Traverso Scholarship recipients exhibit outstanding photography

Giancarlo Traverso, SUNY New Paltz professor emeritus, founded the Luigi and Anita Traverso Endowed Photography Scholarship in 2013 as an expression of his passion and desire to support student artists working in photography. On May 13, Traverso met with the three 2015 recipients at an exhibition and reception attended by students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“I’m very happy to contribute modestly to helping students who have great talent move forward with their work,” Traverso said. “I’m also glad to have my parents’ names on the Scholarship, because it’s a way of showing them my appreciation for all they did for me over the years.”

Graduating seniors of the BFA – Photography major are eligible to submit their theses for the scholarship, which is awarded annually by Photography Department faculty to students who demonstrate high quality work, involvement in the life of the photography program and professional involvement in the field.

“I want to thank Giancarlo for this amazing opportunity for our students,” said Andrea Frank, head of the photography program. “It means so much for a student this early in a career to be supported. I’ve experienced that myself, and I know how much it can propel you forward. I also commend these students for this amazing work and for being so professional.”

The three recipients of the Traverso Scholarship are Jayna Cowal ’15 (Photography), James Senzer ’15 (Photography) and Nick Mehedin ’15 (Photography), all of whom expressed appreciation to Traverso and to the faculty members who helped them produce brilliant work during their time at the College.

“The scholarship gives me hope that I can keep going in this field after I graduate,” Cowal said. “My professors talk a lot about being involved and taking every opportunity that you can. I got an internship last year, and they’ve hired me back for a freelance job. I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the things I’ve learned here. Coming to New Paltz opened my eyes up to all the different things I could do.”

The Luigi and Anita Traverso Endowed Photography Scholarship is one of three endowments created by Traverso following his retirement as a faculty member in 1998. The Luigi and Anita Traverso Endowment for Italian Studies supports students of the Italian Studies program who spend time abroad at an Italian university, and also supports the Italian Studies Lecture Series. Additionally, the Giuseppe Traverso Citizen Naturalist Endowed Internship, named in honor of Giancarlo’s brother, is available to students who participate in ecological monitoring and other conservation science programs of the Mohonk Preserve.

More information about giving to SUNY New Paltz is available online.

Some of the work of James Senzer, Nick Mehedin and Jayna Cowal can be viewed at their respective websites.