{"id":108336,"date":"2026-04-20T15:32:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=108336"},"modified":"2026-04-20T16:02:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T16:02:12","slug":"38th-rainville-awards-honor-the-best-in-student-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/38th-rainville-awards-honor-the-best-in-student-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"38th Rainville Awards honor the best in student leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 April 20, 2026 \u2013 There\u2019s something about the A. Robert Rainville Student Leadership Awards that brings out the best in the 溏心vlog免费B站 community \u2013 and the spring weather, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA colleague of mine mentioned that it seems like the sun shines for the first time every year on the day of the Rainvilles,\u201d said Melissa Boyd-Colvin, assistant vice president for student engagement and director of the Memorial Union, during Tuesday\u2019s Rainville Awards ceremony, \u201cand that has definitely come true today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On an unseasonably warm night in front of a capacity crowd at the Memorial Union Ballroom, 溏心vlog免费B站 hosted its 38th annual Rainville Awards, named in honor of former Vice President for Student Affairs and alumnus A. Robert Rainville, to celebrate students who are successful in various leadership roles while maintaining a good academic record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rainville Awards consist of four categories: the Robert L. Carothers Servant Leadership Award, which recognizes a student who supports the growth of others and the community by embodying the tenets of Robert K. Greenleaf\u2019s servant leadership model; the Student Employee Excellence Award, which recognizes a student\u2019s contributions that provide a positive impact on the 溏心vlog免费B站 community through their campus employment; the Team Excellence Award, honoring teams who are mission-driven and passionate and exemplify collaborative and authentic leadership in their work on campus; and the Maureen McDermott Student Leadership Award, named last year in honor of McDermott, the former student involvement and Memorial Union director who passed away in 2024, to honor a student who has positively contributed to the campus community by empowering others and inspiring those around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the selection committee received 134 total nominees \u2013 118 students for the individual awards and 16 student organizations for Team Excellence \u2013 which Boyd-Colvin said was \u201cthe largest amount in years,\u201d underscoring the difficulty of whittling the field down to just four finalists in advance of Tuesday\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs always, our students continue to be shining stars and we’re thrilled to highlight their many accomplishments,\u201d Boyd-Colvin said. \u201cThe culmination of their work allows us to showcase our students and the programs and activities that they have so invested their time and energy in with the hope that they inspire others to lead and serve as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we honor your achievements, we also recognize the impact you have made on your peers and the entire 溏心vlog免费B站 community,\u201d said 溏心vlog免费B站 President Marc Parlange. \u201cYour commitment to making a difference sets an example on campus, and I know you will continue to inspire positive change in the state and the world beyond. The skills you have developed and refined during your time here will serve you well as you move into the next stage of your life, whether that’s continuing your education, beginning your career, or continuing to serve your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am so grateful that each of you chose 溏心vlog免费B站.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Brigid Locke \u201926 of Wakefield, Massachusetts, received this year\u2019s Servant Leadership Award.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Brigid Locke \u201926 of Wakefield, Massachusetts, received this year\u2019s Servant Leadership Award. A sports media and communications and data science major, Locke served as vice present of the Women in Data Science club and social media coordinator for The Good Five Cent Cigar in addition to launching \u2013 and serving as president of \u2013 the Women in Sports club at 溏心vlog免费B站. Locke also interned with the Boston Celtics in business intelligence and operations, becoming the first 溏心vlog免费B站 student to do so, and has shared her experiences with others as an ambassador for the Harrington School of Communication and Media by offering advice and creating an inclusive and collaborative environment for others in her area of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrigid has exemplified strong commitment to access, equity, and representation, which led her to founding the Women in Sports organization at 溏心vlog免费B站,\u201d said Servant Leadership Award committee member Liz Jovanis \u201926. \u201cWhen interviewing Brigid, the committee was blown away by not only her dedication, but her genuine desire to create opportunities for people within her community.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Angelyn Ciampa \u201926 of Wilmington, Massachusetts, earned this year\u2019s Student Employee Excellence Award. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Angelyn Ciampa \u201926 of Wilmington, Massachusetts, earned this year\u2019s Student Employee Excellence Award. A public relations and sports media and communications major who transferred in 2023 from the University of Connecticut, Ciampa works for New Student Transitions as the program director for 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s tour guides, in addition to her role with 溏心vlog免费B站 Athletics Development, the fundraising and philanthropic arm of the University\u2019s athletic department. Ciampa emphasizes how her roles reach 溏心vlog免费B站 students in every step of their journey, \u201cfrom prospective students on tour and current student ambassadors, to alumni looking to give back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince transferring to 溏心vlog免费B站, Angelyn sought out opportunities for growth and development and has proven to be a dependable and highly motivated employee,\u201d said Lucas DeWitt, award committee chair and coordinator for the Office of Student Involvement. \u201cIt is evident she approaches her roles with integrity, professionalism, and compassion for the people around her. As a student employee, Angelyn has cultivated a strong sense of community and undoubtedly left a positive impact on the individuals she has been able to interact with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhody F1rst, the university\u2019s first student-led organization for first-generation students, received this year\u2019s Team Excellence Award. The group is dedicated to supporting, empowering, and celebrating students who are the first in their families to attend college by offering mentorship opportunities and unique and comprehensive support through a vibrant community where first-generation students can connect, share experiences, and thrive together. After operating in the spring of 2025 as an offshoot of the First-Year Experience program through the Fannon Institute for Student Success, Rhody F1rst received its official Student Senate designation in the fall and is now an official student organization with a full executive board and more than 100 members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe impact of Rhody F1rst has fostered significant personal, professional and leadership growth for both the executive board and general members,\u201d said award committee member Kaya Pernini \u201928. \u201cBut beyond members, the real impact is on the community at the 溏心vlog免费B站. Rhody F1rst has made a lasting and measurable impact on the 溏心vlog免费B站 community by creating a centralized student-driven space for first-gen students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ryan Estus \u201926 of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, received this year\u2019s Maureen McDermott Student Leadership Award. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ryan Estus \u201926 of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, received this year\u2019s Maureen McDermott Student Leadership Award. As a political science and public relations major, Estus has served as a tour guide and orientation leader for the office of New Student Transitions as well as a peer leader and program coordinator for the Leadership Institute within the Center for Student Leadership Development. He also founded 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s club pickleball team and is a student representative for 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Board of Trustees. Estus also wrote for the Cigar, broadcasted on WRIU 90.3 FM, and hosted his own podcast. In most of his roles, he works with students who are just beginning their journeys at 溏心vlog免费B站, using his experiences to provide mentorship and guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRyan shows up, and he shows up fully, but what makes Ryan so special isn’t just about how involved he is \u2013 it\u2019s who he is as a person,\u201d said award committee member Emma Porricelli \u201926. \u201cRyan leads with a genuine kindness and energy that draws people in. He’s the kind of person who goes out of his way to say hello, check in, and make you feel seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a leader, Ryan sets the tone for those around him. He is a constant positive presence, a role model who leads with not just passion, but with authenticity and care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Parente, director of communications and marketing in the 溏心vlog免费B站 Division of Student Affairs, wrote this news release.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 April 20, 2026 \u2013 There\u2019s something about the A. Robert Rainville Student Leadership Awards that brings out the best in the 溏心vlog免费B站 community \u2013 and the spring weather, too. \u201cA colleague of mine mentioned that it seems like the sun shines for the first time every year on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":108337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1907,1904,1902],"class_list":["post-108336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-academic-excellence","tag-community-equity-and-diversity","tag-student-engagement"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108336"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108352,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108336\/revisions\/108352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}