Class Notes

Gregory Hitchin BS ’78 makes opening remarks at the 2025 spring meeting

Name: Gregory Hitchin

Class Year(s): 78

Note: Gregory Hitchin BS ’78 has been elected as the 2025 president of the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA), a 600 member professional association of economic development professionals and partners.

Submitted on: June 6, 2025

Name: Edward Larson

Class Year(s): 91

Note: Ed Larson BS ’91 retired in May 2025 from Wells Fargo, located in Charlotte, NC, after a 26 year career as an investment banker.

Submitted on: June 6, 2025

Jaclyn and Mark walking down the aisle after getting married on 5.25.25 in San Diego, CA.

Name: Jaclyn Korfin

Class Year(s): 2017

Note: Jaclyn Korfin BS ’17 and Mark Gjestvang AAS ’18 were married on May 25, 2025, in San Diego, CA.

Submitted on: May 30, 2025

Introducing…the Kittles!

Name: Sharitta Gross

Class Year(s): 2012

Note: On January 23, 2025, Dr. Sharitta Gross ACT ’12 and Dr. Rick A. Kittles BS ’89 made their commitment to one another official! Despite an unexpected, crazy snowstorm that week, the universe saw fit for their wedding site— the Historic DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia—to be open that day for the ceremony.

Submitted on: May 27, 2025

The Virgin Wood Type Bible enables the reader to identify over 500 historic wood type designs while gaining insight into their history.

Name: James Grieshaber

Class Year(s): 1991

Note: James Grieshaber BFA ’91 published The Virgin Wood Type Bible to enable the reader to identify over 500 historic wood-type designs while gaining insight into their history. James worked as a designer for newspaper and advertising agencies, and as a type designer, where he created digital fonts for P22 Type Foundry, Hamilton Wood Type, Virgin Wood Type Mfg. Co., Google, Microsoft, and Apple. He taught Typography at RIT. Working as a wood type designer and fabricator for Virgin Wood Type, Grieshaber cleaned, cataloged, and identified all the wood type patterns in their collection, which led him to create The Virgin Wood Type Bible. Virgin Wood Type produces twentieth-century wood fonts using original patterns from historic wood type manufacturers, as well as developing revivals of Victorian-era wood type classics and new designs from contemporary type designers. Type is fabricated in the traditional manner using a vintage pantograph router originally owned by American Wood Type Mfg. Co.

Submitted on: May 27, 2025

Photo by Lauren Petracca BFA ’13

Name: Mike Bradley

Class Year(s): 2012

Note: This Land, a short documentary film, directed and produced by Mike Bradley BFA ’12, was selected by the Tribeca Festival. The film tells the story of a traditionalist Mohawk community near Plattsburgh. It will screen three times during the festival, which runs from June 4-15, 2025.

Submitted on: May 23, 2025

Zach Cavuniewicz BFA ’14 presents his TEDx Talk at Nazareth University

Name: Zach Cavuniewicz

Class Year(s): 2014

Note: Zach Cavuniewicz BFA ’14 was part of Nazareth University’s TEDx event, Bridging the Past, Present, and Future - Exploring Universal Principles and Modern Innovations. Zach’s talk was titled, Be More Creative by Doing Less, showing how simple techniques can lessen stress, improve your mood, and help retain better focus for more creative thinking. Zach’s talk was selected as Editor’s Choice by the TED team and can now be viewed on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=assaHlvRhIY.

Submitted on: May 22, 2025

RIT Legacy alumni family, Makaila Wilson MBA ’24 , Ernest Wilson BS ’87,  MS ’90,  Myles Wilson BFA ’25,  and Leslie Wilson BS ’89, MS ’92

Name: Leslie Wilson

Class Year(s): 1985, 1992

Note: Leslie Wilson BS ’89, MS ’92 was given the opportunity to surprise and present her son, Myles Wilson BFA ’25, with his diploma. Myles graduated from the College of Art and Design with a BFA in Interior Design. He will be starting the Master of Architecture program in the fall at RIT. The familiy is so very proud of Myles and all of his accomplishments.

Submitted on: May 21, 2025

Trees connected to religious practices

Name: Phil Rasmussen

Class Year(s): 1971,1972

Note: Ever wonder about the trees mentioned in the Bible, Torah, or other religious texts? In his first edition of trees connected to religious practices, Phil Rasmussen MS ’72 has compiled a listing of trees in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and pagan and witchcraft practices. Where possible, the 28 page booklet lists both the common and botanical names. In some cases, some of the trees listed also contain additional information such as the Bible verses for the Cedars of Lebanon.

Submitted on: May 20, 2025

Three’s Company action figure blister card design and illustrations

Name: Jeremy Sniatecki

Class Year(s): 1995

Note: Jeremy Sniatecki BFA ’95 provided packaging graphics, art direction, layout design, and custom painterly realistic style character illustrations for 3.75-inch scale retro-style action figures by Syndicate Collectibles, based on the classic sitcom Three’s Company.

Submitted on: May 20, 2025