Photo Spotlights

Italian filmmaker Giovanna Taviani attended a reception at the University Gallery prior to the screening of her documentary Ritorni. She will be an artist-in-residence for two days, speaking with students studying Italian, film and anthropology. Her film will also be shown during the High Falls Film Festival in Rochester this week. http://highfallsfilmfestival.com/2015/

RIT hosted its fifth annual Veterans Day Breakfast to honor those who have served honorably for their country. More than 500 people attended. Here, Gary Beikirch, one of only 79 living Medal of Honor Recipients in the United States, talked with veterans at the event.

RIT’s third annual Effective Access Technology Conference, held Nov. 10 in Gordon Field House and Activities Center, brought together researchers, service providers and developers to share ideas and innovative solutions for access and inclusion. Examples of technology on the market or in development that are helping people with physical or cognitive challenges were on display. Here, Christalyn Snyder of Viggi Kids, demonstrated some of the company’s inventive children’s products. Viggi Kids won the Al Sigl Community of Agencies Best Exhibit Award at the conference.

RIT’s Tiger for Tigers club kicks off Tiger Awareness Week with events each day. Donations to help save tigers were collected on Monday in return for a whipped cream pie that could be thrown into the face of an RIT athlete. Here, Madison Price, a first-year diagnostic medical sonography major on the volleyball team, reacts to one of many pies in her face.

Women in Engineering and Women in Computing held open houses on Nov. 7. Fifth and sixth grade girls explored interactive exhibits and had their questions answered by RIT female engineering and computing students. Genevieve Onderdonk, 11, from Rochester, N.Y., took part in the event.

Dave Edborg, a patrol major in RIT’s Public Safety Department, is training for the World Bench Press and Deadlift Championships in Las Vegas on Nov. 18. He hopes to lift nearly 500 pounds in the international competition. About 450 people from around the world will compete in various age and weight classes, divisions and competitions. Edborg will enter the 198-pound class of the deadlift competition, in the police and law enforcement division in the master class for those 48 to 55 years old. His competition will be lifters from all over the world: Belgium, Germany, Poland and England.

Kevin Kantor, theater artist and poet, performed on campus on Nov. 4. One of his beliefs is the capacity for social change through theater and performance art. He has been featured in The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Upworthy and more.

Students are taking advantage of unusually warm weather this week. Frank Polito, a second-year mechanical engineering technology student from New Hampton, N.Y., took a break outside before his next class. Temperatures are expected to be in the 70s for the next few days.

NTID Performing Arts Program presents “Seasons,” choreographed and directed by Thomas Warfield. Featuring a variety of musical genres and dance styles, performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 6 and 7; and at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Robert F. Panara Theatre in LBJ Hall. The Nov. 5 and 6 performances feature a special encore performance by international hip-hop violinist, Svet. Tickets are $5 (students/seniors/children) and $7 (all others). Email for reservations: ntidtix@rit.edu. All reserved tickets must be purchased 24 hours before the show date.

Native American Heritage Month kicked-off with a celebration on Nov. 3. Nicole Barcer, a second-year mechanical engineering technology student from Niagara Falls, N.Y., helped guests make beaded bracelets. Traditional foods of Three Sisters Stew, a blend of corn, squash and beans, and corn bread were available to sample.

Harvey Stern ’84 (hospitality administration/management) talked to CAST’s hospitality students about event management at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, one of the largest and most popular resorts in Las Vegas, during his visit to RIT on Nov. 2-4. The Executive Director of Catering and Banquets shared insights into how to manage extensive catering, menu development, event requests and overall convention services, and how to develop the leadership skills necessary for careers in hospitality and tourism. “One of the takeaways I found beneficial was Mr. Stern’s career advice to work harder, faster, stronger and better,” said Jesse Redlo, a graduate student in the hospitality and tourism management program who attended the event. “He also said to focus on what’s best for the guest and best for the operation.”

Some third-year photojournalism students toured organizations in New York City recently. William Snyder, professor and chair of the photojournalism program, arranged a week-long trip to visit photographers, publications, RIT alumni and non-governmental organizations. Reuters, The Associated Press, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Buzzfeed, Sports Illustrated, Getty and Esquire were among the places they stopped to meet and listen to experts in the industry. The trip is the culmination of a three-credit class that prepares photojournalism students in professional practices, including creating blogs, websites, resumes and business cards.