News

Niantic has donated $400,000 to create a new research lab at RIT that’s focused on location-based games. In the Niantic x RIT Geo Games and Media Research Lab, researchers will work to better understand how people interact with location-based games and how they can be used for good.

RIT’s newest Frederick H. Minett Professor is an engaged alumnus, successful professional in the manufacturing industry, and highly active community volunteer. Orlando Ortiz ’04 (manufacturing engineering technology), ’08 (MBA) is the 29th person appointed to the prestigious position, established in 1991.

The Democrat and Chronicle features Orlando Ortiz '04 (manufacturing engineering technology) '08 (MBA).

US Lacrosse Magazine features Ryan Lee '17 (finance).

WHAM-TV features Julianna Truesdale '11 (graphic design).

Tiffany Panko, M.D., has been named director of the Deaf Health Laboratory in the Research Center on Culture and Language at NTID. Panko, an alumna of RIT who received support from NTID, earned her undergraduate degree in applied arts and sciences, with concentrations in premedical and psychological studies, in 2008. She earned her MBA from Saunders College of Business in 2009, and her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2016.

Friends and family of a beloved former staff member at NTID are honoring her memory with a new scholarship. The Stephanie Smith Albert Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created in memory of the college’s first director of Diversity and Inclusion, who passed away in 2018.

Brian Chontosh ’00 (mechanical engineering technology) has been nominated for the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor, one of the oldest and continuously issued awards given to U.S. Armed Forces personnel for courage, valor, and leadership.

In a typical year, RIT normally sees more than 17,000 students, alumni, and parents gather on campus to experience Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, events are being designed to allow alumni to participate virtually.

A company that employs 14 RIT graduates donated 21,000 face shields to health care facilities in need.

FOX Rochester talks to Kurtis Kracke ’15 (industrial design), co-founder of ThermApparel, which created a cooling vest to help those who are sensitive to the heat.

RIT is hosting a virtual event to raise money for the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Division of Diversity and Inclusion General Support Fund, and other funds that directly impact students. "Tigers Helping Tigers: An Event to Move Students Forward" will include pre-recorded performances from RIT students and student groups and will be streamed online.