KINGSTON, R.I. – June 26, 2025 – Each year, the University of Rhode Island presents Academic Excellence Awards to graduating seniors for their exceptional academic performance.
Departmental faculty and deans select students for these prestigious awards based on grade point average and other indicators of excellence, such as the completion of an honors project, a research presentation, community service, and extraordinary professional and civic promise.
At a recent ceremony held in Edwards Hall, each award recipient was presented with a URI medallion from URI President Marc Palange and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Wolfe. They also received a Certificate of Academic Excellence from the dean of their respective college.
“As educators, there is little we enjoy more than celebrating the achievements and impact of our students,” said Wolfe. “Through your hard work and determination, you have set an example for what can be accomplished here at URI. Thank you for taking full advantage of the opportunities you have had to learn and to grow at URI, setting yourselves up for success in whatever challenge or opportunity you take on next.”
The award ceremony can be viewed in its entirety here.
College of Arts and Sciences
Africana Studies: Brandon Feliz of Central Falls
Anthropology: Chloe Roper of Cumberland
Art: Betzy Cordon of Cranston
Chemistry, French: Alex Tsang of Coventry
Chinese: Adam Cioe of Cranston
Communication Studies: Grace Fennessey of Port Jefferson Station, New York
Computer Science and Statistics: Shan Zhong of Lincoln
Criminology and Criminal Justice: Justin Cournoyer of Cumberland
Data Science: Haven Hardie of North Kingstown
Economics: Ethan Jedson of West Greenwich
English: Kyle Gunning of Holden, Massachusetts
Film/Media Program: Athena Stamatopoulos of Enfield, Connecticut
Gender and Women’s Studies: Sanah Feroz of Warwick
German: Patrick Raczkowski of Attleboro, Massachusetts
Global Languages and Area Studies: Korali Kouadio of Riverside
History: Timothy Iorio-Dodge of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
International Studies and Diplomacy, Italian: Isabella Pizzo of Coventry
Journalism: Lauren Drapeau of North Smithfield
Mathematics: Abigail Orlando of Woonsocket
Military Science and Leadership: Carissa Johnson of Coventry
Music: Sarah Lisa Nguyen of Wakefield
Philosophy: Ben Thomas of Bethesda, Maryland
Physics: Ivan Abreu Paniagua of Cranston
Political Science: Zahra Khan of North Kingstown
Professional and Public Writing: Alora McCarroll of East Haven, Connecticut
Public Relations: Ben Culina of Orono, Maine
Sociology: Jordan Simpson of Cranston
Spanish: Emily Ariza of Lincoln
Sports Media and Communication: Nathan Robillard of Middletown, Connecticut
Theatre: Hannah Bagshaw of Cranston
College of Business
Accounting: Gianna Chicarella of North Providence
Finance: Klara Nelander of Skanor, Sweden
General Business Administration: Grace DeLuca of Providence
Global Business Management: Michael Phelps of Newport
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Emma Foppema of Cumberland
Management: Ian Fisher of Cranston
Marketing: Julia Rubbo of Guilford, Connecticut
Supply Chain Management: Owen Surette of Wilmington, Massachusetts
Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design: Samantha Fugere of Hope Valley
Textile Marketing: Ava Aymie of Northborough, Massachusetts
Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies
Early Childhood Education: Madi Lefebvre of Cumberland
Elementary Education: Kayla Loureiro of Gilford, New Hampshire
Health and Physical Education: Carly Graves of Portland, Connecticut
Secondary Education: Abigail LaRose of Cumberland
College of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering: Arianne Parvaresh-Rizi, Lincoln
Chemical Engineering: Charles Jouaneh of Wakefield
Civil Engineering: Katie Hampston of Voorheesville, New York
Computer Engineering: Jake Nicynski of Smithfield
Electrical Engineering: Mason Jacob of Exeter
Industrial and Systems Engineering: Carson Plaus of Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Mechanical Engineering: Casey Egan of Jamestown
Ocean Engineering: Amanda Missing of Medford, New York
College of the Environment and Life Sciences
Animal Science and Technology: Hazelynn Rios of North Providence
Aquaculture and Fisheries Science: Owen Fleischer of Durham, New Hampshire
Biological Sciences: Charlotte Frost of Warwick
Biology: Joceline Rodrigues of Norwich, Connecticut
Biotechnology: Elise VanLuinen of Warwick
Cell and Molecular Biology: Abby Wilson of West Abington Township, Pennsylvania
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: Jordan Galluzzo of Newbury, New Hampshire
Environmental Science and Management: Kelsey Tichenor of Danielson, Connecticut
Geology and Geological Oceanography: Lara Thaner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Landscape Architecture: Stephanie Nordhoff of Barrington
Marine Affairs: Alyssa Green of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
Marine Biology: Sofia Piccone of West Chester, Pennsylvania
Medical Laboratory Science: Olivia Brown of West Kingston
Molecular Neuroscience, Donald H. DeHayes Provost Emeritus Honors Excellence Award: Bhavya Chatragadda of Lincoln
Plant Sciences: Eve Nadeau of Chepachet
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Kaylie Hanisak of Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Wildlife and Conservation Biology: Hannah Peters of Pepperell, Massachusetts
College of Health Sciences
Clinical Neuroscience: Will Osborn of Denver, Colorado
Communicative Disorders: Katelyn Royael of Hazlet Township, New Jersey
Dietetics: Ethan Dumas of Reading, Massachusetts
Human Development and Family Science: Sarah Bacci of Reading, Massachusetts
Kinesiology: Cayla Cajilig of Pickering, Ontario
Nutrition: James Madden of Wakefield
Psychology: Olivia Abrams of Garnerville, New York
Public Health: Payton Wozny of Fairfax, Virginia
College of Nursing
Nursing: Darcy Costa of Attleboro, Massachusetts
College of Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy: Emma Van Reysen of Woonsocket
Neuropharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences: Danielle Burge of Hudson, New Hampshire
Finish What You Started
Finish What You Started: Briana Aucoin of North Kingstown