RIT Hosts Benefit for Injured Student, May 6

For one Rochester Institute of Technology student, life changed forever last fall. A car accident just a few days before classes started resulted in serious injuries and a change of plans.

Michelle Amerine, a third-year student in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, sustained severe brain trauma, skull fractures and broken bones. When she arrived at the intensive care trauma center she was in shock and in a coma that lasted for several weeks.

On Friday, May 6 at 8 p.m. in Ingle Auditorium in the Student Alumni Union, “The Michelle Project” team will host a fundraiser for her medical expenses. Seven RIT student groups will perform, including 8 Beat Measure, Brick City Singers, Encore, Surround Sound, the martial arts club, dance team and ballroom dance club. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door for $5.

To date, The Michelle Project has raised $2,600 with partners in the Center for Residence Life, College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and PUB. The team has a goal of $5,000 with all proceeds going directly to Amerine’s medical expenses. Amerine plans to return to RIT this fall and continue being an active member of the RIT community.

For more information about the fundraiser, contact Jennifer Hinton, RIT orientation program coordinator, at 475-4899 or at jennifer.hinton@rit.edu. For more information about Amerine’s accident and recovery, visit www.michelleamerinerecovery.com.