RIT to recognize 3,500 graduates May 20-21
Former ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Brian Hinman offers keynote address
A. Sue Weisler
More than 3,500 RIT graduates will enjoy their moment in the spotlight this weekend.
As they ready to cross the stage, more than 3,500 Rochester Institute of Technology students prepare to cross over to an exciting new phase in life’s journey.
RIT celebrates its new crop of graduates with the university’s 126th commencement. The two-day observance kicks off during Academic Convocation, which begins at 3 p.m. May 20 in RIT’s Gordon Field House and Activities Center. During the ceremony, RIT President Bill Destler confers degrees on both undergraduate and graduate candidates.
Brian Hinman, recognized in 2005 as “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young, serves as the event’s keynote speaker. Hinman started his first company at the age of 22 as co-founder of PictureTel Corp. He is now venture partner at Oak Investment Partners, executive chairman of GreenVolts Inc. and executive chairman of Aurora Algae Inc. Hinman will be awarded an honorary doctorate of science.
Other highlights of Academic Convocation include recognition of students graduating with honors and faculty members who won outstanding teaching awards. Individual college ceremonies, where each graduate is presented his or her diploma, follow Friday’s Academic Convocation and continue through May 21.
Other highlights of RIT’s commencement weekend include:
• RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability recognizes its first graduates. Annick Anctil earns a Ph.D. in sustainability and Rosa Mitsumasu Heredia graduates with a master’s degree in sustainable systems.
• David Johnson, 75, who lives in Canandaigua, receives his master’s degree in imaging science more than 20 years after completing his degree requirements. Johnson missed his original commencement ceremony in 1989 so he could watch his son graduate from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
For a complete schedule of activities, go to the RIT Commencement website.
NOTE: Journalists are welcome to cover any aspect of RIT’s commencement activities. No credentials are necessary. For assistance, contact Paul Stella at 585-475-4950 or 585-330-6098.
Recommended News
-
November 21, 2024
![Various people put their hands together in a circle.]()
Americans agree more than they might think − not knowing this jeopardizes the nation’s shared values
An essay written by Lawrence Torcello, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy, published by The Conversation.
-
November 21, 2024
![an illustrated image of a pixelated face appears next to the words real or fake.]()
Detecting digital deception
Today, artificial intelligence is being used to manipulate media. At RIT, a team of student and faculty researchers is leading the charge to help journalists and intelligence analysts figure out what is real and what is fake. Their work has more than $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and Knight Foundation.
-
November 21, 2024
![two men sit at a table looking at a laptop. A third man leans over the table to look at the laptops screen.]()
In and out of Africa
Africa is rich in natural resources and contains one of the most diverse ecosystems across the globe. The Sahara Desert itself is larger than the continental United States. With all the unique landscapes, wildlife, and growing urban areas, more than 30 RIT faculty have recognized the importance of traveling to the continent, all backed by RIT Global.
-
November 20, 2024
![Five black men stand in a semicircle in a small garden in Kenya.]()
RIT professor helps to tackle energy access in rural Africa
Williams’ collaborative work tackles the subject of energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, the United Nations established Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
