Class of 2024
Congratulations to the College of Art and Design's newest graduates! As the Class of 2024 gets set to make its creative mark on the world, we celebrate its ingenuity and countless accomplishments.
Animation by Priscilla Nascimento '24 (3D digital design)
Congratulations to the Class of 2024! I am so proud of your growth and resilience during your time here at RIT! When you first started your college journey, you had to navigate your way through a time of great uncertainty as the world battled a pandemic.
You faced the unexpected head-on and created personal and professional connections, celebrated successes and milestones, and hopefully made memories that will last a lifetime. I am always amazed to learn about how our alumni are out in the world making an impact! And you are officially joining the ranks of our incredible College of Art and Design alumni. I look forward to what is next for all of you. Go Tigers!
Todd Jokl
Dean
College of Art and Design
Delegates
![Sophia Scaravilla headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/sophia.jpg)
Sophia Scaravillo (undergraduate)
Sophia is graduating with a BFA in photographic imaging arts with a concentration in advertising photography. A photographer and production designer, their passion for photography became a way of exploration of how they process themself and the world around them. Sophia was given the honor of co-producing the Vignelli Center for Design Studies' Beyond Fashion show at RIT, gaining valuable industry experience. They have been brought on as a production designer on multiple films, notably the award-winning short film, Pyggie, that has entered the international film circuit.
![Diane Lee headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/dianelee.jpg)
Diane Catsburrow Linnet (graduate)
Diane will be graduating with an MFA in film and animation with a concentration in 2D animation. She earned her BA in studio art at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. A storyteller, filmmaker, and animator, she strives to tell stories about people. She has worked as an animation intern at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, and as a contract animator for Cartuna in Brooklyn. At RIT, Diane wears many hats: she is the producer of AniMAGIC, where she manages student productions of client projects, a graduate teaching assistant to classes and workshops, and was a concept artist for the multi-year game development project, That Damn Goat. Her most recent film production Tadpole — an immersive animated short — took her to film festivals in the UK and South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. In her non-spare time, she enjoys journaling these vibrant adventures in her biweekly Instagram cartoons.
Profiles
![An ad design of a royal character next to a bottle of perfume.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Spreadedit.jpg)
Kyra Allen (advertising photography) and Char Miller (graphic design)
![Dylan Bennish headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/dylansite.jpg)
Dylan Bennish (electrical engineering)
![Jackie Drozd and Bari Hayden laugh as they get their portrait taken.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/JBthumbnail.jpg)
Jackie Drozd (graphic design and illustration) and Bari Hayden (graphic design)
![A diptych of Quinn Freidenburg singing, next to a photo of space.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Quinnmain2.jpg)
Quinn Freidenburg (photojournalism)
![A collage of typographic projects by RIT faculty and students.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Collage2.jpg)
Honey Gardharia, Phoebe Huey and Ipek Koprululu (visual communication design)
![Amanda Giglia accepts an award on stage.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/gigliacommencement.jpg)
Amanda Giglia (visual arts-all grades)
![Emma Herz in the ceramics studio.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Emmaedit.jpg)
Emma Herz Thakur (ceramics and illustration)
![Nathan Irving headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Nathanweb.jpg)
Nathan Irving (motion picture science)
![Saige Kanik.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Saigeedit.jpg)
Saige Kanik (animation)
![Kat Kauffman leads an artist demo in Bevier Gallery.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/katwebedit.jpg)
Kat Kauffman (fine arts studio)
![Athena Lemon speaks at a podium.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Lemonedit.jpg)
Athena Lemon (School of Individualized Study)
![Diane Catsburrow Linnet in front of a SXSW backdrop.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/sxswonline.jpg)
Diane Catsburrow Linnet (film and animation)
![A 3D design representing NASA's Psyche mission.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/psycheonline.jpg)
Paige Manley (3D digital design)
![Spider Martins leads a performance in the glass hot shop.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/spiderupdate.jpg)
Spider Martins (glass)
![Emma McCarthy stands in front of a mural she made in the Booth Hall elevator.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/muralIMG7237.jpg)
Emma McCarthy (illustration)
Connect
![A student donning regalia at a commencement ceremony.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/jumbotron/gradcapedit.jpg)
Get Social
Share your decorated caps and commencement moments on social using #RITartdesigngrad and #RITgrad
Tiger Wisdom
Alumni share their words of encouragement for RIT's newest graduates
![A student takes a selfie with faculty Juan Carlos Caballero-Perez](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/jumbotron/selfie.jpg)
Picture Perfect
Capture the excitement of graduation by taking photos at hand-picked campus locations
Spring Exhibitions
Each spring, RIT's galleries and other locations showcase thesis and capstone work by graduating students across the College of Art and Design's wide portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs. Below is a collection of highlights from some of the exhibitions and screenings! *Hover over an image for photo credit.*
Awards
Faculty, students and staff across RIT are annually recognized for their outstanding efforts in and out of the classroom with awards from the Office of the Provost. Additionally, the College of Art and Design gives out end-of-year awards. This year's honorees were:
![Hye-Jin Nae sits on a chair in a photo studio.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/HyeJineEdit.jpg)
Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching
Hye-Jin Nae
Associate Professor, School of Design
An individualized approach to teaching earned Nae RIT's highest honor for tenured faculty.
![Paige Smith headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/headshotsquareedit.jpg)
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Paige Smith
Industrial Design MFA
Awarded annually to an MFA, MS or MST candidate in the College of Art and Design.
![Sharon Kompalla-Porter headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/SharonwebSQUARE.jpg)
Staff Recognition Award
Sharon Kompalla-Porter
Assistant Dean for Student Services
The award recognizes a College of Art and Design staff member for their outstanding contributions within the college and RIT campus community.
![Amelia Hugill-Fontanel holds a book in a library.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Ameliasquare.jpg)
Edline M. Chun Award
Amelia Hugill-Fontanel
Associate Curator, Cary Graphic Arts Collection
The Edline M. Chun Award for Outstanding Teaching and Service recognizes an adjunct faculty member who has shown excellence in teaching and provided exemplary service to their affiliated school and the college.
![Atia Newman headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Atiasquare.png)
Romano Prize
Atia Newman
Associate Professor, School of Film and Animation
The Frank J. Romano Prize for Publishing Entrepreneurship is given to a College of Art and Design faculty member/team who works with students to create innovative publications using new technologies and/or workflows.
![Christine Banna and Piper Charron pose next to each other.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/fringe.jpg)
Pfizenmaier Award
Piper Charron
Animation student
Christine Banna (mentor)
Senior Lecturer, School of Film and Animation
The Irene Pfizenmaier Award for Excellence in Graphic Expression is given each year to a student recipient, who selects a faculty mentor to share the honor with.
Photo by Clara Riedlinger
![Amy Adrion headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Amysquare.jpg)
Gitner Family Prize
Amy Adrion
Assistant Professor, School of Film and Animation
The award is given to a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in an area related to graphic communication who has been judged to have made an outstanding contribution to their profession.
![Clay Patrick McBridge portrait.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/QKF_20231105_0789-EditSQUARE.jpg)
Thumbtack Award
Clay Patrick McBride
Senior Lecturer, School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
The new award recognizes efforts, big or small and against all odds, by College of Art and Design faculty and staff.
![Tiree Walker headshot.](/artdesign/sites/rit.edu.artdesign/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Metaproject_11_portrait_006WEB.jpg)
Thumbtack Award
Tiree Walker
Manager, Fab Lab
The new award recognizes efforts, big or small and against all odds, by College of Art and Design faculty and staff.