EAST PROVIDENCE — The following academic achievements for college students from East Providence and nearby were submitted by their respective institutions of higher learning:

Graduation

Danielle Cooper of East Providence graduated from Lasell University (Newton, Mass.). Cooper received a BS in Psychology after completing graduation requirements on May 11, 2020. Lasell University's Class of 2020 will be honored in person when restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so.

Nicolas Friend of Riverside graduated from Ithaca (N.Y.) College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Media (Communications).

Kelsey Coughlin, with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies, and Grace Senra, with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies, both of Riverside, and Madeleine Pagano, with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies, of Seekonk, received their degrees from Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Conn.).

Matthew Buteau of Rumford, Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in New Media Studies, and Lauren Landry of Rumford, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University (Willimantic) this spring 2020 semester. The University's 130th annual Commencement Exercises occurred via YouTube on May 19 amid the COVID-19 pandemic on the same day the University had planned to hold its graduation ceremony at Hartford's XL Center.

Shannon Dalton Briden, of Rumford, with a Master of Business Administration degree, as well as East Side of Providence residents Raphael M.H. Mayer, magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, Lucy C. Carpenter, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree, and Justin P Laplante, with a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology degree, graduated from Clark University (Worcester, Mass.) on Sunday, May 24. Clark conferred 465 bachelor's degrees, 379 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees during the University's 116th Commencement; the virtual ceremony featured musical performances, video montages, and messages of congratulations, pride, and encouragement that were livestreamed on Clark's website and on Facebook Live. No on-campus public event was held this year in accordance with safety protocols surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Riley Medeiros of East Providence, graduated in December 2019 and received a BA degree in Business Creative Enterprises on Sunday, May 10, as Emerson College (Boston) awarded 959 undergraduate degrees for the Class of 2020. The college is committed to holding a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 in person when it is safe to do so, at a to be determined date. The college launched an Emerson 2020 Celebration website to honor graduates' achievements with more than 800 submissions from students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff, which includes photos, videos, audio submissions, and text. The website strives to reflect the many facets of the Class of 2020 and the wider Emerson community - its creativity, daring, thoughtfulness, irreverence, and humor.

Peter Gray of Rumford, who received a Master of Social Work in Social Work, and Meagan Leary of Riverside, who received a Master of Social Work in Social Work were among the 6,927 students awarded academic degrees from Boston University in May 2020.

New England Institute of Technology honored the Class of 2020 will be honored in a virtual ceremony on Sunday, July 12, including the following local students: East Providence — AS Degree, Shayna S. Barbosa*, Amanda L. Barreira*, Jennifer V. Candido, Vanessa B. Farinho*, Aaron J. Grilo, Ethan Lopes+*, Kyle Medeiros+, Nicholas R. Medeiros*, Bruno R. Nunes, Omar J. Santana, Arriana J. Silva; BS Degree, Tairan He, Stephanie E. Michalopoulos+; Riverside — AS Degree, James J. Brice Jr, Michael F. Costanza*, Alexander J. Jimenez*, James McGurn III, Nicholas W. Shaw*, Christopher J. Van Loon; BS Degree, Connor D. Strom+; MS Degree, Samantha E. Walsh; Rumford — AS Degree, Victoria E. Eugenio, Adam M. Iadonisi+, Dmorea O. Lincoln, Erlon S. Oliveira, Sabrina M. Soares (Honors +, Best of Tech Award Recipient §, Tech Scholar Award Recipient ф, Potential Spring Term 2020 Graduate *).

Dean’s/President’s List

Kaitlyn Salgueiro of Riverside, earned a place on the Furman University (Greenville, S.C.) dean's list for the 2020 spring semester. Furman's dean's list is composed of full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher on a four-point system.

Jack M. Harney of Rumford as well as Perry J. Joubert and Haleigh M. Silva both of Seekonk qualified for inclusion on the Dean’s List for the spring 2020 semester at Fitchburg (Mass.) State University. A student is placed on the Dean’s List for the semester if an average grade of 3.20 or better is attained, and the student is attending the university full time.

Anthony Chamoun, Class of 2022, from Rumford, Elliot Charron, Class of 2021, from Riverside, Tyler Freitas, Class of 2021, from East Providence, James Picerelli, Class of 2020, from East Providence, Thor Silva, Class of 2020, from Rumford, and Lizmar Torres, Class of 2022, from East Providence, have been named to the Deans' List for the spring 2020 semester at Bryant University.

Thor Silva, Class of 2020, from Rumford, and Tyler Freitas, Class of 2021, from East Providence, have been named to the President's List for the spring 2020 semester at Bryant University. The President's List is an academic distinction reserved for Bryant's highest achievers who earn a GPA of 4.0 or better for at least 12 semester hours of work.

Claire E. Collins of Rumford and Noah Fischer of East Providence were recently named to the Dean's List at Boston University for the spring 2020 semester. Each school and college at Boston University has their own criterion for the Dean's List, but students generally must attain a 3.5 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), or be in the top 30 percent of their class, as well as a full course load as a full time student.

Aidan Murphy of Rumford who is majoring in Game Programming, has been named to the Champlain College (Burlington, Vt.) Dean's List for the Spring 2020 semester. Students on the Dean's List have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during the semester.

National honor

Emily Drainville of Rumford and a softball player with a 3.82 grade point average was one of 10 student-athletes from the Community College of Rhode Island who qualified as National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Academic All-Americans for the 2019-20 term. The NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards honor individuals for their achievements in the classroom. The awards are based on grade point average; students with a 4.0 GPA qualify NJCAA First Team Academic All-Americans, followed by the Second Team recipients with a GPA between 3.80–3.99, and Third Team with a GPA between 3.60–3.79.

Please support your local news coverage

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the local economy - and many of the advertisers who support our work - to a near standstill. During this unprecedented challenge, we continue to make our coronavirus coverage free to everyone at eastbayri.com - we believe it is our mission is to deliver vital information to our communities. If you believe local news is essential, especially during this crisis, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

Donate Here

Thank you for your support!

Matt Hayes, EP Post Publisher