Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Awards Ceremony
Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Awards Ceremony
The Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Awards ceremony honors the top 1% of RIT's undergraduate students. It celebrates RIT’s Scholars and gives them an opportunity to acknowledge a past teacher or professor who has had a significant impact on their academic career.
Awards Ceremony
March 18, 2021
5:30 p.m.
Due to New York State's COVID-19 guidelines, RIT’s president and provost will acknowledge the honorees during a virtual celebration. The awards ceremony will be live streamed and captioned on this webpage on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Program for the 2020-2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Awards
Information for Honored Teachers
Congratulations on being selected as an Honored Teacher at the RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Awards!
As part of the Scholars’ recognition, we have asked them to identify a high school or community college teacher whom they consider to be the “best” — a teacher they would like honored as a model for others. These teachers have had a profound influence on their career and have been an inspiration in their life. As one of the few selected for this honor, please accept our congratulations.
A reception, award ceremony, and dinner in honor of these Outstanding Undergraduate Scholars and their high school or community college teachers will be held on March 19, 2020.
You will have an opportunity to visit with your former student at the reception and you will be seated with them and their family and guests, at dinner. A certificate of appreciation and an acknowledgement from your Scholar will be presented during the dinner program.
Travel and Expenses
RIT will pay your airfare or mileage, along with associated tolls, within the United States or Canada, and one night’s lodging at the RIT Inn and Conference Center (including breakfast on Friday). RSVPs are accepted online for this event; you will receive a link via email from Academic Affairs at RIT. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Dawn Murray at 585-475-5334.
Please record your expenses on the expense form and return it to Dawn Murray, along with original receipts and the W-9 form, for reimbursement. When we receive your expense form, we will process a reimbursement check and mail it to you at the address indicated on the form. The process usually takes 10-14 business days.
Flight and Hotel Information
If you require flight arrangements, please contact Tzell Travel at 1-800-842-0941. Please let the counselor know you are making flight arrangements for RIT’s Outstanding Undergraduate Awards. Your flight will be direct-billed to RIT. If you book your flight another way, RIT will reimburse you for the cost of the flight.
A room has been reserved for you at the RIT Inn and Conference Center, 5257 West Henrietta Road, W. Henrietta, NY, 14586 (585-359-1800) for the evening of March 19. As a reminder, the cost of the room will be billed directly to RIT. At check-in, you will receive a gift certificate to Petals Restaurant for breakfast on Friday morning. You will be responsible for any other incidental charges (i.e. room service, movies, etc.)
Shuttle Service
The RIT Inn and Conference Center provides shuttle service to and from the Greater Rochester International Airport. Please contact the Inn by phone when you arrive to request shuttle service. The Inn is 10 minutes from RIT and provides shuttle service to and from campus. Please inquire with staff at the Inn to reserve the shuttle for transportation to and from the event. Drop off and pick up should be at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center at the south end of D lot (map).
Information for Guests
We look forward to joining recognizing your student’s outstanding achievement at this event. RSVPs will be accepted until February 17.
Special accommodations
The FAQ section includes information on parking, directions, accessibility, and other topics.
Extra guests
Dinner is provided for each scholar, their honored teacher and up to three guests at no cost. Additional guest tickets are available for the dinner for $25. All guests who plan to attend the dinner must complete an RSVP; walk-ins cannot be accommodated at this invitation-only, catered event. Attendance at the reception and ceremony is open to the public and free of charge.
Submit payment online for additional guests.
Deadline for guest RSVPs is February 17, 2020.
Guest Ceremony and Reception Details (open to all)
On Thursday, March 19, 2020, a reception for the RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholars begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center. Your student will be required to check in at the Gordon Field House lower-level entrance to receive table assignments for dinner. Guests may proceed directly to the reception. The Scholars will be honored at an awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
Guest Dinner Details (invitation only)
Your student will be required to check in at the Gordon Field House lower-level entrance to receive table assignments for dinner. A catered dinner will be served following the ceremony; dinner choices do not need to be selected in advance. Please include any dietary restrictions with your event RSVP.
DF - Dairy free
GF - Gluten free
V - Vegetarian
If you have a nut allergy, please let us know. Desserts are prepared at an off-campus facility that contains/processes nuts. A substitute that is prepared on-campus will be offered.
If you have any dietary restrictions not mentioned above, please contact Dawn Murray.
Submitted Recognitions
Nana Aikins
Julia Hawley
What an honor to be in the top 1% of your college! I am very proud of what you have accomplished at RIT and you should be too. I know you as a designer who is not only curious and thorough, but also as an individual who is generous by giving time to college initiatives such as Thought at Work, the Vignelli Archives and the Bevier Gallery. You've demonstrated great courage in exploring the design world through internships, have decided to focus on User Experience Design and I know that a bright future awaits you in that field. Congratulations!
College of Science Outstanding Scholars
Yaxin May Ren
What an honor to be in the top 1% of your college! I am very proud of what you have accomplished at RIT and you should be too. I know you as a designer who is curious, thorough and quietly assertive in your problem solving. You've demonstrated great courage in exploring the design world through your many internships and co-ops. There is no question that a bright future awaits you in whatever design field you choose. Congratulations!
Heuijoo Byun
What an honor to be in the top 1% of your college! When you were a student in my sophomore studio, I knew you as a designer who was curious, thorough and dedicated to solving problems. As I looked at your current portfolio, I was impressed by the ways you updated your projects using your newly acquired skills. You have a very bright future ahead of you and these traits will carry you far in whatever design field you choose. Congratulations!
"
Abigail Van Camp
What an honor to be in the top 1% of your college! I know you as a designer who is outspoken (in a positive way), concerned and caring of the people you design for. You have a very bright future ahead of you and these traits will carry you far in whatever design field you choose. Congratulations!
Niaya Jackson
Love,
Mommy
Truc Nguyen
Niaya Jackson, Diamond Guy
Niaya Jackson
Congratulations on being a 2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar! It has been wonderful to work with you for the last two years. You are a rockstar! I'm so excited for you and wish you all the very best with your next adventure!
Kindly,
Larissa Barresi
All of the 2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholars
Nana Aikins
Congratulations on being a 2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar! It has been so nice to work with you for the past two years. I'm so excited for you as you head out on your next adventure. I know you will do great things!
Best wishes,
Larissa Barresi
Emily Rogers
Zayneb Ghazle
Daniela Lincoln, Stephen Kronenberger, Sarah Oakes
Emily Rogers
So proud of the good work you accomplish as a student and an employee of Tech Crew. Congratulations!