P R E S S R E L E A S E

The Executive Office, City of Providence, Rhode Island

VINCENT A. CIANCI, JR.

MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE

DATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1996

CONTACT: BERYL KENYON/DOREEN PICOZZI, 421-7740, EXT. 222

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. congratulated ten exemplary Providence students who were named recipients of the Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. Scholarship Fund Awards. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship.

"These students were selected from a pool of more than 70 terrific applicants who represent the finest in academic achievement, community service, and extra-curricular activities," said Mayor Cianci. "This was the greatest number of applications received to date, and truly the finest group of students we've had the pleasure to consider for the award. The selection process was extremely difficult, and the competition fierce. I wish we could have recognized each and every one of them with an award."

The ten award recipients were selected by a committee consisting of Providence School Department personnel and a representative from the Cianci Foundation. Applications were taken during the month of May. The committee screened applicants and made final recommendations to the Cianci Foundation Board.

These ten students are the first group to benefit from the sale of the Mayor's Own Marinara Sauce (MOM'S), as well as other funding sources. MOM'S has been on the market since August, 1995, and has sold more than 50,000 jars in retail markets all over Rhode Island.

The Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. Scholarship Fund is also fueled every year with an annual June Golf Classic. This year's tournament was held on June 10, and raised $30,000 for the scholarship fund.

"These remarkable students are like the carrots in my marinara," Mayor Cianci said. "They never give their teachers, or their parents, agita. They are focused, dedicated to excellence, and well-rounded. I congratulate them and wish them well."

Selections were based on academic achievement, particularly in the liberal arts, and were asked to submit an essay with their applications.

The ten students honored today are as follows:

Julian Hamilton Dash will enroll at Morgan State University in Baltimore this fall. The captain of Hope High's varsity cross-country and varsity indoor and outdoor track teams, he has maintained, for the past three years, a standing as one of the top 20 ranked runners in the state. Julian has competed in the National Junior Olympics and is also a member of the Providence Cobras Track Club. He will be an escort runner for the Olympic Torch Relay this weekend. Julian, a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society, has maintained top grades while also working for Footlocker. He worked for the City of Providence in the Dept. of Recreation's Lunch Program in the summer of '94 and was a lifeguard for the City last summer.

Robert Vito Dyer, of LaSalle Academy, will attend Harvard College The top ranked student in his class, he is a National Merit Scholar who obtained a perfect score in math on the SATs and a near perfect score in the verbal portion of the test. He earned 33 college credits while still in high school and was a member of the school's varsity basketball team. Robert has tutored inner city student/athletes on the intricacies of the SATs, and has also held various part-time jobs. He plans to major in math and biophysics at Harvard.

Abigail Harkey graduated from Moses Brown School today and will attend Oberlin College in the fall. At Moses Brown, Abby played varsity lacrosse, and was active in the school's Gay/Straight Alliance, its Peer Support Group and Amnesty International. Holding a part-time job, she also volunteered in soup kitchens, homeless shelters and engaged in flood relief work. She plans to major in English at Oberlin.

Central High School's Cary Joseph will attend URI this fall. An active member of the Haitian Baptist Church of Providence, he enjoys reading and weightlifting. His work experience, as a dietary aide at Steere House and Charlesgate Nursing Centers, ties in with his plans to pursue a career in health and science-related fields.

Classical High's Mouafuechee Kue is also heading for URI. Mouafuechee excels in math and science, plays varsity basketball, is active in Classical's Asian and Feinstein Clubs, and enjoys drawing and sculpting. He's worked for two years in Providence's Summer Lunch Program, and has also worked at Burger King and Steere House.

Michael Orsini is also a Classical senior who will attend URI. He holds a second degree black belt in karate. Michael's the president of Classical's Italian Club, plays varsity football, leading him to be named a National Football Scholar-Athlete, runs varsity track, and is a member of the Providence All-City Band. For the past two years, he's managed the Roger Williams Park Zoo Food Services and has been a vendor at the Providence Civic Center. He volunteers for Save the Bay and soup kitchens and is actively involved in Students Against Drunk Driving.

Carina Pinto is one of 15 Mt. Pleasant's Teacher Academy Students headed for Rhode Island College in the fall and ultimately, headed for a career teaching in Providence schools. She ranks 7th in her class while, for the past 2 and a half years, she's held a job as a secretary at Quaker Plating. Carina, who is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, has also experienced a great deal of growth from volunteering, with all Teacher Academy students, at Amos House, and she also works in her community with special education students.

Annette Rivera, also a Mt. Pleasant senior, will begin her studies at URI this fall. Ranked third in her class, she aspires to be a doctor. She is the winner of numerous awards including the Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation Leadership Award, the Harvard University Book Award, Cross-Country Coach's Ribbon, the Bausch and Lomb Award and a Smith College Summer School Program Certificate. She's involved in community cleanups in Providence and volunteers her time to tutor at a local library.

Kalia Silva from Hope High will begin her freshman year at Boston College this fall. Kalia is determined to learn more about her African-American heritage by pursuing studies in this area at BC, and her goal is to become a successful director or producer in film or television. Ranked near the top of her class, Kalia has been a member of the Upward Bound program throughout high school, a member of Hope's indoor and outdoor track teams, and a senior class officer. In accordance with the guidelines of the Mayor's Scholarship Fund, she was the one student selected to receive the award by the Urban League of Rhode Island.

See Vang is the first scholarship recipient from Feinstein High School for Public Service. She transferred to Feinstein from Central when the school opened, in 1994. See is headed to Roger Williams University this fall, a far cry from the war-torn countryside of Laos where she was born and contracted polio. Before coming to the U.S., See and her family lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for eight years. She grew up there, arriving in the United States at the age of 13. See plans to pursue a career as a computer scientist. She's worked as a teacher's aide for the Public Literacy Program, the Adult Literacy Program, and the Epiphany Center. She assists her own community as an interpreter and liaison to the Hmong Families Association, and helps Hmong children to speak English while retaining their own language. She also volunteers at International Institute and at the Hmong Associated Committee.