Photo Spotlights

First-year students from RIT's College of Liberal Arts enjoy a history lesson during a visit to the George Eastman House on Aug. 31. Dresden Engle, public relations coordinator at the Eastman House, served as the tour guide. The facility was formerly home to the founder of Eastman Kodak Co. and now stands an international museum dedicated to photography. The field trip was among a variety of activities taking place for RIT's New Student Orientation.

Tina Stoudt, fourth-year management information systems (MIS) student in RIT's College of Business, shares an activity with Melisssa Uditnarain, 6, in the Sibling Breakroom. The pair collaborated to make a necklace while Melissa's big brother, Junior, and her parents took part in New Student Orientation events. Stoudt is among more than 100 RIT upperclassmen serving as this year's orientation assistants.

The mother of a first-year RIT student finds a moment of leisure amidst the controlled chaos of move-in day on Aug. 28. More than 2,220 newcomers have taken up residence on the RIT campus. The students are now taking part in a weeklong orientation program, preparing them for the start of classes on Sept. 5.

First-year students receive a rowdy welcome to campus during the annual RIT Tiger Walk on Aug. 29. Faculty, staff and alumni, dressed in RIT garb and armed with posters and noisemakers, lined the walkway leading to the Gordon Field House and Activities Center as newcomers arrived for New Student Convocation. More than 2,200 first-year students moved into the campus residence halls the day before. Classes at RIT start Sept. 5.

Todd Traub helps his daughter, Alyssa, move in during the kickoff to RIT's Week of Welcome for first-year students on Aug. 28. Alyssa, a fine art photography student from St. Petersburg, Fla., is among nearly 2,300 newcomers taking part in the week-long orientation program. Organizers plan a variety of activities designed to prepare students for a successful college experience. Classes at RIT begin Sept. 5.

Donna Sevensma, who is joining RIT's First Year Enrichment program, meets with colleagues during New Faculty Orientation on Aug. 25. She is among 27 tenure-track faculty members joining the university this year. The two-day orientation provides newcomers with insights on navigating their academic responsibilities and the campus.

Peter Parts, president of Peter Parts Electronics, discusses the impact of offshore labor outsoucing during a panel discussion at RIT on August 19. The forum, Offshoring--Making Informed Decisions, focused on the pros and cons of this controversial business practice. Joining Parts as panalists were (left to right) Daniel Tessoni, RIT assistant professor of accounting; Ron Hira, RIT assistant professor of public policy; and Ted McNeff, vice president at Eastman Kodak Co.

Thirty-five members of the incoming Executive MBA class learn how to "play ball" at RIT's Red Barn Interactive Adventures. The College of Business offers the orientation program to encourage critical thinking, communication and teamwork among these students, all local professionals eager to enhance their careers. This is the inaugural year for RIT's new 15-month EMBA program.

Contestant Ryan Walvoord discusses his summer research project with judge Tim Holahan during RIT's 14th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on August 12. The event recognized the outstanding research of students in numerous colleges at RIT, and presentations were made in fields ranging from polymer chemistry and material science to microelectronics and imaging science. Students worked with faculty members to develop and execute their projects and will use the results for future studies in their fields.

John Shehan, program manager of the CyberTipline for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), speaks at a crime conference held at RIT on August 10. The conference focused on protecting children and adolescents from violence and exploitation and was sponsored by NCMEC, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Secret Service and RIT Campus Safety. Presentations were also made by George Ann Rooney of the U.S. Secret Service and Samuel McQuade, professor of criminal justice at RIT.

RIT President Albert Simone addresses guests at the groundbreaking for the New York Wine & Culinary Center on Aug. 10. RIT joins Constellation Brands, Wegmans and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation as partners in the $7 million venture. The center, scheduled to open in Canandaigua next summer, will showcase the state's wine and agricultural products while attracting tourists. New York Gov. George Pataki, left, and State Sen. Michael Nozzolio were among those taking part in the ceremony.

Nabil Nasr, director of RIT's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies, and his research team are embarking a new program to enhance the performance of America's public transportation fleet. CIMS is receiving $4 million in federal funding to study alternative fuel sources and issues related to life-cycle engineering. U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer secured the funding as part of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.