Local students graduated from the University of Rhode Island's 127th commencement on May 18 and 19.
Colchester: Beth Ann Langdon, Master of Business Administration; Louise M. Wickham, Bachelor of Science, nursing major, cum laude; Matthew V. Young, Bachelor of Science, marketing major; Shelby A. Rinehart, Bachelor of Science, biological sciences major, summa cum laude. Dayville: Matthew J. Domenico, Master of Science in labor relations and human resources. East Lyme: Jonathon M. Parker, Doctor of Philosophy in pharmaceutical sciences; Jose Miguel Soto, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Wendy H. Petersen, Master of Science in computer science; Robin F. Keller, Bachelor of Arts, secondary education and French major, summa cum laude; Steven E. Gray, Bachelor of Science, aquaculture and fishery technology major. Gales Ferry: Alyssa M. Susi, Bachelor of Science, textiles fashion merchandising and design major, general business minor; Amanda L. Steele, Bachelor of Science, textiles fashion merchandising and design major, magna cum laude; Scott Christian Jensen, Master of Science in ocean engineering; Sydney Mckelvey, Bachelor of Science, ocean engineering major, mathematics minor, cum laude. Groton: Alex J. Bolanos, Master of Science in civil and environmental engineering; Amy R. Orce, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Ashley N. Vitale, Bachelor of Science, nursing major; Cheyenne Bolanos Master of Business Administration in business administration; Dinesh Puppala Master of Business Administration in business administration; Hui K. Kim, Master of Science in chemistry; Ileana Ionita, Doctor of Philosophy in pharmaceutical sciences; Jennifer M. Paquette, Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacy; Joel T. Arcari, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Lacey Samp, Master of Science in chemistry; Mai L. Dulaney, Bachelor of Arts, political science major; Phillip O. De Labry, Bachelor of Science, entrepreneurial management major; David Richard Derksen, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Samuel J. Royce, Bachelor of Science, mathematics major. Ledyard: Kaitlyn A. Luke, Bachelor of Science, nursing major; Laura A. Norman, Bachelor of Science, textiles fashion merchandising and design major, cum laude. Mystic: Grace M. Vandal, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Joel R. Hardink, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Mark Andrew Hardink, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Stephanie Leah Dolph, Master of Science, medical laboratory science major. New London: Karen Jean Bartsch, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Olsa Kutrolli, Bachelor of Arts, psychology major. Niantic: Kimberly A. Blonar, Bachelor of Science, animal science and technology major. North Grosvenordale: Andrea E. Prestes, Bachelor of Science, textiles fashion merchandising and design major, communication studies minor, cum laude. Norwich: Annette Mehr, Bachelor of Fine Arts, art major, magna cum laude; Audrey C. O'Neil, Bachelor of Arts, journalism major; Molly A. Brown, BOM, music major, summa cum laude; Kali M. Varney, Bachelor of Science, communicative disorders major; Carol Menard, Master of Business Administration in business administration. Oakdale: Jennifer Elise Fedoryshyn, Bachelor of Science, medical laboratory science major. Old Lyme: Christopher Robert Watt, Master of Business Administration in business administration; Jennifer Lauren McDowell, Bachelor of Arts, journalism major, magna cum laude; Owen C. Costello, Bachelor of Arts, communication studies major; Shelby E. Chadwick, Bachelor of Arts, art history major, magna cum laude. Pawcatuck: Benjamin S. Erfe, Bachelor of Arts, history major; Eric R. Whittington, Bachelor of Science, entrepreneurial management major; Hilary A. Fox, Bachelor of Science, animal science and technology major; Mary A. Thompson, Bachelor of Science, nursing major; Tracey G. Decastro, Master of Science in nursing. Plainfield: Brittany L. Kennerson, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, English and film media major, cum laude; Kristin M. Fratoni, Bachelor of Science, entrepreneurial management major, writing major. Preston: Lauren R. Lepage, Bachelor of Arts, communication studies, public relations minor. Putnam: Ashley M. Dodd, Bachelor of Science, marine affairs major; English and history minor. Stonington: Christina B. Galetta, Bachelor of Arts, psychology major, justice law and society minor, cum laude; Jonathan WB Grant, Master of Science in computer science; Stefan C. Grufstedt, Bachelor of Science, geology and geological oceanography major, general business minor. Voluntown: Brianna P. Gladue, Bachelor of Arts, psychology major, and Bachelor of Science, kinesiology major; Robin L. Freeland, Bachelor of Science, ocean engineering major, robotic ocean engineering minor. Waterford: Aaron R. Attwater, Bachelor of Science, aquaculture and fishery technology major, biology minor, cum laude; Christine Carol Orozco Master of Business Administration in business administration; Christine R. Patsiga, Bachelor of Science, nursing major; Spiro Curis, Bachelor of Arts, biology major; Zafeiria Vitsas, Bachelor of Science, general business administration major; Taylor M. Baude, Bachelor of Science, accounting major.
To earn degree distinctions, students had to earn the following cumulative grade point averages: summa cum laude, at least 3.7; magna cum laude, at least 3.5; and cum laude, at least 3.3. For more information, visit uri.edu.