Photo Spotlights

Incoming freshmen participating in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion (DDI) Summer Experience worked on community service projects at the RIT FoodShare, Bern’s Closet, the Community Garden (shown here) and more. The four-week DDI Summer Experience helps prepare first-year students from underrepresented populations for a successful transition to college. The students live on campus and take two credit-bearing classes—a first-year writing seminar and a course in college algebra, pre-calculus or intercultural communications. The Summer Experience also provides the students workshops on study techniques from the Academic Support Center, connects them with mentors, allows them to explore regional landmarks such as Niagara Falls and engages them in community service projects.

Jim Augustine, right, COO of Zuckerberg Media, spoke to students in the New York GEAR UP Summer Leadership Academy about the value of an education and led the students in a Hackathon. Here, the winning team explains their magnetic glove that helps deliver plates of food. RIT hosted high school students from across the state for the New York GEAR UP Summer Leadership Academy. The GEAR UP program aims to help economically-disadvantaged high school students find a path to higher education and this camp is designed to help them find their passion. RIT’s GEAR UP program serves students in the class of 2020 within the City of Rochester.

Kevin Farnand, right, a third-year mechanical engineering student from Fairport, N.Y., discusses his rock climbing wall project that will be used by children with attention disorders with Dan Meyers, president emeritus at Al Sigl Center. More than 30 students representing a variety of RIT colleges and programs displayed projects that address accessibility concerns and medical challenges. The exhibition was the culmination of the Studio 930 interdisciplinary consultancy this summer.

Nearly 30 first-year students arrived on July 27 to attend the New Signers Program, a two-week pre-orientation program offered to newly accepted deaf and hard-of-hearing students who have little or no prior skills in American Sign Language. This program is designed to help students learn basic sign skills, so that they will be able to communicate more effectively with RIT/NTID students, faculty and staff members who use sign language. During NSP, students also have an opportunity to explore Rochester, learn how to navigate the RIT campus, and participate in other fun activities. Here, they play an ASL fingerspelling baseball game.

The RIT Digital Den is now open in a new renovated area in Monroe Hall. Housed in the space are the computer and photo stores and the Hub Express. A grand opening event is planned for August 28 at noon.

Jim Augustine, center, COO of Zuckerberg Media, spoke to students in the New York GEAR UP Summer Leadership Academy about the value of an education and led the students in a Hackathon. RIT hosted high school students from across the state for the New York GEAR UP Summer Leadership Academy this week. The GEAR UP program aims to help economically-disadvantaged high school students find a path to higher education and this camp is designed to help them find their passion. RIT’s GEAR UP program serves students in the class of 2020 within the City of Rochester.

Ashley Johnson, a ninth-grader at Olympia High School, has her personal branding video shot during a class offered by the Liberty Partnerships Program. The class, Personal Branding, was part of the Communication Camp, led by School of Communication faculty. RIT’s Liberty Partnerships Program is part of the New York State Education Department’s Statewide Plan for Higher Education. The program's goal is to increase high school graduation rates.

Jessica Hartman, a ninth-grader at Olympia High School, rehearses for her personal branding video during a class offered by the Liberty Partnerships Program. The class, Personal Branding, was part of the Communication Camp, led by School of Communication faculty. RIT’s Liberty Partnerships Program is part of the New York State Education Department’s Statewide Plan for Higher Education. The program's goal is to increase high school graduation rates.

RIT/NTID held its annual Health Care Careers Exploration Camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing students entering 10th, 11th and 12th grades who are interested in a career in the health care field. Students learned about various careers in health care; enjoyed field trips to area medical facilities; were part of hands-on demonstrations in biology, exercise science, laboratory science, microbiology, nursing, nutrition; and became CPR certified.

Kat Nadtochii, an eighth-grader at Bay Trail Middle School in Penfield, N.Y., does a spirometry test to measure her lung functions at the career fair at SMASH. The fifth annual SMASH Experience for Girls (Summer Math Applications in Science with Hands-on Experience for Girls) wrapped up a week of applied mathematics with a career fair. Corporate sponsors demonstrated ways to apply math to solving real problems.

Olivia Kim, adjunct faculty in RIT’s College of Art and Design, speaks at a July 19 news conference announcing the start of the installation of 13 monuments of Frederick Douglass that she created. Kim designed the sculptures of Douglass for a Rochester, N.Y. community art venture that’s part of the Re-energizing the Legacy of Frederick Douglass project. The recognition and reflection marking the living legacy of the man and freedom-seeker marks two hundred years after the birth of arguably the most celebrated African American statesman, whose years in Rochester resulted in some of his most influential life’s work. The sculptures, fiberglass monuments molded from an original Kim sculpture, will make up a self-guided tour to sites around Rochester that were significant to Douglass’ life and work. The first will be installed at Hochstein, the site of Douglass’ funeral.

85 high school students from around the country are on campus this week as part of NTID’s career exploration program, Explore Your Future. The long-established EYF summer program for deaf and hard-of-hearing high school juniors and seniors allows students hands-on experience in a variety of areas and gives them a sample of college life.