URI inducts 22 students into engineering honor society

KINGSTON, RI -- January 17, 2001 -- The University of Rhode Island chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society, inducted 22 students during recent ceremonies.

Inducted were: Andrew Cardin of Titusville, N.J.; Gianfranco Chicarella, North Providence; Jonathan Cyr, Coventry; Michael Gertrudes, Cumberland; Joseph Scariza, Hauppauge, N.Y.; Matthew Seward, North Providence; Michael Sparks, Springfield, Mass.; Brad Thibodeau, Dartmouth, Mass.; Peter Dobratz, Pittsburgh, Penn.; Jeffrey Goguen, Cranston; James Hall, Providence; Sarah Krikstone, Dayville, Conn.; Karey Long, Stratham, N.Y.; Heidi Mecklenburg, Providence; Abraham Murray, Jamestown; Peter Phelps, West Kingston; Jeffrey Prisco, Sarasota Springs, N.Y.; Jodi Stenger, Stratham, N.H.; Thomas Spence, Portsmouth, N.H.; Rachel Starr, Manchester, N.H.; Dara Swanson, North Kingstown; and Robert Wilcox, Warwick.

Presiding at the ceremony were chapter President Stanley Youngsaye of Cumberland, Vice President Robert Lawton, Foster; and Secretary Robert Johnson, Middletown.

To become a member of Tau Beta Pi, students in their junior year must rank in the top one-eighth of their class, while seniors must rank in the top one-fifth of their class. Students must also demonstrate a spirit of community service and concern.

Tau Beta Pi was founded in 1885 to recognize the distinguished academic achievements of engineering students and to "foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." The honor society has 195 collegiate chapters with more than 300,000 members. The Rhode Island Beta Chapter was established at the University of Rhode Island in 1954.

For Information: Todd McLeish 401-874-7892