EAST PROVIDENCE — Linda Jane Maaia, retired CEO of Full Channel, Inc., in Warren and a former East Providence school teacher and graduate of East Providence High School class of 1963, presented scholarship awards to two graduates of the EPHS class of 2020 who are aspiring to be educators.

On June 25 at Café Nuovo in Providence, Maaia presented EPHS graduates Carol Araujo and classmate Maria Lopez with scholarship certificates and financial awards to mitigate their college expenses in the fall. Both young women are interested in special education and as seniors have worked with autistic children and adults.

Araujo has been accepted to the University of Rhode Island School of Education.

Lopez will attend Community College of Rhode Island with plans to continue her studies for a bachelor’s degree in education.

The two women were among eight members of the EPHS class of 2020 who were recognized for their academic achievements and proclamation to seek careers in education.

Maaia received her teaching degree from Rhode Island College, her master’s in accounting from the University of Rhode Island and a certificate of advanced graduate study in taxation from Bryant University. She taught in the East Providence gifted program for 23 years eventually becoming the program’s facilitator.

Subsequently, Maaia taught at the college level at Bristol Community College and Suffolk University. In 2004, she became chief executive officer of a cable and internet company serving 21,000 households in Barrington, Warren and Bristol.
She pioneered in an industry led by few women.

Maaia recognized the need for more dedicated young men and women in educational careers: “I want to encourage more graduates to seek careers in teaching which is why I established these aspiring educators scholarships.”

Both Araujo and Lopez are fine examples of the type of young people needed in education today, particularly in special education.

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