RIT photographers lend their abilities to the Special Olympics

Athletes and attendees alike say the joy of the Special Olympics New York State Winter Games is contagious. A workforce of photographers from RIT leaned into that vitality and fortunately captured each second of it.

Nearly 60 RIT college students and 20 alumni and school members helped doc the 2026 Winter Games as a part of an ongoing collaboration with Special Olympics New York. This is the sixth 12 months RIT photographers have coated the winter video games, and the workforce printed a whole bunch of pictures on RIT’s Special Olympics website and on the Special Olympics New York social media pages to rejoice the athletes.

“I think the value of this work is twofold. For one, it’s hands-on work that very much mirrors any professional experience. If you look at the International Winter Olympics that just occurred, we have a similar workflow to what professional organizations are using in the field,” stated Associate Professor Jenn Poggi, who coordinates the occasion protection in partnership with Associate Professor Josh Meltzer. “It’s also an opportunity to build bonds between students, faculty, and alumni.”

The neighborhood constructing facet was significantly interesting for Samuel Fox, a first-year photojournalism main who helped cowl the 2025 Winter Games as a highschool scholar.

RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences was Fox’s best choice when making use of to varsity. When Poggi, director of the photojournalism program, invited him to assist cowl the occasion earlier than he formally enrolled, he made the trek to Rochester from his house in Bethlehem, Pa.

Returning to cowl the video games once more this 12 months was a possibility he didn’t wish to miss.

“Every opportunity is something that can help build up your career and your strengths. Putting myself out there helps me gain confidence so I’m not too afraid to get up close and talk to people, and it helps me get a better sense of how to take a photo that means something and leaves an impact,” stated Fox.

These hands-on, experiential studying alternatives are an indicator of RIT’s images applications. Giving college students the possibility to train their abilities, check out new roles, and acquire management expertise is a part of what drives Poggi and Meltzer to proceed providing the one-credit workshop course that makes this protection potential.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a break from the normal routine and the students flourish in this kind of environment,” stated Meltzer. “People come back every year because it’s an extremely positive experience. The students feel like they’re part of something important, and they’re able to make great pictures because it’s a place with a lot of emotion and energy.”

In addition to studying the abilities wanted to {photograph} fast-paced, high-energy scenes, Poggi stated interacting with the athletes, households, and coaches may also push college students to mirror on their approaches to future assignments.

“We hope the legacy we foster through this is encouraging students to consider representation in their work going forward. We want students to think about representation when they cast models or consider what kind of stories they tell, and to remember the transformational impact that representation can have,” stated Poggi.

After two years of working the occasion, Audrey Gavagan, a third-year photojournalism and RIT Honors Program scholar, stepped right into a lead media producer function for this 12 months’s winter video games.

In earlier years Gavagan, from Mendham, N.J., supported the video games as a photographer, editor, and venue producer, which completely ready her for a bigger management function.

“It’s been great having the opportunity to take on more responsibility each year, and to work with such a great organization,” stated Gavagan. “It’s amazing to come and do what I love while also doing good for the community. We’re creating a far greater impact than any individual could create alone.”

Bridget (Fetsko) Reinsko ’20 (photojournalism) drove from her house in Ithaca, N.Y., to assist this 12 months’s video games. Reinsko served as a scholar lead throughout RIT’s first 12 months masking the video games, and she or he has volunteered for 4 years whole; twice as a scholar and twice as an alumna.

Prior to working as a brand new media specialist for Cornell University, Reinsko labored for Special Olympics International for 2 and a half years in numerous communications and multimedia storytelling roles. According to Reinsko, coordinating protection for the video games as a scholar was one of the vital priceless experiences that helped put together her for her profession.

“It’s been nice to come back and watch the students come out of their shells throughout the day and gain confidence, and to see the impact their work has. The athletes and families love to see the photos afterward,” Reinsko stated.

She added, “Getting to see this collaboration between RIT and Special Olympics New York from inception to now is so cool, and I’m glad to see it continuing. The work the students are doing helps build a greater understanding of Special Olympics and the work these athletes put into it.”

This protection is made potential, partially, by assist from two firm sponsors. Canon donated ink and paper to the occasion, which allowed the digital imaging workforce, run by Lecturer Dan Hughes, to print greater than 100 student-made pictures for athletes and households to take house. Tamron loaned extra lens choices for college kids to make use of, which allowed for higher protection and gave college students expertise working with several types of gear.

Go to RIT’s Special Olympics website to learn extra in regards to the video games and see extra of the images protection. More pictures shall be added to the web site within the coming weeks.