61 Students Awarded 2017 Pell Medal for Excellence in U.S. History
Newport, R.I.— 61 Rhode Island students earned the Herbert and Claiborne Pell Medal for U.S. History this year. The medal, originally presented by Senator Claiborne Pell and his wife, Mrs. Nuala Pell, recognizes college and high school students in the state who have excelled in U.S. History.
“It’s important to recognize the spark that these students have for history, their exceptional dedication to their education and the great promise they show for the future,” said Clay Pell. “I look forward to seeing them excel in the field.”
“Russia’s intervention in our election is a stark reminder that citizens in our republic must know their history and have a good understanding of civics,” said Jim Ludes, Pell Center Executive Director. “If we can encourage and celebrate that in Rhode Island’s schools, then I’m confident that we are making good on the legacy Senator Pell left us and protecting the future at the same time.”
Established by the Pell family, the Pell Medal is named for Representative Herbert C. Pell and his son, Senator Claiborne Pell. Herbert Pell served as a member of Congress and American Minister to Portugal and Hungary, while Claiborne Pell, who is responsible for the creation of the Pell Grants and the National Endowment for the Humanities, served in the Senate for 36 years and worked to strengthen American foreign policy.
The winners of the 2017 Herbert and Claiborne Pell Medal for excellence in the study of U.S. History are:
Barrington
James Coffey, St. Andrew’s School
Mikaela Boone, Barrington High School
Bristol
Ashley Tatum, Mt. Hope High School
Danielle Bernier, Roger Williams University
Central Falls
Marcus Baptista, Central Falls High School
Coventry
Tyler Ferrara, Coventry High School
Cranston
Nathaniel Hardy, Cranston High School East
Cumberland
Connor Hayden, Cumberland High School
East Greenwhich
Laura Murphy, East Greenwich High School
Alec O’del, Rocky Hill School
East Providence
Yu Zhang, Providence Country Day School
Andrew Rogers, East Providence High School
Harrisville
Elizabeth Ethier, Burrillville High School
Johnston
Lindsey Frein, Johnston Senior High School
Kingston
Alexandra Goldsmith, University of Rhode Island
Lincoln
Angelo Landry, Lincoln High School
Patrick Carnaghan, William M. Davies Jr. Career & Technical High School
Middletown
Theodore Thibeault, Middletown High School
North Scituate
Jessica Sackal, Ponaganset High School
Narragansett
Amanda Carberry, Narragansett High School
Justin Ramirez, The Ocean Tides School
Newport
Juliana DiMeglio, Rogers High School
North Kingstown
Josh Neronha, North Kingstown High School
North Providence
Casey Silva, North Providence High School
North Smithfield
Jay Rumas, North Smithfield High School
Pawtucket
Miguelangel Tineo, Blackstone Academy Charter School
Daniel Sossa, Charles E. Shea Senior High School
Benjamin MacDonald, Saint Raphael Academy
Aaron Amaral, William E. Tolman High School
Portsmouth
Thomas Teravainen, Portsmouth Abbey School
Emma Rainier, Portsmouth High School
Providence
Leah Kazar, Brown University
Kate Marie Rodriguez, Central High School
Daniel Licht, Classical High School
John Larsen, La Salle Academy
Lily Martin, Lincoln School
Yara Doumani, Moses Brown School
Alex Veglia, Ocean Tides School
Edwin Lantigua, Paul Cuffee Upper School
Hugh Thomas Kilcommons, Providence College
Emma Lafleur, Rhode Island College
Isabelle Rose, Rhode Island School of Design
Destiney Fry-Daly, School One
Eleanor Sultana, The Wheeler School
Riverside
Amelia Larson, St. Mary Academy Bay View
Scituate
Connor Elias, Scituate High School
Smithfield
Dominic Ferrara, Bryant University
Simon Rees, Smithfield High School
South Kingstown
Braedon Kehoe, South Kingstown High School
Tiverton
Tova Ibbotson, Tiverton High School
Wakefield
Natalie Freeman, The Prout School
Warwick
William Provost, Bishop Hendrickson High School
Alicia Jones, Community College of Rhode Island
Alexandrea Pouliot, Pilgrim High School
Hannah Senerchia, Toll Gate High School
West Warwick
Elizabeth Pelletier, West Warwick High School
Westerly
Charles Vakassian, Westerly High School
Wood River Junction
Christian Sardelli, Chariho High School
Woonsocket
Keaton Bergeron, Beacon Charter High School for the Arts
Meghan O’Brien, Mount St. Charles Academy
Eden Suthowski, Woonsocket High School