Student Spotlights

Lun Kong

McNair Scholar and Honors Student Lun Kong, a third-year applied mathematics major, presented his research at the 2025 New York State Geographical Information Systems Conference (NYGeoCon). Following his well-attended session, Kong expressed gratitude to the McNair Scholars Program for its financial and moral support throughout the conference preparation process and shared the pictures. 

Kong’s presentation, titled “Favoritism in Lake Effect Snow: Understanding Its Local Variations, Formation, Prediction, and Impact With GIS Visualization,” highlighted his commitment to advancing knowledge at the intersection of mathematics, meteorology, and geographical information systems. He represented his department, the McNair Scholars Program, the Honors Program, and exemplified what it means to be an emerging scholar and changemaker at this biennial event, which brought together approximately 200 GIS professionals from government, nonprofit, academic, and industry sectors.

Hridiza Roy & Jonathan Bateman

Students with an itch to innovate are seeing their ideas take form with the support of RIT’s Gap Year Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program. Jonathan Bateman, Aidan Makinster, Michael Norton, and Hridiza Roy—all from RIT’s School of Individualized Study—comprise the seventh cohort of gap year fellows developing business ideas. Each fellow received a $20,000 stipend to use over two semesters, as well as business coaching from the Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Upstate Venture Connect, a network of business professionals.

Bateman, a third-year student from Denver, is developing a free mobile app to authenticate the identities of one’s closest contacts if faced with a targeted deepfake attack. His app, Real Recognizes Real AI (realxreal.ai), uses multifactor authentication to ensure trusted contacts are who they purport to be. Through SOIS, Bateman has studied applied math and computing security with anthropology and sociology to understand how people use and manipulate technology. Roy is concentrating her gap year into one semester to fine-tune a 3D stylized animation tool she built during the spring semester and to engage potential end-users. Roy’s fascination with 3D computer graphics led her to study the mathematics and computer science behind digital animation. 

From left to right: Aidan Makinster, Hridiza Roy, and Jonathan Bateman.

Emery Rios

Rios, a combined accelerated cybersecurity BS/MS student, was selected for the Norman A. Miles Award for Academic Excellence in Study for the 2025-2026 academic year. The award is given to a student who began their studies as a first-year student at RIT and is entering their final year of undergraduate study with the highest grade point average across the university. Recommendations from deans are also considered. As part of the Norman Miles award, Rios is earning a scholarship.

Veran Stanek & Dorothy Suzuki-Burke

Students Veran Stanek and Dorothy Suzuki-Burke were both selected as 2024-2025 John Wiley Jones Award Recipients. Each year, one student from each of the College of Science’s five academic units is honored with the John Wiley Jones Outstanding Student in Science award for academic excellence, citizenship, and campus contributions. Veran Stanek (left) is a third-year student in the School of Physics and Astronomy pursuing a combined BS/MS degree in physics (BS) and materials science and engineering (MS), as well as a minor in mathematics. Dorothy Suzuki-Burke (right) is a fourth year Applied Mathematics BS major, and is taking a general education immersion in Japanese. Dorothy intends to earn a doctorate in applied mathematics after graduation.

Lucy Ray

Lucy Ray, a fourth-year medical illustration and psychology dual-degree student from Rochester, spent her summer working as a contracted artist for Drissi Advertising, a creative agency specializing in entertainment marketing. One of the biggest highlights from her time with Drissi was displayed at the busy intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Bundy Drive: a stunt billboard for the new movie ‘Predator: Badlands.’ Ray pursued this position as a non-required co-op for the RIT Honors Program. She lived and worked in Los Angeles from June through August, supporting Drissi’s design team to create “out in the wild” marketing materials. Ray said she helped support creative projects at nearly every stage of the process, from conceptualizing thumbnails to completing the final rounds of editing before a project went to print.

Fram Chair Award for Excellence in Applied Critical Thinking

The Fram Chair Award comes from Gene Fram's philosophy of encouraging students to engage with interdisciplinary and deeper thinking. 

Large Group Winner:

Honors students Christine Espeleta and Emily Ott were a part of the winning large group team for the presentation: The RIT Iceberg: Exploring RIT Student Culture. This exhibit is an extension inspired by work by Igor Polotai, seeking to educate and engage viewers with RIT's student culture and history through a curated selection of media including materials, folklore, stories, legends, and pranks. 

Small Group Winner:

Honors student Leanna Frasch was a part of the winning small group team for the presentation: Leveraging 3D Ceramic Printing for Personalized Bone Implants. This exhibit showcases the potential of utilizing ceramic 3D printing for personalized implant design for patients and implant reserach. Materials are shown at various stages, demonstrating the entire process from computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation to post-processing and final products. 

Honorable Mention:

Evelyn Zou for their contribution to the presentation: Kinetic Artwork and Interactive Computing.

Outstanding Undergraduate Scholars

The Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award celebrates the top 1% of undergraduate students who achieve academic excellence while also giving back to the community through civic or volunteer work, by conducting research, or being engaged in a co-op or work in their field of study. 

Learn more at the Office of the Provost's Website! Please see the list below for this year's Honors Students Scholars. 

The 2024-2025 Cohort includes:

• CAD: J.X. Chen, Jessica Hall, Carina Johnson, Lucy Nguyen, Valentina Ada Scottini, Hannah Slate, Troa Vimahi
• CET: Oran Betz, Rachael Tobey, James Warren
• CHST: Sammy Deol, Zahra'a Ghazle
• COLA: Ava Douglas, Sam Marino, Riley Mason, Adrienne Sanza
• COS: Abigail Broscius, Madeline Mariano 
• GCCIS: Kaelyn Beeman, Aemilia Blais, Peter Catalano, David Cho, Melanie Couillard, Veronika Kirievskaya, Angie Li, Kora Lovdahl, Gavin Monick, Rina Peshori, Ty Platow, Alyssa Rios, Sherry Robinson, Garrit Witters
• KGCOE: Adheesh Ankolekar, Antar Chowdhury, Jolie Crunelle, Madison Dziulko, Paloma Hamilton, Tomasz Mazur, Michael Oldziej, Carley Visser 
• SCB: Aeriana Brentlinger, Ericka Chen, Tira Heiss, Hunter Hodge, Olivia McDonald 
• SOIS: Kylie Aquaro

Community Impact Award 

The Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement coordinates the application and/or selection process for the Community Impact Awards, awarding scholarships to students for serving and leading in their communities.

2025 Honors Award Recipients:

• Susan Willoughby, Lanette Moore, and Cheryl Bulls Scholarship: Alaina Mupparthi
• Tiger Spirit Leadership Award: Olivia Gauthier
• Alfred L. and Ruby C. Davis Scholarship: Kiersten Delk, Alaina Mupparthi, Maya Sullum, Faria Sultana
• Isaac L. Jordan Dr. Endowed Scholarship: Olivia Gauthier

Excellence in Student Life Award 

Since 1964, Excellence in Student Life Awards have celebrated undergraduate students who represent the guiding principles of engagement, scholarship and leadership and demonstrate a healthy balance of academic success and student engagement. Students selected for this honor have a high GPA and hold significant leadership positions within RIT-related activities. 

2025 Honors Award Recipients:

• CHST: Sammy Deol, Buyi Owo-Odusi
• GCCIS: Kora Lovdahl
• KGCOE: Ellie Fairchild, Paloma Hamilton, Tom Mazur, Crystal Qu, Lily Roberts, Ali Stambayev, Daniel Zeznick
• SCB: Kimberly Kaleta, Olivia McDonald

Legacy Leader Award 

Campus life awards the Legacy Leader award to students who have left a legacy at RIT or the greater Rochester community by demonstrating a great commitment to leadership. Students selected for this award must be graduating and identify as a woman or non-binary. 

2025 Honors Award Recipients:

• Chris Baron 
• Guerline Guerrier 
• Buyi Owo-Odusi 
• Crystal Qu 

Outstanding Service Award for International Students  

Honorees of this award are international students recognized for high commitment to community groups and student clubs and organizations while maintaining high academic achievement, contributing to RIT and the greater Rochester community. Students selected for this award must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate international student at the main RIT campus. 

2025 Honors Award Recipients:

• Showmik Bhowmik
• Faria Sultana

RIT Annual Student Writing Awards

Rochester Institute of Technology’s College of Liberal Arts honors student achievements each year in writing which recognize exceptional student writers whose work embodies scholarship, creativity, and excellence in our RIT community.

2024-2025 Honors Award Recipients:

Henry and Mary Kearse Writing Award

• Garrit Witters (GCCIS - Cybersecurity)
• Matthew Stanton (KGCOE - Mechanical Engineering with the Aerospace Option and Economics)
• Adria Clines (SOIS - ASL-English Interpretation and Applied Modern Language and Culture French Option)
• Adrienne Sanza (COLA - Applied Modern Language and Culture Japanese Option)
• Elandria Brzezniak (COLA - Psychology)
• Caroline Richards (GCCIS - Cybersecurity)
• Abigail Block (NTID - ASL-English Interpretation)

Fulbright Awardees

Established in 1946, the Fulbright prize is one of the most prestigious in academic circles and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, promoting cultural exchanges with more than 140 countries. Approximately 1,900 US students earn this award each year from around the country.

Past Honors Awardees:

• Sammy Deol (Biomedical Sciences)
• Matthias Hausman (Mechanical Engineering and International Global Studies)
• Victoria Scholl (Imaging Science)
• Kaylin Beiter (Biomedical Sciences)
• Rose Rustowicz (Imaging Science)

Goldwater Scholars

The Goldwater Scholarship is a prestigious national award for undergraduate students in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The award is based on academic merit and research experience, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their highest degree. 

Eva Reilly (right) is a biochemistry major from Erie, PA and a 2025 recipient for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Out of over 5,000 applications, Reilly is one of the 1,350 students who received this award. While also working as a learning assistant and being a member of other student organizations, she has conducted lab research in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science under associate professor Suzanne O’Handley with a focus on enzymology and characterizing enzymes as potential novel antibiotic targets, specifically those in the bacteria causing tuberculosis and leprosy. Reilly hopes to earn a Ph.D. and establish a career as a professor to continue fulfilling her passions of research and teaching. 

Aidan Miller is a biochemistry major and 2024 recipient for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Miller, who is from Rochester, N.Y., is one of 438 recipients out of 1,353 nominees and has engaged in research in the laboratories of Lea Michel, professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science, and George Thurston, professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Most recently, Miller has studied the biochemical and biophysical analyses of cataract-causing mutations in certain proteins through NMR spectroscopy and light-scattering, presenting his research at the national meeting of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2024. 

Honors Student Government Members

SCB Senator: Ericka Chen

Global Union Vice President: Faria Sultana

SAAC President: Jillian Antol

SAAC Vice President: David Brassie

Siobhan Gannon and Eryk White

Honors students Siobhan Gannon and Eryk White (Film and Animation) won special recognition for their short film, Limelight, at the Ithaca Short Film Festival (Best Animation) and at the Virginia Emerging Filmmakers Festival (Official Selection) with many festivals still to be decided. This work, created as a senior animation capstone, depicts a retired game show host struggling to let go of his glory days gone by. In an allegorical journey through the game show’s sound stage, Siobhan and Eryk address the challenge of what to do when the limelight fades away.

Chris Baron, Lucy Nguyen, and Valentina Scottini

Metaproject is an annual design initiative that pairs students with industry partners to develop products consistent with the Vignelli “Design is One” philosophy.” Students collaborated with Icon Design and alumni-owned ARBR Studios to create unique furniture solutions, and the results are showcased in a global venue Three Honors industrial design students: Chris Baron, Lucy Nguyen, and Valentina Scottini participated this year and will have their half-scale models the students created will be displayed during the annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City in May 2025. Designs by Chris Baron and Valentina Scottini were selected among the six to prototype at full-scale for display at ICFF. 

Pratosh Tiwari and Jayden Stenfort

Honors students Pratosh Tiwari (Computer Engineering) and Jayden Stenfort (Computer Engineering), along with Jared Forchheimer and Shaurya Gupta, won HACK.COMS's "Flock Together" award during the '25 competition. HACK.COMS is an inter-collegiate hackathon organized by RIT, with over 130 participants. The "Flock Together" award recognizes the best hack for communities and "honors those that build with empathy, awareness, an community at their core."

Tiwari and Stenfort's hack, UniHear, is a "community-run platform that translates news into multiple languages and ASL," inspired by their own experiences with multiculturalism. Tiwari shared that "we built UniHear, a tool that translates written and YouTube content into ASL (American Sign Language) videos and multiple languages (voice and text) to make information accessible and inclusive for all." For more information on UniHear, visit their HACK.COMS page.

 Leanna Frasch and Aemilia Blais

Honors students Leanna Frasch and Aemilia Blais each took home prizes for their projects during WiCHacks '25. Frasch won Best Wellness Hack for their website, amiokay.com. It focuses on providing women and LGBTQIA communities the resources to make educated decisions regarding their health and well-being by simplifying medical information to promote accessibility. Frasch and their partner say they are proud to create a safe space and help people navigate a changing world of medical coverage and policies, and they plan on continuing to update and expand the website.

Blais won Best Financial Hack for their website Her Two Cents, an online financial manager aimed to promote budgeting techniques in a user friendly manner. Their website allows flexible goals, smart budgeting, and chatbot assistance to answer financial questions. There is also a vision board incorporated to help motivate users to meet their financial goals. Blais and her team have a goal of adding more features to Her Two Cents, including notifications on tracking your spending limit.