RIT commencement recognizes Class of 2024 for its resilience

HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC) — College commencements are underway and the Class of 2024 at RIT is being recognized for strengths beyond academic success.

This weekend, RIT will graduate 4,500 students and the theme this year is resilience. University officials say it’s a nod to the class beginning college at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeing the process through.

“It’s surreal honestly. I didn’t expect to be here, but here we are. I think a lot of people are really relieved and happy to be sharing this moment with everyone,” said Curran Dillis, an RIT graduate.

As thousands of new grads make their next steps from RIT into the real world, it’s a time to reflect on the unusual beginnings of their college experience.

Promise Omiponle is from Nigeria, and made Rochester a second home these last several years. He says he adapted that much more to the realities of the pandemic.

“My freshman year just ended with the pandemic starting. I’d say that was when I kind of built myself up to have a better feeling of community here at RIT and from there, it’s just been up,” said Omiponle.

That persistence is echoed by university leaders, who share confidence that the class has what it takes to make their mark.

“I think I learned from this class the idea of always looking forward and paying it forward. They are so altruistic. They are about making positive change. They are about other people, and what better way to walk into the world and be the next generation to lead us,” said Sandy Johnson, senior vice president for student affairs at RIT.

“I think it means we’re really versatile, and really resilient just because we’ve been through it all,” said Dillis.

Among the honorary degrees awarded at RIT’s commencement was Rochester’s own Garth Fagan. The celebrated choreographer and dancer received the Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts. RIT sponsors the Garth Fagan Dance Partnership with the RIT National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which plays a pivotal role in molding dancers and choreographers of the future.

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