Impact Stories

RIT is grateful for everyone who has made a commitment to sustain the university's mission through a gift. Here are some of their stories. If you would like to share your story, please contact us and we will be in touch with you soon.

  • Mitch Koppelman BS '73

    Mitch Koppelman BS '73 understands the impact of giving back to the institutions that shape our careers and lives.

  • Beth Singer and Howard Smith

    Beth Singer and Howard Smith aren’t RIT alumni, but in the four years since their son, Lee Smith BS ’24, began his undergraduate studies, they have become closely intertwined with the university's students, faculty, and staff.

  • Bal Dixit MBA ’74 and Anita Dixit MS ’91

    Sudhakar G. “Bal” Dixit, MBA ’74, and his wife, Anita MS ’91, have achieved so much side by side—both personally and professionally. Honored with RIT’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2021-2022, the Dixits are dedicated alums who genuinely care about giving back to their Tiger community.

  • Lucas Randrianarivelo BS ’22

    It wasn’t long ago that Lucas Randrianarivelo BS ’22 served as RIT Student Government President. He recalls the time he addressed the incoming class of Tigers during Orientation Week, reminding him of his freshman experience and the excitement he felt about starting college.

  • Karen Roth BS ’06

    Karen Roth BS ’06 was in high school, but she still remembers the day her mother made an ordinary telephone call that ended up shifting her daughter’s career aspirations. 

  • Karuna Mukherjea MS ’97 and Deepak Sharma MBA ’97

    It didn’t take long for Karuna Mukherjea MS ’97 and Deepak Sharma MBA ’97 to realize there was a strong connection between them; they were international students on RIT’s campus in 1996 who kindled a friendship during class. The relationship quickly evolved into more.

  • Will Sugarman BS ’15

    Young alumnus and Sentinel Society member Will Sugarman BS ’15 worked on co-op at Microsoft while he was an undergraduate computer engineering student at RIT.

  • The Minichiello Family

    Erin and Mark Minichiello are extremely proud of their son, Ethan BS ’23, MS ’24 a fourth-year mechanical engineering technology (MMET) student.

  • Norm Wironen BS '71

    Norm Wironen BS '71, a photography graduate and member of RIT’s Sentinel Society has enjoyed two successful careers—one in photography and a second in finance after earning an MBA. A legacy student, Norm's RIT education proved to be a pivotal experience.

  • Lynne Damianos AAS ’79, BS ’81

    When Lynne Damianos AAS ’79, BS ’81 was at RIT, there was no architectural photography major. However, from early on in her studies, she knew that’s what she wanted to do.