RIT student getting the ball rolling on fundraiser

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Kaiser, far left, poses with the RIT Bowling Team after they placed first at the 2011 Big Red Invitational tournament, one of two tournaments that they won last season.

The only “holes” in the daily schedule of Steven Kaiser, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major, come in the form of the holes in his bowling balls. In addition to a busy agenda of engineering classes and co-ops, Kaiser fulfills the duties of president of the RIT Bowling Club, which typically has 15 to 20 members each year. The club, which participates in intercollegiate competitions across the country, is hosting the annual College Bowling Night at 10 p.m. Oct. 26 at Clover Lanes in Brighton. For more information regarding the event, contact the club at ritbowling@gmail.com.

Question: Where are you from?
Answer: I am from West Babylon, N.Y.

Q: What brought you to RIT?
A: I chose RIT over the other schools I applied to because of the quarter system and the co-ops that are incorporated into the education.

Q: In your opinion, what is the most interesting or unique thing about yourself?
A: I think the most interesting thing about myself is my ability to always laugh and have fun, no matter what I am doing or whom I am with. I’m always laughing and have a smile on my face, even when things are not going my way. Other than that, I am an Eagle Scout representing Troop 104. I am very proud of this accomplishment and all that scouting has taught me in life. Boy Scouts was one of the things in my life that truly allowed me to take leadership roles and gave me the confidence to stand up in front of people and help them grow.

Q: What has been your favorite RIT moment?
A: My favorite moments at RIT have come from traveling with the bowling team over the past three years and getting to meet new people at all of the different events that we go to. Spending hours in the car driving to our competitions and just enjoying each other’s company has given me memories and friends that I will never forget.

Q: How did you get involved with the bowling team and what is your role?
A: I bowled all four years of high school and while I was looking for a college, I found that RIT had a club-team that competed at the intercollegiate level. During orientation week, I visited the bowling club booth at the club fair and signed up for their e-mails. My current role is president of the club, which means I book all of the tournaments and hotels, arrange rides and practices, and make sure that everyone is focusing on improving their game.

Q: What is College Bowling Night?
A: College Bowling Night is a night of bowling, music and just fun in general. Students can come to Clover Lanes in Brighton, just over 15 minutes from campus, and bowl all night for just $15. There will be great music and of course, lots of bowling, and proceeds help raise funds for our team to travel to tournaments across the country.

Q: Is there anything that you would like the RIT community to know about the bowling team?
A: Over the past four years, our team, which competes at the highest level of the sport, has been ranked in the top 10 teams in the nation, out of more than 150 teams. During that time, we have also qualified for the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships each year and have represented RIT and the vast western New York bowling community very well in our showings. We want everyone at RIT to know that our team exists and is competitive, even though we are only officially recognized as a club. You can track the progress of our season on Twitter by following @RITBowling.

Q: What advice would you give to other students at RIT?
A: For all RIT students out there, especially younger students, I would recommend joining as many clubs as you can and doing as many different activities as possible while you are here. College should be the best time of your life and you should enjoy every bit of it.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: My plans after graduation are to hopefully get a job in the automotive field, or to work for a bowling ball manufacturer, designing the newest balls to be released.

Matt Gregory compiles “Student Spotlights” for University News. Contact him at msg2110@rit.edu with suggestions.