Berkeley College Student Named Semi-Finalist in National Interior Design Portfolio Competition
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019 |
Contact: Ilene Greenfield Director of Media Relations 973-278-5400, ext. 1-5122 igl@BerkeleyCollege.edu |
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BERKELEY COLLEGE STUDENT NAMED SEMI-FINALIST IN NATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN PORTFOLIO COMPETITION |
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The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) recently recognized Berkeley College student Ashley Tortorella as a semi-finalist in its Student Portfolio Competition. The national competition evaluates submissions on conceptual thought, content and record of achievement.
Ms. Tortorella, a resident of Valley Cottage, NY, is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design at Berkeley College. As a semi-finalist, she attended SCALE: The ASID National Student Summit, held in March in New York City. Ms. Tortorella said she has gravitated toward art and design since a young age.
“I love to create spaces that feel luxurious, modern and functional,” she said. “I hope that my designs convey the time and effort that went into creating them.”
Professor Jeffery McCullough, Interior Design, School of Professional Studies, serves as faculty advisor to the Berkeley College student chapter of ASID, and supported Ms. Tortorella in her submission to the Student Portfolio Competition. As a 20-year veteran of the interior design field, Mr. McCullough said it was challenging and exciting to assemble an exemplary submission.
“It was a process to take a portfolio that included all of Ashley’s work and narrow that down to the best examples of who she is as a designer,” Mr. McCullough said. “I love witnessing the moment when a student feels the excitement about learning the material we are covering in a class. I love seeing the light bulb go off and the connections happening.”
Ms. Tortorella recently accepted a position as a junior designer with Rajni Alex Design in Bronxville, NY. She previously completed an internship with Lily Renee Interior DZn in Bergen County, NJ, where she received hands-on experience in sketching, rendering, 3D modeling and other professional skills.
Ms. Tortorella will graduate from Berkeley College in August 2019. Her advice to emerging design students is to embrace their creativity. “Having a creative mind in this field is so important, and can make you stand out from the crowd,” Ms. Tortorella said. “Don’t be afraid to try something new – and if a design doesn’t work, try again.”
Photo Captions (Top and above right): Berkeley College student Ashley Tortorella of Valley Cottage, NY, with Jeffery McCullough, Professor, Interior Design, Berkeley College School of Professional Studies, in The Gallery at Woodland Park. The American Society of Interior Designers named Ms. Tortorella a semi-finalist in its Student Portfolio Competition. Pictured (above left) are some of Ms. Tortorella’s portfolio designs.
About Berkeley College
A leader in providing career-focused education since 1931, Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and enrolls more than 7,000 students – including more than 350 international students – in its Master’s, Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs. Students can study in more than 20 career fields. Berkeley College is comprised of the Larry L. Luing School of Business®, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Health Studies, and the School of Liberal Arts. The School of Graduate Studies offers an MBA in Management online and in Woodland Park, NJ.
Berkeley College has four New Jersey campuses – Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park. In New York there are three campuses – Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and White Plains. Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. For six consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.
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