Gifts in Action: A Donor Newsletter - February 2024

Hailing originally from New York City’s DREAM Charter School, second-year RIT students Deon Jeffrey BS ’26, Victor Sanchez, BS ’26, and Abdul Macauley BS ’26 have a lot going for them. These three young men share that their college journey to date has yielded many accomplishments and has further infused their desire to succeed. They share how grateful they are for their scholarship awards and look forward to staying involved with their community on campus, conquering challenging coursework, and moving toward their career goals over the next few years.

Deon, who studies packaging engineering, says that one major personal achievement this year compared to last is developing time management skills. “I feel that I am managing my time more effectively—between classwork, extracurricular activities, and working at my job.” He enjoys his classes, goes to the gym on campus in his free time, and intends to complete two co-ops while at RIT. Deon hopes to find work in Rochester and stay local after graduating.

Like Deon, Victor explains that he has acclimated to planning—ahead and allotting his time appropriately. “Being in Rochester and college is a big change for me from living in New York City. I have more independence now. I’ve learned that I need to take more time for myself and plan to finish my coursework early to enjoy more activities on campus.” Victor likes to play guitar, play Frisbee with his friends, and anticipates trying out for RIT Rowing next year. One of his biggest achievements last year was passing a very difficult class he was worried about. Upon graduating from RIT with a degree in applied arts and sciences, he intends to complete a master’s degree in psychology and pursue his passion for helping others as a counselor or therapist.

As a biomedical sciences major, Abdul is making strides toward his goal of attending accelerated nursing school. “I’m trying to get more experience for my resume, including working on projects and research, so that I have a better chance at securing internships,” he shares. Abdul’s hobbies include playing basketball and participating with RIT’s Unity House. He also recently obtained his driver’s license, which he is very excited about.

Deon, Victor, and Abdul are recipients of the Truesdale DREAM Charter School Scholarship, established in 2022 by RIT alumnus and trustee Don Truesdale BS ’87. They express how moving from New York City to Western New York was eye-opening, helping provide exposure to new environments and the chance to garner new life skills. Critical to their first year was involvement in the DDI Summer Experience program as well the tutoring support that continues to be a crucial resource.

“The tutoring has helped me understand my courses. I feel like I have a professor I can contact whenever needed,” says Victor.

“You have to make the best of what you have. I try to keep an open mind and take every opportunity presented to me. Getting the chance to get a good education and have good people around allows you to better yourself,” Abdul comments.

“Scholarship support is very important as a first-generation college student,” adds Deon. “I’m grateful for the chance to go to RIT. Thank you!”

There were many reasons why Karbara Maxey BS ’14 decided to attend RIT. A biotechnology and molecular science degree nourished her interest in true crime and forensic science, and she was able to pursue her passion for music with courses that fulfilled an academic concentration. In particular, Karbara was excited about a unique RIT offering—the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars (RCS) program—which provided her with tuition coverage and a built-in community of support from other students, faculty, and staff.

“The scholarship was really important for me,” comments Karbara. “My parents always did the best they could financially, but this was a huge help. I was the first person in my immediate family to attend college. I remember my high school counselor telling me about RCS at RIT, and I pretty much knew right then that was where I wanted to go.”

Accepted into the first cohort of RCS, Karbara joined other incoming students during the summer transitional program, now called the DDI Summer Experience, offering personalized academic coaching, academic skills enhancement, and networking opportunities.

“Starting college was a big learning curve. Coming in, I didn’t know much of anything. The Summer Experience was a critical resource—everyone was very supportive and assisted with our course preparation. Our RCS group was very small since it was the first year, but over the years, we became very connected,” Karbara shares.

The DDI Summer Experience remains the foundation of success for incoming RCS students, especially with the tremendous growth in the program since its inception. For Karbara, the increased number of RCS students is inspiring. She was asked to speak at the RCS 10-year anniversary celebration in 2019 to knowledge-share and address students about this important time in their lives.

“That’s when it hit me just how big RCS has gotten,” she laughs, adding, “It was wonderful to see so many students who are benefitting from the scholarship. It was always a motivator for me to do my best; I took pride in being part of RCS. I hope the other students feel that way, too.”

As a student, Karbara also participated with Unity House, was on the board of a student financial literacy group, and was on the student council for the Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS.) She says that each experience fostered friendships and connections and strengthened her skill sets in preparation for her career. She currently works at QuidelOrtho as a quality analyst.

Funding for cross-departmental programming, including the inaugural “2023 I am a First Generation Celebration Week”, helps students build confidence and make campus connections.
_{Courtesy of RIT's Div. of Diversity and Inclusion}
Read more about the I Am First Generation program

RIT’s 600-plus student-athletes across 24 teams are some of the best and brightest on and off the field. With your support, our student-athletes hit the ground running. Our donors play a key role in helping to provide a rich and rewarding educational and athletic experience that prepares our students for success. We’re so glad you’re on Team RIT!

Playing Women’s Volleyball has been a major component of the college experience for biomedical sciences senior Grace Phelan, BS ’24. The conscientious RIT/NTID student, who aspires to be a dentist, found a second family on the court and has her sights set on competing in the Deaflympics.

“I knew I wanted to come to RIT/NTID because the school combines the hearing and deaf worlds so smoothly. I wanted the chance to succeed in both,” says Grace. “I love the feeling of being academically challenged. Everyone here has unique ideas, and the collaboration across campus is very cool!”

Grace especially loves playing volleyball as an undergraduate student. She’s been playing the sport since she was nine years old. A middle blocker, Grace also serves as her team’s captain this year and enjoys the solidarity of her fellow student-athletes. She shares that participating in intercollegiate sports has made a positive impact on her life and has even led to the opportunity to participate in the USA Deaf Volleyball Team (USADVB), where she has met other deaf athletes and represents her country when traveling. She anticipates competing in Tokyo at the Deaflympics in November 2025.

“I’ve learned how to be a leader, how to push myself to be better, how to work with others, and, most of all, how to carry myself with confidence. Athletics, to me, is all about family, competition, and growth. As student-athletes, we do everything with our teammates and truly bond with each other on and off the court. We dedicate so much of ourselves to our sport because we each have the drive to do our best and complete at the highest level. If we have done those two things well, we have also built connections in and around our communities that help us grow as better athletes, leaders, and as individuals.”

In addition to her sport, Grace takes her academics very seriously. The scholarship student completed a competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in Knoxville, Tenn., and is a member of the RIT/NTID Deaf Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences Hub, where she focuses current research on healthcare access for deaf patients and providers. She has published a paper, “Deaf Dentists Diversifying Healthcare: Stories of Struggle and Success through a Comparative Case Report” (primescholars.com).

“My favorite thing about RIT/NTID is the support students receive. There are always people reaching out to help me in my classes, with career opportunities, and more. I also love the contacts I’ve made,” Grace shares. “The scholarship, through NTID, has been particularly helpful. It validates that all of my hard work in my classes, in sports, and in my extracurricular activities has been noticed and that there are people who want me to succeed. Thank you to the donors who do this—it means a lot to students like me! Sometimes, we just need a little financial help to push us further and closer to our dreams.”

Anna Mizelle BS ’08 and Rob Mizelle BS ’09 played an integral part in advancing a culture of inclusivity across RIT Athletics during their time as students. Helping to spearhead the first RIT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Anna and Rob worked hard to stimulate camaraderie across athletic teams and to encourage school spirit. Today, they continue their support of RIT Athletics as Sentinel Society members and hope to help enhance the college experience for all students.

The couple met in 2005 while frequenting the campus training room and formed a fast friendship. Rob, who played on the Men’s Lacrosse team, suffered a ruptured quadricep injury during his freshman season, and Anna, who played Women’s Soccer, stepped in to help him navigate daily tasks. The additional time spent brought the two closer together, and their affection for each other soon grew into a romantic relationship.

Later that same year, they headed to a NCAA Symposium to represent RIT. It was at the conference that they learned RIT was required to establish an active SAAC and had a short timeframe to get it up and running. It was a surprising revelation—and a big responsibility to undertake. Anna and Rob immediately jumped into action, becoming co-chairs for the inaugural SAAC and recruiting a broad audience of other student-athletes and administration to help officially launch the committee and its framework.

“It was a daunting task, but we were very lucky to have a lot of support from other campus partners—faculty, staff, the university president, and students—to get it off the ground,” recalls Anna.

“We wanted to ensure that we, the student-athletes, were being held accountable for the work that needed to be done,” adds Rob. “This was during a time when RIT was striving to cultivate a more cohesive environment overall. We were trying to unify the campus through athletics and with school spirit to create a more positive social culture.”

By the following fall, student-athletes were engaged in community service activities and were attending each other’s games. The SAAC has since grown into a robust student-led organization that also provides leadership opportunities, recognizes outstanding athletes with awards, and partners with other student factions, such as student government, to foster university pride.

Rob and Anna married in 2010. Living in Wisconsin, they now have two children and thriving careers. Anna, who was a business (marketing) major at RIT, is part of the consumer channel as the senior channel manager of marketing operations for Kohler, Co. Rob studied civil engineering technology and also works for Kohler as a senior project manager for construction projects. They recently joined the Sentinel Society as a way to continue their support of student-athletes and Athletics programs at their alma mater.

“RIT Athletics was a big part of our lives,” Anna shares. “It’s how we met each other and started our lives together. We also both have a big ‘pay it forward’ mentality. RIT gave us co-ops and other experiences that helped prepare us for life after college. Our hope is that our gift continues to give not only student-athletes but all students the same opportunities for success.”

Rob agrees. “We really feel that every dollar helps. If what we do makes an impact on others, then it’s worth it. We trust the university’s administration to decide how best to use the funds and identify the most meaningful ways to help students.”

Growing up, Bonnie Matthew BS ’83 was looking for some sense of consistency. Her family moved to new cities along the U.S. East Coast every few years, and it wasn’t until she came to RIT that she became part of a permanent community and secured many lasting relationships.

Bonnie kick-started her freshman year by joining the Women’s Tennis team. As a sophomore, she was chosen team captain. Bonnie played all four years and established friendships with her teammates and the greater Athletics student body. She vividly remembers walking down the Quarter Mile and getting warm greetings from just about everyone she encountered.

Above all, she remembers feeling like she was truly a part of something special.

“Starting college and adjusting to a new environment wasn’t hard for me. After living in so many places, I knew how to be resilient and how to meet new people,” Bonnie recalls. “The best part of my time at RIT was playing tennis. Our team and our coach clicked like nothing I had ever experienced. Our coach used to call us ‘The Dream Team’.”

That coach, whom Bonnie affectionately refers to, was none other than RIT’s legendary Ann Nealon. Nealon coached for 35 years and, most notably, started the Women’s Tennis team in 1971, helping to pave the way for women in sports at a time when opportunities for girls and women to compete at the collegiate level did not exist. Bonnie says she feels fortunate to have played tennis under Nealon’s tutelage.

Nealon’s influence and legacy have been a motivating factor in Bonnie’s decision to financially support Women’s Tennis, the RIT Athletics Association, and the Ann Nealon Endowed Tennis Fund.

“Coach [Nealon] had a huge impact on my college years; what I learned from being around her has served me well throughout my adult life. I often say that if I can impact the life of one individual the way Ann impacted my life, I would consider myself a true success,” comments Bonnie.

It was Nealon and the ability to acquire leadership skills as team captain that Bonnie credits to the launch of her catering business, Food for Thought, which she has operated and managed for 33 years.

“I learned a lot from being on the Women’s Tennis team. Being a leader is more than just someone giving you the ‘captain’ title. There were many responsibilities and tasks to facilitate in my role—a lot of working with others—and it definitely helped prepare me for life after college,” Bonnie shares. “And, as it turned out, tennis helped vault my career, as it was a great platform to share information about my business and ask my former teammates for a chance to cater events. Many did and still use my catering today, as most services are all about relationships.”

Bonnie stays closely connected with her Dream Team. They visit the campus yearly to catch up and visit Coach. This RIT Hall of Fame inductee enjoys seeing all the growth and impact that RIT continues to have throughout the community and the country.

“It’s pretty cool to know that we make an impact as alums and as donors and that we left some impression on the university. We still very much feel like a part of RIT.”

John Foley BS ’08 dedicated much of his time as an undergraduate student to playing Men’s Lacrosse, and the brotherhood he formed with his teammates has stood the test of time. He and many other lacrosse alums in their tight-knit group, now prioritize philanthropic support of RIT Athletics and hope to make a lasting impact at their alma mater.

“We want Men’s Lacrosse to do well and keep growing,” John says. “In order to do that, funding for the best coaching, the best facilities, and financial aid to recruit the best student-athletes is important. I think our ultimate goal is for Men’s Lacrosse to become Division I, which would be a huge stepping stone for the sport at RIT.”

John and several other alumni recently pledged a large gift to support the Tiger Stadium renovation project, specifically to name the Men’s Lacrosse locker room in memory of former student-athlete Willie Rago. The stadium complex—which will be home to the Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse and Soccer teams—is expected to be completed in 2025, featuring new seating, locker rooms, concessions, and a press box.

For John and his friends, who like to frequent RIT lacrosse games as much as possible, the monetary gift is not the only way they give back. They mentor and stay in touch with past and current student-athletes, often attending social gatherings to celebrate each other’s milestones in life. They also participate and play in alumni games. Many of them coach local lacrosse leagues close to where they live. John has coached Team Canada goalies in his native Ontario, Canada.

“It’s fun to give back in as many ways as possible. My friends and I are lucky to be in a position where we can volunteer and give financially. But it’s not all about having our names on a [stadium] plaque; there’s a story of camaraderie behind the plaque and the successes that we were each able to achieve as RIT graduates,” explains John. “My former teammates and I always try to push the young people we coach to come to RIT because we know that their education and team experiences will help them become well-rounded people.”

John, a mechanical engineering major, recalls “starting small” with his gifts to RIT after he graduated by participating in team raffles and other small fundraisers. After obtaining his MBA at the Ivey Business School at Western University, John grew his father’s business, Grandview Concrete Grooving, Inc., across the U.S. and Canada and felt compelled to make larger gifts to RIT to support Men’s Lacrosse.

He shares, “RIT opened a lot of doors for me. When I graduated, I couldn’t predict where I would be in the future, but I’m lucky to have such a solid network of connections that stem from my time as an undergraduate student. I think that’s true for my colleagues as well—so much of what we have individually achieved can be attributed to our time together at RIT and by remaining close.”

Beth Singer and Howard Smith aren’t RIT alumni, but in the four years since their son, Lee Smith BS ’24 began his undergraduate studies, they have become closely intertwined with the university's students, faculty, and staff.

“We were impressed with RIT from day one,” comments Howard and Beth. “When there were only a few days left to select which college Lee would attend, we asked the Admissions department to let Lee know why they felt it was such a good fit. They really understood what Lee was about from his application and arranged to have students and professors reach out to him in response to our requests that were narrowly threaded to his interests. That made a huge difference.”

Beth and Howard remember visiting the campus for the first time. Lee was very interested in finding a unique college landscape that would promote flexibility and creativity, and the family was assured that Lee would have an opportunity to invent his own major. This helped steer all three of them toward RIT. As Lee began coursework and participating in programs toward his degrees, Beth and Howard started to develop relationships within the university with faculty, staff, administration, and students. Working as student mentors, Beth and Howard have hosted several co-op students at their marketing and design agency, Beth Singer Design, and have guest-lectured in RIT classes multiple times. They joined the Sentinel Society in 2022 to support students' academic journeys and pay forward their experiences.

“The biggest reason we choose to give back to RIT is everything they have done for our son. We feel like it’s the least we can do to have alumni and parents for dinner, host students in our office, and come to Rochester and lecture. It’s an honor to talk to these bright, intelligent, exciting students about their lives and their work, to really feel like a part of this, and to be able to contribute to the future and the college going forward. We have felt so welcomed by RIT on all fronts. We feel very much a part of the RIT community,” comments Howard.

Beth adds, “We would like to see our Sentinel gift help foster the innovation and collaboration that takes place everywhere here. RIT is a place of breakthroughs. When we come up here, being around the students is very exciting. Giving back, inspiring them, and providing them with insights and ideas they can take into their careers—into their future—makes you feel really special…and excited for them.” Howard and Beth also hope to engage other students’ parents and build a sense of community and communication for others.

“It’s emotional for parents when your child is going to college. You want to make sure they are in the right environment and thriving,” says Beth. “Connecting with other parents and asking questions can be very helpful, especially when looking at schools with your child.”

Lee will graduate in May 2024 with a degree in sociology and anthropology, along with having completed an individualized major through the School of Individualized Study. His experiences as a senior orientation supervisor on campus, participating in a number of musical performing arts programs, a fellowship, and starting an all-gender Frisbee team are just a few accomplishments that Beth and Howard note they are most proud of. They plan to stay engaged and involved with the university even after Lee advances into a career.

Beth shares, “The spirit of innovation is so omnipresent here. At RIT, it’s clear that collaboration is very important, cooperation is strongly encouraged, and assembling multidisciplinary teams yields the rich results they consistently get. We need more creative thinkers who are going to help the world become a better place. RIT is definitely one of those places that’s a pathway for improving and repairing the world.”

It didn’t take long for Karuna Mukherjea MS ’97 and Deepak Sharma MBA ’97 to realize there was a strong connection between them; they were international students on RIT’s campus in 1996 who kindled a friendship during class. The relationship quickly evolved into more.

Before the days of online courses and obtaining a degree virtually, opportunities for attending the college of one’s choice were more limited. Many students would make life-changing decisions to travel abroad in pursuit of higher education. Both Karuna and Deepak made that choice. Twenty-six years later, they are married with two daughters, have successful careers, and have joined the Sentinel Society in support of the university that launched their future together.

“RIT is more than just a university to us,” explained Karuna and Deepak. “Our time there gave us the foundation and building blocks to make a professional life in the U.S. We felt a sense of community with both the faculty and students. As immigrants, it was important to have that extra support.”

In honor of Karuna’s father, the couple recently established the Joy Mukherjea Sentinel Scholarship to fund students within Saunders College of Business. Karuna reflected, “My father was a great believer in education. He encouraged his daughters to take bold steps. We want to continue supporting other brave students by enhancing their experience and allowing them to excel inside and outside of the classroom.”

The sense of inclusion that Deepak and Karuna felt at RIT has remained at the forefront of their personal ideologies. Karuna, currently a vice president of enterprise marketing at Workato, is a champion for bringing equality and diversity into the workforce. She mentors young women as they start their journey in the world of technology. Deepak is a senior vice president of strategy consulting and customer success at Photon; he is devoted to helping others and volunteering his time with local non-profit organizations.

Karuna and Deepak are excited to help students with their scholarship gift. “Our favorite thing about RIT is the vibrant community. We are very passionate about helping to ensure that every student has that amazing experience—as we had—and that they can thrive,” they commented. “We found the Sentinel Society is a great way to give back to the university that gave so much to us.”

Joining NTID in 1979, Linda Siple BS ’79, MS ’82 was a difference maker who positively influenced students. Now retired, her impact continues in a different way. Her bequest supports the scholarship that honors NTID's first interpreter.

“The sign language interpreting program here is really unique. Nowhere else in the country can a student study interpreting while surrounded by over 1,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing students, over 100 professional interpreters, and over 100 faculty and staff dedicated to Deaf culture. I had the good fortune to work for many years with Alice Beardsley, NTID’s first interpreter—a truly remarkable woman,” says Linda. “When my husband and I decided to write our will, I wanted to recognize and honor the legacy we helped create at our respective jobs. It was an easy decision for me to support the Alice Beardsley Memorial Endowed Scholarship at NTID, which has been providing financial support to interpreting students since 1997.”

RIT Visionaries in Los Angeles: Excellence in Focus
Saturday, March 2, 2024
6:00 p.m.

Join us for a panel presentation featuring accomplished alumni artists and forge new connections with fellow alumni during the cocktail reception.

Learn more and register here

Fourth Annual Get in the Game Athletics Campaign
March 18 – 22, 2024

A special opportunity for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and fans to come together to support their favorite RIT team!

More information coming soon.

RIT Visionaries in Washington DC: Shaping Interstellar Futures
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
5:30 p.m.

Join us for a panel presentation featuring accomplished alumni and faculty and forge new connections with fellow alumni during the cocktail reception.

Learn more and register here

Imagine RIT Creativity and Innovation Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024

Join us for the unveiling of more than 350 student exhibits that showcase the imaginative and inventive spirit of RIT.

Learn more about what’s taking place

View all RIT Events

Visit the events calendar web page for more information