URI College of Education’s medallion ceremony honors students entering teaching, education-related professions
KINGSTON, R.I. — April 22, 2025 — “Every year, URI graduates the most new teachers in Rhode Island,” University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange told an audience of about 300 people as he welcomed the Feinstein College of Education’s graduating seniors preparing to become educators at the second annual Medallion Induction Ceremony on April 21 in Edwards Auditorium.
Jessica Chapman, recipient of the 2024 Milken Educator Award and a social studies teacher at Norwich Free Academy in Connecticut, was the keynote speaker for the event that celebrated 120 elementary and secondary teacher candidates, along with students in other education-related majors.
Chapman is also a participant in this year’s Feinstein College’s Multilingual Learners (MLL) Endorsement for School Leaders cohort.
“You are about to step into one of the most meaningful, impactful and important careers that there is,” she said. “With so many opinions these days of how education should be run, your commitment matters now more than ever.”
“We’ve all heard the saying; it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it also takes a village to raise a teacher,” she told the students.
Chapman urged the students to find a mentor who can provide guidance, a colleague with a different role to offer varying perspectives, and “to admit this work is incredibly hard,” but to do it anyway.
“Welcome to our small but mighty village,” Chapman said, ending her address, just before the students approached the stage to receive their medallions.
Danielle Dennis, dean of the Feinstein College of Education, presented the students with the medallions, a disc bearing the state’s anchor seal and displaying the word HOPE surrounded by the words University of Rhode Island and College of Education, hanging on a navy blue ribbon. The anchor, she noted, symbolizes the “unwavering dedication to our profession.”
Also in attendance were about 25 clinical educators from schools around the state who have supported URI teacher candidates in practicums and student teaching experiences throughout the year.
The Feinstein College of Education will hold its commencement ceremony on May 17 at 2 p.m. in the Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus.
Latest All News
- Three-Minute Thesis contest boils down research communication to the essentialsKINGSTON, R.I. – April 25, 2025 — “Can you scare plants?,” asked the winner of this year’s Three Minute Thesis competition to an animated audience of more than 100 spectators at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School’s second annual 3MT event. In her winning presentation, Katherine Overstrum explained that based on her research, plants […]
- Flows Reimagined: How URI scholars are reshaping supply chain flows conceptKINGSTON, R.I. – April 25, 2025 – Whether it’s empty shelves at the grocery store or delayed holiday packages, disruptions in the flow of goods impact everyday life. But when shelves go bare, it’s not just goods that are missing—it can also signal a shortage of truck drivers, grounded aircrafts, or broken processes behind the […]
- University of Rhode Island to award honorary degree to writer, director, producer Steven FeinbergKINGSTON, R.I.—April 25, 2025— Steven Feinberg, who, as executive director of the Rhode Island Film and Television Office, has spent more than 20 years standing at the intersection of the arts and commerce in the Ocean State, will be honored next month for his personal and professional achievements as part of the University of Rhode […]
- URI Students Share Tips On Stress Free Finals and More…
- Cigar Sports MVPs: Spring 2025 EditionBaseball: Fourth-year Anthony DePino The University of Rhode Island home run king has shaped himself into a true five-tool player this season in his fourth year. DePino’s power has always been there, with all four of his seasons having home run totals inside the top five in program history. Hitting for average has been huge... The post Cigar Sports MVPs: Spring 2025 Edition first appeared on The Good 5¢ Cigar.
- This Week In Sports – 4/24Men’s Track and Field University of Connecticut Northeast Challenge (4/18-4/19): Second of 14 teams The University of Rhode Island men’s track and field team placed second at the UConn Northeast Challenge with 136.5 points, highlighted by event wins from fifth-year Alexander Baez, fourth-year Mason Brubaker and third-year Antonio Capalbo. For more, read Justin Theriault’s article... The post This Week In Sports – 4/24 first appeared on The Good 5¢ Cigar.
