Photo Spotlights

One of RIT's faithful commencement volunteers, Melissa Answeeney, dons cap and gown this year as she escorts visitors to and from campus venues. Prior to noon on Saturday, May 27, she will park her golf cart and prepare to walk the stage of Ritter Arena. Answeeney, a financial coordinator at RIT, is accepting her MBA at the College of Business ceremony. About 3,500 graduates are participating in commencement activities for RIT's eight colleges.

Sarah Doret, RIT industrial design graduate student (far right), was one of the students who attended an international design workshop at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Turkey. The workshop, led by Roberley Bell, professor of foundations in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, was comprised of students from the United States, the Netherlands and Turkey. Sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it was geared towards new and future educators.

The annual School of Film and Animation Honors Show is 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m., Sunday, May 28 at the Little Theatre, 240 East Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. The Honors Show offers productions ranging from short fiction and documentaries to experimental and computer animation in black-and-white and color. The 20 or so pieces represent the best work from the past academic year.The public is invited to attend. Admission is $5. Students with I.D. will be admitted for free.

Ryan Pancoast, a 2005 RIT graduate (illustration), signs his new book Coast to Coast: The Story of the 2004 Transcontinental Relay Run. The RIT cross country team ran a 2,730-mile continuous relay from the Pacific Ocean to the coast of the Atlantic in less than two weeks in 2004. The book documents the run and is is available for $14.94 (soft cover) or $25.42 (hardcover) at lulu.com and RIT's Campus Connections bookstore.

Zac Nsenga, the Rwandan ambassador to the United States, delivers a presentation to students and administrators during his visit to Rochester Institute of Technology May 11. Nsenga was visiting campus in hopes of forging an academic partnership between RIT and Kigali Institute of Technology, the leading technical institute in Rwanda.

Robert Bowman, department head of electrical engineering, left, chats with Barrie Gilbert on May 5 in The Gilbert Study. The study is named after the renowned circuit designer, who visited RIT for the dedication of the Analog Devices Integrated Microsystems Laboratory.

Chandra McKenzie, assistant provost and director, RIT Libraries, accepts the 2006 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award during a May 12 ceremony at Wallace Library. The honor is a first of its kind locally and only the second such award in New York state.

President Albert J. Simone, RIT’s 8th president, announced during a press conference on May 17 that he will retire in mid-2007. Simone’s career in higher education has spanned nearly 50 years, where he has served as an economics professor, a business school dean and president of two universities. He joined RIT in 1992 after leading the University of Hawaii. “It has been a pleasure to serve RIT in what has been an extraordinarily rewarding experience,” said Simone.

RIT’s Formula racecar was taken for a test drive around Administration Circle on May 5 before stopping near The Sentinel and allowing dozens of spectators their first up-close look at the newly built racer. RIT competes in the annual Formula SAE May 18-20 at the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo, Mich.

The Memorial Art Gallery is the subject of RIT’s 22nd “Big Shot” photo project. Led by professors from RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences and NTID, close to 800 volunteers armed with flashlights helped make this nighttime photograph on May 1. Volunteers were strategically placed around the gallery grounds to illuminate aspects of the edifice while RIT photographers took an extended exposure.

RIT’s Robert Manning, professor of finance in the College of Business and author of Credit Card Nation, spent 30 minutes talking with Al Franken (AIR AMERICA Radio Network) on predatory lending and banking deregulation. Manning was a guest of NewsTalk 950 AM as Franken broadcast LIVE at Rochester’s Little Theatre on Thursday, April 27. Also on hand was Mayor Robert Duffy who presented Franken a Key to the City.

Youngsters enjoyed the inclined obstacle-course competition and other interactive exhibits during the 16th annual E3 Engineering and Technology Fair hosted by RIT on May 4 in Clark Gymnasium. The free event, sponsored by RIT and the Rochester Engineering Society, drew more than 500 Rochester-area middle school students.