Photo Spotlights

Justin Stabb, a second-year mechanical engineering technology major, prepares to traverse the rock crawl challenge in the Mini Baja 100, June 1-4, in Tinaja Hills, Ariz., near Tucson. The competition was RIT’s second national contest this year. RIT earned top-ten finishes in acceleration, endurance and presentation events and 13th place overall among more than 120 challengers.

More than 200 RIT faculty and professional staff attended the sixth annual Faculty Institute on Teaching and Learning on May 24. Keynote addresses were given by Stan McKenzie, RIT provost, and Kit Mayberry, vice president of Academic Affairs.

Runners enjoy a water break at the 1-mile mark of Rochester's 15th JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge held June 2 on the RIT campus. A total of 8,632 runners and walkers took on the 3.5-mile course around campus on a stellar sunny evening.

The new Forman Scholarship is the gateway for one RIT undergraduate student to study in the People's Republic of China. Steven Davis, a fourth-year computer engineering student, is the first recipient of the scholarship, sponsored by David Reid, Benjamin Forman Chair of International Business in the College of Business. Davis receives $1,500 and will spend the summer in Beijing, studying Bagua Zhang, a Chinese Internal Martial Art, Chen style Tai Chi Chuan and traditional Chinese medicine under Grand-Master Xu Shi Xi.

It was a Kodak moment for some RIT seniors in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences who designed a Web site providing fun facts about the father of modern photography and the founder of Eastman Kodak, George Eastman, and his Rochester home. Nearly 100 students in the new media publishing, design and information technology program in CIAS designed comprehensive multi-media packages for eight not-for-profit organizations, including George Eastman House. The students showed off their collateral materials to the RIT community May 12. To view the Eastman House Web site for children visit eastmankids.com.

Panelists discuss "NAFTA: The China Factor" during a symposium sponsored by RIT's Center for International Business, May 26-27. David Reid, left, Benjamin Forman Chair of International Business in RIT's College of Business, moderated a session on the U.S. perspective of China's influence on the 10-year old trade agreement. The panel included Bruno Glavich, president and CEO of Applied Image Group, and Ron Jones, economics professor at University of Rochester.

RIT President Albert Simone pitches a ball at the fifth annual President's Stickball Tournament held in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center, May 25. Sponsored by the president and Staff Council, RIT staff enjoyed food, music and camaraderie at the ninth annual Staff Appreciation Day & Community Picnic, also part of the day's events.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) spoke with local media during a tour of RIT's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS). Inouye, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, was joined by RIT President Albert Simone, right, for a demonstration of the Defene Modernization and Readiness Program. CIMS has received $21 million in Department of Defense funding over an eight-year period for related initiatives.

Sunny skies greeted RIT graduates for their procession during commencement weekend, May 20-21. More than 3,500 degrees were conferred on students completing undergraduate and graduate studies within RIT's eight colleges. This year's commencement served as the climax for the university's 175th anniversary celebration.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) presented the keynote address at RIT's convocation ceremony, May 20. A yearlong celebration of RIT's 175th anniversary culminated this weekend as thousands of parents and family members, friends and members of the RIT community gathered on campus for the 120th annual commencement.

Brian Gonzales, left, entered the world 10 minutes ahead of his twin brother. Not to be outdone, Kevin Gonzales will beat his "older" brother to an RIT diploma by a full half hour. The brothers, who graduate from separate RIT colleges during almost simultaneous ceremonies, join more than 3,500 other graduates at commencement weekend, May 20-21. For more information, visit www.rit.edu/commencement.

RIT students celebrated the end of the academic year with Senior Night on May 13. An evening of free music, food and fun for graduating seniors, events included a Las Vegas-style casino in the Student Alumni Union's Alfred Davis Room.