Rhode Island College Digital Commons @ RIC What's News? Newspapers 6-12-2004 What's News At Rhode Island College Rhode Island College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/whats_news Recommended Citation Rhode Island College, "What's News At Rhode Island College" (2004). What's News?. 50. https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/whats_news/50 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Newspapers at Digital Commons @ RIC. It has been accepted for inclusion in What's News? by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ RIC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vol. 24 Issue 11 1854-2004 Commencement Issue 2004 Highlights Sesquicentennial commencements celebrate In the News Graduate and undergradu- the enduring value of knowledge ate commencements held May 13 and 15 On May 13 and 15, Rhode Island College awarded a total of 1,449 Original HBS entablature diplomas to graduate and under- unveiled graduate students who will now con- tribute to the community at large as Harlem Renaissance con- educators, entertainers, social work- ference attracts presenters ers, scientists, artists, and business from over 30 institutions of professionals. RIC's graduation tra- dition began 150 years ago. higher learning Dean's List announced Features Biology professor helps grow tree awareness on campus RIC becomes “home” to Cliff Rebelo ’04 SYMBOL OF RETURNING: Above, College President John Nazarian releases the first dove that will return to its nest, symbolizing that gradu- ating seniors will always be welcomed back to their alma mater. At left, a Foundation/Alumni grad rejoices after receiving her diploma. News In April, she was honored Patrick Kennedy and Providence RIC on the Road: Deep in by President Bush as the Mayor David Cicilline. National Teacher of the Carcieri told the graduates that the heart of Texas Year, a first for a Rhode they need only look at some of the Class of 2004 makes Island educator. Mellor, an distinguished alumni in attendance, English-as-a-second-lan- including his wife Suzanne, Nazarian, $150,000 pledge guage teacher in North Kingstown, and Langevin, to “see successful Baccalaureate ceremony will travel around the country as an lives following a RIC degree.” unites newest alumni advocate for her profession. (See Paraphrasing the words of educa- Sports “Faces of RIC” profile on page 9.) tion pioneer Horace Mann, Carcieri with past graduates The College conferred honorary urged the graduates to “always Athletic hall of fame 2004 degrees on composer and orchestral have the determination to make the performer Peter Boyer ’91, Hasbro right things happen.” The governor announced special year – the College’s Sesquicentennial (150th) chairman of the board and philan- advised students to “set your sights A anniversary – closed May thropist Alan Hassenfeld, and U.S. on doing what excites you the most 15 with an especially warm and Rep. James Langevin ’90. and gets your juices flowing.” Arts/Entertainment sunny undergraduate commence- Among the guests who sat on the Judge Frank Caprio, chairman of ment on the campus esplanade. platform were U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Continued on page 10 Sneak preview of the Over 1,100 students went from Gov. Donald Carcieri, U.S. Rep. Performing Arts Series candidate to graduate in a bacca- 2004-05 season laureate degree conferral heralded by Sesquicentennial Fanfare, a six- trumpet concerto composed by RIC assistant professor of music Joseph Index D. Foley. Keeping with the anniver- sary theme, the event brought out representatives from each graduat- ing class since 1934, and featured Then and Now… 2 members of the golden anniversary Class of 1954 – including College Foundation/Alumni News 4 President John Nazarian. (Not Just) Academically Two Presidential Medals, rarely given at RIC, were awarded at a grad- Speaking 5 uation ceremony for the first time. Natalie Cullen Howe ’24 was hon- Faces of RIC 9 ored as the oldest living alumna of Arts/Entertainment 14-15 the College. She will turn 100 years old in August. Howe had been a kin- Marriages Made at RIC 15 dergarten teacher in the Providence school system. Dean's List 16-17 Howe, who strode to the podium with the help of a walker, wore a Sports 18 chain that held her 1924 class ring. “I thank you all,” she said. “Rhode Around the Campus 20 Island College, I’ve known you for a long time.” The thousands in the Photos in this issue of What's News audience responded with a sus- by Gordon E. Rowley, Suzanne tained standing ovation. Russell, Charlie Allsworth and Kathleen Mellor ’70, MEd ’77 also received a Presidential Medal. GOLDEN PROCESSIONAL: The Class of 1954 takes part in the Sesquicentennial Nancy Hoogasian commencement exercises held May 15 on the campus esplanade. Page 2– Whatʼs News, Monday, June 7, 2004 Then and Now… In keeping with the Sesquicentennial celebration, we will feature a series of paired photos showing the College “Then” and “Now.” Then Now CONGRATULATORY KISSES: In 1975, John Nazarian, then special assistant to RIC President Charles Willard, thanks and kisses Lenore DeLucia as she stepped down from the position of acting vice president for academic affairs. History repeated itself this year on May 14, when College President Nazarian again kisses DeLucia and thanks her for 42 years of service to the College. For more on DeLucia’s retirement see page 6. RIC biology professor cultivates campus tree awareness program t stands to reason that the value of our campus trees,” said including a noble Istate’s senior public institution Melaragno. fir, located near of higher education would have The grant is actually the sec- t h e F r u i t H i l l many grand old trees speckling its ond phase of the program, which Avenue entrance foliage-rich landscape. And indeed began last fall, when a 2004 cam- to th e ca m pu s , it does. The northern red oak, pur- pus tree desk calendar was pub- b e s i d e t h e o l d ple European beech, Norway spruce, lished. Melaragno worked with the a l u m n i h o u s e . and London planetree are some of College’s Publishing Services Dept. This tree, at 107 the living towers that stand over 60 to produce the calendar, which was feet high, is the feet high, offering rustic appeal and funded by the RIC Foundation. Over t a l l e s t o n e o n welcoming shade to the 180-acre 2,500 calendars were printed; it can campus (see photo campus. also be viewed online at www.ric. a t l o w e r l e f t ) . The diverse and colorful collection edu/ric150. T h e w h i t e o a k of trees impressed Jerry Melaragno, In December and January, inven- located at the Mt. professor of biology. Now he has tory was taken of RIC’s 280 conifer Pleasant Avenue created a comprehensive program trees, including 21 different species. entrance is the that highlights the importance of Currently, deciduous (leaf-shed- symbol of RIC’s RIC’s resident trees, and offers the ding) trees are being catalogued. Sesquicentennial College community a chance to The listing and labeling of trees (150th) anniver- explore firsthand these overlooked – about 800 total – will encompass sary, being cele- treasures. all developed areas of the College, brated this year. In April, he received word that including the East Campus. M e l a r a g n o RIC would be granted $6,300 from The database and labeling of trees believes his effort the America the Beautiful Tree will greatly facilitate their future t o r a i s e t r e e Rhode Island program, which is care and maintenance, according awareness will SHADY SITUATION: A 21-foot-tall flowering crabapple pro- administered by the state Dept. to Melaragno. “The inventory will have a lasting ben- vides shade for the benches below. The tree produces masses of Environmental Management’s allow us to make better decisions efit. “Successful of flowers that almost fully cover its branches, and its abun- Division of Forest Environment. The about new plantings and maintain c o m p l e t i o n o f dant fruit provides winter food for many types of birds. grant will fund tree inventory and the existing plantings,” he noted. this project will labeling as well as the development Publication of the brochure is ensure that the of a campus tree tour and accompa- planned for 2004. It will include R h o d e I s l a n d nying brochure. a map and tree guide suitable for College campus will be an impor- said Melaragno. “We proudly cel- The endeavor is part of a proj- self-guided tours. Group tours are tant destination for our citizens, ebrate them as valued companions ect to “recognize and promote the planned for the future. highlighting our trees for the vari- in the natural world.” The College’s tree program ous ways they enhance our world,” was also given a boost by the Rhode Island Tree Council, a nonprofit citizens’ group that offers a six-week tree stew- ard class. For the first time, the training, which began in May, is at RIC. Topics include tree biology and how to iden- tify, plant and care for trees. In conjunction with the class, two cherry trees will be planted on campus. The variety and significance of trees will extend into the RIC classroom this fall when Melaragno’s new course “The World’s Forests” is offered.