CCRI doubles historical three-year graduation rates in 2020

Amidst a sea of decorative caps, multi-colored stoles, and smiling faces basking in the glow of their academic achievement, the Community College of Rhode Island capped the 2022–23 academic year with its 58th commencement ceremony at The Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.

Several hundred graduates from the Class of 2023 – along with family and friends – gathered at The AMP to celebrate in what will be the final commencement under the leadership of CCRI President Meghan Hughes, who is leaving the college at the beginning of September.

Nine students from North Providence High School and 60 from various Providence Public Schools were honored Tuesday at a special Recognition Ceremony at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Providence Campus for completing two of the college’s beneficial dual-enrollment programs.

The Community College of Rhode Island Dental Hygiene Program recognized its graduating class of future dental hygienists and assistants at a Pinning Ceremony on Monday, more than half of whom were recipients of the inaugural Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholarship.

A three-year initiative launched this academic year to address an emerging nationwide shortage of professional dental hygienists, the Delta Dental of Rhode Island Scholarship program provides financial support to students in CCRI’s Dental Hygiene Program who commit to working in Rhode Island for at least one year after graduation. Twelve of the 21 members of CCRI’s graduating class this year were recipients of the scholarship.

After reviving the college’s dormant student newspaper and overcoming hurdles in and out of the classroom, Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2023 graduate Nina Fauci is more than ready for the next step in journey.

The 20-year-old Fauci; a Tiverton, RI, resident; Rhode Island Promise scholar, and departing Editor-in-Chief of The Unfiltered Lens; graduates Thursday with her associate degree in General Studies. A creative writing and poetry enthusiast who one day dreams of publishing her own work, Fauci will transfer to Emerson University in the fall to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing.

The Community College of Rhode Island gave William Soly everything he could ask for in addition to the support he never knew he needed.

Soly, a Rhode Island Promise scholar, first-generation college graduate, and this year’s student speaker at the CCRI’s 58th commencement ceremony graduates Thursday with his associate degree in General Studies with a concentration in Education, Government, & Human Services. 

The Community College of Rhode Island is where students of all ages and backgrounds come to find a clear path to a high-quality education.

Few travel the road faster or make a greater impact than Ana Duarte Spencer.

A chance encounter with one of America’s most famous civil rights activists led Community College of Rhode Island first-generation Class of 2023 graduate Shane Lee down an unexpected career path.

Now the 36-year-old Providence, RI, native and married father of five is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and continue teaching the philosophies that have inspired countless others.

The Community College of Rhode Island’s Collegiate DECA chapter capped another strong academic year at the 2023 International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando with several team and individual awards in addition to Business and Professional Studies Professor Joanne Orabone winning another award for her service to Collegiate DECA.

The ICDC provides members the chance to network with representatives from National DECA’s corporate sponsors in career exhibits. Students also engage and network with business professionals through the Professional Development Series, with presentations focusing on topics such as personal branding, money matters, sustainability, mastering motivation, and dressing for success, which provide DECA members with an opportunity to gain real-world insight from many business and industry professionals.

CCRI remains the state’s only public associate degree-registered nursing program with seamless options to become a certified nursing assistant and licensed practical nurse, and one of the many benefits of enrolling at the college to pursue a nursing degree is the opportunity to join CCRI's Gamma Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society.

Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society aims to recognize the academic excellence of associate degree nursing students and encourage students to pursue advanced nursing degrees. To be eligible, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average, with at least a B in all nursing classes and demonstrate conduct on campus and in the clinical areas that reflects integrity and professionalism.

The CCRI Players close out the Spring 2023 semester with a production of Yellowman, a 2002 Pulitzer Prize in Drama finalist written by actress, poet and playwright Dael Orlandersmith.

Yellowman premiers tonight at 7:30 at the Providence Campus Auditorium with additional shows Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2. Tickets are available online or at the auditorium box office and are priced at $12 for general admission and $19 for students, employees, and seniors.

To celebrate #OTmonth at CCRI, we're profiling several members of our OTA staff who've been inspired professionally by their work in this industry and who continue to inspire students looking to join the OTA workforce.

Today, we check in with Assistant Professor and Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director Christine Lynch, who joined the college mid-pandemic in December of 2020 and has now been a part of our community for two and a half years.

April is Occupational Therapy Month — an excellent opportunity to share the value of occupational therapy. 

Occupational Therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them live independently and meet goals to develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working. 

Warwick, RI – Community College of Rhode Island Business and Professional Studies Professor John “Jack” Renza Jr. has been chosen to receive the Rhode Island Society of CPAs and RI Business Forum (RISCPA) inaugural Industry Legends Award for his unprecedented contributions toward strengthening the CPA profession, higher education, and Rhode Island’s business climate.

Renza, of Hope, RI, celebrates his 48th year of teaching Accounting at CCRI in December and is one of four to receive the Society’s Industry Legends Award at the RISCPA’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Reception on Thursday, April 20 at 6 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI. He joins Ernie Almonte, William (Bill) Pirolli, and Alan Litwin as this year’s recipients.

The Community College of Rhode Island is hosting its second annual Cybersecurity Night on Tuesday, April 18 at its Warwick campus featuring a keynote address from Rhode Island State Senator and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Louis DiPalma.

Hosted by the college’s Computer Studies and Information Processing department, Cybersecurity Night is an opportunity for current and prospective students to learn about the college’s Cybersecurity associate degree and Cyber Defense Path from current faculty members in addition to meeting representatives from industry partners and four-year universities. Members of the college’s student-led Cybersecurity Club and Career Services department will also be in attendance.