KINGSTON, R.I. – August 19, 2013 – Three students who graduated from Providence high schools this year have been awarded $1,000 scholarships to enroll at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Engineering in September. The awards are presented through the Engineering Providence High Schools’ Minority Student Engineering and Women Scholarship program.

The recipients of the scholarship are Alexis Villami from Mt. Pleasant High School, Olayemi Williams from E-Cubed Academy, and Kevin Valerro from Central High School.

“We’re extremely pleased to be able to offer these scholarships to such promising students this year,” said Charles Watson, coordinator of the College of Engineering’s Office of Minority Student Recruitment and Retention, who administers the scholarship program. “Past recipients of the scholarship have had great success at URI and have moved on to excellent careers in industry.”

To qualify for the scholarship, students must be accepted to URI’s College of Engineering and graduate in good academic standing from one of the eight Providence high schools. Recipients must agree to participate in the College of Engineering’s Ambassador Program, join the URI chapter of a professional minority engineering society, and attend a professional development workshop or conference every semester.

Since the program’s inception in 2008, 27 scholarships have been awarded.

Providence students seeking to apply for the scholarship next year are encouraged to contact Charles Watson at 401-874-4976 or Watson@egr.uri.edu.