Two of our former students stopped by for Career Day on May 19, 2017.
Keith Brewer attended Villa Maria from 1990 through 1994. After Villa, he attended Turn of River Middle School and then Hofstra University where he earned a BA in Sociology/English. At present he is a global digital director involved in advertising and bringing a product or service to the attention of customers. Keith explained that this is technically done through mass media, and shared various examples of ads in his PowerPoint. He took the students through his typical work day from meeting with his the design team, making calls to Spain and France, meeting with clients, and creating PowerPoints. Keith also shared his Villa story and was honest about his difficulty learning and the skills Villa taught him, namely, how to be organized, develop confidence, communication skills, and lifelong friendships. Keith is married and has a two-year old daughter. He lives in New York but will be moving to Chappaqua in the near future.
Sinan Biro came to Villa Maria in 1992 and graduated in 1995. He attended King School formerly King Low Heywood Thomas High School. Afterwards Sinan went to Columbia University School of Engineering. He continued at Columbia where he majored in Biomedical Engineering. He also joined ROTC and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army National Guard. A few years later, he transferred to the Air National Guard as a Bioenvironmental Engineering Officer. At the same time he also worked full time as a manager of an imaging lab at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in New York City. He is currently working as a coronary account manager with Philips Healthcare which he started in 2012. Besides Sinan’s PowerPoint, the students and teachers enjoyed the extra large plastic heart model he brought along with some of the wires used for catheters with cameras and shunts. He said he accomplished so much since Villa Maria and he believed that if it had not been for that experience he would not be where he is today. Sinan’s wife is also in the military and they live in New York City.
Both young men were together in classes at Villa Maria in 6th and 7th grades. Although they attended different high schools and colleges/universities, they stayed in touch and became lifelong friends. Keith was Sinan’s best man when he got married, and Sinan was Keith’s best man when he got married. Needless to say, we are so proud of them, not only for their accomplishments, but also for the wonderful gentlemen they have become.