The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC) honored five leaders in education, business, and the public sector for their contributions to N.Y.’s optics and photonics industry. NY Photonics Executive Director Tom Battley presented the awards at the organization’s 2021 annual meeting. The RRPC Entrepreneurship Award is given to individual demonstrating creativity, an innovative spirit, and drive in pursuit of the dream of creating an industry-leading company in the optics, photonics, and imaging industries. The 2021 winner is G. Michael Morris. Morris founded and served as CEO of RPC Photonics, which was acquired by Viavi Solutions in October 2018. He serves as CEO of Apollo Optical Systems. G. Michael Morris. Courtesy of NY Photonics. Morris was the CEO of Corning Rochester Photonics Corp.; CEO and Founder of Rochester Photonics Corp.; and professor of optics at the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester. He is past president of the Optical Society of America (OSA, now Optica) and past chairman of the board of the OSA Foundation. The RRPC Leadership Award, given to an individual who works with RRPC members and the community to promote the Rochester region’s optics, photonics, and imaging industries, was presented to Alexis Vogt, endowed chair and professor of optics at Monroe Community College. Vogt was appointed associate professor of optics at Monroe in 2015 and became professor of optics and endowed chair in 2020. She is the only endowed chair of optics at a community college in the U.S. Alexis Vogt. Courtesy of NY Photonics. As chair, Vogt secured more than $5.9 million for Monroe Community College’s optical systems technology program through corporate and federal grants. Under her leadership, enrollment in the MCC optical systems technology program has grown 1920% over five years. The RRPC Education Award, presented each year to an individual for inspiring students to embrace optics, photonics, and imaging sciences and guiding them in career development, was presented to Rosario “Ross” Micali, apprenticeship advocate and national work-based learning coordinator at Monroe Community College. Rosario Micali. Courtesy of NY Photonics. After retiring from Xerox, Micali joined the Monroe Community College workforce development department where he has developed curriculum, job-readiness programs for traditional and underserved populations, and skilled trade apprenticeship programs. He also developed an applied integrated technology AAS Degree program and a precision optics manufacturing technician apprenticeship program. He currently serves as apprenticeship advocate and national work-based learning coordinator at Monroe Community College, assisting precision optics manufacturing companies in establishing optics manufacturing technician apprenticeships. U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle. Courtesy of NY Photonics. U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle received the Optics & Photonics Award for his long-standing support for the Finger Lakes region’s optics, photonics, and imaging industry. NY Photonics Executive Director Tom Battley highlighted Morelle’s support both as N.Y. State Assembly majority leader and congressman for New York’s 25th Congressional District, including funding and co-chairing the Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus in 2020. Brian J. Thompson, professor emeritus at the University of Rochester. Courtesy of NY Photonics. The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Brian Thompson, professor emeritus at the University of Rochester. Thompson has been a member of the faculty of the University of Rochester since 1968 and served as the fourth director of the college’s Institute of Optics.