Ranika Spiver ‘01

Ranika Spiver ’01 (Classical High School) graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2005 with a B.A. in Communications. “I chose to study communications because I knew it would lead to various types of career opportunities in many different fields,” she says. And it has! Ranika joined the staff of The College Crusade in 2008 as an Advisor at Woonsocket Middle School and at Gilbert Middle School in Providence. For the last two years, she has served as our Middle School Field Coordinator.

“The best part of my job is actually the entire middle school team,” she says. “We are a strong team of people who like to help one another out in every way possible. I love meeting all of our Crusaders. It’s a wonderful feeling when we provide them with great programs. For me, working at the Crusade is a way of giving back to something that pointed me in the right direction.”

Ranika enjoyed her experience as a Crusader. “I was part of the first graduating class,” she says. “I still remember my mentor. The memories I have of her and the programs we had are all very positive. I was able to go on trips with friends just like me. I remember going to places that I probably wouldn’t have visited had it not been for the Crusade.” She is also grateful for the Crusade scholarship that helped her pay for college.

Ranika advises students who are just starting out in college to develop strong friendships. “Build a strong support system,” she says. “Surround yourself with people who really want you to succeed, and stay positive even when it seems like it’s getting really hard. The best thing about my college experience was definitely the friends that I made. We were all lucky enough not only to get into college but to be able to help each other out in succeeding both in school and after graduation. A great network of friends helps out tremendously!”

In her free time, Ranika loves to spend time with her family. “They mean the world to me,” she says. “We all get together for food and a few laughs whenever we can.”

Armani Raii Harris ‘06

Armani Raii Harris ‘06 (Classical High School) graduated from Johnson & Wales University in 2010 with a B.S. in Management. “Management is a career I fell into because I realized in high school that it was something I was good at and enjoyed,” Raii says. He is now pursuing an MBA in Global Business and Organizational Leadership, also at JWU. “What I liked most about college was meeting new people and networking with others from other parts of the world,” he says. “I also appreciated the hands-on experience that JWU provided me and continues to offer me as a graduate student.”

Raii is currently employed as a Store Manager for ALDI Foods in Medford Mass. “I control all the functions at the store level, from the monthly budget to scheduling and training,” he says. “Being the person people rely on is the best part of the job. I like to motivate my employees to exceed expectations.”

Thinking back to his early days in the Crusade, Raii remembers he wasn’t always so relaxed in social situations. “As a child I was very shy,” he says. “But as a Crusader I met others my age, and it allowed me to open up and become more comfortable in my own skin. A lot of Crusade advisors and leaders played an important role in motivating me. I remember Laurel, Lauren, Maria, Marissa, Reuben, and many others. Laurel Shepard specifically was one of the people I recall from the very beginning. I saw her almost everywhere I turned! When I was in third grade she was very active in my elementary school.”

Eventually, Raii got to know Laurel even better. During his senior year at JWU, he took on an internship role with The College Crusade, working with Laurel and with Karen in the Crusade communications department on special projects. One of those projects involved helping to organize the Crusade’s first alumni association. Raii has also volunteered in The College Crusade’s ReadAbout and Saturday Cru Club programs. “Today I still feel a part of The College Crusade,” he says. “I believe all Crusaders are unique and hold a specific light that can never be taken away from us.”

Raii’s advice for current and future Crusaders echoes this same idea: “I would like to let them know that they set the goals for themselves. And any goal they set for themselves can be a motivation to know the goal is reachable. Never feel like you are alone. There are always resources and people to assist you. The Crusade has never let me down.”

In his free time, Raii likes to dance and write, as well as shop. But, he adds, “The future of kids today is a huge focus of mine. Making a difference in the lives of others is what makes a difference in mine.”