Student and Alumni News

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Publishing Graduate Students’ Abu Dhabi Experiences Featured in Publishers Weekly

Graduate students from the Center for Publishing received the type of practice-based learning for which NYU-SCPS is known by working as volunteers at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and contributing a “Soapbox” editorial about their experience featured in the March 28th issue of Publishers Weekly. In the essay, the students, (left to right) Karlyn Hixson, Joana Costa Knufinke (see page 3), Erin Cox, and Courtney Sanks, discussed their unique opportunity at the Middle East book fair as well as what the future might hold for publishing in the region.

NYU-SCPS Alum and Student Earn Accolades

Journalist Michael Hastings, a 2002 graduate of the Paul McGhee Division who holds a B.A. in Humanities, received the prestigious George Polk Award for Magazine Reporting from Long Island University for his history-making article, “The Runaway General,” published in Rolling Stone magazine in June 2010. The explosive article profiled General Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Hastings was honored, along with the 12 other recipients of the Polk Award, in April at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan.

Eunic Ortiz, a graduate student in the M.A. in Graphic Communications Management and Technology program, was awarded the prestigious Esperanza Scholarship from the New York Women in Communications Foundation. The scholarship, funded by Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, honors a student of Hispanic heritage pursuing a career in communications who has demonstrated academic achievement and leadership and who has participated in community and school service. Ortiz, a Florida native, already has solid communications experience in the industry, having worked for the New York City Council as a press officer and for WNBC as an online producer.

Recent NYU-SCPS Graduates Launch New Ventures

Two resourceful alumni have applied the knowledge and skills gained at NYU-SCPS to start new ventures. Craig Pinto, a 2010 graduate of the Paul McGhee Division, who earned a B.A. in Social Sciences, has started a nonprofit organization called the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation to increase awareness of celiac disease, raise funds for celiac research, and help college students who have the disease to pay for the high cost of gluten-free products. In September 2010, Pinto set a new Guinness World Record for the most football field goals kicked in a day and raised several thousand dollars for celiac research. Pinto said his time studying organizational behavior and communications, his concentration at McGhee, contributed to achieving the Guinness record and launching the Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation.

Rafael Atijas, who earned an M.S. in Integrated Marketing at NYU-SCPS in 2010, has turned his master’s capstone thesis into a new business. After a year of countless prototypes and testing, Atijas launched Loog Guitars, which manufactures three-string guitars that are easy for children to play. Made entirely of sustainable wood, the Loog Guitar is designed with a child’s needs, comfort, and safety in mind.