Photo Spotlights

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is just one of the major news events covered by photojournalist Chris Usher. His photographs appear regularly in international and domestic publications including People and Time. His exhibit of behind-the-scenes moments at the White House — Behind the Velvet Rope — has been on display throughout the United States. Usher will speak at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, in Building 6, room A205. This photograph depicts a victim of Hurricane Katrina.

RIT/NTID student Michelle Koplitz has been teaching 7-year-old Ryan Wagner how to swim for the last three quarters. He says she has helped him overcome his fear of water and now really enjoys swimming. Read the full story in News & Events.

On Aylia’s Wings, created by RIT faculty member and professional artist Allen Douglas, is one of the submissions for this year’s Golisano College Digital Arts Competition and Exhibition. The event aims to promote expression through digital media. Entries in various categories including conceptual art, wall-hung pieces, installations and monitor-based work will be on display May 12-14 throughout the entire Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences building.

Alyssa Bennett, third-year nutrition management major, left, and Andrea Lo, second-year hospitality and service management major, prepare truffles for the 21st annual Puttin’ on the RITz dinner-dance, hosted by RIT School of Hospitality and Service Management students, April 1 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. The gala benefited the hospitality education fund for student awards, educational travel, equipment and scholarships.

Edward Tunstel, a senior robotics engineer with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, Calif., discussed "Robotically Roving the Red Planet for Two (Earth) Years...and Counting" on April 14 at RIT.

Young hunters track down their prey as the RIT Leadership Institute played host to an Easter egg hunt on April 15. More than 1,000 candy-filled eggs were hidden across the Eastman Kodak Quad and available for the taking. About 125 youngsters—all children of RIT faculty, staff and students—enjoyed the festivities.

Young hunters track down their prey as the RIT Leadership Institute played host to an Easter egg hunt on April 15. More than 1,000 candy-filled eggs were hidden across the Eastman Kodak Quad and available for the taking. About 125 youngsters—all children of RIT faculty, staff and students—enjoyed the festivities.

RIT's alumni relations team prepares to send boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to members of the RIT community who are serving overseas in the military. Recipients include alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff. RIT's Alumni Network partnered with the Girl Scouts of America to make the shipments possible.

Niki Usbay, left, and Dan Solel are two of the three students in RIT’s School of Film and Animation honored with a Silver Telly Award. Usbay, Solel and Sean Dekkers, shot and produced 20 half-hour episodes of The Big Apple Cafe’s Wonderful World of Cooking to air on the WB16 cable television station in Rochester. The Telly Awards, a national competition that recognizes excellence in video and film production, recently honored the students with top honors in its educational category.

Cyber law, copyright and intellectual-property expert and author Lawrence Lessig visited RIT on March 24 for his presentation “Free Culture.” Lessig is also a Stanford University law professor and wrote Free Culture, The Future of Ideas and Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace. He chairs Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization that offers flexible copyright licenses. See the streaming video of his presentation.

Byron S. J. Weng, distinguished professor at the National Chi-Nan University, in Taiwan (center), and Jack Lee, deputy director of Cultural Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, in New York (right), visited RIT for its Career Fair on March 29. They're joined by Ken Hsu, professor of computer engineering, the Infinity Quad.

Sam Gilliam, considered one of the most prominent African-American abstract painters, gave a free lecture at RIT on March 31 about his work from the past four decades. Gilliam talks with Hye Keun Park (right), a fine arts studio major, about one of her watercolor paintings. His lecture was sponsored by RIT’s School of Art and the Commission for Promoting Pluralism.