Families Recognized for Commitment to Engineering

New studio name and plaques at West Campus IDEA Lab honor generous benefactors

Key Highlights

• ^{The Massey and Hollander families were honored for major philanthropic support of SHU's Welch College of Business & Technology engineering programs}
• ^{SHU unveiled new studio naming and plaques at the West Campus IDEA Lab}
• ^{Event included a ribbon cutting, lab tour, student project demonstrations and lunch with faculty, students and alumni}

The Massey and Hollander families were recently recognized and honored at Sacred Heart University’s West Campus for their generosity and dedication to the Welch College of Business & Technology’s (WCBT) engineering programs.

On a December morning, Aaron and Susan Hollander and Bob Massey gathered at SHU’s IDEA Lab (Innovate–Design–Engineer–Apply Lab) for an intimate ceremony attended by faculty, staff, students and alumni. Paul J. Sutera, senior vice president of University advancement, stood in front of the bustling IDEA Lab as students were inside working and tinkering on innovative projects. Sutera said the lab exists thanks to the vision, support and commitment of families like the Masseys and Hollanders.

“The IDEA Lab is more than a physical space: It’s a mindset,” Sutera said. Students use the lab to solve challenges in new and creative ways. He said the space inspires students to think differently.

SHU President John J. Petillo and WCBT Dean David Taylor thanked the families for their kindness. Taylor said due to the families’ investment, students will continue to build go-carts, fly drones and create technical wonders inside the lab. “With this kind of support, there’s no limit to what we can create,” Taylor said.

As a way to thank the families for their dedication, the inscription on the IDEA Lab’s exterior window now reads, “The Betty Ruth & Milton B. Hollander Studio gifted Susan & Aaron Hollander.” A large plaque outside the lab door honors the Massey family’s commitment to engineering and the lab.

Massey’s daughter, Taylor, earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from SHU in 2022. Massey’s company, Massey Plate Glass & Aluminum, Inc., also produced and installed the glass windows and glass features in the Martire Family Arena and completed other construction projects at SHU. During the ceremony, he thanked the University for honoring the family in such a thoughtful way.

Aaron Hollander, chairman and CEO of First Aviation Services, Inc., then said a few words. He talked about his upbringing and how his parents were creative, innovative thinkers. His father, Milton Hollander, earned more than 200 patents, and his mother, Betty Ruth Hollander, founded the company Omega Engineering in Norwalk. Hollander was also touched to be recognized and was excited to see what students would continue to create in the IDEA Lab. It was shared in conversation that Betty Ruth Hollander was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Sacred Heart University in 1983—a distinction that underscores the enduring and meaningful relationship between the University and the Hollander family.

Sutera credited the support for giving life to innovative thinking. “Your generosity is fueling transformative experiences for students and creating opportunities for bold ideas,” Sutera said.

The event ended with a ribbon cutting. The Hollanders and Masseys then went into the lab to have lunch, talk with students, look at the students’ projects and learn about their coursework.

Following the luncheon was an engineering lecture by Igor Cherepinsky, director of Sikorsky Innovations, who shared how engineers turn bold ideas into world-changing technology through creativity, collaboration and cutting-edge innovation. The presentation was a perfect example of how the IDEA Lab is creating partnerships across the engineering landscape—connecting SHU students and faculty with industry leaders to spark collaboration and innovation.