Photo Spotlights

Bob Gordon, right, speaks at the dedication of the Gordon Field House and Activities Center, Sept. 10, a facility named in his honor. The event featured demonstrations of the multi-use facility by RIT athletes and a special appearance by Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. RIT President Albert Simone is at left.

Big Shot, RIT's annual nighttime photo project, returned to campus this year. Hundreds of volunteers--armed with flashlights and camera flash units--gathered in the administration circle on Sept. 12 to light up the Sentinel sculpture, the Student Alumni Union and the George Eastman Building. The event, sponsored by the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, commemorates RIT's 175th anniversary. Last year, Big Shot went international with a photograph of Sweden's Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Sigma Alpha Mu concluded its 10th annual Pole Sit on Sept. 10, benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Members of the fraternity took turns over a four-day period sitting atop a 40-foot utility pole to raise money for the organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. The event is part of the fraternity members' efforts be responsible citizens and perform community service.

RIT President Albert Simone offered students a lift to class as a new academic year got underway Sept 6. Rides onboard the "Presidential Golf Cart" have become a back-to-school tradition, allowing student a chance to chat one-on-one with Simone and enjoy a free donut to boot. Robin Diana, RIT's director of orientation, offered her services as chauffeur.

First-year engineering majors were sent on a campus-wide treasure hunt for Engineering Day on Sept. 1. A clue brought them to The Sentinel, where, for extra points, they had their photo taken with RIT dignitaries. Among the “stars” they found were Provost Stanley McKenzie, Mary-Beth Cooper, vice president for student affairs, and Frank Lamas, associate vice president for student affairs.

Jon Ferguson, left, fourth-year Management Information Systems student, and Ben Wise, fourth-year Information Technology student, take a break from working security at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. for two weeks in August. Both have been part of the security team for several years. One of the fans at this year's games was Vice President Dick Cheney.

Sarah Reynolds is this year's recipient of the Isaac L. Jordan, Sr. Pluralism Award. Reynolds, coordinator for general reference and user services in the Wallace Library, is a founding member of RIT's Commission for Promoting Pluralism and is credited as a leading "watchdog" over the university's diversity efforts. Reynolds was presented the honor on Thursday during the annual Presidential Address to the Community.

President Albert J. Simone offered his vision for a new academic year on Thursday during a presentation to faculty and staff. During the annual Presidential Address to the Community, Simone discussed the importance of a student-focused mentality as part of the university's newly adopted strategic plan. The event took place in RIT's new Gordon Field House and Activities Center.

The Brick City Singers entertain at the Convocation for New Students and Families on Aug. 30. Brick City Singers is one of RIT's a capella groups, founded in 1999. The event also featured a keynote address by Keith Jenkins, assistant professor of communications in RIT's College of Liberal Arts.

Faculty, staff and alumni gather outside the Gordon Field House to cheer more than 2,400 first-year students and their parents. The first annual RIT Tiger Walk, sponsored by Alumni Relations, offered the newcomers a rousing welcome to campus just prior to attending the Convocation for New Students and Families. Keith Jenkins, assistant professor of communications in RIT's College of Liberal Arts, delivered the event's keynote address.

While many folks relaxed this summer, RIT's Stephen Aldersley (left) and Paul Smarsh proved that each is worthy of the title "Ironman." Both men successfully completed the Ironman triathlon, held in Lake Placid, N.Y., by swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. Smarsh, a chef at RIT's Crossroads facility, finished with a time of 13:10:54. Aldersley, English department chair at the National Technical Institute for Deaf, completed the race in 15:57:27.

Nineteen students from Japan spent two weeks studying at RIT this summer as part of an exchange program with Kyoto Computer Gakuin (Kyoto School of Computer Science). The summer program with KCG began in 1995 and since then 200 students have visited RIT.