Invited guests enjoyed a pre-grand opening event at the New York Wine & Culinary Center, on South Main Street in Canandaigua, June 16. The 19,500-square-foot facility, celebrating Empire State food, wines and agriculture, is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors annually to the Finger Lakes region. RIT’s School of Hospitality and Service Management leads the center’s educational component as part of a consortium that also includes Constellation Brands Inc., Wegmans Food Markets Inc. and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. Programs for the general public include “culinary classrooms” with guest chefs, hands-on educational classes on food, cheese and wine, “culinary kids” classes, wine tastings, tours and more. For more information, visit http://www.nywcc.com.

A. Sue Weisler | photographer

Instead of taking a final exam, students in Marty Gordon’s machine design class threw a bash–a “Brick Bash.”

A. Sue Weisler | photographerВ­

One of the entrances to the St. Louis Zoo is now home to “Animals Always,” a 130-foot long, 36-foot high sculpture created by internationally renowned sculptor Albert Paley, the Charlotte Fredericks Mowris Chair in RIT’s School for American Crafts. A 2-ton rhinoceros, along with elephants, birds and snakes, are just some of the 60 recognizable animals that make up the sculpture. Animals Always, comprised of 1,300 elements, is the world’s largest public zoo sculpture and Paley’s first-ever representational work. A special ceremonial unveiling was held May 25. The exhibit traveled from Attica, N.Y., to St. Louis in 14 flatbed trucks.

Submitted by Lou Bopp

RIT students check out an interactive Web site that takes visitors on a tour through the George Eastman House gardens and provides specifics about the individual flowers. The Web site is just one of the many multimedia components created by seniors in the new media publishing, design and information technology program. Teams of students presented their multimedia packages in May. The teams worked with local not-for-profit organizations and designed collateral pieces based on the individual client’s needs.

A. Sue Weisler | photographer

Youngsters enjoyed the inclined obstacle-course competition and other interactive exhibits during the 16th annual E3 Engineering and Technology Fair hosted by RIT on May 4 in Clark Gymnasium. The free event, sponsored by RIT and the Rochester Engineering Society, drew more than 500 Rochester-area middle school students.

A. Sue Weisler | photographer

Thirty students in RIT’s product development executive master’s program completed a 10-day, four-credit design management course last month in Milano, Italy–a city recognized as the world capital for design, says Mark Smith, director of the product development program in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering. Students attended lectures and workshops and visited five companies known for product design innovation, including automaker Ferrari. Shown above, Paolo Bocchia, the firm’s vice president of human resources, addresses managing innovation resources. Stefan Carmassi, engineering director, discussed technology developments, design strategy and design management, manufacturing, the customer interface, and teamwork needed among engineers and designers to meet performance and styling requirements for Ferrari automobiles.

Submitted by Mark Smith

The spring competition of the Institute’s Public Speaking Contest drew 53 participants from across the university. Three finalists competed May 15 for the top prizes. First place and $400 went to Lindsay Lamb, shown above at far left, a graphic media major, for her speech on ignition interlock technology and drunk driving. Second place and $200 went to Sarah Ballard, third from left, an industrial and systems engineering major, for her speech on HIV testing. Third place and $100 went to Diane Seaver for her speech on the problems with “big box” corporations. The winners are shown standing with Grant Cos, contest organizer and associate professor of communication. The College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Communication sponsored the event.

A. Sue Weisler | photographer

RIT President Albert Simone, left, begins the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge in the company of RIT team captain Peter Haggerty. Simone finished the 3.5-mile course in 34 minutes. More than 9,400 runners and walkers participated in the June 1 race, which took place on the RIT campus for the third consecutive year. RIT fielded a team of 158.

Submitted by Kathy Lindsley