Two RIT Student Leaders Receive the Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Endowed Scholarship | May 2024
Congratulations to RIT students Sarah Hong and Damien Sorvillo, this year’s recipients of the Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Endowed Scholarship. Jordan served as the first chairperson of RIT’s President’s Commission on Pluralism and Inclusion in the 1990’s. He understood the importance of diversity and inclusion and of celebrating differences. His vision and legacy live on through RIT students who also embrace diversity and inclusion.
Sarah Hong is the recipient of the Upperclassman Scholarship. She is a third-year nutritional sciences major and is one of seven new scholars joining the McNair Scholars Program. She enjoys doing research with and learning from professors in the College of Health Sciences and Technology. Sarah also focuses on her peers. She says working to create a safe and welcoming environment for other students and to enhance collaborative efforts already underway, is important to her.
“I come from an underrepresented group, a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese descent, and I am a first-generation college student, therefore there are a lot of issues and societal problems I am aware of and want to change. I am more accepting of diverse cultures especially because of my background.”
Hong transferred to RIT and says she immediately got involved with campus groups and organizations. She is active with the Asian Culture Society Club (ACS), helping to promote awareness of Asian culture and creating a sense of community.
“Previously in ACS I was an executive assistant, but this semester I serve as a mentor for other peer fellows, guiding them with answering questions and giving them support as a third-year year student. In essence, these positions serve as a great opportunity to further expose myself to students with diverse backgrounds, promote inclusivity, and strengthen essential leadership skills.”
Sarah has a leadership role with COS ALANA, the College of Science group for students of color and is in charge of the group’s budget. She says she is always looking for opportunities to gain new skills.
“I was also accepted into the Business Skills For Aspiring Leaders Certificate Program; it has introduced me to critical business concepts and skills. These abilities proved to be useful for my duties as treasurer—allocating funds efficiently and sparking ideas for thoughtful events that will be influential for the science community at RIT.”
Hong has as much passion and energy for her classes. One professor who wrote a letter of support for this award, called her an outstanding student, academically, who doesn’t shy away from challenging subjects.
“She put in hours and hours for my class despite her intelligence because Sarah cares. She cares about her studies, and she cares about others around her. She is very extroverted and a positive person who is certainly not afraid to ask for help so she can dot her I’s and cross her T’s.
Community service is important to Hong which she describes as stepping into the role of servant leader.” Over spring break, she worked at Cloudland Canyon State Park in Rising Fawn, Georgia. She volunteered to work with community agencies on short-term projects. Hong says, “Active listening, self and situational awareness, and commitment to the growth of others are all core characteristics to my leadership framework, and I hope to improve and enhance them.”
Damien Sorvillo is the recipient of the Freshman Scholarship and says, “As a first-generation student who is self-supporting, I have set high standards for myself. I want to make the most of my time here and do the best I can because this opportunity is too valuable to waste.”
Sorvillo has wasted no time getting involved at RIT, first taking part in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion Summer Experience in 2023. Sorvillo is active with organizations and programs ranging from Art House, MCAS, the Animation Club and Seeds of Soil to the Performing Arts Scholars program. Sorvillo says this is a way to contribute to the campus community and gain skills to help others.
“Having my background of coming from a low-income family I understand that everyone faces challenges, big and small. It could just be needing help with homework or just needing someone to talk to. That is why I believe in offering my support or help whenever possible. I am constantly working on myself to be someone that others can rely on, whether it's lending a helping hand or simply being a listening ear. I wish to make sure that everyone knows that they are not alone in their struggles.”
Sorvillo adds, “As a Performing Arts Scholar, I have been able to immerse myself in RIT's vibrant performing scene, participating in productions like "Thy Name is Women" for NTID, and even working with the Rocky Horror Picture Show Club. These experiences have not only introduced me to diverse ways theater is done, with American Sign Language, but also helped to motivate me to learn ASL to communicate more effectively with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community on campus.”
Sorvillo is sharing that enthusiasm with co-workers at the Loaded Latke, encouraging them to learn some ASL as well to better serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing students on campus.
“A natural leader.” “A skilled and trusted student sought out by their peers.” Those are just a few of the descriptions some RIT program leaders and professors used in describing Sorvillo.
Sorvillo says, “Through these experiences, I have not only enriched my own time at RIT but also deepened my understanding of campus life here and the importance of having support. Looking ahead at my remaining time here, I am excited about the potential for positive change and continued growth for our campus community and myself. Whether through volunteering, participating in events, or simply being there for others, I am committed to contributing to the well-being and success of RIT and its diverse student body. As a first-generation student who supports myself, I have set high goals for myself, because I want to make the most of my time here at RIT. This opportunity to be here is too valuable for me to waste, I need to make the most of it, and make my family proud.”
Photos taken by: Teo Luciani and Melanie Ng