Photo Spotlights

Jacob Mekker, a fourth-year student in the School of Individualized Study from Syracuse, N.Y., explains his research to Sheth Nyibule, a lecturer in physics. RIT's Center for Advancing STEM Teaching, Learning and Evaluation held its sixth annual CASTLE Symposium on May 8. The event celebrated faculty and student research and work focused on improving STEM education. 

From left, Morgan Kline, a fifth-year mechanical engineering student from Horseheads, N.Y., and Logan Hobbs, a fifth-year chemical engineering and materials science student from Bath, N.Y., personalize their graduation caps. College Activities Board hosted a graduation cap decorating party in the Fireside lounge, providing a variety of craft supplies to adorn the caps. RIT Commencement is May 10-11.

Global Union hosted an International Students' graduation reception in Fireside Lounge today. A variety of plush animals, including tigers, were ready to be stuffed and personalized.

From left, RIT Provost Ellen Granberg, Secretary of the Party Committee of Changchun University Yimin Zhao and NTID President Gerry Buckley have signed a partnership agreement bringing cultural and educational exchange to both universities. 

The second of two group exhibitions featuring projects by seniors in ceramics, furniture design, metals & jewelry design, painting, printmaking and expanded forms opened on May 3 at the City Art Space downtown. The exhibit is on view through May 12.

Rachel Coleman, center, RIT/NTID parent and star of the popular PBS and video series "Signing Time!" presented a live concert to a sold-out crowd of children and families in the college's Panara Theatre May 3. Coleman's daughter, Leah, who is graduating from RIT's industrial design program, also appeared in the concert, which teaches sign language through movement and song.

LGBTQIA+ graduating students welcomed students, faculty and staff to their signature end-of-year event, Rainbow Graduation, in the University Gallery April 29. The program included remarks by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Ellen Granberg and Assistant Director for Campus Life at the Q Center Christopher Hinesley. Comic and author Kelli Dunham gave the keynote address and Alan Smerbeck, assistant professor in psychology, received the Steffens Award. Students shared stories and experiences at RIT and received a rainbow cord. The event, hosted by ritGA and the RIT GLBTQ+ Alliance, was followed by a Rainbow Prom.

Joline Durand, a first-year graphic design student from Hallandale, Fla., reacted to her new look after Supercuts stylist Cait Brown completed the cut. Members of Sigma Nu fraternity hosted their 8th annual St. Baldrick's event, where people get their heads shaved while raising money for childhood cancer research. This is the final official 50 Acts of Kindness event to commemorate RIT's 50th anniversary on the Henrietta campus.

RIT’s performance race teams—Baja, Formula, e-snowmobile and e-motorcycle—were unveiled on April 27 during Imagine RIT. Despite the snow, the teams displayed sleek new designs in preparation for this spring and summer’s competition season. RIT will host the Baja SAE Rochester World Challenge June 6- 9 at the university. 

Intramurals set up a canoe battleship tournament in the Field House competition pool April 28. Teams of four people in a canoe with buckets try to fill the other canoes and sink them. 

Kwaku Alston (’94 photo illustration) talks with students about their work and the evolution of his photography career during a group meeting in the MAGIC Center. Alston is at RIT for the Futurists Symposium at 11:00 a.m., MAGIC Center 2180 during Imagine RIT. The talk is moderated by the Democrat & Chronicle’s Virginia Butler and features Melanie Shapiro ’07, '09, CEO & Co-founder of Token; Tom Connor '11, VP Creative Marketing, The Walt Disney Company; Kwaku Alston '94, Photographer & Director; and Brandon Hudson, CEO of Seerwise.

Emely Pacheco, right, a first-year business management major from Delaware, takes a selfie showing a flowering spring tree at NTID with Andrea Miranda, a first-year 3D graphic technology student from California.