KINGSTON, R.I. – May 18, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island Center for Military and Veteran Education (MAVE) honored several members of the community during its annual Veterans Award Luncheon held recently in the Multicultural Student Services Center’s Hardge Forum.

The luncheon recognizes MAVE graduating seniors as well community partners who go the extra mile to support URI’s student veteran population. URI enrolls around 330 student veterans and military-connected students, as well as approximately 200 military dependents.

“URI is a great place for student veterans and military-connected students. We have excellent support across campus for our students, and this is a wonderful day to honor our military-connected students and those that support them,” said MAVE Director Bob Flynn.

Among the guests were: Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services Director Kasim Yarn; Mrs. Mary Parlange; Vice President of Community, Equity, and Diversity Markeisha Miner; Vice President of Administration and Finance Abby Benson; as well as distinguished URI ROTC Alumni community members.

“As the daughter of an Army veteran, it was an honor to celebrate our veterans and military-connected Rams. Through scholarships for Rhode Island National Guard members, emergency funds for veteran students supported by generous donors, and programming coordinated by CED’s Center for Military and Veteran Education, in collaboration with offices across the campus, URI is becoming a more inclusive and welcoming community to those who have served our country and their families,” said Miner.

Paul Everton, from Cranston, is an Air Force veteran, who is also president of the Tau Sigma Chapter Honor Society, also addressed guests. Everton made a point to thank donors such as Larry Aker, the Aaronson family and the Lawson Charitable Foundation who have provided critical support.

Nearly two dozen student veterans and military-connected students were honored with coins, stoles and graduation cords. Among them Lidell Booysen and Alyssa Rauscher were also honored.

Veteran Leadership Award: Lidell Booysen

Booysen, who lives in Warwick, is a U.S. Navy veteran and a MAVE student team member who has taken a leadership role among other MAVE work study students and participated as a student speaker during URI’s most recent Veterans Day Observance. A mechanical engineering major, Booysen interned at Orsted last summer and plans to intern with Rhode Island Energy this summer. He is an outstanding student who is very friendly and helpful to everyone who enters MAVE.

Outstanding Student Service Award: Alyssa Rauscher

Rauscher is a military dependent, from New Brunswick, Canada, is studying Marine Affairs who wants to join the NOAA Officer Corps and spent several weeks working onboard a NOAA ship last summer. Knowledgeable about VA benefits, Rauscher is extremely helpful and friendly in sharing that knowledge with her peers and is very involved with the MAVE on campus. 

In addition, the following staff and faculty members were honored for their unwavering support of URI’s student veteran population:

Outstanding Service Award: Enrollment Services
Community Service Award: Jessica Greene, assistant director of health promotion and wellness, URI Health Services
Outstanding Veteran Support: Cody Ochs, coordinator, Transportation and Parking
Outstanding Student Support Award: Zak Pereira, coordinator for prior learning and career advancement, Center for Career and Experiential Learning
Unsung Hero Award: Mike McCauley, senior associate director (PeopleSoft Systems), Enrollment Services
Unsung Hero Award: Laurie Hebert, lead information technologist, Enrollment Services

In December, the University of Rhode Island was named one of the top universities for military veterans according to the Military Times. URI has also been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School for two consecutive academic years. The Military Friendly mark URI earned for the 2025-26 academic year also includes a positive designation for military spouses.