Brookdale Students and Alum Shine at ASID 2023 Design Excellence Award Gala

Brookdale Community College proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of its talented students at the ASID 2023 Design Excellence Award Gala. The event, held on June 27 at the Clubhouse at Galloping Hills Golf Course in Kenilworth, proved to be a night of triumph for Brookdale’s aspiring interior designers.

“Winning the Gold Award in the student category for the second time since 2020 is an incredible honor,” exclaimed Mariam Abelhamid, a recent graduate of Kean University and a product of Brookdale’s esteemed interior design program. “I had a wonderful night yesterday at the ASID 2023 Design Excellence Award Gala, enjoying beautiful designs, meeting talented & nice designers, and one of the best parts was winning the Gold Award in the student category for the second time since 2020. I couldn’t do it without the assistance and support of my professors and family. It is such an exciting way to end my journey as an interior design student and welcome my new journey as an emerging professional!”

In addition to Mariam’s outstanding achievement, Emily Pulka, who graduated from Brookdale in May, was awarded the Silver Award for Design of a Residential Space, and Anna Skrzyniarz, another accomplished Brookdale student, received an Honorable Mention for the Design with Light competition.

“Brookdale continues to serve as a launchpad for emerging design professionals, and we are immensely proud of our students’ accomplishments,” stated Professor of Interior Design Celeste Chirichello.

Emmy award-winning George Oliphant of NBC’s “George to the Rescue” served as master of ceremonies and sprinkled stardust over the entire evening, bringing robust enthusiasm and an understanding of the challenges designers face to the rapt audience of interior designers, sponsors, industry partners, and friends and family.

Designers could submit projects in residential and commercial / non-residential sectors. Winners spanned categories from Residential Single Space and Design for People With Specific Or Special Needs to Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Club.

“Winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity, creativity and how exceptional design affects the people that use these spaces,” said Nada F. Alzoubi, Allied ASID, president of the new Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives.”

The winners were as follows:

Residential Single Space:

Gold – Jill Ryan, Allied ASID, Jill Ryan Interiors, Tinton Falls

Silver – Ivee Fromkin, Allied ASID, I. Fromkin Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Bronze – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Wyckoff

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less

Gold – Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes

Silver – Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, CID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Bronze – Linda Granert, ASID, CID, Granert Interior Planning & Design, Midland Park

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet

Gold – Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield

Gold – Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, and Sarah Fetouh, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn

Silver – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale

Bronze – Cynthia Peralta-Brito, ASID, CPB Designs, Maywood

Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet

Gold – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale

Silver – Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, CID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park

Silver – Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes

Bronze – Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, and Sarah Fetouh, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn

Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft

Gold – Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Silver – Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Bronze – Blanche Garcia, ASID, B. Garcia Designs, Little Falls

Residential Large Bathroom, 51 Square Feet or More:

Gold – Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes

Silver – Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, CID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Bronze – Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield

Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More:

Gold – Elizabeth Ego, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes

Silver – Miriam Silver Verga, Associate Member ASID, Mimi & Hill, Westfield

Bronze – Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair

Residential Show House Space

Gold – Diane Durocher, ASID, CID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Silver – Tammy Bolden, Allied ASID, Bold Interior Designs, Montclair

Bronze – Marina Umali, ASID, CID, Marina V. Design Studio, Ridgewood

Design for People with Special or Specific Needs

Gold – Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, CID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Montclair

Specialty and Unique Interior Spaces

Gold – Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, CID, Thyme & Place Design, Wyckoff

Silver – Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Bronze – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale

Outdoor Living Spaces

Gold – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale

Silver – Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Holmdel

Commercial Several Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or Less:

Gold – Jennifer Pacca, Allied ASID, Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale

Commercial Several Spaces, 10,001 Square Feet or More:

Bronze – Jill Ryan, Allied ASID, Jill Ryan Interiors, Tinton Falls

Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Club

Silver – Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, CID, Interior Decisions, Florham Park

Industry Partner Category

Winner: Baki Ildiz, The Creative Touch, with Carpet Design by Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID

Student ASID awards went to Casey Luikert of Kean University, Gold, and Emily Pulka of Brookdale Community College, Silver, in the Student Residential Space category; Olivia Baltran of Kean University, Gold, and Meghan Maldonado of Berkeley College, Bronze, in the Student Commercial Space category; Mariam Abdelhamid of Kean University and an alum of Brookdale Community College won the Gold, in the Student Public Space category.

Brookdale’s success at the ASID 2023 Design Excellence Award Gala underscores the college’s dedication to fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence within its interior design program. As these gifted students embark on new professional journeys, they will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the design industry.

For more information please visit Brookdale’s Interior Design Program.