Dr. John McCray Jr.
" He has inspired students to rise above the limitations others might try
to impose on them, to aspire to excellence and not to let anyone turn
them around," said President Robert L. Carothers, about our final award
recipient of the evening.

"What I wanted to do in Providence was more important. I think I'm the
person to do it because what I'm proposing is radically different than
what other people think in higher education," Dr. John H. McCray, Jr.,
the recipient of the 2004 Lifetime Achievement award, joining President
Carothers and Judge Frank Caprio.

As Vice Provost for the Urban Program at the University's Providence
campus, Dr. McCray, who has more than 30 years of administrative
experience, including the management of all facilities and budgets. He
provides leadership in the development and coordination of a diverse
range of academic and service programs to meet the needs of urban
populations and serves as a principal advocate in the Urban Initiative
and of the University's role as a federally designated Urban Grant
Institution.

He also leads the planning, development and administration of all
continuing education programs and facilities serving traditional and
non-traditional students and administers the University's successful
Summer Session. The first black executive officer in higher education
in Rhode Island, Dr. McCray has served as treasurer and chairman of the
Finance Committee of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and is
a founding member and past president of the board of the Minority
Investment Development Corporation. He is also a member of the City of
Providence Park Commission.

He earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Economics from the
University of Michigan, a Master of Business Administration from the
William E. Simon School of Business Administration, University of
Rochester, and his Doctorate in Economics from Wayne State University in
Detroit. McCray is also a graduate of Harvard University's Institute of
Educational Management.

Undergraduate Student Excellence (Academic/Service) Award

Judy Lau
Judy Lau is an executive board member of the Asian Students Association.
In March 2003, Judy was not satisfied with Chinese not being taught as a
language. She brought her concerns to Timothy George who helped in
providing support and guidance. After a few months of discussion amongst
the Deans, Judy was told that Chinese would be considered if she
demonstrated a demand for the language. Judy started a petition called
the Chinese Language Petition Initiative, and by December there were 299
names on the petition. The successful petition has resulted in Chinese
language classes being offered next year. Judy's interest in bringing
diversity to the URI curriculum has not only been for others, but for
herself. Judy has helped to bring comedian Eliot Chang to URI, and will
be helping to kick off the ASA 2004 Annual Culture Show.

Andrea Mesa
Andrea Mesa is a multi-term president for the Psychology Club at URI.
Andrea carries a huge responsibility as president because the Psychology
Club has one of the largest majors on campus. Andrea has handled this
great responsibility by encouraging attendance, and involvement of
students from diverse backgrounds. Her open-mindedness, respect, and
encouragement for all students have helped in all aspects of her campus
life. Andrea also serves as an Orientation Leader and Resident Assistant
for the Rainbow Diversity House. Andrea says, " That is why I became a
Resident Assistant. My job is to educate people who are sharing the same
living place to celebrate their differences as well as to learn how to
accept them and respect them." Andrea is currently employed by the
Language Services of South County Program, where she teaches children
and adults English.

Undergraduate Student Excellence (Leadership/Service) Award

Rosie Mean
Rosie Mean has served as Cultural Affairs Chairperson on the Student
Senate and has promoted unity and diversity to the campus community
through student organizations and events. She is responsible for
encouraging students to attend events where they will meet, greet,
collaborate and network about issues related to diversity and she is
extremely effective. Rosie's nominator described her as being excellent
and outstanding, with an amazing personality that is cheerful and
welcoming. Rosie defines success as "The ability to plan and see it
through to the end." She enjoys seeing student organizations grow and
learn from their own experiences. Rosie is committed to partnering with
others to achieve goals. Collaborating with others is crucial to
ensuring that events are promoted and conducted properly and Rosie has
been successful in this area. In addition to being Chairperson, she
works in the Talent Development office where she interacts with students
from diverse backgrounds on a daily basis. According to Rosie "Every
person that has crossed my path has opened my eyes to the diversity on
this campus. I have been able to discuss and share my views of diversity
with these people and hopefully my passion in this area has sparked some
awareness of interest in them."

Candace Ranglin
Candace Ranglin is President of the URI NAACP and is an exemplary leader
who is respected by her peers, co-workers and supervisors. By all
accounts, she is determined, committed, inclusive, fair and takes
advantage of any opportunity to get the job done right. Candace believes
that "Diversity should be embraced and celebrated as we live in a
society that is dominated by hatred and fear." In addition to being the
President of the NAACP, Candace is the Student Staff Coordinator at the
Multicultural Center where she enjoys interacting with other students,
and in some instances, helping them to work through their problems. She
is very involved in campus activities and works tirelessly to promote
ideas and initiatives that will benefit African American and other
students of color. She is a leader who leads by example and is committed
to achieving success in her life. Candace believes that an individual
can achieve anything if they have the willpower to do so; and she is
leading by example in this category as well.

Undergraduate Student Excellence (Artistic/Cultural) Award

Kimberly Andrade
Kimberley Andrade's ability to translate her feelings of love and sorrow
into art, has touched many through her narrative book and documentary
on Schizophrenia. Her works, including original photographic
illustrations, have contributed to a better understanding of this
devastating mental disease. She strives primarily to describe the human
condition and uses art as a powerful medium of expression. She has
crossed ethnic, cultural and racial barriers by touching the humanity
within us. Her work has been shown at South County Art Club and URI's
corridor gallery. A future show is planned at the International Gallery
of Heritage and Culture in Providence.

Paul Bessette
Paul Bessette has been able to integrate into his art his spirituality,
his understanding, acceptance, and love of different cultures, his
journeys to distant lands, and his joy in the recognition of his own
strength and that of others. He has touched the University community in
many ways through his work as the Art Editor of the URI Review, and as
the creator of posters and art workshops; these fostered an awareness of
the essence within each of us, and the individual's role in the
University community and beyond. He is presently in the process of
illustrating a book that will help students at the University of Rhode
Island with their journey through the college years. His work has been
displayed in the 193 Coffee house, the Multicultural Center, and the
hallways of Health Services Potter Building.

Graduate Student Excellence (Leadership/Service) Award

Ana Barraza
During the past year and a half, Ana Barraza has spent a substantial
amount of time interacting and advising students who are involved in
multi-cultural student organizations. As a facilitator and presenter
during Unity Week, Ana listened to students' concerns and encouraged
them to use one another as resources in order to facilitate more
successful events, from which all students benefit. Ana believes in the
importance of empowering students. This empowerment provides a sense of
being, enabling students to express their thoughts, beliefs, and
opinions, regardless of what they may be. Ana is the adviser for the URI
chapter of the NAACP. She has helped to develop the curriculum for this
year's class for the Rose Butler Browne Mentoring Program. Currently,
Ana is working hard with the Multicultural Greek-Letter Organization to
help form an umbrella organization. This umbrella organization would
serve as a means of unity, direction and longevity.

Brian Chmielewski
Brian is a first-year graduate student majoring in Political Science
with an emphasis on International Relations and Peace Studies. He has
been described as "being earnest and intelligent," and is well respected
by his Professors and fellow students. He has a growing interest in
mediation, conflict resolution, reconciliation, and issues that divide
and unite people globally. During the past year, Brian has exemplified
the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by demonstrating the
principles of non-violence. Brian is currently participating in a
training session offered by Dr. Bernard Lafayette and hopes to become a
certified Non-Violence Trainer. He is currently offering a free
course on meditation and stress reduction for ICON members and other URI
students. Brian is also involved in community events that promote
social justice and cultural diversity.

Candida Pereira
Candida Pereira has been described as "the catalyst for establishing the
Children's Rights Council (CRC) of Rhode Island and its child access
services at URI's Multicultural Center. She is the Children's Rights
Council of Rhode Island Deputy Director for Child Access Services.
Candida has worked with the CRC of Rhode Island in helping non-custodial
families rebuild and strengthen their relationships with their children.
She became involved with the CRC as a natural leader, coordinating
students who sought to establish the CRC with an active presence on the
URI campus. As a native of the West Indies, Candida has grown to be a
young woman who understands cultural differences. Her personal and
professional experiences have culminated in applying her understanding
of diversity when monitoring the effectiveness and quality of
communications between student colleagues and the families they serve.

Organization Excellence (Leadership/Service) Award

Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)
The mission of CSSA is to help its members achieve academic excellence,
spread the merits of Chinese culture, and increase diversity at the
University. By organizing celebrations such as the Mid-Autumn Festival
and the Chinese New Year festival, CSSA fosters unity and provides the
opportunity for all students to learn about traditional Chinese
culture, through food, decorative arts, and music. CSSA also help ease
the "culture shock" that Chinese students may feel when they first
arrive in the US and to URI, as well as aiming to improve cultural
communication between Chinese and Americans.

The International Collegiate Organization for Nonviolence (ICON)
ICON seeks to unite the university and surrounding communities through
the institutionalization of the concepts of nonviolence. They strive to
help make the beloved community a reality through nonviolence training.
ICON is made up of students with many different backgrounds, but they
all share a passion for creating a better society through education in
Kingian Non-Violence. This group has grown in size very quickly. It has
committed itself to training in nonviolence. ICON has started a project
at the ACI teaching Conflict Reconciliation. ICON networks with other
universities, and they have also traveled to Atlanta to take part in a
conference on Kingian Non-Violence. In their words, "there is an
unstoppable power when people from all walks of life come together for
what they believe in."

Staff/Administrative Excellence (Leadership/Service) Award

Jennifer Longa
Jennifer Longa has helped to make the dream of a comprehensive program
to provide education, prevention programs, and advocacy services for
victims on our campus come true. She has established working
partnerships with more than twenty departments on campus and five
community agencies. The Women Center now has two full time staff members
and 28 trained Peer Advocate providing education and advocacy at URI.
Jennifer works nights and weekends providing workshops, training Peer
Advocates, and responding to crisis calls from victims of sexual
violence, their family members and friends, working directly with police
and judicial affairs professionals. As busy as she is each victim feels
that they are her only priority. Honesty, integrity, respect,
professionalism, and hard work are part of who she is.

Michael Lapointe
Many people know this recipient as either House Manager at the URI
Theatre or as Residence Hall Director for Hutchinson and Peck Residence
Halls but he is so much more. Michael Lapointe has been the development
and production manager for the annual Pangea series, the popular
cultural music and arts festival. This year he also agreed to oversee
the major speaker event associated with the campus Stop the Hate
Program. In the Residence Halls he has a long successful track record
of diverse programming and community building. In everything that he
undertakes, Michael demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusion while
working to assure that everyone involved with his activities feels
valued. Although most who work with him know that he shoulders a major
portion of the tasks associated with the project, Michael chooses to
remain in the background while deferring the praise to others. Today he
is forced into the spotlight: Michael Lapointe.

Faculty Excellence (Leadership/Service) Award

Dr. Nasser Zawia
Dr. Nasser's influence resonates throughout the campus community. He is
committed to diversity and multiculturalism and his commitment and
dedication is infectious to those who have had the pleasure of working
with him. Diversity is not a buzz word to him and as an Instructor
believes that he has a duty to "emphasize the need for inclusion in my
instruction" as well as articulating the need for majority and minority
students to understand different views and perspectives in order to
avoid stereotyping one another Dr. Nasser helped establish the Muslim
Community Center of Kingston so that "Muslim students can have their own
safe place to worship and conduct their affairs." Dr. Nasser reaches out
beyond his ethnic group to collaborate with others as well. He is a
member of the Faculty and Staff of Color and is a voice of reason,
inclusion and determination to effectuate change.

Dr. Christopher Hunter
To many, Dr. Chris Hunter is a scholar, teacher, advisor, mentor and
friend. He is the Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering in the
College of Engineering and continues to be instrumental in working to
recruit minorities into the fields of science, technology and
engineering. He also serves as a faculty advisor and mentor to the
National Society of Black Engineers in an effort to ensure that those
who are recruited are retained and graduated. Dr. Hunter is a member of
the Association of Faculty and Staff of Color, which works to ensure
that the voices of faculty and staff of color are heard and respected
regarding policies and initiatives important to the university. Dr.
Hunter is the co-chair of the Annual Black Scholar's Award Program,
which rewards the achievements of outstanding Black Scholar's in
academics, leadership and service to the community. Chris is respected
and admired by his peers, students and those of us who have had the
opportunity to work with and observe him in action.