RIT honors its outstanding adult students

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Mandie Klingelhoffer

RIT’s 2010 Outstanding Adult Student winners, from left to right: Kara Catanise Halstead, Douglas Smith and Susan Leo

RIT students Kara Catanise Halstead, Douglas Smith and Susan Leo have been selected to receive the Outstanding Adult Student award. The award recognizes adult students and their achievements in successfully combining full-time college study with other adult responsibilities of family, career and community service.

Kara Catanise Halstead is senior staff assistant to Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. Despite her schedule as a wife, mother and full-time employee, Halstead finds time to volunteer with organizations such as Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, Camp Good Days and Special Times and Rochester Genesee Regional Transit Authority HONOR Foundation. She has also been honored with the Monroe County Youth Bureau Asset Advocate Award and has a 3.85 GPA.

Douglas Smith is an accountant, husband and father who volunteers as a collegiate lacrosse and football official. He has earned the honor of being rated second out of 750 football officials, while pursuing his master’s degree in accounting and earning a 3.81 GPA.

Susan Leo is founder and owner of S.D. Leo & Company, a marketing/design firm. She is working towards her M.F.A. degree in the computer graphics design program. Although she works full-time and is a wife and mother, Leo has maintained a 4.0 GPA. She also volunteers in the community and, in 2009, received the Spirit of Innovation Award for best new snack from the National Association of Convenience Stores.