Photo Spotlights

Shark Tank, featuring five student teams competing for the opportunity to turn their start-up businesses into reality, took place on Jan. 24. The first place winners were Christopher Burton (shown here), a junior in management information systems, and Alexander Bennett, a sophomore in industrial design. The student entrepreneurs won $2,000 for their Kinetic Beacon, a non-battery-powered hand-held device used as a GPS tool for intrepid outdoor adventurers.

The Center for Student Innovation Fellows Program hosted a nerd auction Jan. 20. The fellows, who represent many of RIT’s colleges, raised $500 to develop their projects and sponsor work by other students. Pictured above is fellow Richard Latham, right, a third-year industrial and systems engineering major, talking to RIT Professor Tony Harkin from the School of Mathematical Sciences. People bid on items the fellows made. The fellows themselves were also up for bid and participants won time with a student for help on a project or problem. The students hope to make this an annual event.

The Gallery at the Arts & Cultural Council, 277 N. Goodman St., presents an exhibit of paintings and sculptures by RIT Professor Leonard Urso. The exhibit is on view through Feb. 28.

In the mid-1990s, Garth Fagan Dance gave its Rochester performances in the Robert F. Panara Theatre at NTID. Fagan Dance, now in its 40th year, and one of the premier modern dance companies in the United States, returned to perform as part of RIT’s annual Expressions of King’s Legacy Celebration on Jan. 23.

In the mid-1990s, Garth Fagan Dance gave its Rochester performances in the Robert F. Panara Theatre at NTID. Fagan Dance, now in its 40th year, and one of the premier modern dance companies in the United States, returned to perform as part of RIT’s annual Expressions of King’s Legacy Celebration on Jan. 23.

Spoken-word poet Joshua Bennett performed “Tamara's Opus” at the Expressions of King’s Legacy Celebration on Jan. 23. Bennett wrote the poem about how he came to understand his sister Tamara’s experience as a woman who is deaf and how they learned to communicate with each other. The poem was spoken and signed.

Cornel West, professor, author, musician and philosopher, was the keynote speaker for the 30th annual Expressions of King’s Legacy Celebration on Jan. 23. West, professor of philosophy and Christian practices at Union Theological Seminary, often speaks of the King legacy and social justice.

RIT’s Science and Mathematics Education Research Collaborative connected with colleagues in the area on Jan. 20 to form the sixth regional network of Project Kaleidoscope, a leading advocate for engaging and retaining students in the STEM disciplines. RIT chemistry professor Tom Kim shared his ideas on concept maps to workshop participants and Scott Franklin, RIT associate professor of physics, looks on.

Cornel West, professor, author, musician and philosopher, spoke with a group of students before giving his keynote address at the 30th annual Expressions of King’s Legacy Celebration on Jan. 23. West, professor of philosophy and Christian practices at Union Theological Seminary, often speaks of the King legacy and social justice.

Poet Joshua Bennett spoke with RIT/NTID students, staff and community members in the Student Development Center Jan. 22 as part of the 30th annual Expressions of King’s Legacy Celebration. Student performance groups Mental Graffiti and Dangerous Signs also performed.

RIT’s College of Liberal Arts hosted its annual Major, Minor and Concentration Fair Jan. 20 in Clark Gym. RIT students met with Liberal Arts faculty members to learn about the more than 40 minors and concentrations. Students were also treated to free pizza and door prizes for their participation.

Some of RIT’s newer research participants are getting a helping hand. The Office of the Vice President for Research has awarded more than a dozen seed-funding grants of $5,000 each to support proposed research initiatives. The awards result from the faculty members’ participation in the annual Grant Writers’ Boot Camp program. Recipients of this year’s seed funding awards include (top row from left) Hans Schmitthenner, Hinda Mandell, Ivan Puchades, Wei Le, (bottom from left) Jennifer Adams, Susan Lane-Outlaw, Christine Monikowski and Patricia Taboada-Serrano. They’re joined by David Bond, director of Sponsored Research Service (bottom right).