Every year as we prepare for the fall semester, we like to introduce a few members of the newest class of students. Meet Karwaan Kotwal, Miya Mese-Jones, Asa Simms, Madison Barrentine, and Thai Ly, five first-years who shared a little about what brought them to Cooper, what they’re most looking forward to as they begin their courses of study, and what they’ve been up to this summer.

Karwaan Kotwal
Sterling, Virginia
Art

I truly believe that persuasion through emotional impact is something increasingly overlooked in our empirical world, despite the amount of impact one's feelings could have. This realization has brought me more love toward the form of expression that is art, as it brings emphasis to our emotions, which is something timelessly important. Art has always been an incessant urge to represent and dissect the complexities of my identity and the identities surrounding me. Some complexities are indescribable, and are to only be measured through interpretation of art.

My journey to Cooper started about two years ago after I tagged along with my friend to a portfolio review in Richmond, VA. I met someone with whom I shared a mutual friend while in line for Cooper’s portfolio review. This friend helped me understand how progressive and accessible Cooper has always been. This was when my obsession with the school started, so I acquired my first sketchbook to improve my drawing. I had only known photography, but as I explored the works of current Cooper students, I decided that I needed to expand my practice. The summer of my senior year, I visited New York to familiarize myself with the urban landscape in preparation to apply for Cooper. This is when it was set for me. From begging the front office to let me into the arts building, to bugging every Cooper art student in sight to see their works, I fell in love with the artistic allure of the campus. There is this passion and environment at Cooper that I had caught glimpses of— a glow that could only be described as intense passion, a glow that I sought to join.

I am mostly looking forward to the humanities and social science classes as part of my Cooper experience. Social issues and conflicts are something that greatly influence the way I perceive everything around me, including creation and the responsibilities of creating work.

This summer, I have been working toward closure—whether that means documenting every hangout with my film camera, having jam sessions in hopes of performing a show with my friends, or creating a zine archiving the decentralized local scene. To prepare myself toward creation, I have to be able to reflect beforehand.

Miya Mese-Jones
Baltimore, Maryland
Engineering

I first realized I wanted to study engineering when I did a research project at Johns Hopkins University during my last two years of high school. It focused on a heart disease called coarctation of the aorta, which we were trying to fix with a synthetic graft made using computer-aided design. I loved the creativity and practicality of the project, where I got to think of solutions that solve an important problem through math and science. I also really enjoyed the dynamic of the small lab, which is an environment I’m hoping I’ll see at Cooper Union. The creativity of engineering is what I am most excited to learn and work on at Cooper, along with collaborating in a tight-knit group and coming up with ideas together.

I found out about Cooper when researching colleges. It was just lucky that I stumbled upon it. When I read more, I discovered that it was in the perfect location, was a good distance from home, and had an engineering school.

This summer, I went to music camp in Canada and learned to surf in Costa Rica. I’ve also been working, hanging out with my cats, and taking advantage of my driver’s license—exploring all of Baltimore with my friends before I leave.

Asa Simms
Temple Hills, Maryland
Architecture

After reading a book by Herman Hertzberger, I could feel we held similar philosophical beliefs. Executing those beliefs through architecture seemed natural after the read. The Cooper Union was the most reputable school I could apply to without an established portfolio. The studio test was my first real design challenge, so I took the opportunity.

Technical design is easily my biggest weakness, so I look forward to improving that as part of my Cooper experience. Seeing how others approach design intrigues me a lot as well.

Over the summer, I’ve been evolving my crafting tree by completing smaller builds like chairs, benches, and stools with my friends.

Madison Barrentine
Birmingham, Alabama
Art

I spent several years attending an arts school, which helped me see that visual art was something to learn and cultivate in an academic setting. Over the years of studying art and building my personal practice, I began leaning heavily into an educational and research-based approach. This love of learning spurred me to continue studying art in college.

I was curious about Cooper for a long time, but the distance and mystery of New York shrouded the school in a fog of impossibility. It seemed unrealistic to me. But that mystery and the encouragement from my teachers eventually persuaded me to apply. I was drawn to the mystery, and excited to plant myself in a place so foreign and bustling and just figure it out. Although I grew up in Birmingham, one of the biggest cities in Alabama, it’s still a tiny one compared to Cooper’s Manhattan.

I’m excited about the independence required to be a Cooper student, how my life will adapt while here, and having endless information to process on my own. I’m looking forward to learning about New York, the subway, and how to be a student here. I’m also really excited about the class sizes at Cooper which is one of my favorite things about the school. The tiny groups for art are intriguing, especially for bonding over something as personal as art.

Over the summer I’ve been working so I can afford groceries! Other than that, I’ve been traveling and trying to keep my art brain awake throughout these four months of crazy anticipation.

Thai Ly
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Engineering

At the start of high school, my family members’ health issues initially motivated me to learn more about biology with a plan to study medicine. When I got the opportunity to go to the US for high school, I competed in related competitions at the Science Olympiad and got involved in research projects. These experiences taught me how scientific research is inherently interdisciplinary and collaborative. For example, X-ray methods such as diffraction, which can be used to analyze protein structures, draw on principles from physics. Additionally, I learned that there is a long way to go between a drug’s discovery and its mass production. Having experienced inadequate treatment in Vietnamese rural hospitals, I’m particularly interested in how to improve drug production processes to reduce production costs, helping to broaden access to treatment. Studying chemical engineering would allow me to build a strong foundation in the sciences and contribute to solving problems I care about.

I first stumbled upon The Cooper Union during my “trip” on Google Maps Street View, but it wasn’t until some friends applied that I took a closer look. I love the school’s location, commitment to project-based learning combined with civic engagement, and the small and collaborative community. What further drew me in was how Cooper integrates humanities into the engineering curriculum, reflecting a well-rounded approach to education that resonates with me. The generous institutional scholarships I received solidified Cooper as my most affordable and ideal option. It took some convincing to get my parents on board with going to such a small school, but I’m grateful they supported my decision.

I’ve always been interested in learning new things, and Cooper’s focus on interdisciplinary collaboration will make sure I’ll have lots of that! Specifically, I’m excited about EID 101, which would provide me with a foundation to be a part of, for example, Chem-E-Car or the Bioengineering Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) Team. The hands-on experience in these projects would deepen my understanding of engineering and scientific principles acquired in class. Additionally, I’m eager to learn from and contribute my perspectives to peers and faculty who are equally passionate about innovation.

Over the summer, I learned how to ride motorbikes and drive, and improved my Mandarin. I have also been spending time with my family by helping my grandparents with housework or running with my mom. On cooler days, I found peace biking through Ho Chi Minh City's parks, a tranquil contrast to the city's bustling traffic. Recently, I’ve been brushing up on calculus and coding so that I’m well-prepared for the coursework at Cooper.