Graduating student charts a path to Disney

Lana Verschage, director of Diversity Initiatives and Women in Computing in RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, is the 2025 recipient of the Edwina Award. The award was given at a celebration April 17. The Edwina Award, from the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center, is given to a faculty or staff member for significant contributions to enhance gender diversity and inclusiveness at RIT. It was named for Edwina Hogadone, who was appointed dean of the College of Business in 1960. She was the first female dean at RIT and the first woman to lead a business school in the United States. “I’m genuinely surprised and honored to be recognized,” said Verschage. “To be seen in this way—by peers, colleagues, and students—is incredibly affirming and motivates me to keep pushing for positive change.” As the first full-time director of Women in Computing (WiC) in the computing college, Verschage has helped grow and sustain the student organization and community that connects people across the university and beyond. In her time, WiC has grown from 10 members to more than 60 and secured more than $900,000 in funding. “I’ve always believed that representation matters—not just in who is present, but in who feels like they truly belong,” Verschage said. “When I first entered the computing field, I saw firsthand how isolating it could be for women and marginalized groups. That experience fueled my passion to create inclusive spaces where students not only see themselves reflected but also feel empowered to thrive.” WiC is dedicated to promoting the success and development of women and all gender minorities in their academic and professional careers. To assist all students, Verschage supported the creation of an Allies committee to discuss gender-related issues in computing and host/support events to help encourage resolution. “One of the first things I think of when I reflect on Lana’s leadership is empowerment,” said Gina Shevchuk, assistant dean for Student Success in GCCIS. “I admire how she grew WiC from a small idea into what it is today by empowering our students to take the lead. The structure of WiC enables the students to lead committees which effectively put the power of the mission right into the hands of the students it aims to serve.” With WiC, Verschage has helped create the impactful WiCHacks program—RIT’s first all-women and gender minority hackathon. The 24-hour collaborative programing event regularly gets more than 200 participants from across the northeast. The group has also offered Girl Scout Badge Days in computing. Verschage serves as the inaugural Title IX Deputy Coordinator for GCCIS and oversees the Computing Organization for Multicultural Students. She was also instrumental in creating ROCGirlHacks, a mini-hackathon for middle and high school students, that inspires the next generation of tech enthusiasts. “The Edwina Award holds special meaning because it recognizes not just effort, but impact,” said Verschage. “It’s a reminder that while this work can be challenging, it matters.”

Ellie Warren has always been interested in anatomy, but an experience in high school changed how she wanted to approach a career in medicine. While studying Spanish, Warren volunteered weekly through her school’s honors program to help Spanish-speaking students who immigrated to the United States practice their conversational English. When one of the students Warren worked with encountered a medical issue, she reached out to her for help. “She couldn’t even get past the calling stage because so many hospitals, urgent cares, and emergency rooms didn’t have a Spanish option when you called, so I started calling for her,” said Warren, from Hilliard, Ohio. “It really gave me a view into the stark reality of what it means to be a non-native English speaker in the U.S.” Warren came to RIT with the goal of becoming trilingual. Now fluent in English, American Sign Language (ASL), and Spanish, she hopes to use her skills to better serve non-English speaking patients seeking care. After graduating from RIT with a dual degree in applied modern language and culture – Spanish option and biomedical sciences in May, Warren will head to SUNY Upstate Medical University to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). Opportunities to travel internationally and assist with informative medical outreach gave Warren a wealth of experiences to draw from when pursuing her degree and career. In addition to studying abroad in Chile for a semester, Warren has traveled to Mexico and the Dominican Republic. While abroad, she was able to get a deeper understanding of Spanish for healthcare, differences in conversational dialects between nations, and how healthcare systems outside of the U.S. operate. Much of her international work focused on informative advocacy around women’s reproductive healthcare—and what she learned motivated her to pursue a career as a gynecologist. “It was eye opening how much people may or may not know about their bodies depending on where they’re from. Even in the U.S. there is a lack of medical literacy, particularly about women’s health,” said Warren. Many students planning to pursue an M.D. don’t have time for extracurriculars, but RIT offered Warren the freedom and flexibility to enjoy these opportunities while earning her undergraduate degree. In addition to studying abroad, Warren is part of the RIT Honors Program, serves as the president of the RIT Beekeeping Club, and co-teaches for the Latin Rhythm Dance Club. She also works as a student coordinator for No Voice Zone and as a residential adviser. Warren said that those extracurriculars, and the access services and high-quality interpreters provided through the National Technical Institute of the Deaf, made her education accessible and attainable. While she wasn’t fluent in ASL prior to coming to RIT, the wealth of knowledge and the supportive community at NTID helped her succeed both academically and in her personal goals. Warren’s advice to other students is to dig into the liberal arts and humanities when pursuing their technical degrees. For medical school candidates specifically, she encourages them to consider learning a new language. “I was told that I was the first student to double major in Spanish and biomedical sciences, and that was a little astounding to me,” said Warren. “If more people took the time and expanded their degrees to include liberal arts, we could really start to make the world a better, more accessible place for everyone.”

When Kaelyn ‘Gil’ Beeman first saw RIT’s Find Your Niche video during an admissions open house, she didn’t just watch it—she made it her checklist. “That was the moment I knew there was something more about this school,” said Beeman, a game design and development student graduating from the Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees program. “I struggled to find myself in high school and I wanted to do all the things in that video,” continued Beeman, who is from St. Louis. “I saw students cosplaying and then those same students doing sports. They had found their people, and I wanted to be one of them.” Since then, she has gotten to live out that video—checking off Mud Tug, playing hockey, and leading Honors Council as president—just to name a few activities. Along the way, she’s learned some life lessons, became TikTok-famous, and established a direction for her career. When she arrived on campus during the COVID pandemic, it was initially quiet. But the campus soon started to blossom for Beeman. ‌ Graduation is one of the final items on Beeman’s RIT checklist. She enjoyed living in Honors housing and taking on leadership roles. On a random Monday, she joined the Juggling Club. One rainy day, she borrowed an umbrella which eventually led to her becoming a marketing officer with the Society of Software Engineers. “If you think you have a free day at RIT, that’s not the case—there’s always something happening here,” said Beeman. “And you can make friends anywhere on campus.” As a lifelong hockey player, joining RIT’s Women’s Club Hockey was another major draw for Beeman. During a game in her third year, a big hit resulted in a condition called cervical spinal cord neuropraxia. After some time in the hospital, she had to relearn how to walk. “I reflected on all the things I was doing and realized that I should do what makes me happiest,” Beeman said. “For example, while the high school version of myself would have never joined a sorority, the new me said ‘why not?’” As a member of Tri Sigma sorority, Beeman has served on several e-board roles and won an Emerging Leader for Greek Life Award. Through other on-campus activities, she has also earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award and an Excellence in Student Life Award. Along the way, she also became a TikTok sensation. @yellowstarchild Uhhhh Lime whatcha got there? #amongus #amongusvideo #amonguscosplay #amongusthegame #foryou #foryoupage #WIP ♬ Cat Lick - Moon晓月🌙 It started with an Among Us costume for Halloween and has grown into cosplay and gaming-related videos—often filmed around campus. Yellowstarchild on TikTok has earned 1.1 million followers and it’s changed how Beeman views herself. “Before TikTok and the injury, I was concerned about how people saw me,” she said. “Now, I think about how I view things in life.” She’s turned that social media success into a real-world experience at the Rochester-based sports card entertainment company WeTheHobby. As a senior production and digital marketing intern, she helped rework the brand’s platform—boosting engagement by 540 percent. It also allowed Beeman to combine what she’s learned in her major and her psychology minor, to focus on the production and “why” aspect of games. She is currently deciding between a few job offers. “When I give tours for the School of Interactive Games and Media, I describe RIT as the place where all the black sheep end up,” said Beeman. “And that’s a good thing. I found my people here.”

Samantha Phillips is booking a future in hotel leadership. Phillips, a graduating hospitality and tourism management major from Avon, N.Y., has been selected for Marriott International’s prestigious Voyage Leadership Development Program, a fast-track career pathway designed to prepare high-potential college graduates for leadership roles in hotel operations and management. The path is competitive. Applicants complete multiple rounds of interviews and assessments that evaluate leadership potential. For Phillips, the rigorous process is well worth the outcome. “Many people who complete the program stay with Marriott for years, starting from the bottom and working their way up,” Phillips said. “It seems to be a common theme with Marriott. So just looking at that, I was like, I could see myself staying with them. And this program seems like a good place to start.” Phillips will begin her Marriott career working in event management at its downtown Philadelphia location. A 2023–2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar and recipient of a New York State Tourism Industry Association scholarship, she credits RIT’s international hospitality and service innovation department with preparing her to succeed. She entered RIT through the business exploration track in Saunders College of Business, but an introductory hospitality class in her second year and guidance from professors and academic advisers like Mel Cerra quickly shaped her direction. That interest was reinforced by hands-on experience through student leadership in the Women in Business Club and Delta Sigma Pi, support roles during major events like RIT’s Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend, and a trip to Marriott’s headquarters in Bethesda, Md., sponsored by the Saunders College Honors Program. “You learn a lot about customer service and creating memorable customer experiences,” Phillips said. “That did help in the application for Marriott because they kind of want two things. They want people who have the personality for hospitality and the personality for leadership. I think that my time at RIT really helped combine both of those areas.” Phillips’ embrace of the full student experience at RIT is a mindset shaped in part by a high school geometry teacher who reminded her that it’s okay to slow down and enjoy the ride. “You meet so many great people,” Phillips said. “There’s a real sense of community at Saunders. I walk into the building and always see people I know. And across RIT, it’s incredibly diverse. There’s every kind of person, club, and activity here. No matter who you are, there’s a place where you’ll feel like you belong.” That balance is exactly what RIT’s hospitality faculty aim to cultivate. The program combines a business core with specialized training in hotel operations, food service management, real estate development, and event planning. “Samantha Phillips embodies the qualities of an exceptional hospitality student,” said Jerrie Hsieh, professor of international hospitality and service innovation. “Her professionalism, work ethic, and passion for the field sets her apart. Our program is designed to prepare students like Samantha to excel in a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. Experiences such as student-led organizations, site visits, and hands-on learning give our students both practical insights and long-term perspective.”

Brooke DiFlorio will launch her career as one of the first RIT Air Force ROTC cadets to be commissioned for the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the armed services. “I knew I wanted to be in the military and be an engineer. Space Force was a way to combine both,” said DiFlorio. It also provides the mechanical engineer in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering with an opportunity to apply some of the newest technologies she’s learning to keep America safe. “I was drawn to the Space Force because of its newness and the opportunity it offered to be part of something historic,” she said. “I was excited by the idea of helping shape the foundation of a growing service and being one of the guardians who would help pave the way for future generations.” Candidates apply for the Space Force by their second year of ROTC programming and proceed with recommendations from their detachment’s commanding officer. Cadets take a series of military science courses, and DiFlorio combined those with coursework in astronomy and mechanical engineering topics such as orbital mechanics. DiFlorio served in several leadership positions including her current role as training squadron commander. She oversees execution of training related to cadre drills, coordinates Leadership Laboratories, plans Honor Guard events, executes Reveille and Retreat observances every Friday during the semester, and provides extra training for newer cadets.  These responsibilities position cadets to qualify for Space Force training activities. Only a few cadets are picked each year, and all are required to go through extensive field training at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala. “It was an intense two-and-a-half-week experience that pushed us to our physical and mental limits,” said DiFlorio of her field training experience. “I had to quickly build trust and rely on fellow cadets whom I had just met upon arrival. We became each other’s support systems, working together to overcome the grueling Alabama heat and navigate high-pressure, stressful situations.” Space Force expands on the Air Force’s intelligence gathering capabilities toward more worldwide defensive procedures specific to cybersecurity, including satellite tracking and sensing. “We need to know how ‘space’ works, because space is a different domain. How can we defend ourselves in the future? Defense and deterrence—these are important,” said DiFlorio, who is from Chittenango, N.Y. DiFlorio will also be following in her grandfather’s footsteps. He also served in the Air Force, and although she never had the chance to meet him, the stories her mother shared about him inspired her. DiFlorio will participate in this year’s graduation ceremony and complete a final training course over the summer. Once commissioned, she’ll report to Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado to attend the Officer Training Course, a yearlong technical program to further refine skills in space operations, intelligence, and cyberspace. “I feel a deep desire to give back to the country that has given me so much. AFROTC has allowed me to experience college life while simultaneously preparing me to become a leader of character in the Space Force,” she said. “Upon graduation, I’ll be stepping fully into the military world—and I’m genuinely excited for the challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead.”

Gabe McMurtrie grew up immersed in video games until the fateful day in middle school when he discovered wrestling. Wrestling led to football and, then, weightlifting. By high school, he was hooked on exercise. McMurtrie’s interest in athletic performance made RIT’s exercise science program a natural fit for the Brighton, N.Y., resident. RIT gave him a strong foundation in human mechanics, physiology, and sport psychology; plus, lifelong mentors and professional work opportunities that have made his undergraduate career memorable. “Some of the biggest things I got from the exercise science program were different work experiences and relationships I’ve made,” said McMurtrie, who will graduate May 10. He will take a strategic gap year after graduation to pursue an NFL internship and apply for graduate programs in sport psychology. His end goal is to work for the NFL. Last summer, McMurtrie landed a prestigious internship with the University of Washington Huskies Division I football team in Seattle. He assisted athletes destined for the NFL with their summer training programs and watched them play in the 2024 collegiate championship. “Gabe is a very self-motivated and confident guy,” said William Brewer, director of RIT’s exercise science program within the Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition. “He made connections with University of Washington’s football strength-and-conditioning coach, who now works in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles.” McMurtrie’s interest in sport psychology gives him another potential route to the NFL. The growing specialty has found a place in competitive and professional sports. Sport psychology helps improve players’ performance and well-being within the dynamic environment of their sport, according to Jason Rich, lecturer in the RIT exercise science program. “Our program particularly prepares students to pursue an advanced degree in that field, not only through the quality of our sport psychology course, but the breadth of our psychosocial-oriented courses—Coaching Healthy Behaviors, Psychology of Athletic Injury, Human Motor Behavior, and Sport Psychology,” Rich said. Brewer’s guidance helped McMurtrie find his footing early in the program through an internship at Next Level Strength and Conditioning during the summer after his first year. The experience broadened his knowledge base and taught him to work with athletes of different ages and performance levels. McMurtrie’s second internship, at Relentless Strength and Conditioning in Rochester, N.Y., developed into a part-time job at Rochester NY Football Club Academy, a member of the National Premier Soccer League. “At RNY, I got to work in a league and train some of the best soccer players in North America,” he said. “I went from intern, to assistant, to head strength-and-conditioning coach during the three years I worked at RNY and with Relentless S&C.” He applied motivational techniques and incentives from Rich’s sport psychology classes and noticed changes in the athletes. These work experiences gave McMurtrie a strong foundation and prepared him to win an internship in collegiate football and to continue building his résumé. While exploring an NFL internship and applying for graduate school, McMurtrie will use his exercise science degree as a personal trainer and strength-and-conditioning coach in Rochester. After seven interviews and seven job offers this spring, he is working at Great Day Personal Training in Henrietta, N.Y.