Sentinel Society Member Newsletter: May 2023
Sentinel Society
Member Newsletter
May 2023
In the wild, tigers roar to attract attention. This powerful call can be heard from nearly two miles away, its intended message acknowledged by all.
Fortunately, RIT Tigers don’t have to make quite so much noise to be noticed. Our passion for improving the communities around us—and the world—through discovery, research, and innovation speaks for itself. RIT graduates and faculty are recognized internationally for their expertise and are in high demand across all industries.
RIT’s strategic position in the competitive higher education landscape is due in large part to our phenomenal philanthropic community, and we believe in giving credit where credit is due. As a Sentinel member, you touch the lives of tomorrow’s trailblazers and creators. Their successes stem from the robust educational foundation you are helping to build.
Like all tiger (and Tiger) assertions, the message you send as a Sentinel member about the value of an RIT education is loud and clear. Thank you for appreciating all of the good taking place at RIT and for partnering in our ambition to shape the future.
Welcome, new members
- Elizabeth Adams Lasser P ’23 and Clifford Lasser P ’23
- Jeffrey Amado BS ’83
- Caitlin J. Babul BS ’17, ME ’17
- Wayne G. Betts, Jr. and Sophie Betts
- Dawn Caggiano BS ’96
- Anastasia Callahan BS ’90
- Rakesh K. Chandiramani BS ’04 and Amrita Chandiramani
- Linda M. Colanero BS ’02 and Andrew J. Kerrigan BS ’01
- Dale J. Davis, Esq. BS ’96 and Nicole Davis, Ph.D.
- Xiaofan Feng MS ’91, Ph.D. ’96 and Julie Ouyang MS ’92
- Joyce Filippazzo P ’24
- Gary R. Gay BS ’73
- Arthur Gosnell
- Robert K. Hoggard
- Samantha R. Jacobson BS ’21, MS ’21
- Mark Keffer P ’25 and Patricia Keffer P ’25
- Sameer Khanna BS ’06 and Mishkat Khanna
- Mei-Yuang Lee MS ’97
- Leonard Leger and Jennifer Leger MS ’98
- Mark Minichiello P ’24 and Erin Minichiello P ’24
- Shayde L. Nofziger BS ’17
- Christopher S. Nordstrom BS ’92 and Kara A. Nordstrom AOS ’98
- Sreenivas Patil MS ’08 and Priyavathi Reddy
- Thomas L. Peeples, Jr. BS ’94, MS ’03 and Cynthia L. Peeples
- Donald L. Peterson, III BS ’91 and Andrea G. Peterson AS ’88
- Samantha D. Poeppelman BS ’19
- Edward C. Portolese BS ’89
- Carlos M. Ramos BS ’04 and Felia M. Ramos BS ’04
- Gleb Reznik BS ’03 and Denise L. Robinson BS ’03
- Kristin A. Russell BS ’02
- Marc Sessler BS ’86
- Paul Showalter BS ’82
- Jason A. Wagner BS ’08 and Vanessa K. Wagner BS ’09
- Robert B. Watson, Jr. BS ’12 and Tymothy W. Lipari BS ’13
- Greg R. Whitehouse BS and ’74 and Christie Whitehouse
- Wei Zhao Ph.D. ’98
Member News
Will Sugarman BS ’15
Will Sugarman BS ’15 worked on co-op at Microsoft while he was an undergraduate computer engineering student at RIT. Although he eagerly acknowledges that this professional experience is responsible for propelling him into his dream career, it’s the sense of community at RIT that he, like so many other alumni and students, credits as his favorite aspect of attending the university.
“Only after graduating did I fully appreciate just how accepting the RIT community is and how I could express myself within it. It is no surprise that I met so many of my life-long friends there,” says Will.
It’s these connections from RIT that continue to resonate and make a meaningful impact on Will’s life. Now living in Seattle, Wash. for eight years and working for Microsoft, Will keeps in touch with his RIT friends, classmates, other alumni, and even faculty members from nearly a decade ago. He recently attended a regional dinner hosted by RIT that brought together local alums to learn critical updates about the university in a festive and inviting social setting.
Will shares that engagement opportunities like the regional dinner are one important facet of why he feels linked to his alma mater. It also helped inspire his recent Sentinel Society membership.
“RIT is the foundation of so many parts of my life. It was my co-op that brought me to both Seattle and Microsoft in the first place. I met so many wonderful students and faculty at RIT during my time there. I hope my Sentinel gift can help provide the same amazing opportunities and connections for students that I had, especially with assisting those needing help covering the costs of their education.”
At Microsoft, Will and his colleagues work to innovate the healthcare industry by helping move data to the cloud for security and scale while also enabling machine learning workflows on Azure.
“I enjoy using the skills I learned at RIT to make a positive difference in the world,” Will comments.
When not at work, Will explores the art and cultural scenes in the Pacific Northwest. He frequents Seattle Mariners baseball games and museums, and enjoys spending time with friends.
The Minichiello Family
Erin and Mark Minichiello are extremely proud of their son, Ethan BS ’23, MS ’24 a fourth-year mechanical engineering technology (MMET) student. Ethan has been using his time at RIT to master skills within his major and serve as the project manager for the last two years on the campus’ Clean Snowmobile Team.
“From the beginning, he was interested in RIT because he knew he would graduate with work experience in addition to his degree,” Erin reflects. “He was also drawn to the student clubs. CleanSnow has been such a wonderful experience for him, from making very close friendships to learning to work in a team environment, and using those skills to obtain employment in co-ops.”
Although not RIT alumni themselves, both Erin and Mark have become closely engaged with RIT, particularly with other parents of students. They have learned a lot about the university by keeping up to date with campus-wide achievements and developments that are elevating RIT to an even brighter future.
“Ethan speaks highly of his educational experiences, the resources available, and especially the dedicated faculty at RIT. The MMET program has been a great fit for his learning style,” Erin comments.
The couple joined the Sentinel Society in February 2023 with ambitions to financially support students within the College of Engineering Technology and help the College continue to grow its programs.
“There is a multitude of reasons why we joined Sentinel. First, we have seen the student experience through the eyes of our son and his friends. Their education is preparing them for their career pursuits. Second, we have gotten to know some of the faculty and alumni; the latter can’t speak highly enough about their RIT experience and how it has helped them become who they are today. Third, RIT is making major investments in the infrastructure and resources available to students. All of this provides the ingredients for students to obtain top-notch educations that will serve them well in their careers and in life overall. We hope to see RIT continue to be globally competitive and continue to offer scholarships so qualified students aren’t prevented from obtaining an RIT education.”
Like other Sentinel Society members, the Minichiellos place a high value on education and understand the importance of helping others. Their charitable commitments outside of RIT include mentoring, volunteering with their local food pantry, establishing student scholarships, and serving on several boards and councils within their communities.
In their free time, the Minichiellos enjoy family trips and many outdoor activities.
Odessa Despot
Odessa Despot, Sentinel Society member and a staff psychologist with RIT’s Counseling and Psychological Services, is the recipient of the 2023 Edwina Award. The award is given to a faculty or staff member for significant contributions to enhance gender diversity and inclusiveness at RIT.
The Vargas-LaPietra Clan Leave their Paw Print on RIT
You could say “it runs in the family.”
The Vargas–LaPietra family counts seven RIT graduates and two current students in its ranks.
The family tradition started in 1986 when Andrew LaPietra BS ’89, MS ’91 came to RIT to study microelectronic engineering, just a few years after the program was formed. Next to arrive was Andrew’s brother, Matt LaPietra BS ’93, who blazed his own trail in graphic communications. Following closely behind was Christine (LaPietra) Vargas BS ’93, who went into industrial engineering, and then Peter LaPietra BS ’96, MS ’01, who studied electrical engineering. The youngest siblings, Philip and Mary, did not follow in their brothers’ and sister’s footsteps, but how did four of the six LaPietra brood end up attending RIT?
“I don’t think it was a conscious decision,” says Christine, who started out attending the University at Buffalo before transferring to Monroe Community College and then to RIT. “I’m sure Andy thought I was copying him when I decided to go into engineering and transferred to RIT, but I was doing it because I wanted to. I remember people struggling to find jobs after college and my brother was at RIT in the co-op program and making good money. The co-op program was a big reason that I changed course, and I’m glad I did.”
The family’s RIT legacy grew when Christine’s husband, Hector Vargas BS ’04, attended RIT for electrical engineering. Andrew and Peter both married RIT alums. Andrew’s wife, Lynn LaPietra BS ’92, earned a bachelor’s degree in imaging science and Peter’s wife, Dawn LaPietra BS ’96, MS ’03, earned both a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a master’s degree in computer science. She’s currently back at RIT in the Executive MBA program.
And that’s not all! Two members of the next generation of the LaPietra clan also wear orange. Andrew and Lynn’s son, Fletcher Heath BS ’24, is a third-year mechanical engineering technology student, and Peter and Dawn’s son, Jacob LaPietra BS ’24, is a fourth-year computer engineering student.
“There’s certainly a lot of RIT pride in our family,” Christine comments. That pride was on display recently when the group attended the RIT men’s ice hockey game against Air Force. Christine said, “We had so much fun. It was a great game; a close score until the third period and then RIT won. Seeing the student section cheering was a lot of the reason why it was so fun. I didn’t experience a lot of sports when I went to RIT, so it’s great to see the students taking advantage of that now. It’ll be a big part of their college memories when they look back someday.”
That’s why Christine and Hector were proud to support the Gene Polisseni Center when it opened in 2014 by purchasing two seats. They continue to support the growth of the university as members of the Sentinel Society and through Christine’s participation in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering’s National Council.
“There’s a lot to feel excited about at RIT,” says Christine. “I love seeing RIT moving up in the rankings.” That’s a great legacy to leave for all future RIT students and alums.
Lucas Randrianarivelo BS ’22
It wasn’t long ago that Lucas Randrianarivelo BS ’22 served as RIT Student Government President. He recalls the time he addressed the incoming class of Tigers during Orientation Week, reminding him of his freshman experience and the excitement he felt about starting college.
“My favorite thing about RIT, still, is the culture,” Lucas shares. “Campus is home to more than 19,000 students, but you always feel like you know everyone. You can’t walk down the Quarter Mile without running into a peer, professor, or even President Munson!”
Lucas’ enthusiasm is responsible for the many ways he was and continues to be involved with the university. As a student, he joined the Theta Chi fraternity, played varsity soccer, became a resident advisor, and served on the ALANA (African, Latin, Asian, and Native American) Collegiate Association. It was in his fifth year as a mechanical engineering student that he was voted in as the student body president, during which time he focused on helping develop personal wellness, professional development, and social experience opportunities for fellow students.
Connection to others plays a foremost role in all aspects of Lucas’ life, especially when it comes to his alma mater. The young alum lives in his native Baltimore, Md. and works in investment banking, but RIT is never far from his mind. He recently joined the Sentinel Society as a way to pay forward the generosity he experienced as a student.
Lucas explains, “I support Scholarship and Financial Aid funding because I placed a large weight on affordability when deciding where to attend college. When I got my acceptance letter and scholarship package, I saw it as an investment RIT donors were making in me. Similarly, I hope my contribution can close the gap for an incoming Tiger who has their eyes set on RIT.”
In addition to supporting Scholarship and Financial Aid, Lucas is proud of the diversity across RIT and its global relevance as a growing, premier technology university. He feels that support in any capacity is critical to RIT’s expansion and success.
“I know that the academic rigor at RIT prepares students extremely well for the workforce and allows you to make career leaps into other fields. The university attracts students who are diverse demographically and in thought, and no matter who comes here, they are bound to find their people on campus.”
What's New on Campus
SHED Will Showcase RIT Maker Community
Nearly 70 different RIT student teams and clubs are poised to move into the Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED) this summer in preparation for the building’s official opening in the fall semester. The SHED will centralize RIT’s maker community and bring together many of the performance teams, various other maker clubs and organizations, and a growing number of performing arts groups.
KGCOE Receives $2M for Lab Upgrades
Members of RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering (KGCOE) gathered with U.S. Representative Joe Morelle, right; Dean Doreen Edwards, second from right; and President David Munson on April 5, 2023 to recognize state and national funding acquired to support upgrades to the university’s Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabrication Lab.
Commencement 2023
Friday and Saturday
May 12 - 13, 2023
Schedule of Events
Offer some Tiger Wisdom to the Class of 2023
CET Alumni Event, Southern California
Sunday, May 18, 2023
6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Trabuco Canyon, CA
Join the College of Engineering Technology’s (formerly CAST) Dean, Dr. Ramkumar, and members of CET's National Council at a CET get-together in Trabuco Canyon. Connect and reconnect with fellow CET alumni and hear brief updates on the College and its plans for the coming year.
40th Annual Tiger Open
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
We invite you to participate in the 2023 RIT 40th Annual Tiger Open Golf Tournament
on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Greystone Country Club in Walworth, NY.
Transforming RIT: Reconnecting in Boston
Thursday, June 15, 2023
6 p.m.–8 p.m.
The Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Reconnect with your alma mater and local alumni while celebrating the innovative trajectory of RIT. Following the complimentary reception, President Munson will share exciting changes happening at RIT as part of Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness.
Virtual Tea with the President
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
10 a.m.–11 a.m.
Please join RIT President David C. Munson Jr. for a virtual Sentinel Society member event as he shares university news, campus updates, and institutional progress. Check your mailbox for an invitation in the coming weeks!
NTID 55th Anniversary Reunion
Friday, October 13, 2023 – Sunday, October 15, 2023
RIT/NTID Campus
Visit the official NTID 55th Anniversary Reunion website for details!
Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend
October 13 - 15, 2023
Stay tuned for exclusive Sentinel Society activities.
View all RIT Events
Visit the events calendar for more information.
Sentinel members create unlimited possibilities.
Thank you for your support and leadership.