Photo Spotlights

Owners with their certified therapy dogs provided a welcome break for RIT students in the Fireside Lounge Feb.19. Here, a goldendoodle, Tucker, gets some love from Emily Scialabba, a first-year student in the film and animation program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. The event was sponsored by the Center for Student Wellness as a stress reduction activity. Research indicates that pet therapy improves psychological well-being and self-esteem. Their next visit is March 19, 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Gabrielle Gaustad, center, an assistant professor in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, meets with graduate students Berlyn Hubler, left, and Michele Bustamante to discuss NSF research related to the scarcity of materials for clean energy systems. To read more, go to rit.edu/news/story.php?id=51225.

The Rochester-Finger Lakes Middle and High School Art Exhibition in Bevier Gallery is hosted by RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. The show runs through Feb. 23.

Joe Hamilton, ’91, shopcraft manager, has worked on 100 sets for NTID Theatre since 1996 and teaches 20-30 students each semester about set design and construction.

Undergraduate research in RIT’s College of Science gives students experience in all disciplines. Lauren Heese, in professor Hans Schmitthenner’s chemistry lab, synthesizes targeted molecular imaging agents to illuminate cancer cells. Their research is part of Schmitthenner’s NIH-funded study to develop methods for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

RIT’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) hosted Open Mic Night on Feb. 13. From left, College of Imaging Arts & Sciences students Carly Kraft and Steph Kotula performed during the annual fundraiser.

Members of RIT’s men’s and women’s crew teams held the inaugural RIT 500 on Feb. 13 in the Student Alumni Union lobby. The athletes attempted to row 500,000 meters as a team in one day to raise money and awareness for the Tigers for Tigers coalition at RIT. The students surpassed their goal and rowed 875,000 meters and raised $1,200. The Tigers will compete at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia May 8-9.

Greece Athena High School students visited the Modern Languages and Cultures lab and its Italian program Feb. 12. Then they celebrated Carnevale (Italian Mardi Gras) in the University Gallery surrounded by paintings created by Sicilian American artist Thomas MacPherson. Here, MacPherson talks with Ryan Walton, a senior at Greece Athena High School.

Students lined up for FreezeFest scarves and hats on Thursday. The winter festival includes entertainment, ice sculptures, food and more. RIT’s sixth annual FreezeFest is Feb. 19-22. To see a full calendar of events, go to campuslife.rit.edu/freezefest.

The Graduation Fair, held 100 days prior to graduation weekend, is an opportunity for all 2015 graduates to do “one-stop” shopping regarding the upcoming commencement. Students were able to talk with representatives from their colleges about ceremonies, receptions and other details of RIT’s 130th Commencement Weekend, set for May 22 and 23. Nearly 330 students attended.

Naixin (Chris) Kang, a fourth-year accounting major in Saunders College of Business, will be part of the first graduating class from RIT’s 2+2 program with Beijing Jiaotong University. The honors student hails from Shenzhen, China. To read more, go to rit.edu/news/athenaeum_story.php?id=51193.

Fifth-year student manager Joe Vicario, right, takes the ceremonial puck drop with Niagara captain Issac Kohls, left, and RIT assistant captain Andrew Miller, center, before the two teams skated to a 4-4 tie on Saturday night at the Gene Polisseni Center. The Tigers, who wore special jerseys in honor of Vicario, a testicular cancer survivor, raised more than $10,000 for the Testicular Cancer Foundation of Western New York, which Vicario founded, and the Lipson Cancer Center at Rochester General Hospital through the RIT United Way Foundation.