Local Students Honor Senator Jack Reed for Championing RI College-Readiness Programming

Providence, R.I., November 18, 2009 – On November 14, over a hundred students from The College Crusade of Rhode Island welcomed Senator Jack Reed to their Saturday classrooms and presented him with the Dr. Americo W. Petrocelli Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes Senator Reed for “his extraordinary contribution to increasing college access for all Rhode Island students.” The presentation took place at Johnson & Wales University Harborside Campus in Providence.

From left, award presenters were as follows: (front row) Jimmy Narvaez of Cranston, Keren DeLaCruz of Providence, Thomas Morrison of Providence, College Crusade instructor Chanravy Proeung of Cranston, and Julyia Velazquez of Pawtucket; (back row) Rebeca Cruz of Providence, Valerie Tangui of Providence, Rick Petrocelli of East Greenwich, Senator Jack Reed, and College Crusade board member Paul E. Moran of Lincoln.

The award presented to Senator Reed is named for Dr. Americo W. Petrocelli, who founded The College Crusade of Rhode Island 20 years ago during his tenure as RI commissioner of higher education. Dr. Petrocelli is a resident of Westerly.

The event also celebrated the 10-year anniversary of The College Crusade’s participation in GEAR UP, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of students prepared to succeed in college. Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees federal spending on education programs, played a critical role in shaping the national GEAR UP program.

About The College Crusade of Rhode Island
The College Crusade of Rhode Island is the state’s most comprehensive college-readiness and scholarship program for middle school and high school students in low-income urban school districts. It serves approximately 3,700 students per year and rewards the efforts and achievements of financially eligible students with up to four years of college scholarships. From grade 6 through grade 12, Crusaders experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in activities that focus on academic enrichment, social and personal development, career awareness and exploration, and readiness for college. Students who are members of The College Crusade graduate and go right on to college at much higher rates than their peers in the state’s urban school districts. Since 2001, The College Crusade has awarded over $20 million in college scholarships to more than 2,700 graduates from Rhode Island high schools. For more information, please visit www.thecollegecrusade.org.

The College Crusade is a nonprofit organization funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP program, by the State of Rhode Island, and by private corporations, foundations, and individuals.
 
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Karen Donovan
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