2020 Success Stories: Andrew Palrao

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced it is joining the Lowe's Foundation's Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition, a national effort bringing together organizations from across the skilled trades ecosystem to help train and develop 1 million people for skilled trades careers by 2035.

What happens when you mix advanced microscopy, biological research, and studio art? At the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), it results in an incredible outburst of student creativity and scientific inquiry.

The Community College of Rhode Island welcomed faculty and staff back to campus last Thursday for Opening Day Convocation, the College's annual gathering marking the start of a new academic year. President Rosemary A. Costigan opened the 2026-27 year with an inspiring call to action, urging the CCRI community to embrace the work ahead and be "brave enough to try."

As demand grows for skilled engineers and technicians to power Rhode Island's advanced manufacturing, marine, and clean energy sectors, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) announced $4,619,389 of federal funding awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the University of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island, to support scholarships for high-achieving, low-income students pursuing degrees in engineering and engineering technology.