The A. Robert Rainville Student Leadership Awards held their 36th annual ceremony on Tuesday, April 10, in the Rainville Ballroom of the Memorial Union to commemorate students in leadership, honoring recipients in four categories.
The awards focused on honoring outstanding campus employees, mission-driven teams, individuals demonstrating service to social causes and inspirational students that empower others at the University of Rhode Island. All finalists showcased outstanding community engagement.
Named in honor of former Vice President for Student Affairs A. Robert Rainville, the ceremony was held with an invite-only attendance. Many of Rainville’s family members were in attendance who were recognized at the beginning of the ceremony.
Maureen McDermott, the assistant director of Student Involvement, began by honoring Rainville’s memory, stating that the program was conceived initially to recognize him and his achievements. The finalists for the leadership award categories were then told to stand to be recognized.
The finalists of each category took turns introducing each other with an abundance of honorable statements made about each. Sky Laurent-Kingsley was the first recipient to be announced, as Gavin Moffat from the Employee Excellence Selection Committee awarded Laurent-Kingsley with the Employee Excellence Award.
“When you walk into the building, Sky’s bubbly personality immediately uplifts everyone around her as she makes an effort to connect with every and each person before the start of the day,” Moffat said.
Laurent-Kingsley has served in a variety of roles, such as recruitment coordinator, Welcome Day projects coordinator, orientation leader and guest services coordinator, all of which have helped her develop skills in communication, problem-solving and inclusion. Additionally, she implemented Leadership, Inclusion, Flexibility and Team activities to help others recognize their strengths and the importance of flexibility.
During her acceptance speech, she stressed the importance of listening to herself and others, and said that it was the most important lesson she’s learned.
“I encourage every other student leader, every other employee, every other person here to continue following your story, your truth,” Laurent-Kingsley said.
The next category announced was the Team Excellence Award, which was awarded to Brothers On a New Direction. Chunn Anderson and Denisse Portuhondo of the Team Excellence Selection Committee took the stage to introduce the award and its recipient.
Brothers On a New Direction was established in 2007 as a brotherhood that recognizes the need for unity amongst diverse young men on campus. They have worked to fill the void that was missing for men of color.
Third-year Carlos Estrada Rosa spoke for the group in giving thanks.
“We came in as the underdogs and we came out as the top dogs, and my word is BOND,” Estrada Rosa said.
BOND has provided service to the URI community and beyond, providing mentorship to the Princes 2 Kings initiative coming out of the Boys and Girls clubs of Providence, and to YouthBuild Providence. Here they promote self-discovery, community building, postsecondary education and career opportunities, Anderson said.
Mary Godek and Jack Egan of the Servant Leadership Committee then approached the podium to announce the recipient of the Servant Leadership Award: Samantha Salerno.
“What Sam means to all of us: she’s always advocated for what she believes in and stands up for the people around her,” Egan said. “Sam encompasses what it really means to be a Servant Leader.”
This award was given to honor individuals who give service to social causes. Salerno has donated more than $700,000 to local charities such as the Jonnycake Center, Habitat for Humanity, Rhody Outpost and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Her service has been channeled through her work with URI Greek Life, Alternative Spring Break, Rotaract and the Leadership Institute. She thanked anybody who has made a difference in her time at URI.
The final award for Student Leadership was then announced by Delanie Landivar and Juan Loayza-Miranda of the Student Leadership Committee, revealing Jayda Ives-Williams as the recipient.
Jayda was a facilitator with Diversity Dialogues and with the URI Service Corps to continue activism that she had started in high school. She wants to make space for students of the future to share their voice and capture the opportunities that she has as well.
“I believe that taking risk in having faith in someone or promoting a cause faced by marginalized communities results in a greater future,” read a quote from Ives-Williams on the A. Robert Rainville Awards program.
To close out the evening, McDermott thanked everybody in the team who helped pull the program together.
“These student leaders help initiate and provide a wide array of programs and services to the campus, all the while maintaining a strong academic standing, as we heard tonight,” she said. “We are fortunate to have these future leaders on our campus.”
The full list of nominees can be found at web.uri.edu/rainville/2024-nominees/ .