Class Notes

Name: Manmeet Chhabra

Class Year(s): 2001

Note: Manmeet Chhabra MBA ’01 (SCB) writes: 2020 has been a challenging year to say the least, but it is also the year giving birth to innovations and creative ideas throughout the world. My 8 year old son and I collaborated to write this book amidst the COVID shutdown. It was amazing to work with the little imaginative mind and helping him write this book. I love how the book came together. If you get a chance, I would like encourage you to check out "The Mighty Geek": https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Geek-Sahej-Chhabra/dp/0578835053/ref=sr_1_1dchild=1&keywords=The+Mighty+Geek+Book&qid=1616302210&sr=8-1

Submitted on: March 21, 2021

Name: Matthew Elman

Class Year(s): 1987

Note: Matthew Elman ’87 (GAP) and Kathleen Rowe welcomed their first grandchild. Rowan Scott Elman was born on December 7, 2020 weighing in at 8lbs. 4 oz. Parents Dylan Elman and Breanna Peck are elated.

Submitted on: March 5, 2021

Name: Tre DiPassio

Class Year(s): 18

Note: Tre DiPassio’s ’18 (KGCOE) MS ’18 (KGCOE) vocal arrangement of Counting Stars (originally performed by One Republic) was nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) for Best Lower Voices Collegiate Arrangement. The CARA awards are the a cappella world’s equivalent to the Grammy awards. Tre performed with the Brick City Singers, an RIT A Cappella group, from 2013-2018. This arrangement debuted at the 2016 International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) quarterfinal at the University of Rochester. The Brick City Singer’s latest album, Sing It!, was in production from 2016 - 2019 under Tre’s direction, and features nine of his vocal arrangements. Sing It! was then released in 2020, making Tre’s arrangements eligible for award consideration in this year’s CARA program. Tre is a current PhD student in musical acoustics at the University of Rochester.

Submitted on: March 1, 2021

Name: Tiffany Owens

Class Year(s): 1998

Note: Tiffany Owens ’98 (KGCOE) and a lead system safety engineer with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Dam Neck Activity was selected as the Department of Defense Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Advocate of the Quarter in Fiscal Year 2020. This quarterly award recognizes outstanding STEM education and outreach efforts that further the mission of the Department of Defense. The award recognized Tiffany’s extensive experience in and passion for STEM outreach and education, her ability to develop and implement STEM outreach activities at NSWCDD Dam Neck Activity and surrounding communities, and her development of STEM curriculum and activities to expose young students of all backgrounds. Tiffany leads and participates in a number of STEM efforts in her community, including coaching a FIRST robotics team, leading a STEM outreach group at her church, chairing her division’s Special Events Committee, serving as a NSWCDD STEM outreach school program lead, project screener and judge for the Metro Richmond Science Fair, member of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of VA and STEM Youth Conference Chair for the International System Safety Conference (ISSC). Tiffany currently works as lead safety engineer on Naval laser weapon systems and resides in Richmond, V.A.

Submitted on: February 26, 2021

Name: Juliana Shaw

Class Year(s): 2015

Note: Juliana Shaw ’15 (COS) and Scott Gentile ’13 (CET) got married on October 10, 2020. Scott and Juliana started dating in 2012 when they were at RIT. They got married in Negril, Jamaica surrounded by their family and closest friends. They currently live in Boston, M.A.

Submitted on: February 19, 2021

Name: Gerard Kiernan

Class Year(s): 1983

Note: Gerard Kiernan ’83 (CAST) is the facilities engineer & sustainability coordinator for the City of Springfield. He successfully applied for a $200,000 grant from The State of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to replace the antiquated oil-fed burners at the facility headquarters. These new boilers will save the city in energy costs and help reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Submitted on: February 16, 2021

Name: Stacy Lake

Class Year(s): 2005, 2007

Note: Stacy Lake ’05 (SCB) MBA ’07 (SCB), corporate communications manager for national architecture, engineering and planning firm Bergmann, is one of 13 finalists for the 2021 ATHENA International Young Professional Award. The ATHENA awards, which honor and empower women in business, are presented annually in three categories by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council Affiliate.

Submitted on: February 12, 2021

Name: Rob Snowden

Class Year(s): 2002

Note: Rob Snowden MBA 2002 (SCB), founding partner of South Park Advisors and business valuation expert, has been named to the Cabinet of Professional Advisors for the Foundation of the Carolinas. The Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) serves as a catalyst for philanthropic activity in a 13-county region. Established in 1958, the FFTC has more than $2.5 billion in charitable assets across nearly 3,000 charitable funds established by families, nonprofits, and businesses.

Submitted on: February 12, 2021

Name: Mariya Kofman (Lyubman) Mlyubman@arkmortgage.com

Class Year(s): 2001

Note: Mariya (Lyubman) Kofman ’21 (SCB) joined Ark Mortgage Inc., a financial lender, as a chief administrative officer in January.

Submitted on: February 6, 2021

Name: Mark Higgins

Class Year(s): 1997, 2003

Note: RIT graduates from all over came together to support the 11th Annual Autism Open, hosted by Mark Higgins ’97 (SCB) MBA ’03 (SCB) and Ron Toper ’97 (SCB) MBA (SCB). This year’s event raised over $18,000 for Autism Up, a local autism support group in Rochester NY. In 11 years of the event, RIT grads (many from the Triangle Fraternity in the late 80’s and 90’s) have helped the event raise over $140k! RIT Grads in attendance included David Payne ’83 (CAST), Brian Fox ’88 (KGCOE), Vince Hesketh ’90 (SCB), Dave Bardusch ’92 (SCB), Mike Derose ’89 (CAST), James Stroud ’94 (KGCOE), Mike Scorzelli ’94 (KGCOE), Trevor Young ’94 (KGCOE), Jim Senall ’95 (KGCOE), Chris Merz ’95 (KGCOE), Donny Gentilcor ’02 (CAST), Eric Schmidt ’95 (KGCOE), Jack Degrace ’95 (KGCOE), John Flannery ’95 (SCB), Ryan Shooshan ’96 (SCB), Ryan Kiley ’15 (CIAS), Eddie Aro, Adam Platzer ’01 (SCB) MBS ’02 (SCB), Matt Deis ’95 (KGCOE), Joe Valenti ’95 (KGCOE), Tony Ruland ’92 (SCB) and Dan Christner ’07 (SCB). The Autism Open thanks you for years of generosity and looks forward to seeing all the RIT grads at the 12th Annual Autism Open in June 2021!

Submitted on: January 12, 2021