Schools
CCRI Awards Degrees To 700 Graduates
The state's Congressional delegation are among the dignitaries celebrating the occasion.
From the Community College of Rhode Island Public Relations Office:
The Community College of Rhode Island conferred 1,563 associate degrees and certificates at its 46th commencement on Friday, May 20, in the Vincent A. Cullen Field House at the Knight Campus in Warwick. Nearly 700 graduates participated in the commencement exercises.
Several dignitaries – among them U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline, Gov. Lincoln Chafee and other state officials – gave congratulations to the Class of 2011. CCRI President Ray DiPasquale provided a snapshot of this year’s graduating class during his commencement address by highlighting several stories of outstanding students.
“CCRI graduates are everywhere and in every walk of life. And you are a part of the college’s 47 years of rich history. You are CCRI. And we know that you will go out into the world and touch the lives of your fellow Rhode Islanders the way that so many CCRI alumni have before you,” Di Pasquale said. “As I look across the sea of faces in the graduating class, I know that this day is life-changing and that you have such marvelous opportunities ahead of you.”
Representing her class as student commencement speaker was 23-year-old Jael Acevedo of Providence, a General Business major who graduated with a 3.8 GPA and received a scholarship to continue her studies in accounting at Bryant University.
Born in the Dominican Republic, she immigrated to New York City with her parents when she was 8 years old. Despite the fact that she spoke no English at the time, her teachers thought it would be best to put her in a regular classroom and let her learn the language as she went.
Acevedo had high grades at Central High School in Providence, and her guidance counselors urged her to apply to college, but she lacked permanent residency in the United States. She graduated from high school in 2005 and, that December, learned that her petition had been accepted and she could attend college.
“The burdens that we have conquered make us unique and more capable of greatness than we know. We are resilient and built to overcome adversity. Didn’t it seem like there were so many instances where it could’ve been easier to stop? No one would have faulted us, given the circumstances. Nevertheless, here we are today. And because of this reason, we are all success stories,” Acevedo told her classmates.
She encouraged them to continue working toward their goals. “The last thing I want you to do is to settle. Remember that you represent an institution where people are truly transformed. Therefore, you have the ability to change whatever you wish about your life. I want you to use the euphoria of this moment to seek out dreams in higher places. Too many people stop chasing dreams once they achieve one goal. It can happen so swiftly if you allow yourself to become complacent,” she said. “I know from personal experience that you always have more potential than you think. And that never stops being true. So always challenge yourself to be better and to do better – because you were built for it.”
Johnston graduates:
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Christine Amanda Baggesen
Lisa Marie Bevilacqua
Kathy E. Bordeleau
Diane M. Boudreau*
Amanda Christine Brown
Shaina Lee Burns
Jeanne M. Camueau-Vil
Candace A. Canady
Robert A. Champagne**
Alexandra Rae Comella**
Kenneth John Conti Jr.
Rhea T. Dickerman*
Jonathan James Flynn**
Carlos I. Giron
Sara Hedili
Youssef Hedili
Brigette Nancy Houle***
Kristy Melissa Jacobson
Josephine D. Johnson
Slawomir Kwasnicki**
Amanda Lee Lewis*
Lixiu Lin
Melissa A. Malkasian*
Lisa L. Mallette**
Sulay Martinez
Justin Anthony Mastrofino
Alysa N. O’Neill
Jason R. Patrone
Sharon L. Reynolds
Rayna Christine Rocha
Anthony G. Santiago
Tara Ann Seabaugh**
Joseph A. Silva**
Nathalie L. Soukamneuth
Jeanne A. Supino
Michael Charles Theroux**
Rebecca Leigh Theroux***
Jason R. Watkins
*** Highest Honors
** High Honors
* Honors
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For more information about commencement and to view student success stories, visit www.ccri.edu. A full list of graduates is available at www.ccri.edu/commencement/grads2011.html.
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