A Place to Succeed
Meet a few of the students, alumni, faculty and staff who have found success at RIT/NTID.
Ricardo Harris
In Ricardo Harris’ hometown of South Bend, Ind., there’s a sign at the players’ entrance to Notre Dame Stadium that says, “Play Like a Champion Today.” For the 27-year-old Harris, those are words to live by.
The Digital Imaging and Publishing Technology (DIPT) major, who became deaf at 10 months old and began learning ASL at age 16, truly enjoys the creative outlet the program provides.
“I love working in Photoshop® and InDesign®,” he says. “They’re not like work, both are my hobbies.”
Harris was able to put his hobby to use during his co-op as a Lithographic Specialist at the National Aeronautical Charting Office in Washington, D.C.
“The office I worked in was near the White House,” he says. “It was very impressive.”
Harris completed his AOS degree in May, and looks forward to pursuing a BFA at RIT.
“I would like to someday teach kids InDesign or other graphic programs,” Harris says. “My mother is a teacher, and I would like to teach, also.”
When mentioning his mother, Harris’ already-smiling face beams. It’s clear she holds a special place in his heart.
“I took a leave of absence from school to take care of my mother because she was ill,” he explains. “She is doing really well and is back to work. I listened to my mother and did not give up on school.”
Harris has earned the unanimous respect of his professors. At the annual Student Art Awards presentation, he was honored with the “Krizzy Award” given to one student each year who demonstrates character and determination.
“I was so surprised when I won the Krizzy Award,” Harris says with a grin. “When Professor Ed Mineck said that the winner left to take care of his mom, I suddenly realized it was me.
“I really like all the professors in the DIPT program. Even ones I haven’t taken classes with have been very encouraging to me.”
With his positive attitude and the support of family and faculty, Harris proves he plays like a champion in the classroom and in life.
From the Spring/Summer 2007 issue of FOCUS magazine