Class Notes

Bepoase, Ghana The community trods to the Village Center where the installation of an African American Queen Mother will take place in a four hour program known as a Durbar. From the “Queen Mother of Progress” Series.

Name: Collette Fournier

Class Year(s): 1979

Note: Collette Fournier ’79 (GAP) is currently working on a book of her journey into photography. She is actively photographing and lecturing with her "Retrospective: Spirit of A People" to colleges, libraries and diversity communities.

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

Alexandra baked Captain America themed cookies to celebrate a wrap on Falcon!

Name: Alexandra Rebeck

Class Year(s): 2014

Note: Alexandra Rebek ’14 (CIAS) and her VFX production team was recently nominated for an Emmy for their work on Falcon and the Winter Soldier. After wrapping on Falcon, a large group flew out to Budapest where they have been living and working together on their next Marvel project. She is hoping everyone will enjoy their next show just as much!

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

Name: David Jones

Class Year(s): 1967

Note: David Jones ’67 (SCB) recently retired as the President and CEO of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library.

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

Name: Brian Palamar

Class Year(s): 2017

Note: Brian Palamar ’17 (COLA) was admitted to the New York State Bar on February 26, 2021 and is now a licensed attorney.

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

RIT alumni in attendance at the ceremony included: Jeremy Allston (GCCIS ’10), Brittany Ambeau (COS ’13, ’17), Alexandra Atzl (CIAS ’12), Justin Harms (COS ’16), Josh Kramer (KCGOE ’13), Kristen Kramer (SCB ’12), and David Pearson (GCCIS ’11).

Name: Sarah Fitzgerald

Class Year(s): 2012

Note: Sarah (Hannon) Fitzgerald (CAST ’12) and Bryan Fitzgerald (CHST ’12) were married in a small ceremony on September 6, 2020. They will celebrate with family and friends in September 2021.

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

Standing on the summit of Denali, North America’s highest point (20,310’)

Name: Zachary White

Class Year(s): 2017

Note: Zachary White ’17 (SCB) spent two weeks during June 2021 climbing to the top of North America on Denali (20,310’) in Alaska. His team summited after enduring -30 degree temperatures, high winds and icy conditions. The expedition was postponed one full year after COVID cancelled the climbing season in 2020. His team came back stronger and more ready than ever! Next year he plans to climb Mount Everest in Nepal. Follow his journey on Instagram: @Zachoneverest

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

Name: William Avis

Class Year(s): 2019

Note: William Avis ’19 (CAD) is one of 75 Americans selected to study and work in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program – now in its 38th year. The 2021-2022 CBYX Young Professionals cohort departs for Germany on July 31 and returns in June 2022. This year, about 450 young professionals vied for a spot in this prestigious program. While in Germany, William will attend a two-month intensive language course, and then study at a German university and complete an internship in the career field of furniture design. Participants are placed with host families throughout Germany, where they act as citizen ambassadors of the United States, promoting a positive image abroad and creating lifelong friendships and professional connections to keep German-American relations strong. “Our newest cohort of young professionals, including William, is well-equipped to further our core mission – creating lasting ties between the United States and Germany,” said CBYX Young Professionals Senior Director Dr. Daniel Villanueva. “We are thankful these promising young leaders will be representing us in Germany this year.”

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

RIT - Tigers helping Tigers

Name: JENNIPHER JUDGE

Class Year(s): 1991

Note: Jennipher Judge ’91 (GAP) is living in Austin, T.X. and last year made a career transition from Human Resources into Real Estate with Keller Williams after a long career in games and tech. If you are coming to Austin or live in the area, Jennipher says she is happy to help you Tigers moving to Austin or who already live in the area, be it housing or simply networking. There are many RIT grads locally. It is great to continue to help others in this way.

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

RIT alumni and interns with Packaging Science Chair Dan Johnson

Name: Sal Pellingra

Class Year(s): 1998,2001

Note: Sal Pellingra ’98 (CIAS) MBA ’01 (SCB) celebrated the opening of ProAmpac’s CIC Collaboration & Innovation Center in Rochester, N.Y. ProAmpac invests in flexible packaging capabilities. The additional design, market application and analytical capabilities help the company continue to lead the flexible packaging industry and is partnering with RIT to build their team with key employees and interns. Alumni are welcome to visit!

Submitted on: July 23, 2021

Thorlak of Iceland by Aimee O’Connell

Name: Aimee O’Connell

Class Year(s): 1997

Note: Aimee O’Connell ’97 (CLA) has taken a hiatus from school psychology and focused on raising and homeschooling three children. She co-founded the website Autism Consecrated, as an online spiritual resource for autistic people, and has authored and published the historical biography Thorlack of Iceland, available from Chaos to Order Publishing in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com. She is currently working on two other book projects with the same publisher.

Submitted on: July 23, 2021