Leaving A Legacy

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. Norm’s scholarship support, both from his hometown of Gardner, Massachusetts and RIT, alleviated the financial constraints of pursuing higher education, enabling him to focus on his studies.

While Norm has long been an annual supporter of RIT, his decision to make a more substantial contribution was significantly influenced by tax considerations.

Norm's vision for his gift is clear and heartfelt: "I hope that RIT can use my contribution to alleviate the financial burdens on students, enabling them to focus more on their education and less on work, just as financial aid once made my own education possible."

Dr. Linda Siple BS '79, MS '82

Retired RIT faculty member and interpreter Dr. Linda Siple BS '79, MS '82 recently discussed her involvement in the evolution of the interpreting program within NTID and the gift that she made to the Alice Beardsley Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund for Interpreting Students at NTID.

Bal Dixit MBA ’74 and Anita Dixit MS ’91

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. They have served in several volunteer leadership roles at the university and are generous Sentinel Society donors and Ellingson Society members, establishing a bequest intention for the Bal Dixit Lab Endowment Fund.

“This is our way of giving back to our alma mater and to all the young Tigers. We are here to give a helping hand. Anita and I would like to give the same kind of opportunities and the necessary education to young, aspiring students who want to build their careers,” Bal shares.

Kim Conti DeGroot BS '90 and Daniel DeGroot

Kim Conti DeGroot BS ’90 and her husband, Daniel DeGroot, understand what it means to invest in their communities—both near and far. Kim and Daniel were some of the first donors to join the Sentinel Society in 2021, and they also established a student scholarship with a bequest. It’s more than feeling a need to pay forward financial support to others, they explain.

Kim and Daniel were some of the first donors to join the Sentinel Society in 2021, and they also established a student scholarship bequest. It’s more than feeling a need to pay forward financial support to others, they explain. It’s about gratitude.

For Kim and Daniel, philanthropy is very much an educational experience within itself.