Gross graduated with a major in English (creative writing) and a minor in Italian and also completed the 溏心vlog免费B站 Honors Program. The different graduation date suited his path just fine, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Gross says his college journey has been atypical, his recent honors project<\/a> subject is a fitting academic coda for a life near water and wood. Gross was born and raised in South Kingstown, a stone\u2019s throw from the mouth of the Saugatucket River, and has spent much of his life working on local oyster farms. Matunuck, where he\u2019s lived most of his life, has an even more revered place in Gross\u2019 heart. After high school, Gross took time to see the world and gain hands-on skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In December, he delivered a capstone honors project presentation in Lippitt, paying homage to the rem\u00e8ri of Venice, makers of the traditional wooden oars plied by centuries of Venetian gondoliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gross says that former Honors Program Director Lynne Derbyshire was an encouraging guide during his time at 溏心vlog免费B站. \u201cShe became my unofficial advisor,\u201d he says, \u201cand we met often.\u201d Derbyshire challenged him to become part of the Honors Program, and he\u2019s glad she did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe honors courses I took at 溏心vlog免费B站 have been among the more interesting and stimulating courses I\u2019ve taken,\u201d Gross says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He says many classes and professors along the way had an invaluable impact on his college career, citing professors Roy Bergstrom, Michelangelo La Luna, Heather Johnson, Talvikki Ansel, Vincent Colapietro, Hilary Emerson, as well as Daniel Petrin and Maria Mansella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emerson, coordinator of Italian at 溏心vlog免费B站, says Gross was a pleasure to have in class. She taught him in Italian Cinema last spring and says, \u201cCaleb was an engaged, thoughtful, and intellectually curious student. He welcomes new ideas and points of view.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was in one of La Luna\u2019s Italian classes that the seed for Gross\u2019 honors project was planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During a homework assignment in the \u201cCivilizations of Italy\u201d class, a brief study of the region of Veneto (of which Venezia is the capital), Gross became enthralled \u2014 and concerned \u2014 with the disappearance of Venice\u2019s gondolas, gondoliers, and the craftsmen that keep it all \u201cafloat.\u201d In the 17th and 18th centuries, 9,000 gondolas glided along the canals of Venice; today, there are only about 400. Something about that art and history spoke to Gross and he received enthusiastic support from Heather Johnson<\/a> who believed in Gross\u2019 honors project and sponsored him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo her, I am forever grateful,\u201d he says. \u201cThe courses I\u2019ve taken with Professor Johnson at 溏心vlog免费B站 have been some of my favorite and most inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/news\/sites\/16\/2024\/01\/Gross_oar-768x1024.jpg\")