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Individualized Program BS

It’s been nearly 30 years since T.J. Griesenbrock first attended RIT. But he never could call himself a graduate because he needed just two more courses to earn his degree.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually by each of RIT’s nine colleges and the School of Individualized Study to alumni who have performed at the highest levels of their profession or who have contributed to the advancement and leadership of civic, philanthropic, or service organizations.

This year’s recognition of RIT’s Alfred L. Davis Distinguished Public Service Award winners will be a double celebration, as faculty and student recipients from 2020 and 2021 are honored April 13. Luane Davis Haggerty will receive the 2021 Four Presidents Distinguished Public Service Award, and Bhuvish Mehta will receive the 2021 Bruce R. James ’64 Distinguished Public Service Award. Thomas Warfield was awarded the 2020 Four Presidents Distinguished Public Service Award, and Çlirim Sheremeti was awarded the 2020 Bruce R. James ’64 Distinguished Public Service Award.

RIT's College of Liberal Arts honored student achievements in writing with 15 writing awards on Friday, March 19. This year marks the 41st year the awards were presented, though the first time the ceremony was held virtually.

JayShaud Potter has taken advantage of studying at two university campuses, earning multiple degrees. His next adventure is the world of entrepreneurship, where he is developing a smart pillow to help the deaf community. 

The Khaleej Times features JayShaud Potter '19 (applied arts and sciences), a professional studies and MBA student, and his Smart Pillow invention.

Kyle DeFord has become one of the stars of the HBO Max show STYLISH with Jenna Lyons. But it didn’t happen overnight. Graduating in 2008 in the middle of a recession, DeFord took a position at J. Crew at Eastview Mall. After several years working locally, he was hired as a recruiting coordinator in New York City, which became a pathway for the work he is doing today.

Despite restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students at RIT are still finding ways to participate in hundreds of clubs and organizations this semester, including dancing, designing games, and even skydiving.

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.

Six teams of deaf and hard-of-hearing students from NTID adapted to a virtual presentation format for the annual Next Big Idea business competition. Student presenters from as far away as Dubai shared their ideas for new businesses that positively impact deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Detroit Free Press features deaf musician Sean Forbes '08 (applied arts and sciences) and the release of his new album.

ClickOnDetroit.com features rapper Sean Forbes '08 (applied arts and sciences), co-founder of D-PAN, the Deaf Professional Arts Network.