Class Notes

Name: Melissa Vuz (Maiden name Young)

Class Year(s): 2017

Note: Melissa (Young) Vuz ’18 (GCCIS) and Dylan Vuz ’18 (GCCIS) happily welcomed their first child in September 2025, and are excited to celebrate his first birthday soon!!

Submitted on: July 18, 2026

Name: Jim Edmonds

Class Year(s): 1979

Note: After 20 years retired from US Customs and Border Protection, Jim Edmonds ’79 (GAP) has relocated to Ohio to be near family.

Submitted on: July 17, 2026

Name: Robert Ripps

Class Year(s): 1983

Note: Robert A. Ripps ’83 (GAP) was selected to have not one, but two of his Negativityness images appear in the American Photography 42 annual award book! AP-42 launches in November of 2026.

Submitted on: July 14, 2026

Name: Daniel Holmes

Class Year(s): 1982

Note: Daniel E. Holmes ’82 (GAP) has returned to New Mexico and lives in Santa Fe where he works as prosecuting attorney for the New Mexico Medical Board. The 300 plus days of sunshine and warm weather are a welcome return after the cold Winters in Northern Pennsylvania. In his spare time he loves to hike and explore the cultural and ethnic diversity all around him. If you’re in the area reach out to him at DanielE.Holmes@Yahoo.com.

Submitted on: July 13, 2026

Name: Grace Fiacco

Class Year(s): 2020

Note: Grace Fiacco ’20 (COS) married Justin Levine ’19 (GCCIS) after meeting almost 9 years ago in the RIT Game Symphony Orchestra. They were married June 2026 in West Seneca, NY and now run the Virtual Video Game Orchestra together.

Submitted on: July 13, 2026

Name: Jesse Bairan

Class Year(s): 2020

Note: After two years serving as a Construction Project Manager at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jesse Bairan ’21 (CET) is excited to share the completion of the project and Jesse has relocated the company’s headquarters to Orlando, Florida. In Italy, Jesse led the construction of a new facility supporting the 56th Rescue Squadron, 31st Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Force — a rewarding opportunity to contribute directly to military readiness and operations overseas. Jesse has since transitioned into a new role as an Estimator, applying the field and project management experience to the preconstruction side of federal contracting. Jesse is grateful for the experience abroad and looking forward to this next chapter back in the States.

Submitted on: July 10, 2026

Name: Dan Gerken

Class Year(s): 80,81,82,83,84,86

Note: On July 11, Chris Martin ’88 (GAP), MS ’00 (CAST), former captain of the Tiger Shark Varsity Swim team, will join his daughter in Swimac 2026, a unique open water swimming event on the Torne River between Finland and Sweden. Starting from the Finish shore at 12:05 a.m., participants will not only swim over the border between Sweden and Finland, but also cross the Arctic Circle and the International time zone. With the event beginning just after midnight, if you can swim the 3km in under 55 minutes, you actually arrive the day before you begin! Chris will be participating in the event with his daughter Caroline. Chris graduated from RIT as the school record holder in the 100-yard Breaststroke, as a member of the record setting 400-yard Medley Relay team, and upon culminating his career in the pool, he ranked fourth all time on the career scoring list with 870.17 points. During his tenure at RIT he was awarded Athlete of the Week honors. A father of two adult boys as well as his daughter and swim partner Caroline, Chris is the director of program management at L3Harris Technologies in Rochester where he resides with his wife Kim. We wish our former Tiger Shark good luck in this truly unique experience!

Submitted on: June 25, 2026

Name: Marie Desrosiers

Class Year(s): 2000

Note: Marie Desrosiers ’00 (COLA) and Jason Pepen were married February 2, 2026.

Submitted on: June 19, 2026

Name: Edney Freeman

Class Year(s): 1994,1995

Note: On December 9, 2022 a trio of silicon bronze statues Edney Freeman MS ’95 (CIAS) created were unveiled at Yacht Haven Grande Marina, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. This process took 22 months to realize-during the COVID-19 ERA. Edney focused on sculptural ceramics under Rick Hirsch- Bob ?? and Soldervik- Retired from teaching HS art at Charlotte Amalie HS 2010. Edney was invited to the Chanchung China Symposiums of 2006 and 2011 to erect two sculptures permanently installed at the World Sculpture Park and Technology Park. Edney is currently producing sculptural narratives that tell the stories of Edney’s Caribbean heritage.

Submitted on: June 18, 2026

Name: Kevin Harding

Class Year(s): 92,95

Note: Kevin Harding ’95 (CAST) recently stepped into the engineering and maintenance manager role. It’s definitely a different perspective from that side of the table, but it has been both challenging and rewarding in new ways. The role has provided opportunities to broaden his impact, support the team from a different level, and contribute to the organization’s success in ways he hadn’t experienced before.

Submitted on: June 16, 2026