More than 400 individuals from the University of Rhode Island community gathered Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Rhode Island Convention Center for a gala celebration of the University’s first . The four recipients, all graduates of the University, were: Bernard J. Beaudreau, former executive director of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank who is moving to Chicago to join the Global FoodBanking Network; Barbara A. Cardillo, co-founder and retired vice president of a wireless technology company; Tom Ryan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of CVS; and Cynthia Sculco, a nursing professor and a major supporter of nursing at URI and nationwide.
“The University established the awards to honor those individuals who personify the University’s tradition of excellence. In recognizing their professional achievement, leadership contributions or community service, these awards bring distinction to each recipient and to the University,” URI President Robert L. Carothers said.
In addition to the four Distinguished Award recipients, 26 alumni and friends were honored with a Dean’s List Award from the University’s nine colleges.
The URI were established to provide broad recognition to alumni and friends of the University. For many years, several of the University’s colleges have held their own awards programs to honor their alumni and supporters. But University officials and college deans developed a unified gala so that the University as a whole, its alumni and its friends, could celebrate the winners’ accomplishments at one time and one venue.
Robert M. Beagle, vice president of University of Advancement, said: “ Our alumni and friends told us throughout the night how proud they were to be part of such a special event and to be a part of the University. Because it was such a success in raising the profile of our alumni and our state University, people are already looking forward to next year’s program,” Beagle said.
TEAMING UP FOR URI: Ann and Mark M. Higgins, left, dean of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Business Administration, join Cindy and Jim Baron, URI basketball coach, for the first URI . They were among the 400 people who celebrated the accomplishments of URI alumni and friends. URI News Bureau photo by Nora Lewis.
PROUD MOMENT: David J. Buckanavage, left, a 1980 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and founder, president and CEO of Sovereign Pacific Equity, Aliso Viejo, Calif., joins his high school football coach Phil Ottochian, during the University’s Distinguished Awards Gala. Buckanavage was a recipient of the Dean’s List Award for his professional achievements. URI News Bureau photo by Nora Lewis.
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: Bernard J. Beaudreau, a 1977 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, offers remarks after being honored as one of the first four recipients of the URI . The former executive director of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank is moving to Chicago to join the Global FoodBanking Network. URI News Bureau photo by Nora Lewis.
A NIGHT OF DISTINCTION: M. Beverly Swan, left, provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Rhode Island, and Cynthia Sculco, a 1965 graduate of URI, enjoy a reception before Sculco was honored as one of the first Distinguished Achievement Award winners during a gala at the Rhode Island Convention Center Oct. 14. Sculco is an adjunct associate professor of nursing at New York University and trustee of the URI Foundation. URI News Bureau photos by Giblin & company photography
OCEANOGRAPHER IN SPOTLIGHT: URI oceanography 1972 alumnus John Farrington, right, former vice president for academic programs and dean at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, offers remarks after being presented a Dean’s List Award during URI’s first Distinguished Achievement Award ceremonies. Looking on at left is David Farmer, dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography. URI News Bureau photos by Giblin & company photography.
A RECEPTION CHAT: Bernard J. Beaudreau, left, a 1977 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and former executive director of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, chats with Jeffrey R. Seemann, dean of URI’s College of the Environment and Life Sciences. Beaudreau, who is moving to Chicago to join the Global Foodbanking Network, was among the first four individuals to receive the URI . URI News Bureau photos by Giblin & company photography