North Bennet graduate wins craftsmanship award

Ryan Fini, a June graduate of Boston’s North Bennet Street School, earned the first Excellence in Craftsmanship award given by Diamond Machining Technology, a manufacturer of sharpening products based in Marlborough, Mass.

The award supports emerging craftsmen from the trade school, established in 1885. It includes a gift of $1,000 and complimentary Diamond Machining Technology sharpening products.

Fini was nominated and selected by the school’s faculty, based on the criteria of a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship, created an exemplary body of work and whose leadership skills have contributed to fellow students and to the school. Fini has completed the school’s violin-making and repair program.

“During class, Ryan is very attentive, reliable and diligent. Beyond this, he is exceptionally talented, creative and motivated. And he is a natural leader,” program chair Roman Barnas says.

“Ryan leads projects that are not typically part of the program, but are highly educational and fun for the students. He has been very active and dedicated and has consistently volunteered to help with extracurricular projects and studies in historical instrument making methods. He is always helpful and supportive to the other students.”

Leading up to graduation, Fini had his choice of prestigious positions. He has chosen an opportunity in which he will work on the best instruments available for sale internationally and also continue to make his own instruments.

“It is truly an honor to receive this award,” Fini says. “It means a great deal to me to be recognized in a field that I am so passionate about. I am truly grateful to be able to begin my career on such a positive note.”

“The violin-making class gathering and NBSS graduation were wonderful. And being able to personally present the award to Ryan was very meaningful,” Diamond Machining Technology vice president Stacey Brandon says. “It’s such a pleasure to support this outstanding young man and to feel a genuine connection with the artisanship that our products support.”

This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue.