A monthly message from President Marty Schmidt ’81 on giving back & getting involved.

March arrives with a sense of possibility — the first true hints of spring, the season of new beginnings. It is a month that asks us to look both outward and inward: outward toward the neighbors and community partners who depend on us, and inward toward the question of who we are as an institution and how we show up for one another.

This month, our attention turns to two vital pillars of our community work. First, the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, whose century-long track record of mobilizing community resources continues to lift neighbors across nine counties. And second, Sidewalk Warriors Troy, a grassroots organization that shows up — every Thursday evening, rain or shine — with hot meals and essentials for over 120 neighbors at the corner of 5th Avenue and State Street. These are different kinds of organizations doing different kinds of work, and our region is stronger for having both. I encourage you to learn about and support each of them.

Within our own campus walls, March also kicks off one of the most important moments of the academic year: our Accepted Student Celebrations. On March 21 and April 11, hundreds of talented young people and their families will visit RPI to decide whether this is the place where they will grow, learn, and launch their futures. How we greet them matters enormously. The warmth of our community, the pride we carry for this institution, and the authentic human connections we offer — these things cannot be manufactured in a brochure. They come from you.

I encourage every member of our community to think about how you can be present and engaged during these visits — and to reach out to our Office of Enrollment Management if you’d like to play a role in welcoming our future Engineers to the RPI family.

And while we’re on the subject of community pride — what a month it has been for RPI. From the electric atmosphere of the 48th Annual Big Red Freakout to Olympic ice and cutting-edge aerospace research, our Engineers continue to show the world what RPI is made of.

March forward together. 

MARCH SPOTLIGHT: UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION

For more than a century, United Way of the Greater Capital Region has served as the connective tissue of our community — bringing together donors, volunteers, and organizations to address the region’s most pressing challenges. From food insecurity and housing stability to early childhood education and health access, United Way works across nine counties to ensure that every person has the building blocks they need to thrive.

Spring is a season of renewal, but the needs United Way addresses don’t pause for warmer weather. Food pantries, workforce programs, and support services rely on year-round generosity and engagement. We encourage every member of our community to find a way in. 

Ways to Engage with United Way: 

• Donate: www.unitedwaygcr.org — every dollar stays local. Contact Jacqueline Farmer at farmej@rpi.edu for a payroll deduction form. 
• Volunteer: Browse year-round opportunities at unitedtovolunteer.org/need — food pantries, literacy programs, housing support, and more. 
• Advocate: Follow United Way on social media to learn what’s affecting our neighbors and how to make your voice heard. 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: SIDEWALK WARRIORS OF TROY

Every Thursday evening at the corner of 5th Avenue and State Street (35 State Street at Christ Church Troy United Methodist), a dedicated team of volunteers gathers to meet neighbors where they are — with hot meals, fresh produce, pantry staples, and basic necessities distributed to over 120 children, families, and adults in need.

Sidewalk Warriors Troy is one of those organizations that reminds us what community really looks like: consistent, unglamorous, and essential. Rain or shine, week after week, they show up. Setup begins at 4:30 p.m., serving starts at 6 p.m., and breakdown wraps at 7:30 p.m. — a few hours that make an enormous difference in people’s lives.

Donations of meals, pantry items, and essential supplies — socks, underwear, winter items, hygiene products — are always gratefully accepted.

Ways to Engage with Sidewalk Warriors Troy: 

• Volunteer any Thursday evening — help with setup, distribution, or breakdown. Contact Robin Fontanelli at (518) 265-7026. 
• Donate food, essential supplies, or hygiene products. Check their weekly wish list on Facebook. 
• Learn more at sidewalkwarriorstroy.com. 

BIG RED FREAKOUT: ENGINEERS TRIUMPH OVER HARVARD IN A PACKED HOUSE

On the evening of February 21, Houston Field House was electric. A sellout crowd of 4,456 fans packed the arena for the 48th Annual Big Red Freakout — one of RPI’s most beloved traditions — and the men’s ice hockey team delivered a performance to remember.

After Harvard struck first in the opening period, the Engineers absorbed the pressure and responded with grit. The game remained 1-0 through forty minutes of play, but RPI came alive in the third period with three unanswered goals to claim a 3-1 ECAC Hockey victory.

The Heroes of the Night: Rainers Rullers led with a goal and two assists, factoring into all three RPI goals. Thomas Klassek added three assists from the blue line. Ian Scherzer provided the momentum-turning equalizer on the power play at 8:53 of the third, and Dovar Tinling sealed it with an empty-net goal with 77 seconds remaining. In net, Nate Krawchuk was outstanding, stopping 30 of 31 shots, including key saves during multiple Harvard power play chances.

First-year head coach Eric Lang was reportedly amazed by the atmosphere. And for those of us lucky enough to be there — or watching in spirit from watch parties as far as Puerto Rico — it was exactly the kind of night that reminds us what it means to be an RPI Engineer.

Let’s Go Red! 

GOOD NEWS FROM RPI

RPI Researchers Harness Agentic AI for Smarter, Faster Aerospace Design

Research Reveals How the Brain Can Increase Resilience to Disease

CBIS Secures $1 Million Grant to Advance Biotechnology Research & Translation

Student Achievements

An Olympian Among Us: Women’s ice hockey captain and computer science senior Nina Christof represented Team Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina — a first Olympic appearance for the forward who has captained Germany at multiple IIHF Women’s World Championships. Christof embodies the RPI ideal: rigorous academic excellence and world-class athletic achievement, pursued simultaneously and with grace. We are so proud of you, Nina.

Men’s Basketball: The Engineers have been dominant in Liberty League play, with multiple impressive wins this season. The team’s momentum heading into March is a testament to the hard work of the players and coaching staff.

Men’s Track & Field: The team delivered a standout performance at the Utica Winter Opener. Cortez Garrett won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.48 seconds, and Cameron Caso claimed first in the 60-meter dash at 7.02 seconds.

Women’s Swimming & Diving: RPI topped the field at the Kumpf Invitational, defeating SUNY Cortland, Skidmore, and William Smith. Gwenyth Snyder won the 1,000 freestyle, Sierra Pargett swept the 100 and 200 freestyle, and Vera Korff took the 50 freestyle. An outstanding team effort. 

WELCOMING OUR FUTURE ENGINEERS: ACCEPTED STUDENT CELEBRATIONS

March 21 & April 11, 2026

This spring, the Class of 2030 will step foot on our campus for the first time as accepted students. These young people — our future colleagues, researchers, entrepreneurs, and community members — are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. And the experience they have on these two days will shape that decision in ways that no ranking or brochure ever could.

Showing up as community matters. When an accepted student sees a faculty member who is passionate about their research, a current student who genuinely loves where they go to school, or a staff member who goes out of their way to make them feel welcome — that’s what moves the needle. That’s what builds a class.

We encourage every member of the RPI community to consider how you can be part of these events. Whether you interact with visiting families in the hallways, participate in a department open house, or simply smile and wave — every touchpoint is an opportunity to show these students what it truly means to be an RPI Engineer.

How to Get Involved: 

• Reach out to the Office of Enrollment Management to ask how you can volunteer, present, or otherwise engage during Accepted Student Celebrations. 
• If you have a connection to a prospective student who has been admitted, consider reaching out personally to share your RPI story.
• Think about what made you choose RPI — or what makes you proud to work or study here — and be ready to share it authentically. 
• Ask your department, office, or student organization whether there are ways to open your doors during campus visit days.

The May 1 deposit deadline is the critical yield moment for our incoming class. Everything we do between now and then — every warm interaction, every inspiring conversation, every demonstration of who we are as a community — contributes to that outcome. Let’s bring our best.

MARCH IN TROY: COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Troy Night Out — Friday, March 27 | 5-9 p.m. | Downtown Troy: Celebrate the arrival of spring in Troy’s beloved monthly gathering. Live music, local art, and the creative energy of one of the most exciting small cities in New York. Bring a colleague, bring your family, show up for Troy. Learn more at downtowntroyny.org/troy-night-out.

Ongoing — Sidewalk Warriors Troy: Every Thursday evening at 5th Avenue and State Street (35 State Street at Christ Church Troy United Methodist). Setup 4:30 p.m., serving 6 p.m., breakdown 7:30 p.m. Volunteers are always welcome to help distribute hot meals, fresh produce, and essential supplies to over 120 children, families, and adults in need. Contact Robin Fontanelli at (518) 265-7026 or visit sidewalkwarriorstroy.com.

Ongoing — RPI Student Food Pantry: East Campus Class Community Center, 2 Edgehill Terrace. Drop-off: Tuesdays 1–4 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m.–12 p.m., Fridays 11 a.m.–2 p.m.. Most needed items: soup, tuna, pasta, rice, beans, toothpaste, soap. Email offcampus@rpi.edu to arrange pick-up.

Unity House Food Pantry: 2431 Sixth Ave. Call (518) 274-2607 for donation and volunteer opportunities or visit unityhouseny.org. Ongoing recovery efforts continue following the January fire at the Kathryn Allen Center — your support makes a difference. 

Bridges is published monthly by the Office of the President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Questions or ideas? Contact the President’s Office at president@rpi.edu.