RIT honors Volunteer of the Year

‌

Ken Huth

Victoria Griffith ’93 (center) with President Bill Destler and his wife, Rebecca Johnson, at the President's Alumni Ball.

Victoria Ann Decker Griffith ’93 (food marketing and distribution) is RIT’s Volunteer of the Year for 2009. The Volunteer of the Year award is presented to an individual who exhibits dedication to the RIT community by being active and involved in institute life while also contributing significantly to his/her community, state or nation.

Griffith has more then 20 years of experience in the hospitality and service industry, including 11 years with Clyde’s Restaurant Group, owner of 13 restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area. In her current position as director of quality assurance, she developed and manages all health and safety programs for the company.

During her time as an RIT student, Griffith was active in the Newman Parish Club and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She continues as an active member and supporter of Zeta Tau Alpha and has been honored numerous times by the organization.

“Being a part of RIT was great and the fraternity really helped make my days at RIT some of the best years of my life,” she says. “I dedicated my leadership, grades and community service to the standards the ZTA held us to. I had a great RIT education, and what ZTA taught me has helped me to give back to RIT in more ways than I could have imagined.”

Griffith is a member of RIT’s Alumni Association Board of Directors and recently hosted the first NRS event in Washington. She has been active in the NRS Executive Committee, reunion planning, admissions receptions and summer send offs programs, a career mentor speaker, and regional chapter leader since 2000.

Griffith has earned the credential of Certified Food Safety Professional given by the National Environmental Health Association and is presently vice president of the National Capital Area Environmental Health Association. She is winner of the NEHA National Merit Award (2007); FDA Best Practices, Reducing the Risk Factors, Handwashing Competition (2007); and RIT’s Sarah Margaret Gilliam Award (2000).

She and her husband, Michael, reside in northern Virginia.

The awards was presented at the President’s Alumni Ball, part of the 12th annual Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend in October.