KINGSTON, R.I. — November 21, 2005 — The top University of Rhode Island students gathered with friends, family, and URI staff last month to celebrate their achievement as freshman during the 2004-2005 school year. The ten students were formally inducted as University College Scholars—the top students in their entire freshman class.

At a breakfast held in their honor, each student received a certificate of achievement and a $500 check from the URI Alumni Association in recognition of their success.

To be considered and possibly named a University College Scholar, students must earn at least a 3.99 cumulative grade point average out of a possible 4.0 in their freshman year. Then, of about 30 candidates, the students compete for the award based on the contributions that they have made outside of the classroom to the community or to their future professions. Four of the 10 scholars are from Rhode Island.

This year’s University College Scholars are:

• Vanessa Moncion, a microbiology major from Cranston, R.I.

• Christopher Barrett, a journalism and political science double major from Kingston, R.I.

• Christie Sullivan, an education, English, and French triple major from Newport, R.I.

• Ian Lonngren, a computer science major from West Greenwich, R.I.

• Nicole Aragi, a public relations major with minors in business and Spanish from Brookfield, Conn.

• Alison Kubinski, a marketing and Spanish double major with a leadership minor from Enfield, Conn.

• Meredith Carter, a nutrition and food science major from Ashfield, Mass.

• Christie Moulton, a wildlife conservation biology and French double major from North Hampton, Mass.

• Michelle Sychtysz, an accounting and finance major from Nashua, N.H.

• Meghan DeNobile, a pharmacy major from Rochester, N.H.