Scholar of the Month

“My primary career goal is to work in a dynamic field such as residential or landscape design while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I’m also interested in exploring set design for film and television. NJIT is helping me pursue these goals through hands-on, real-world projects. From the Hillier College’s Design Build experience to designing a multi-story residential building in Newark, I’ve gained valuable practical experience while discovering the areas of architecture that interest me most.”

– Christopher Lema ’27

Our May Scholar of the Month is Christopher Lema, a third-year student double-majoring in architecture and civil engineering and a proud recipient of the Milanaik Family and the Harold A. and Dorothy B. Snyder Foundation Scholarships. Christopher’s ambition, commitment, and engagement in his programs of study and contributions to the campus community have made him a stand-out undergraduate and a valued highlander. 

While engaged in two rigorous programs as a commuter, Christopher has maintained an impressive 3.84 GPA. His decision to major in architecture was influenced through his involvement with the landscaping staff at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, an institution he studied at prior to his arrival at NJIT. His hands-on experience drawing up plans for installation, redesign, and historic restoration in tandem with the seminary’s architect helped him find a path of personal fulfillment in pursuing a degree program that combined his love for the arts and sciences. 

Christopher’s pursuit of his studies has been financially supplemented with professional opportunities as well as scholarship support. At NJIT, he has served as a resident and teaching assistant for high school students and as a transfer student coordinator with the university’s Equal Opportunity Program. Off campus, Christopher gained hands-on experience this past summer interning at the CNY Group as a member of the firm’s estimating group, conducting site visits and seeing construction management in practice.

After graduation, Christopher looks forward to starting his career, establishing his own family, and continuing to pay it forward to the next generation of NJIT students – whether that means establishing a scholarship of his own or providing learning opportunities for students, he knows the value of an education. 

To learn more about the impact that scholarships have on NJIT's students, please watch our 2026 “Scholarships Change Lives” video.

To support students like Christopher, kindly visit www.njit.edu/givenow today.