Brooklyn Technical High School

Brooklyn Technical High School is one of three primary high schools making up the specialized science circuit in New York City, the other two being Stuyvesant High School and the Bronx High School of Science. "Brooklyn Tech," as the school is commonly known, has the largest enrollment of the three schools and is the sixth largest school in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. It is a member of the NCSSSMST. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education.

Prominent Alumni

The following alumni have been inducted into Brooklyn Tech's Hall of Fame.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Albert L. Colstron

Dr. Albert L. Colston was the creator and founding principal of Brooklyn Technical High School. In the fall of 1918, Dr. Colston, then Chairman of the Mathematics and Mechanical Drawing Departments of Manual Training High School, presented a paper to the Brooklyn Engineers Club on "the modern technical high school" recommending the establishment of a technical high school curriculum for Brooklyn boys. He utilized his vision to implement a technical course of study at Manual Training High School and ultimately received, in 1922, the approval for the creation of Brooklyn Technical High School. He was nominated and chosen principal in 1922 and served in this capacity for the next twenty years.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dr. Colston brought many programs to Tech such as the first aviation course given in any public school in the City, a radio station, extensive co-curricular programs, and the evolution of a technical curriculum that was in the forefront of high school education.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dr. Colston?s vision, leadership, commitment and dedication to the concept of technical education was the driving force and the inspiration for the continued development of Brooklyn Technical High School. He is recognized as being a visionary in secondary technical education in New York City.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harry Chapin

A seasoned performer while still at Tech, Harry Chapin career included gold album records and his famous number one hit, Cat's in the Cradle, an Oscar-nominated documentary film, a Tony-nominated stage show and an Emmy-winning children's television program. In 1975, he founded World Hunger Year, a charity to fight international famine, and, in 1981 at the height of his popularity and influence, Mr. Chapin was killed in an automobile accident.

Related Topics:
Gold album - Cat's in the Cradle - Oscar-nominated - Documentary - Tony-nominated stage show - 1975 - Famine - 1981 - Automobile accident

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Col. Karol J. Bobko

A NASA astronaut who logged 386 hours in space on three missions, Col. Bobko was the pilot of the maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the mission that conducted the first shuttle space walk. He was the commander of the Space Shuttle Atlantis? first flight. A member of the Air Force Academy?s first graduating class, he holds the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Meritorious Service Medals. He was awarded the Air Force Academy?s prestigious Jabara Award in 1983.

Related Topics:
NASA - Astronaut - Space Shuttle Challenger - Mission - Space walk - Space Shuttle Atlantis - Air Force Academy - Distinguished Flying Cross - Jabara Award - 1983

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dr. Frank A. Cipriani

Dr. Frank A. Cipriani is the fifth President of the State University of New York at Farmingdale. He is currently the most senior President among the thirty State operated campuses of SUNY, and celebrated completion of his 20th year as President of SUNY Farmingdale on April 27 1998. Dr. Cipriani began his career at SUNY Farmingdale as an Asst. Dean in 1964 with the School of Continuing Education. He rapidly rose through the ranks, moving in 1965 into the positions of Exec. Asst. to the President and, two years later, Vice President for Administration. He also holds the rank of Professor of History and Political Science at SUNY Farmingdale since 1967.

Related Topics:
State University of New York at Farmingdale - April 27 - 1998 - 1964 - 1965 - Professor - History - Political Science

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prior to entering his present profession, Dr. Cirpiani was an officer in the US Air Force where he was honorably discharged holding the rank of Captain and the rating of Navigator-Flight Instructor. As a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, he pursued his graduate studies while employed in the engineering department of an international insurance company. Dr. Cipriani is a graduate of Queens College, earning his Ph.D. atNew York University. He speaks Italian and French fluently, and has been a strong advocate of international education and supporter of a strong humanities component in technical education curricula.

Related Topics:
US Air Force - New York University

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Adam J. Cirillo

Adam J. Cirillo has achievements in the fields of education, business, community service, engineering and the field of football, for which he is best known. He coached the Brooklyn Tech football team for 30 years.

Related Topics:
Football - Coached

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Joseph J. Jacobs

During World War II, Joseph J. Jacobs helped develop the mass production of the drug penicillin. He founded Jacobs Engineering Group and took it from a one-man chemical process consultancy to its present status as one of the world's leading engineering-construction companies with offices on six continents.

Related Topics:
World War II - Drug - Penicillin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Donald L. Klein

The leader of the team at Bell Telephone Laboratories that created the polysilicon Field-Effect Transistor in 1966, Dr. Klein?s advance has been the key to very large scale integrated circuits and the advancement of computers and communications technologies. The innovative breakthrough was to employ polycrystalline silicone in a self-aligned process to replace the previously used thin metal films. It has become the standard process for manufacturing all silicon semiconductor memory and microprocessor circuit chips.

Related Topics:
Bell Telephone - 1966 - Silicone

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Joseph J. Kohn

A native of Czechoslovakia, Dr. Kohn's family emigrated to Ecuador in 1939 and to the United States in 1945 where he received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1956. He is Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University.

Related Topics:
Czechoslovakia - Ecuador - 1939 - United States - 1945 - Princeton - 1956 - Mathematics

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sgt. Meyer Levin

Brooklyn Tech?s first World War II hero, Air Force Master Sergeant Levin was a much decorated B-17 bombardier in the Pacific Theater. He flew in the first planes to attack the Japanese after Pearl Harbor and miraculously escaped death in the ill-fated flight that claimed Captain Colin Kelly?s life. On January 7, 1943, his plane ran out of fuel and the crew was ordered to parachute to safety. But, Sgt. Levin remained onboard long enough to drop the life raft that saved the crew?s lives. Levin did not survive the crash.

Related Topics:
B-17 - Pacific Theater - Japanese - Pearl Harbor - January 7 - 1943

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harvey Lichtenstein

Harvey Lichtenstein guided the Brooklyn Academy of Music for thirty-two years, creating America?s leading contemporary performing arts institution. From 1971 to 1973 he served as the American Director of Italy?s Spoleto Festival and he created the cutting edge Next Wave Festival at BAM in 1983.

Related Topics:
Brooklyn Academy of Music - 1971 - 1973 - Italy - 1983

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William J. Mack

For over four decades, William L. Mack developed real estate projects around the globe. After serving in the Air Force, he began his real estate career with one small site leading to such projects as AOL Time Warner at Columbus Circle. Mr. Mack was the first Chairman of the Long Island Power Authority and founded the Mack Center at the Wharton School to help companies develop strategies to compete and succeed in industries being transformed by emerging technologies. Mr. Mack is Chairman of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation.

Related Topics:
Real estate - AOL Time Warner

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saverio Morea

Widely considered one of America's foremost pioneers of flight, Saverio Morea received his Private Pilots License during his junior year at Tech. He was NASA's Project Manager for the F-1 engine, the world's most powerful liquid rocket engine and he also led the team that developed the Lunar Roving Vehicle, which the astronauts used to move around on the surface of the moon. For these significant contributions to space exploration, Saverio Morea was twice awarded NASA's Exceptional Service Medal.

Related Topics:
Lunar Roving Vehicle - Moon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Arno A. Penzias

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978 for his contributions to astrophysics, Dr. Penzias worked at Bell Labs for most of his career, first as a research scientist and later as the head of its research organization. An author, R&D leader, and inventor, he later moved to Silicon Valley, where he helped aspiring scientists and engineers to create a number of successful high-technology companies.

Related Topics:
Nobel Prize in Physics - 1978 - Astrophysics - Inventor - Silicon Valley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Leonard Riggio

Leonard Riggio began his career as a clerk at the NYU bookstore. Convinced he could provide better service to students, he opened a competing store in 1965. His business thrived and, in 1971, he bought the flagship Barnes & Noble bookstore. He changed the book industry with such innovations as extensive selection of books, discounts, and comfortable stores that have become community institutions.

Related Topics:
Bookstore - 1965 - 1971 - Barnes & Noble

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dr. Steven P. Shearing

Steven P. Shearing, M.D., was one of the originators of cataract surgery. A Fulbright scholar, he is a member of the Nevada Inventors Hall of Fame, and he is only the second person to receive the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Innovator's Award. In 1993, the Steven P. Shearing Chair of Ophthalmology was established at the University of California.

Related Topics:
Cataract - Fulbright - 1993 - University of California

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Charles B. Wang

A native of Shanghai, China, Mr. Wang founded Computer Associates International in 1976, building it to a multi-billion dollar company on the principle that technology must serve business. His belief that computer technology can improve children's lives led him to found The Smile Train, an organization committed to eradicating the problem of cleft lips and palates. Mr. Wang endowed the Asian American Center at SUNY Stony Brook and actively supports the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, whose national headquarters bears his name. A lifelong sports fan, he owns the National Hockey League's New York Islanders.

Related Topics:
Shanghai, China - 1976 - SUNY Stony Brook - National Hockey League - New York Islanders

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Josh S. Weston

A Fulbright Scholar after graduating Magna Cum Laude from City College, Mr. Weston retired as Chairman after building Automatic Data Processing into a $6 billion, 35,000 employee company.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~