Sentinel Society Member Newsletter: October 2024 | Giving to RIT

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At RIT, we are witnessing one of the most transformational periods in our 195-year history. We are expanding our campus to include more state-of-the-art facilities, making remarkable strides in our research initiatives, and, above all else, positioning our students to become the leaders and creators of tomorrow.

The generosity of our Sentinel members has impacted each of these areas and has touched nearly every aspect of the university. In the three-and-a-half years since its inception, the Sentinel Society has grown to over 700 memberships and encompasses RIT’s most passionate and dedicated donors. We are enormously grateful for your commitment and hope that you also find delight in all the ways your investment goes to work for the greater Tiger community. Thank you!

Visit the Sentinel Society Online Honor Roll to view all members.

Member news

On May 23, Seated Tai Chi with Tai offered an exclusive opportunity for Sentinel members to learn about the benefits of Tai Chi with Dean Yong "Tai" Wang, students and faculty of the College of Health Sciences and Technology. In case you missed it or would like to enjoy the 20-minute session again, you can access the session below.

Click here for Dean Wang’s presentation.

It's not uncommon for graduates of elite institutions to seek ways to give back. However, few stories capture the essence of commitment and generosity quite like that of Bertram Byam, Jr. BS ’14, a Saunders College of Business alum whose recent decision to join the Sentinel Society perfectly encapsulates the enduring bond between RIT and its alumni.

“Many RIT faculty and staff have prioritized keeping in touch with me. They check in with me, and we share information on what’s new. Their job did not end with my degree,” he states.

Bertram attended a regional visit in New York City about a year ago, hosted by, and to connect with, RIT faculty who were sharing university updates. Their stories about new graduates who had first started at RIT during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic struck a chord and compelled him to take action.

“The discussion that took place at that event really made me think about all of the students who have been in school the last few years since COVID. I thought about how challenging their experiences must have been and how isolated they must have felt having to do their studies and socializing remotely. I decided that my support now could perhaps help a student decide to stay on campus. Or my gift could help amplify a program that makes a difference and has a big impact on students.”

Bertram understands first-hand the importance of student-centered programs that positively influence their participants. As a freshman at RIT, Bertram, a native of New York City and an academically gifted youth, decided to attend RIT through The New York State Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). He lived in Unity House, joined the Global Union, led new student orientations, worked on campus, and became the corporate relations chair for RIT’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. He was also a member of the first cohort of Men of Color, Honor, and Ambition (MOCHA).

“I gained so much from these opportunities while I was a student,” he shares. “I garnered many important relationships and learned a lot about leadership. There were a lot of faculty members and leaders at RIT who took a chance on me. They believed in me while I was young and learning my way, and I’ll never forget that. I want to do the same for students today and in the future.”

Bertram hopes to mentor students to provide unique RIT insights and career advice, which he says alumni can do best. Despite his busy professional life working at LinkedIn as a lead customer success manager and certified Project Management Professional (PMP), he has never forgotten his roots and is grateful for the career advantages he gained as an RIT graduate.

“I didn’t realize how special RIT was until I experienced it for myself. RIT has amazing relationships with employers; I had my full-time job lined up before I even graduated. That is extremely unique. There is a great deal of respect for RIT out in the workforce, across many fields, and not many colleges or universities can boast about that as we can.”

Recent graduate Scott Franco BS ’24 was still a student at RIT when he joined the Sentinel Society. With acute listening skills and a desire to learn how businesses operate internally, Scott, a marketing/management information systems major, recognized the vital role that this leadership group of annual donors plays in the university’s trajectory and decidedly wanted in.

“I vividly recall Dr. Munson's animated discussion about the Sentinel Society at one of the University Council meetings,” Scott reminisces. “He was talking about the Society’s philanthropic impact and the upcoming events that would include members, emphasizing how their generosity was a game-changer for RIT. I think most people realize that tuition dollars can only stretch so far in a university that is on the cutting edge of many industries; Dr. Munson’s compelling words were when it clicked for me.”

Scott's involvement in the Sentinel Society was a natural progression of his active participation as an undergrad in various campus groups and clubs. From being a contributor to Men of Honor, Color, Honor and Ambition (MOCHA) to serving as a student assistant for the University Council, the Student Government business senator, and an e-board member for the Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Club, Real Estate Club at RIT, Personal Finance Club, and the Black Artists and Record Society, Scott has always enjoyed being a part of a larger, actionable force. He directs his Sentinel gift to the Saunders College of Business General Fund and the RIT Fund, both of which hold significant meaning for him.

“Both of these areas are important to me. I appreciate that contributing to the RIT Fund is critical and benefits the whole university. I also have a strong allegiance to the Saunders College and want to support all that they do, especially their student-led initiatives.”

Scott was the first in his Peruvian family to attend college and was extremely excited to study at RIT. After graduation, the Middletown, N.Y. native headed to Austin, T.X., to pursue rotational assignments and training through the Visa Leadership Accelerator Program. Scott shares that his RIT experiences prepared him well for this next step in career development.

“I genuinely value RIT’s co-op program and how it is embedded into the undergraduate journey. I also love the campus and how open-minded everyone is. As a student, I felt very liberated, and I felt like I was at home in my own little city. The great thing about RIT is if you explore everything there is to offer, you can get a taste of exploring the real world. RIT is a safe space where it’s okay to make mistakes and learn. These are the reasons why I choose to give back.”

For married couple Justin Mann BS ’17 and Margurita Mann BS ’17, their RIT journey feels like it was just yesterday. They each recall the excitement of starting their academic paths, the campus social events where their friendship blossomed, and the relentless dedication that eventually led to their successful self-owned contracting business. Their bond with RIT remains strong, as they are now part of the Sentinel Society, having established the Mann Family Sentinel Scholarship to support students in the College of Engineering Technology.

“We both felt a strong calling to provide student scholarship aid,” Justin shares. “We believe that financial aid towards tuition can be life-changing and makes a significant difference. Our goal is to inspire hope and make a positive impact. That’s really all we want.”

Margurita adds, “I struggled somewhat financially during school. When we decided we were at a point in which we could give back, we wanted to ensure that it was in a way that allowed others to afford their education and helped students understand that there was support available to them. RIT does such a great job preparing students for the real world, and this is a way in which we can also be a part of that development process.”

RIT's job readiness offerings initially drew Margurita and Justin to the university. Both were excited about the strong co-op opportunities, and Margurita was especially captivated by the RIT Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers(SWE).

“When I first visited the campus, I absolutely fell in love with SWE. I was inspired by the fact that the university prioritized women, particularly women of color. It made me feel proud to come here and be part of that group,” she reflects. “I really like how RIT is growing its programs and resources in regard to diversity and inclusivity. There has been a lot of progress on that front, even since I graduated, and I feel that is very powerful.”

In addition to SWE, Margurita, a mechanical engineering technology major, was also a member of RIT’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Hot Wheelz, and president of Beta Sigma Chapter of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. Justin, a civil engineering technology major, belonged to RIT’s chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Black Awareness Coordinating Committee, and played men’s basketball. The wide array of organizations that they participated in was another reason why they both enjoyed their time at RIT.

“The community on campus is like no other,” comments Margurita. “Everyone was so welcoming. As a student who was a long way from my home in Texas, it was heartening that my peers and the faculty went out of their way to make sure I was succeeding. My advisors would check in on me regularly, and my professors would reach out to make sure I received the academic support and mentorship I needed.”

“We each made lifelong friendships at RIT,” agrees Justin. “I came to Rochester for a change in scenery and for a fresh start after living in New Jersey, Delaware, and North Carolina. I needed a change and wanted to meet new people. which I definitely did. We still have a lot of close friends from RIT. Now, we enjoy connecting students and alumni with each other. We even hired an RIT graduate at our company—we knew that they would have a stellar work ethic and the skillset we were looking for.”

Currently, the couple lives in Marlboro, M.D., and both work as project managers for The Blackshear Group. LLC.

RIT trustee, Sentinel member, and alumnus Andrew Jacobson BS '90, MS '96 has pledged $1 million in support of RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf. The Andrew Jacobson Endowed Scholarship represents the largest commitment by an RIT/NTID alumnus in the college’s history.

Learn more about Andrew's gift to NTID

Congratulations to Sentinel members Jon Budington BS ’91 and Nick Schneider, Ph.D., BS ’10, MS ’10 who were recently appointed to RIT’s Board of Trustees.