All Eyes on IESNYC Student Lighting Competition
The IES New York City Section (IESNYC) crowned the winners of its Student Lighting Competition at LEDucation in New York City in March. This year’s theme, “A Sight for Sore Eyes,” challenged students to design lighting solutions that enhance visual comfort and mitigate glare.
The Grand Prize and $5,000 was awarded to Veronica Gonzalez, Clay Mohrman, and Callie Walton from New York School of Interior Design for Soluna. Second Place and $2,500 went to Nidhi Jairam from Pratt Institute for Harbor Glow. Third Place and $1,000 was awarded to Nazakat Adigozalova and Chiziterem Maduka from Parsons School of Design for Untitled Lamp.
Honorable Mention awards were presented to the following:
George Batska from Pratt Institute for Dayglow
Zara Braun from Pratt Institute for Billow Beacon
Riddhi Doshi, Aronda Alvarez Martell, and Shane Moan from New York School of Interior Design for Glare Guard
Paulaine Lockward, Gabrielle Nunez, and Jiun Lee from School of Visual Arts for The Iris
Estefania Martinez from Pratt Institute for Synthetic Glimmer.
The IESNYC announced that the 2026 edition of the Student Lighting Competition will focus on the theme “Everything Old is New Again.” For more information, visit https://iesnyc.org/Student_Competition.
Photos: Dany Bristoll Photo
In Memoriam
John R. Harpest, IES Member
John R. Harpest passed away in March 2025. Harpest was a project manager and lighting designer who worked on many projects around the country. As a 45-year IES Member, he served on the IES International Board and, as a Member of the IES Illumination Awards Committee, had the honor of judging lighting projects from around the world. Being a dedicated electrical engineer at heart, Harpest retired twice and, in his final months, served Wright State University as a project manager.
Member Mentions
Allisia Sunbury has joined SmithGroup as a lighting designer.
Travis Howell has been promoted to product manager at H.E. Williams.
Benjamin Salzman has joined the lighting specification sales team at ERW Lighting + Controls.
Claudia Barrett has joined HLB Lighting Design as a designer.
Spencer Pidgeon has been promoted to national business development manager at Cooper Lighting Solutions.
Bold = Individual or Sustaining Member
