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Portrait of Bennett Nestok

Honor Society® member

Bennett Nestok

Unhangout Project Intern at MIT Media Lab

  • Harvard University
  • Technology, Innovation, and Education
  • Class of 2017
  • Cambridge, Massachusetts

Member since December 2013

About

Hello and welcome. My name's Bennett, and I'm an opportunity-hungry designer/educator fueled by an incessant desire to pursue quality and uniquity in everything I create. I'm now enrolled in Harvard University's Master of Education Program in Technology, Innovation, and Education. My goal is to combine seemingly incompatible ideas within my research and in doing so fill in (or even create) unseen gaps in design education fieldwork. My logic behind this is that, from what I've gathered, innovation is often the result of forming unheard–of relationships. Thus, in the pursuit of what this master's program is meant to do—advance the field of education—I want to (oxymoronically) follow suit and do something that's never been done.

I try to pursue well–crafted unusualness in everything I do. In my free time I enjoy self–publishing illustrated books with bizarre plots, filming surrealist skits for an online video series, experimenting with hand drawn stylization methods, creating illustrations that convey metaphysics concepts, ideating guerrilla industrial designs, submitting humorous essays to academic blogs, and drafting curriculums for imaginary classes. If you feel that we could work together on something, anything at all, please contact me. Let's build something together. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bennettnestok3

Education

  • Harvard University

    Master of Education - Technology, Innovation, and Education

    2016 – 2017

  • University of Cincinnati

    Master of Design - Interaction Design

    2015 – 2016

  • University of Cincinnati

    Bachelor of Science - Interaction Design, Minor in Information Technology

    2010 – 2015

Honors and awards

  • Community Service Scholarship, HONORSOCIETY.org, 2016

    This scholarship showcases HONORSOCIETY.org members who make a difference in their community.

  • National Engaged Leader Award, National Society of Leadership and Success, 2016

    NELA status is granted to inductees involved in Leadership Training Day, six speaker broadcasts, six success networking team meetings, and five hours of community service.

  • HGSE Communication Fellowship, 2016

    Accepted fellows are "coached to be coaches" in the fall semester and take an active role in working with HGSE students, programs, initiatives, and faculty members in the spring semester.

  • SXSWedu Conference Scholarship, 2016

    Selected recipients receive complimentary registration to attend the 2017 South by Southwest Education (SXSWedu) Conference and Festival. SXSWedu extends SXSW’s support for the art of engagement to include "society’s true rock stars: educators!"

  • John L. Magro Foundation Scholarship, 2016

    This scholarship is designed to provide monetary assistance to students of exceptional merit obtaining a degree in the fields of music, art, theater, or science.

  • Summa Cum Laude, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2016

    Graduated at the very top of my class with a 3.983 (all A's except for an A- [98%] in one class).

  • Directors' Choice Award, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2016

    Thesis poster was chosen as Master of Design winner of DAAPworks 2016. Was then granted admittance to displaying in the Directors' Choice Exhibition in the DAAP Galleries.

  • Master of Design Class Coordinator, M.Des. Class of 2016, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2016

    Was elected by faculty and staff of the School of Design to be point of contact with my graduating class. Was also chosen to be carrier of the college flag at commencement, becoming the first DAAP graduate of the ceremony.

  • Third National Telehealth Conference Scholarship, University of Cincinnati, 2016

    Was one of three students at UC to attend the Third National Telehealth Conference on a full scholarship.

  • Finalist, TEDxUCincinnati Student Speaker, TEDxUCincinnati, 2016

    Submitted proposal to independently organized TED event known as "A COSMOPOLITAN World." Proposal entailed a presentation on dormant creativity in adults, entitled, "The Power of Immaturity." Became a top-five finalist.

  • Master of Design Student Representative-Elect, DAAP School of Design Director Search Committee, 2015

    Was elected by my peers to represent all Master of Design students in the 2016 search for a new School of Design Director at UC.

  • Erwin S. and Rose F. Wolfson Fellowship, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2015

    Earned this fellowship for successes in environmental design coursework throughout the Master of Design Program.

  • Best Gerd Arntz Essay, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design (Communication Design I), 2015

    Was singled out as the top Gerd Arntz essay in class (earning a 98% on the essay) due to its merits in writing content and custom text layout.

  • Graduate Assistantship, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2015

    Won tuition stipend for the Master of Design Program.

  • Magna Cum Laude, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2015

    Achieved academic level of distinction "with great honor" for my undergraduate experience at UC.

  • Certificate of Cooperative Education and Practice Excellence, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2015

    A Certificate of Cooperative Education and Practice Excellence is awarded by the Faculty of the Division of Professional Practice & Experiential Learning (ProPEL) for excellence in participation in the Cooperative Education Program.

  • Winner, UCInvents Competition, UC's Association for Computing Machinery, 2014

    For idea involving design system meant to promote portion control in dining halls, proposed using narrated, animated, hand drawn video, and defended in person during three rounds of competition day.

  • Cincinnati Co-op and Internship Plan Scholarship, Ohio Means Internships and Co-ops Grants Committee, 2014

    For achievement merit across several full-time Ohio internships.

  • Best Amélie Color Analysis Essay, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design (History of Visual Communication), 2013

    Was singled out as the top color analysis in a class of over 100 people, regarding the 2001 film Amélie.

  • Creativity Scholarship, Inlight Studios, 2013

    For four years of multifaceted, above-and-beyond help and continuous improvement at Inlight Studios.

  • Design Systems Scholarship, Crown Equipment Corporation, 2013

    For novel ideas developed and pitched to a panel of Crown Equipment representatives throughout a collaborative, sponsored, think-tank-esque design course.

  • Featured Local Visual Artist, Inlight Studios, 2013

    Was chosen by founder and lead artist of Inlight Studios to display numerous mixed media pieces within the Featured Local Visual Artists section.

  • The Non-Sequitur Award, ArtWorks Cincinnati, 2011

    Won the Non-Sequitur trophy for the randomness of my conversational contributions during my summer spent painting the Newport History Mural.

  • Youtube (Selective) Partnership, Youtube Revenue Share Program (back when Partner status was view-count-earned), 2010

    Earned Partner (monetary) status after achieving thousands of views, comments, and featured segments on various social networking entities.

  • Various Youtube Ranking Awards, Youtube, 2010

    Numerous Ranking Awards include #5 Most Subscribed Comedian Channel of All Time in the Czech Republic, and #31 Most Subscribed Channel of All Time in the Czech Republic.

  • Best Landscape Photo Essay ("Floating Kroger Bag"), Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design (Digital Design Fundamentals), 2010

    Was singled out as the top landscape photo essay in class.

  • Dean's List, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, 2010–2015

    To be on the Dean's List, a UC student must achieve a semester grade-point average of 3.4 or higher while enrolled in six or more credits per semester.

  • Fine Arts Association Scholarship, Mariemont High School Fine Arts Association, 2009

    Won a collegiate scholarship for continued studies in the visual arts.

Goals and interests

Career goal

After my Master of Education at Harvard, I plan on entering the design for education industry. Throughout my career I hope to be an 'edutainer,' pursuing positions and projects involving collegiate teaching, writing for television, design research, web design/development, and animation.

Graduate school interests

My graduate school interests include thinking like a child as a means toward creativity, for which my Master of Design thesis won the Directors' Choice Award; humor as an educational and ideation tool; and environmental storytelling as an educational tool.

Outside the classroom

My hobbies include drawing, writing, and unicycling. One of my most recent personal projects is a book proposal I have been working on, which can be seen here:
bennettnestok.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/style-study-sinful-shel-silverstein-spreads/

Experience

  • Unhangout Project Intern

    MIT Media Lab

    Sep 2016

  • ScratchEd Meetups Intern

    Harvard Creative Computing Lab

    Aug 2016

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    University of Cincinnati

    Jan 2016 – May 2016

  • User Experience Design Intern

    Athenahealth/Epocrates

    May 2015 – Aug 2015

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    University of Cincinnati

    Jan 2015 – May 2015

  • Design Research Associate

    Live Well Collaborative

    Aug 2014 – Dec 2015

  • Student Graphic Designer

    University of Cincinnati

    May 2014 – Aug 2014

  • Interaction Design Intern

    Crown Equipment Corporation

    Jan 2014 – Apr 2014

  • User Experience Design Intern

    Fifth Third Bank

    May 2013 – Aug 2013

  • Digital Design Intern

    Visa RushCard

    Sep 2012 – Dec 2012

  • Digital Design Intern

    Visa RushCard

    Mar 2012 – Jun 2012

  • Apprentice Artist

    ArtWorks Cincinnati

    Jun 2011 – Dec 2011

  • Designer

    Inlight Studios

    Jul 2009 – Jul 2014

Volunteering

  • Administrative Assistant

    Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

    May 2009 – Jun 2009

  • Floral Display Design Assistant

    Cincinnati Horticultural Society Flower Show

    Mar 2009 – Apr 2009

  • Custodian Assistant

    Ohio Renaissance Festival

    Sep 2008 – Oct 2008

  • Ticket Booth Assistant

    Mariemont City Schools

    Jan 2005 – May 2009

Languages

  • English (US) Advanced
  • Spanish Intermediate
  • French (France) Beginner

Additional information

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