Tiger's Tale: Alumni Tale - June 2021

Last month, over 4,100 students from the Class of 2021 graduated from RIT and officially became alumni! Plus, over 400 members of the Class of 2020 joined the festivities. As the graduates walked across the stage, a robotic arm—provided by alum Tim Thurley BS ’91—handed them their hard-earned diplomas.

Tigers Moving Forward

Hira Abid BS ’20 is a chemical engineering graduate beginning her graduate degree in Istanbul as a Fulbright awardee. After her first co-op at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, she decided to pursue a career in biotechnology to help solve global health challenges.

Connecting Tigers, One Purchase at a Time

The RIT Alumni Association is celebrating alumni entrepreneurs this month by offering them a free decal to show their RIT pride. Order yours today!

The Impact of Your Support

Because of donors like you, talented students receive financial aid and scholarships that give them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. With 92% of full-time undergraduate students receiving over $340 million in financial assistance each year, your gifts create new opportunities for success—and an impact that extends far beyond our campus.

Jacqueline Nicholson Named as New Athletic Director

Jacqueline Nicholson spent the last four years at Albany State as the Associate Athletics Director for Academics, Compliance, and Student-Athlete Development. During her tenure at Albany State, Nicholson implemented community service initiatives which led to a 75-percent increase in student-athlete engagement in its first year. She begins at RIT on July 1.

Giving back to his alma mater

Micatu Inc., founded by Michael Oshetski BS ’03, donated high-tech optical sensors for a new learning lab on the Henrietta campus. With the donation of this equipment, students will gain practical, hands-on experience to design smart grids and incorporate more renewable energy sources.

Make Yourself More Competitive in Your Field

An exclusive opportunity for:

New York state residents with a bachelor’s degree Anyone who graduates from a college or university in New York State

Get 30% of your graduate tuition covered through the Master Up NY Scholarship. With over 65-degree programs offered at RIT,, you can enhance your expertise and become a more competitive candidate in the job market.

Learn About Collaborative Technology and Seniors

Monday, June 7
3:15 p.m. Eastern

Modern technology can improve the lives of senior citizens by improving social interactions. RIT Saunders College of Business Benjamin Forman Professor for Collaborative Research Victor Perotti, Ph.D. will moderate as alumni share their expertise on how senior citizens use technology and how the relationship continues to evolve.

Best Practice In Mainstream Education NTID Lecture Series

June 24, 2021
p.m. Eastern
7 p.m. Eastern

Join NTID for Part of a problem or a part of a solution?: Why Culturally Relevant/Sustaining Pedagogy matters. In the latest lecture of the series, explore practical ways you can apply these learnings to mainstream deaf education. You’ll also network with other education professionals. Please note that the content presented at both the 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. sessions will be the same, choose the one that best fits your schedule.

Tiger Heritage Feature

Sam Brett AS ’97, originally from Venezuela, won the first Miss RIT contest in 1995. While he was a student, Sam was a member of the International House, worked as a biology teaching assistant, and found his love for educating others. Since leaving RIT, Sam has served on boards such as ROC Pride, AIDS Rochester, Trillium Health, and the MOCHA Center.

Creating a Safe Space for Everyone

Every Tiger deserves to feel comfortable and secure, so they can focus on what matters. The Q Center also supports a variety of gender-identity-specific clubs and events as well as supplying helpful resources and queer-friendly event planning.

Commemorating Freedom

Juneteenth celebrates the day that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to announced the enslaved were now free. This announcement occurred two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1866 Jubilee Day, now known as Juneteenth, began an annual celebration of community gatherings, food, and more.

Participate in Juneteenth Events in Your Community

We encourage you to find events in your community to celebrate Juneteenth. This year, the Rochester Juneteenth 5K has both a live and virtual option. Proceeds from the ROC Juneteenth 5K will go to support the Heritage Site at Baden Park.

Help Feed RIT Students

Throughout the pandemic, the RIT FoodShare has been an important lifeline for students struggling with food insecurity, international students stuck on campus, and more. Donors like you are essential to restock the pantry to provide for students over the summer and get ready for a busy fall semester.

ReSIGNifying Deaf Culture

Established in 2019, Morpheyes Studio at RIT/NTID is an on-campus production company to advance Deaf culture and creators. Our mission is to build a body of work that authentically portrays Deaf characters and culture onscreen and we need YOUR help.

Join us for the 38th Annual Tiger Open Golf Tournament

Monday, June 14
11:00 a.m. Eastern

You’re invited to participate in RIT Athletics’ 2021 38th Annual Tiger Open Golf Tournament, presented by Rochester Regional Healthat the Penfield Country Club in Penfield, New York.

Club McKenzie: Sailing on a Rainbow

Wednesday, July 7
6 p.m. Eastern

Sailboats in space? Scientists are working on experiments to propel vehicles through outer space using light-driven sails. Dr. Grover Swartzlander will explain these experiments and how Earth’s gravity impacts them.

New Name for Graduate Studies Reflects Growth

To reflect the continued growth and evolution of graduate education at RIT, the Office of Graduate Education is now the RIT Graduate School. Moving forward, the RIT Graduate School will retain its organizational structure and continue to offer its current programs.

This change is part of a strategic shift that will continue to increase RIT’s global footprint in graduate education. It will open the door for additional opportunities for the university’s students, faculty and staff. However, the RIT Graduate School will hold the same mission: to collaborate with college deans, faculty, staff and students, at RIT’s home and international campuses; to advocate for graduate education and the needs of students; and to promote research, creative practice and experiential learning.