 500 donors. We hope that Milo and the Milo Kessler Math Major Fellowship program inspire these incredible students at Brooklyn Tech to continue to develop their passion for math.”
Alana Fishberg and Daryl Kessler
What the 2025 Milo Fellows Accomplished This Summer
Each Fellow received $2,500 to support advanced academic and professional experiences. During the summer of 2025, the Fellows pursued an extraordinary range of projects, including advanced mathematics programs, independent research, teaching, internships, and outreach that connected mathematical theory with real-world impact.
The 2025 Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows and Their Summer Work:
- Xishen Chen — Participated in Awesome Math, studying computational geometry, Algebra 2.5, and advanced AMC/AIME-level problem solving
- Henry Dixon — Studied quantum computing through Columbia University’s Pre-College Program
- Abror Erkinov — Completed MIT CogWorks, exploring the mathematics behind neural networks and AI model optimization
- Daniel Finkelstein — Studied the foundational mathematics of artificial intelligence
- Peter Gutkovich — Taught robotics through NYC FIRST at a new STEM Center in Downtown Brooklyn
- Daniel Hammer — Conducted independent research on the prime big omega function in Pascal’s Triangle
- Tina Jiang — Attended Awesome Math and Hampshire College Summer Studies, focusing on computational geometry and advanced topics
- Abdur Labik — Participated in Awesome Math, New York Math Circle, Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), and independent research and outreach
- Xavier Michael Labourdette — Studied real-world applications of graph theory and combinatorics through Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies
- Alexander Lipatov — Completed advanced studies in counting strategies and modular arithmetic through Awesome Math
- Oscar Milledge — Focused on computational geometry through Awesome Math
- Katerina Mosunova — Interned with Con Edison, performing data analysis in Distribution Engineering
- Elvis Osmanov — Completed the Inspirit AI Scholars Program
- Zachary Punnoose — Studied quantum computing at Columbia University and volunteered at the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
- Ashley Rivera-Alvarez — Studied AI in weather simulation, cybersecurity, and data science through CURIE Academy and Girls Who Code Pathways
- Jason Shum — Completed advanced coursework in geometry and algebra through Awesome Math
- Xiao Bin Wang — Studied algebra and computational geometry through Awesome Math
- Madeleine Ward — Volunteered at the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
- Tony Wu — Studied geometry, algebra, number theory, and combinatorics through Awesome Math
A Lasting Legacy in Higher Education
The impact of the Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows program continues well beyond high school. Alumni Fellows are now pursuing mathematics and related fields at some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions:
- Fellows from the 2024 cohort are currently furthering their education at Yale, Cornell, MIT, and the University of Chicago
- Fellows from the 2023 cohort are now studying at Brown, Cornell, Stony Brook, Yale, UCLA, and other leading institutions
- Fellows from the inaugural cohort, who completed their funded projects in 2022, are enrolled at Carnegie Mellon, the University of Michigan, NYU, and Yale
These alumni remain actively engaged with the program, returning to mentor younger Fellows and strengthening a community that grows more impactful each year.
About the Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows Fund
Milo Kessler, Class of 2021, was a proud Math Major whose intellectual curiosity, kindness, and boundless generosity left an indelible mark on the Brooklyn Tech community. Established in his memory, the Fund uniquely focuses on supporting high school juniors, providing critical academic opportunities at a transformative moment in their educational paths.
Unlike most fellowships that begin in college or graduate school, the Milo Kessler Fellowship empowers students earlier — expanding access to research, enrichment, and mentorship that can define future success.
Remembering MILO
To learn more about the spirit and personality behind this extraordinary initiative, the community is invited to listen to the “Milo Time” podcast, available on Spotify, Apple, and other platforms. The podcast captures the humor, warmth, and brilliance that made Milo so deeply loved.
Follow the podcast @milotimepodcast for updates and new episodes.
With Gratitude
This program would not be possible without the tireless generosity of Milo’s parents, Alana Fishberg and Daryl Kessler, their remarkable circle of family and friends, and the dedicated faculty of the Brooklyn Tech Math Department — including Dr. Tom Blozy, Daniel Amato, Melanie Battles, Scott Matthews, and the entire math faculty whose commitment to students makes this program thrive.
Together, they have built something truly extraordinary — a living legacy that continues to shape the future of Brooklyn Tech’s next generation of mathematicians.
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Help Us Keep the Legacy Alive
The continued success of the Milo Kessler ’21 Math Major Fellows Fund depends entirely on donor support. To ensure that future Math Majors at Brooklyn Tech can benefit from these life-changing opportunities, we invite you to consider making a contribution.
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