New York, NY – March 31, 2026 – The Illuminating Engineering Society of New York City (IESNYC) is proud to announce that Harithra Navaratnam, a Master of Science in Lighting candidate at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Daniel Pachman, an Architectural Lighting Design student at the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID), have been selected as the recipients of the 2026 IESNYC Merit Scholarship.
This prestigious $25,000 award—split evenly between the two recipients—recognizes full-time, first-year graduate students in architectural lighting enrolled at accredited institutions in New York State, supporting the next generation of leaders in the field.
Mike Barr, IESNYC Board Member and Scholarship Committee Chair (Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.), emphasized the significance of this year’s recipients: “This year’s recipients reflect the diverse ways students are approaching lighting today. Harithra and Daniel bring completely distinct perspectives, but both are clearly thinking about how lighting can have a meaningful impact. Supporting that kind of curiosity, growth, and commitment to learning is central to the IESNYC Merit Scholarship and essential to advancing the profession.”
Harithra Navaratnam’s journey into lighting began with her early studies in architecture in Sri Lanka, where she developed a strong awareness of how design decisions impact daily life, particularly in resource-limited environments. Her work bridges energy efficiency and human-centered design, focusing on lighting systems that support visual comfort, safety, and well-being while using energy responsibly. Currently a Research Assistant at the Lighting Research Center, her graduate research explores mitigating discomfort glare in linear LED luminaires through optical design.
“Receiving the IESNYC Merit Scholarship is both an honor and an encouragement to continue pursuing research that improves lighting quality, health and well-being, and visual comfort. I am grateful to be supported by a community that values education, innovation, and the future of the lighting profession,” said Harithra.
While Harithra’s work is grounded in research and lighting performance, Daniel approaches lighting through a more artistic, multidisciplinary lens. Originally from Omaha and Detroit, his work explores movement across mediums, shaped in part by early cross-country travels documented through experimental video and web-based storytelling. This discovery of “spectral art”—using colored light to reveal layered compositions—led him to lighting design for installations and environments.
His current interests focus on addressing lighting inequities, particularly in underlit communities such as Highland Park, Michigan, where he aims to explore thoughtful relighting strategies that restore visibility while respecting the night.
“Many places struggle with too much light. Highland Park, Michigan faces the opposite challenge. I’m interested in exploring how carefully designed lighting can restore visibility while still respecting the night. Receiving the IESNYC Merit Scholarship shows that the lighting community values this kind of work and gives me the opportunity to further develop these ideas and connections,” said Daniel.
Zachary Pearson, President of the IESNYC (Fisher Marantz Stone), reflected on this year’s recipients, stating, “Harithra and Daniel reflect the diversity of thought and approach that defines the future of our profession. Selected through a highly competitive process, they demonstrate both the curiosity and commitment needed to advance the field in meaningful ways. We are excited to support their continued growth and to see how their perspectives inspire the next generation of lighting design.”
The IESNYC is committed to supporting lighting education, fostering the growth of emerging professionals, and shaping future industry leaders. Beyond the Merit Scholarship program, the organization actively promotes learning through initiatives such as the annual IESNYC Thesis Awards, the Student Lighting Competition, the Guiding Lights Circle mentorship program, and a variety of educational programs offered throughout the year. These programs, like the Merit Scholarship, contribute to strengthening the lighting community in New York City and beyond while helping to cultivate talent and innovation in the field.
BIOS
Harithra Navaratnam is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Lighting program and a Research Assistant at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She currently serves as the Graduate Representative on the Rensselaer Student Union Executive Board for the 2025–2026 academic year and is an Associate Professional of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. She previously earned a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where she received the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Award for Best Overall Academic Performance in 2023. Following her undergraduate studies, she practiced for two years as a project architect at Palinda Kannangara Architects, Sri Lanka. Her undergraduate research on thermal performance and energy use in government office buildings in Sri Lanka received the Best Paper Award at the 16th FARU International Research Conference and was later published in the FARU Journal (2023). Her current research focuses on mitigating discomfort glare in linear LED luminaires through optical design to improve visual comfort in interior environments.
Daniel Pachman is a multidisciplinary artist from Omaha and Detroit whose work explores movement across a variety of mediums. His artistic journey began with hitchhiking trips across the United States, where he documented his travels through experimental video and web-based storytelling. His interest in animation and audiovisual coordination led him to develop “spectral art,” a technique using colored light to reveal layered compositions. This work led to lighting installations for events, landscapes, and creative environments. With a background in engineering, computer science, and business, Daniel takes an interdisciplinary approach to lighting design. He is particularly interested in addressing lighting inequities and exploring thoughtful relighting strategies in underlit communities such as Highland Park, Michigan.
About the IESNYC
IESNYC (www.iesnyc.org) is the New York City Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society.
The IESNYC is a volunteer professional membership organization whose members share a mutual appreciation for and fascination with all things lighting. They are lighting designers, architects, engineers, consultants, lighting manufacturers, lighting representatives, electrical distributors, and allied professionals. IESNYC members are dedicated to promoting the art and science of illumination engineering to their members, professionals, the lighting industry, and the public through inspiring events, informative programs and educational series, social outreach, and networking opportunities.