KINGSTON, R.I. – June 9, 2022 – Each year, the University of Rhode Island honors graduating seniors for their superior academic achievement. Their selection is based on grade point average, as well as other criteria determined by their individual academic departments. For example, criteria might include an honors project, a research presentation, or a student’s professional promise.
Each recipient of a University Academic Excellence Award receives a URI medal and the awards are conveyed in the annual ceremony at Edwards Hall by the deans of each college and Interim Provost Laura Beauvais.
“We were very pleased that we could celebrate together in person this year, recognizing the extraordinary achievements of our honorees,” said URI Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Laura L. Beauvais. “Through grit, determination, and remaining focused on their goals, these students have successfully met and overcome the challenges presented to them over the past few years. These graduates have set a high bar for themselves and are an inspiration to our faculty and staff as well as to our future students. It has been an honor to have them as part of our community.”
See more information on each of the honorees and watch the awards ceremony in its entirety here.
College of Nursing
Nursing: Melissa Sosa of Providence
College of Pharmacy
Pharmacy: Marisa Jacobs of Poughquag, New York
Pharmaceutical Sciences: Lleayem Nazario-Johnson of North Providence
College of Arts and Sciences
Africana Studies: Paola Herrera of Providence
Anthropology: Megan Sullivan of Oakdale, Connecticut
Chemistry: Josephine Shirah of Columbia, Maryland
Chinese: Jack Ryan Mazzarelli of Newburgh, New York
Communication Studies: Chloe Kessler of Cumberland
Computer Science: Tuyetlinh Nguyen of Middletown
Criminology and Criminal Justice: Lily Truppi of Wakefield
Data Science: Abigail Kaye of North Scituate
Economics: Patrice Geffrard of Warwick
English: Grace Burns of Mount Sinai, New York
Film/Media Program: Isobel McCullough of Wakefield
French: Karla Gonzalez-Lynch of Milton, Massachusetts
Gender & Women’s Studies: Fiona Greenough of Meriden, New Hampshire
German: Reed Margaret Reed of Saunderstown
Global Languages and Area Studies, Arabic Track: Sierra James of Charlestown
History: Alex Costa of Lincoln
International Studies and Diplomacy, French: Gavin O’Connell of East Hampton, Connecticut
Italian: Jake Dante Carlino of Hope
Journalism: Kayla Laguerre-Lewis of Litchfield Park, Arizona
Mathematics: Tuyetlinh Nguyen of Middletown
Music Education: Sarah O’Brien of Newton, New Jersey
Philosophy: John Mancini of Westerly
Physics: Liliana Berube of Kingston
Political Science: Mary Lind of Lincoln
Public Relations: Gabby Curtis of Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Sociology: Franchesca Campos of Providence
Spanish Language and Literature: Lila Bovenzi of North Kingstown
Sports Media: Michaela Kraut of Orange, Connecticut
Studio Art: Ashley LaBarbera of North Kingstown
Theatre: Audrey Visscher of Piscataway, New Jersey
Writing and Rhetoric: Lee E. Sheridan of Hanover, Massachusetts
College of Business
Accounting: Christina Gosselin of Lincoln
Finance: Kevin Bugbee-Cassara of Carolina
General Business Administration: Rachel Cook of Hurley, New York
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Sydney Van Fleet of Amenia, New York
Management: Emily Tollefson of Newport
Marketing: Sophie Timm of Plymouth, Minnesota
Supply Chain Management: Erin Chratian of Duluth, Georgia
Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design: Shelby Kanski of Dickinson, North Dakota
Textile Marketing: Jacquelyn Vlahakis of Nesconset, New York
College of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering: Thao Nguyen Ngoc Pham of Vietnam
Chemical Engineering: Teddy McGuire of Westerly
Civil and Environmental Engineering: Matthew DaSilva of Bristol
Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics: Christopher Charron of Pascoag
Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics: Timothy Gibbons of Edison, New Jersey
Industrial Systems Engineering: Aaron King of Oxford, Connecticut
Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science: Raymond Turrisi of West Warwick
Ocean Engineering: Meghan Haviland of Sharon, Massachusetts
College of the Environment and Life Sciences
Animal Science and Technology: Mackenzie McDonald of Interlaken, New Jersey
Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology: Benjamin Towne of Barrington
Biological Sciences: Richard Mercer of Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Biology: Sabrina Charron of Pascoag
Cell and Molecular Biology: Elizabeth Billings of Hudson, Massachusetts
Biotechnology: John Panizza of Middletown
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: Kevin Bugbee-Cassara of Carolina
Environmental Science and Management: Anthony Florenz of Cranston
Geology and Geological Oceanography: Blaine Lynch-Gadaleta of Warwick
Landscape Architecture: Rosa Adimari of Westerly
Marine Affairs: Fiona Chlebecek of Middletown
Marine Biology: Myles Wagner of Dudley, Massachusetts
Medical Laboratory Science: Simone Moniz Duguay of North Kingstown
Microbiology: Elizabeth Billings of Hudson, Massachusetts
Plant Sciences: Darcy Roland of Middletown
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Maeve Rothschild-Shea of Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wildlife and Conservation Biology: Marlene Severino of Cranston
College of Health Sciences
Communicative Disorders: Gabriela Zuccolo of North Providence
Health Studies: Lily Rosa of Wakefield
Human Development and Family Studies: Sarah Behm of Warwick
Kinesiology: Apryll Pazienza of North Scituate
Nutrition and Dietetics: Maria Cherry of Cranston
Psychology, (double major in Psychology and Geology, minor in leadership): Blaine Lynch-Gadaleta of Warwick
Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies
Early Childhood Education: Sofia Ganey of Norfolk, Massachusetts
Elementary Education: Alexa Pucci of Westerly
Health and Physical Education: Andrew Maiato of Little Compton
Health Services Administration: Angel Berrios of Cranston
Secondary English Education: Grace Burns of Mount Sinai, New York
Finish What You Started, Interdisciplinary Studies/Business Institutions: Christopher Wiley of Coventry