THE ARCHWAY
BRYANT UNIVERSITY
2021 COMMENCEMENT ISSUE
From the President Dear Members of the Bryant University Class of 2021, Congratulations on your graduation! As you process through our University’s historic Archway to receive your Bryant diploma, you can be very proud of your hard work and accomplishments. Wherever your life’s journey takes you next, your Bryant experience has prepared you to succeed both personally and professionally. With the challenges that required us all to adapt and innovate, you have demonstrated talent, commitment and resilience. The spirit and leadership shown by Bryant seniors this year has been extraordinary. Your class has made critical contributions that allowed us to keep our campus open all year and we can now celebrate this historic 158th Commencement ceremony together. You have pursued academic excellence and studied diligently, enhanced your abilities through internships and student life opportunities, and helped others through community service. Your contributions and achievements are a source of great pride to Bryant’s dedicated faculty and staff. The Class of 2021 is graduating at a time when a Bryant University degree has never had greater value. Our approach to a real-world education is exactly why Bryant graduates are in high demand. Your Bryant education has provided you with the core 21st century skills that are needed now and will be needed long into the future. Today marks an important transition in your relationship with Bryant University. It is our responsibility to continue to advance strategic goals that enhance the value of a Bryant degree and increase the competitive advantage of your diploma. As a new member of the Bryant Alumni Association, you join a powerful network of nearly 55,000 accomplished men and women around the world. We ask you to remain engaged in the life of our community. Please accept this responsibility by encouraging new applications to Bryant, providing internship or career opportunities to our students, attending alumni events, funding scholarships and program development, and cheering our athletic teams to victory. The entire Bryant community- our trustees, faculty and staff- is proud of your achievements and confident about your future. You have been an exceptional class and we thank you for all you have contributed to the University. As you depart from campus, I know that you will build upon the extraordinary foundation your Bryant education has provided. We extend our very best wishes for a lifetime of success and fulfillment. Sincerely,
Ross Gittell, Ph.D. President
The Archway Commencement Edition Welcome to the 2021 Commencement Edition of The Archway! The commencement magazine you are reading was compiled using submissions from the Class of 2021. Thank you all who sent in reflections, memories, photos, and more!
What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson Today is a day of celebration and we hope that this booklet serves as a way to share in the joy and pride for our graduating class. Congratulations Class of 2021!
Contents Letter from the President...........inside front cover A Tale of Two Archways.................................page 1 Senior Reflections.............................................page 2 Senior Portraits................................................page12 Remember When...........................................page 30 Senior Class Gift.............................................page 43 Favorite Campus Location...........................page 46 Bryant Community Shout Outs.................page 48 Lessons Learned.............................................page 50 Senior Memories.............................................page51 Faculty and Staff Reflections ......................page 58 Commencement Awards..............................page 62 Letter from the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students....................................page 64 Letter from the Provost..............inside back cover
A Tale of Two Archways As newly minted alumni of Bryant University, graduating seniors enjoy the long-awaited opportunity to take their first steps through the cast iron archway situated in the middle of campus – an artifact excavated from the Old Providence campus when Bryant moved to Smithfield in 1971. It is a very exciting and sobering milestone in the Bryant experience that all students who pass though Bryant’s gates have the privilege of partaking in. And while the archway that we know today is a remnant of that campus, its significance on the old Providence campus (which was sold to Brown upon the move to Smithfield) was virtually nonexistent. Instead a brick structure, named the South Portico, was the archway that all who came to Bryant knew about. It was under the South Portico, attached to one of the old campus’ main academic buildings, where students of the past would gather during inclement weather and sunny days alike to talk about the happenings on campus. This tradition stands in stark contrast to the tradition of the purpose that the cast iron archway serves to current Bryant students, who are afraid to pass under it for superstitious fear of not graduating. This tradition, too, served as the chief inspiration for one particular campus organization in finding its name. That organization, which was founded in 1946 and whose booklet you’re currently reading 73 years later, is The Archway. So each time you walk under the archway, don’t only reflect on your four years at this institution, but also on the 152 years that preceded it and the illustrious and unique history, tradition, and values that have both fallen away and re-manifested themselves in the annals of Bryant’s collective memory.
Allie O’Keeffe As I reflect to freshman year move-in, I cannot help but think about how much I have grown, how much we all have grown. Move-in day freshman year feels like centuries ago, yet I remember it like it was yesterday. The butterflies in my stomach after my room was all set up and my parents were giving me hugs goodbye, to my first Salmo dinner with my new friends. The butterflies quickly went away as I started to learn my way around. Before I knew it, I was laughing in the common rooms late at night and going around the world meeting new friends. One of the most unforgettable times of freshmen year is the classic one, everyone says it, but it needs to be said, the IDEA Program. These three days, on campus alone and rigorously working on our project designs were some of the best days, even if at the time they did not feel much like it, when it was 2 am and we were still up working on the prototype. These days are where I built friendships which were deeper than some friendships that I had had since coming to Bryant. Sophomore year was the nightmare of Management 101. The hardest class I have ever taken at Bryant, but also one of the most rewarding classes. After the hours and hours of community service work, fundraising, and classwork it was all worth it to see the smiles and appreciation of the non-profit afterwards. It made all the hours of blood, sweat, and tears, and oh yes there were all three, worth it. Junior year blindsided all of us. It started off as the best year in college, classes were great, my friends were my people and we were not the underdogs anymore, we were in the second half of our college experience. Then we all leave, excited for our Spring Break trips….to never returning for the rest of the semester, no big send off to our beloved President Machtley or celebrating with our senior friends at the townhouses. However, this did not stop us, because we are the Bryant University community, and the coronavirus was not going to stop our spirit. While it was not the same, we started making everything work virtually, our classes, group meetings, even hanging out with friends, we made the best of it through Zoom. Senior year was a year like no other. A time where the whole community was trying to figure out what to do…together. I have never had so many tests in my life…let alone COVID tests. As we all figured out what hybrid classes looked like and guided professors through how to us Zoom, it united us as a community even more. We reacted, adapted, and overcame the many obstacles that came our way, and WE DID IT!
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Senior Reflections
Jonathan Huntley
Class of 2021
Letter to Me Dear Freshman, I know how you are feeling today as you move into college. I remember the nerves; I remember the anticipation. When our parents give us one final hug and walk out the door, you’ll be left with your thoughts and your worries, so I want to give you some advice to ease your concerns. First, don’t be afraid to send a text that says “Salmo?” because they’ll always respond with “meet me at the tree”. Go to the org fair next week and sign up for way too many clubs. Soon you will be making an impact. Oh, and don’t worry about memorizing the hall numbers, they’re going to change soon anyways. I know you are worried about making friends and stepping outside your comfort zone, but it all works out. Remember those people you passed in the common room? They are going to be your best friends. And that class you’re anxious about? It will open your mind to a whole new way of thinking. Don’t stress about the acronyms, they come with time. AIC and IDEA will teach you innovation and collaboration. SIE will change your life, and SPB will provide you with all the free stuff you need. I know you don’t like change, but you’ll learn to be flexible. You’ll see two Tuppers, two presidents, and two Hall 15 common rooms. Subway won’t last, and don’t get too attached to the layout of the fitness center either. I should also mention a new virus that will catch you by surprise. You’ll quickly learn to fear it, then learn to hate it, but eventually you’ll learn to live with it and overcome it. You may not know it yet, but you are about to have some of the best experiences of your life. Make the most of them. Be open minded and say yes more than you say no. Take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that you have and by the time you walk through that Archway, you’ll be proud of your accomplishments knowing that you made the most of every day. So enjoy yourself and quit worrying. I miss being in your shoes but I’m ready for the next step. I’ll miss my professors, my friends, and of course chicken parm night, but our life is just beginning. This world has so many opportunities for us beyond Smithfield. It is time to go and make the most of them. Sincerely yours, Jonathan Huntley
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Cara DelSesto These four years at Bryant University have not been what I have thought they would be, and I am sure we can all agree on that… and I do not just mean in the way that COVID-19 has reshaped our expectations of our final Bryant moments. I mean more so in the way that we change from seventeen- and eighteen-year-old high school students to who we are today. We all came to Bryant with the expectation to learn and to grow as people, but I am confident we can all say that we have gained so much more than that in this time. We have become so much stronger than we ever thought possible and have learned there is so much more to experience than we ever imagined. For myself, I came to Bryant seventeen and shy. I was determined and motivated, but I often looked to others for direction and to make sure I was not stepping too far out of my place. I believed that as long as I was academically “successful” that I did not need much else. I was content being “shy” and thought it was the only way that I possibly could be. However, throughout my time at Bryant I learned there was so much more than that. That I was more than that. I began this change when I became an Orientation Leader the summer after freshman year. That experience not only had an impact on my opinion of what it meant to be a leader, but also on how I viewed myself. I learned that being introverted did not mean I had to stay quiet. I learned that there are different ways to lead a group of people, and no one way is better than another, as long as you play to your individual strengths and stay true to the person you are. Most importantly, as an OL, I learned that the best quality of a leader is to be one that can empower others to do the same. As I continued on at Bryant, I was thankful for all the opportunities I had to get involved and to lead others, but I was also thankful for the ability continuously be empowered. My peers have empowered me to be the best version of myself and I have been able to learn from them every single day: Whether that has been Skye Hazel speaking on a panel about strong women and power, or Maddie Roy setting the bar for how to lead with compassion and heart, or Andrew McCotter who has followed his passions so hard I can only wish to do the same, or Matt Mastroianni who proves that with hard work and dedication one can be successful in all aspects of life. Every day for four years I have been surrounded by people who have pushed me to be the best version of myself and empowered me to continue to develop as a leader and person. Being an Orientation Leader kickstarted a change in myself and my confidence, and although that experience had to come to an end, I will always reflect on it with the most amazing memories. Bryant has provided me with the ability to experience more than I ever thought was possible and although it is hard to leave a place that has been home for four years, I nevertheless feel empowered to conquer what is ahead.
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Alyssa Rice Class of 2021
Entering Bryant freshmen year was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, as I’m sure it was for the rest of my classmates too. Entering a whole new world with brand new people, brand new location, and brand new verbiage like “Salmo” and “Bryant Beach”, was overwhelming, to say the least. I did not know a single person coming into Bryant so it was difficult to meet new people. It was hard to find my way across campus, not knowing where my mailbox or the printers were. Thinking about where I was four years ago compared to today brings up a lot of emotions. I feel sad, thinking about how scared I was to enter the world of Bryant. I feel nostalgic, knowing I can’t return to certain moments. I feel pleased, knowing that I have grown. My freshman self would be proud of the senior I am today. I would have never thought I would be involved in multiple clubs, have made amazing friends, have held multiple internships, be a club President, and have been able to mentor and teach students. I took that leap freshman year, and it landed me to where I am today. Something I have urged the Student Programming Board members to do during my time as the President is to take a step back and reflect. I urge them to think about their event, how much time they put into the planning and preparation, and all of the students that left their event feeling happy. I want them to understand that the hard work was worth it. Now, I am urging all of you seniors to think about where you are now compared to freshman year. Think about your growth, your accomplishments, and the person you are today. I am sure the freshman “you” is so proud of the senior “you”.
As the Newman Civic Fellowship representative for Bryant University, I have witnessed the power of emphasizing activism in a business-driven environment. From passions for sustainability, to inclusion and service, I have seen the Class of 2021 strive to command a better good. I see that coming together as a community results from embracing our perspectives and the unique stories that got us here today. As I graduate from Bryant, I am confident that my classmates and I will understand how to speak deliberately as future leaders. Beginning with the IDEA Program, we were challenged to empathize with others. Pursuing our senior year, we continue to empathize with each other as we work with dozens of teams and learn how to connect and collaborate. Bryant University has influenced growth within all of us, where we actively pursue our passions and collect the resources needed to run with them. Walking under the Archway, we gain a stronger appreciation for cultural diversity, ethical decision making, environmental care, and so much more. This is all due to our candid professors, intuitive academia, and meaningful dialogues. We have all been influenced to care about these topics in one way or another, but I am confident that in leaving this bubble of tailored activism, we will continue to inspire a unique style of leadership. Leadership that is brave. Leadership that is humble. Most importantly, leadership that leaves others feeling included, respected, and appreciated. Bryant University gave us the keys to infuse activism with leadership, so it is simply now up to us to empathize with our future colleagues and remember where we came from.
Melissa Gurzenda
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Melissa Hernandez I ended up at Bryant University by coincidence and could not have been happier with my choice! I made the final decision to attend Bryant after participating in a high school overnight event. Within 24 hours after having dinner at former President Machtely’s house with other accepted students, I sent in my confirmation. Everyone I met during the program was friendly, motivated, and ambitious. I knew that Bryant was a place where I could thrive! Fast forward to August 2017 when I moved into Hall 16. I participated in the 4MILE program and was greeted with the same authenticity as the previous program which I attended. I met some amazing individuals who have stuck by my side the last 4 years. Life came in full circle since the friends I met during 4MILE became my senior townhouse roommates. Additionally, 4MILE became a pivotal part of my growth here at Bryant because I learned a valuable lesson from the start of my time on campus - Always choose the path that allows you to step outside your comfort zone. Throughout my time at Bryant, I can honestly say that I was provided with the right environment to leave my comfort zone and seek unique experiences. As a sophomore, I had the opportunity to explore Southeast Asia through SIE Malaysia and Singapore with Professor Mohan. Participating in SIE gave me the confidence to be curious on a global level. As a junior I challenged myself and decided to study abroad in a country where few fellow bulldogs chose to explore - Budapest, Hungary. What a phenomenal experience it was! I booked a ticket to Hungary without knowing a single person in the program, the local language, or my way around the city. That was the best thing I could have done for myself and I left the country with new life-long friends,
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knowing basic Hungarian, and knowing my way around Central Europe. Bryant University not only allowed me to expand my comfort zone globally, but also locally. In terms of personal growth, confidence is one area where I improved substantially. I went from a timid freshman who froze during the GFOB pitch to a confident TEDx Speaker during senior year. I am also grateful for being given multiple opportunities to be a leader on campus. As a sophomore I wanted to pay it forward and applied to be a 4MILE mentor so that I could help the new freshman class navigate their first year at Bryant. The following school year, I joined the 2020 Bryant IDEA team as a mentor because understanding and implementing design thinking excites me and allows student’s creativity to shine through. Lastly, for my fall semester of senior year, I became the first female Lead Accelerator for Bryant Ventures (BV)- the student run startup incubator. Being a part of BV was one of my most rewarding opportunities because I worked with talented students on their business ideas. Watch out for BV members in the coming years, they are up to great things! For those who are reading, I wish you the best as you continue your life after graduation! Wherever you end up, I hope you find happiness and can look back on life knowing you made the right decisions. If you took away anything from this piece, I hope that it is to take opportunities outside your comfort zone. Maybe it is a job in a different city/country or even a volunteer opportunity abroad, just do whatever excites you and never stop! I hope our paths cross again Class of 2021! Cheers, Melissa K. Hernandez
Nyeka Scott
Class of 2021
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt. I came here as a transfer student from Bunker Hill Community College hungry for excellence and success. Being a first-generation college student, I was super excited to pursue my undergraduate journey. On a mission to pursue a medical career in pediatric surgery, I co-founded the Bryant Pre-Health Association, in affiliation with Bryant PA School, Bryant Mentor Match, Princeton Review, Rhode Island Hospital, and Tufts PA School to name a few. During my time at Bryant, I had the privilege of calling some of the best people I know professors, mentors, and friends. These individuals have all contributed respectively to the well-rounded woman I am today. I am grateful for every moment graced with their presence, especially during the setbacks, challenges, and achievements. I can proudly say the Bryant community has done an extraordinary job in my upbringing as a student, but most importantly as a leader. I am sorely going to miss my Bryant family, but I will forever treasure the lifelong memories I have experienced here. However, it was the woman and leadership class with Dr. Lori Coakley for me! This class was the foundation I needed to become a great leader. Over the period of this course, I had the opportunity to create a personal development transitional plan which allowed me to balance my home, self, work, and community domains. Furthermore, I was tasked with the challenge of the further developing my leadership skills through networking, negotiation, mentorship, building leadership identity, effective communication, leading courageously, and resilience. Because of this class, I no longer overestimate my strengths, but improved my weaknesses tremendously. My time at Bryant was a short, but life changing journey. I will bring the lessons, disciplines, and competencies I acquired wherever I go in this life. Bryant has taught me the significance of family, especially during these unprecedented times where we all came together in unity, love, and support. Cheers to the class of 2021! We did it! As we transitioned to the next chapter, “go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” Minor Myers Jr. To Bryant University, thank you for a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a management minor. Forever honored! Forever a Bulldog!
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Ryan Kilcoyne My Bryant experience was nothing but extraordinary, and I’m proud Bryant challenged me to grow into the person I’m leaving as today. As a young kid going through my primary education, I always pictured myself attending a large state school, because that’s where I believed opportunities would come from. I was wrong, and I’m glad I chose Bryant as the opportunities it has provided me through all four years of college exceeded my expectations. After many years have passed, I’ll think back on my time as a bulldog through the countless opportunities I’ve had through student involvement. I’ve been touched by countless people in our class and school, and there’s truly something special about the community here that I never hear my friends talk about when they describe their campus culture to me. I’m proud to be a Bryant grad of the Class of 2021. Coming in as a first-year student at Bryant, I knew I wanted to get involved and I took every opportunity that came my way to expand my horizon in this new chapter of my life, college. I became a Student Ambassador and for the past four years it’s been rewarding touring perspective and admitted students around our beautiful campus as I always remembered the feeling of being in their shoes four years before walking under the Archway. Creating connections with people became my passion, and I found my niche for public speaking through Ambassadors. I had been a performer my whole life and was fortunate I also auditioned my way into The Bottom Line, the co-ed a cappella group on campus. It was very fitting because I was always known as “the kid who never stops singing” to my first-year boys. I made my closest friends in The Bottom Line, friends I’ll stay in close with in life beyond college. The Bottom Line provided me with the creative outlet I knew I couldn’t give up in my Bryant journey, and it also fostered my biggest accomplishments I’m proud to remember college by. In my four years as a Bottom Line member, I’ve performed at the world renowned Boston Symphony Hall twice, placed at the International Championship of Collegiate A cappella four times, recorded and released the group’s first professional music video, and released two singles on major music streaming platforms. The hard work paid off! This group will always hold a special place in my heart, because they entrusted in me as their leader for two years and worked hard to accomplish great success as Bryant has no formal music program. Time and time again we defied odds that were against us, and collectively we all learned what a strong “can-do” attitude will accomplish. A special shoutout to all Bottom Line members past and present for laying the foundation for many continued successes in the future. Leadership was truly a defining characteristic in my last two years of college, and I cannot thank Orientation Programs, Residential Life, The Bottom Line, MyPath, and the Ambassador Program for granting me the opportunity to lead. Like many of us, I have only gotten this far because someone saw something in me and took a chance on me to become a leader. In each leadership position I encountered both vulnerable and extraordinary moments, but no matter what I grew as a person and learned how to put my best foot forward to raise others with me, something that’s not always a walk in the park. To each peer, colleague, friend, and/or mentor I’ve made in each campus involvement, thank you for making my time at Bryant special, and showing me how to commit with great passion and no reservations.
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My favorite quote has always been, “Wherever life takes you, don’t forget to smile,” and Bryant has brought me smiles that I will remember forever. As cliché as it sounds, I really do feel real world ready thanks to my professors who always went the extra mile even when times were extremely tough my junior and senior year. I cannot wait to see what is in store for all of us in the Class of 2021. Next stop, Alumni weekend!!
Savanna Templeton Class of 2021
Upon my commitment to Bryant in 2017, I received a booklet in the mail filled with the typical instructions, resources, and contacts one would when they’re soon to start college. The cover of the booklet, however, struck me, and I’ve held onto it all these years. Stretched across the golden cardstock, the page read, “The best four years of your life.” I looked at it as an eager, soon-to-be college freshman, and could barely comprehend what those words really meant. Fast forward a few years, millions of memories, and plenty of lessons learned, I read those words as a nostalgic, soon-to-be college graduate, and I know exactly what they meant. These really have been the best four years of my life. When I first toured Bryant I had no idea what I was looking for in a University. The thought of moving on from high school was unsettling, and I couldn’t imagine life getting any better than it already was. Once I saw the stunning campus, however, all of my worries washed away. The sense of community and belongingness that I felt when I walked through Bryant was exactly what I was looking for. I learned about the International Business program, the study abroad opportunities, the many clubs and organizations, and an adorable Bulldog mascot named Tupper, and I was sold. Over the course of the best four years of my life, I have had the amazing opportunity to participate in the International Business program here at Bryant. I could not have asked for better classmates and professors to learn from and to grow with over the years. I made lifelong friends studying abroad in Chile my junior year, and will laugh and reminisce about the good old days in Vina del Mar with them, forever. From overnight bus rides, to hikes through the mountains and the desert, to late nights in Valparaiso or watching the sun set over UAI, to long days hanging at the beach, to witnessing a revolution, my six months in Chile were nothing short of extraordinary. I came back to Bryant a changed individual, with appreciation for life and determination to crush IB Block and Practicum. With the International Business Program, I learned not just about business, but a lot about family, perseverance, love, and the world. I am so happy to have found a family in my campus involvements as well. Bryant Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization has been a place I call home since the first week of my freshman year and has transformed me into the entrepreneurial business leader I have always imagined myself being. The CEO executive board is the greatest group of motivators, go-getters, and visionary leaders I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and I have learned so much from them and from all of the impactful initiatives we’ve been a part of on campus. Bryant University Spanish Cultural Organization has too, been a family to me since the very beginning. My passion for Latin American culture, which I developed at a young age travelling with my grandparents, was able to flourish with this club. I am grateful to have been entrusted as President my
senior year, and will cherish all of the fun times I’ve shared with the BUSCO familia. To say I’m grateful for all that Bryant has given me would be an understatement, and even after all this, I still may never be able to find the words to describe the impact this school has had on me. I’ve spent the last few years working tirelessly to reach graduation, but now that it’s here, I wish more than anything to be able to turn back the clock and live it all one more time. I would like to thank my professors, for being role models, in and out of the classroom, and for teaching me more than I could have ever imagined; my parents and sisters, for constantly pushing me, supporting me, and cheering me on every step of the way; my grandparents, for instilling in me a love for learning and travelling ever since I was a little girl; my peers, for being a pleasure to work with and to learn from, and last but not least, my greatest friends, for making Bryant a home filled with love and laughter, and for having my back through it all. I could not have done this without you! Class of 2021, we leave Bryant with more than just a degree. We leave here a family, with memories that will last us a lifetime. And while the last 4 years may certainly have been the best 4 years of our lives so far, I am so excited to see where this next chapter takes us. This is only the beginning. Thank you, Bryant! Bulldogs Forever!
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Adam O’Neill I do not even know where to get started when I think about my time at Bryant. So many great memories packed into four quick years here. I have had so many opportunities here that I know I never would find at another school. Bryant really does everything they can to put each of their students in a position to be successful. Right away I knew that Bryant wasn’t like other schools, being a smaller school gives Bryant the ability to give such an individualized approach to each of their students and I found this to be very beneficial for myself. Everyday I spent here at Bryant reminded me why I chose to come here. When I first came to Bryant as a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do something related to business, but I did not know what exactly that was. As I took some courses, I considered myself fairly proficient in the area of marketing and specifically on the sales side of marketing. Bryant gave me the opportunities to see every side of business in a very holistic manner and this was what really made me eventually decided upon the specialized area that I wanted to operate. One of the classes that really stuck out to me was Dr. Boyer’s personal selling class. This class gave me the confidence to believe in myself and be prepared for the high-level sales conversations I will find myself in through out my career. This was a class where we actively practice the selling process, and this involved doing some role plays with fellow classmates. These were somewhat uncomfortable at first and definitely got me out of my comfort zone but in the end, they helped me in ways I never envisioned. I had some amazing opportunities here at Bryant. I never thought Bryant would give me the chance to travel to 7 other countries. I was involved in the Sophomore International Experience on trip to China and Hong Kong. This was such an amazing experience and was all made possible by Kongli Liu and the amazing US-China Institute here at Bryant. In these two weeks in China, we were so emerged in the culture and we were constantly meeting new people and learning new things about business and life in China. I still can’t believe I had the opportunity to climb the Great Wall or visit Bryant’s campus in Zhuhai China. I also had the amazing opportunity of studying abroad in Florence Italy for a semester. This was truly amazing to take classes and study in another country while learning from professors whose perspectives were so different than mine. I got to travel to other countries like Germany, Switzerland, and the UK on weekends, all while enjoying the exquisite cuisine and priceless art in Florence. Both of these experiences have been some of the most relived highlights of my life and I am so glad I got to appreciate them at this age. I can’t believe that four years have already gone by. It feels like just yesterday I was staying over for orientation. The time have flown by, but the memories will remain forever. It is pretty obvious I love Bryant so much since I am planning on completing my master’s degree here starting in August. I am so thankful to Bryant and everyone who made these experiences so memorable and I am very much excited for the life ahead of me that Bryant has helped me create.
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Senior Reflections
Jon Hagenow As I sit here, in an isolation space positive with COVID-19 I am given the opportunity to reflect on my time at Bryant. A time which has undoubtably been one I could not have even come close to guessing would conclude like this. This year is the capstone to our undergraduate learning experience; but it does not define our time at Bryant as a whole. Through our four years we have studied together, held jobs and internships together, and traveled the world together. The time before COVID is what I reflect back on as the ‘good ole days.’ It is a time when I could hope on a plane and jet off to any corner of the world. This is a time I made some of my best memories with my Bryant peers. I have been truly blessed with the opportunity to partake in the Sophomore International Experience (SIE), a study abroad program and a few short trips with friends globally– all have been life changing in their own ways. The focus Bryant has had on global emersion is likely a major reason for this worldly traveler habit I formed. The time on SIE Malaysia and Singapore is one I enjoyed deeply. I still remember the classes leading up to departure, knowing several, but not all of my peers. Fast forward to several weeks later I knew them all very well, they knew me very well and I think some of us just needed a break after spending all day everyday together. I choose to apply to that SIE trip in particular because of the vastly different culture I expected in Asia; I was honestly nervous of traveling there because of the unknown. Wow did I luck out though. We had an itinerary only the most well-prepared planner would have. We spent the days going from attraction to busines meeting’s and ending with festive meals. We saw animals meeting two types of monkeys – the Good ones and the Bad ones. We even met a lizard who had met their untimely demise. We saw numerous temples, spiritual sights and farming locations. We met with manufactures, government agencies and underprivileged children. I still remember sitting on the tour bus and commenting with my roommate at the time: “There is no way in heck we could ever do as much as we are doing if we did this trip on our own.” I relate to prospective students during tours I give as part of the Ambassador program; that the best thing from going on SIE is exposing myself to such a vastly different culture. It really opens up your mind. Thank you, Professor Ramesh Mohan and your family, for being so welcoming in Malaysia and literally showing us your home. Thank you to Professor Janet Prichard and Melanie Cluley for joining and advising us. A great aspect of a trip like is watching the growth we all had both during and after. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes “Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” We certainly did not stand still. Traveling is a passion which has only started to grow, I have been encouraged to meet up with several peers who went on SIE with me in Shanghai. Then take the January 2020 term to explore South Africa. During which not only
Class of 2021
meeting new people from across the globe but having a lived learning experience in one of the most amazing countries in the world. Post grad I am entering a career in consulting and hopefully getting paid to experience more amazing cultures. My travel fever is not one solely developed; I would be remising of I did not mention my mother who often said, “Travel young, while you still can.” I am so glad she said that to me – because the next thing you know we are in lockdown not able to leave our house let alone our country, graduation is around the corner and we have a life of work ahead of us. I will end with this – Thank you to every single person and Bryant who has fostered my global ambitions, especially you mom. Congrats to my peers in the class of 2021 – let’s get it!
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Collin Acampora
Benjamin Adams
Jean-Phillipe Adourian
Aashti Agarwala
Jack Agnew
Safeen Faqueer Ahmad
Christopher Alba
Jordan Alecio
Nicholas Alessandro
Michael Alfieri
Hamzah Alhares
Michael Allanach
Andrew Allen
Zachary Allen
Marisa Andreozzi
Ryan Andrews
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Senior Portraits
Zachary Andruska
Ashley Antonelli
Kojo Appiah
Michael Bachiochi
Kathleen Bannon
Anthony Barreira
Sabrina Barron
Kelly Barry
Rachel Bartholomew
Joseph Bartucca
Ariana Bar
Joseph Baxter
Alyse Beauchemin
Alex Bejian
Alyssa Belanger
Chase Belden
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Michael Belliveau
Suleman (Tomi) Bello
Daniel Bennett
Aliza Berquist
Gustavo Betance0s Pichardo
Carolina BetancourtPerez
Vartika Bhalotia
Dakota Bilodeau
Jenna BirnbohmKaminski
Emeritt Blaney
Brian Blum
Hayley Bobok
Kimberlee Borodin
Kristen Bortolotti
Alyssa Boucher
Brendan Bremser
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Senior Portraits
Erika Bridges
Dana Brokmeier
Daniel Brown
Madison Brown
Marcus Brown
Alec Butler
Alexander Bzdel
Danielle Caci
Kathryn Cafferty
Jonathan Caley
Sophie Camire
Kristina Campbell
Kristen Capobianco
Juliana Cappola
Christopher Carver
Jillian Cash
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Gianna Ceccarelli
Noah Cederholm
Chloe Charbonneau
Zachary Chase
Brandon Chen
Joshua Chen
Matthew Chouinard
Jack Citarell
Sara Clark
Lindsey Coe
Lauren Cole
Christopher Condon
William Conlan
Devin Connelly
Alexis Corcoran
Maia Correll
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Senior Portraits
Caroline Coumounduros
Alyssa Coyne
Sabrina Crane
Nicholas Crocker
Katelyn Cronin
Madison Crowley
Alberto Cruz Ravelo
Patrick Curley
Jake Cusson
Edmilson Da Moura
Jordan Dagrin
Meghan Dalton
Karn Datta
Richard Davis
Stephanie DeCarli
Cara DelSesto
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Madison Demand
Andrew DeMello
Celine Denehy
Brooke Denne
Sarah DeSantis
Derek Desaulniers
Brandon Desjardin
Michael DeVito
Kolby Deziel
Kaitlin Dickey
Andrew Diebus
Sarah DiPasquale
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Donlan
Patrick Donovan
Kathryn Doorley
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Senior Portraits
Wesley Doucette
Andrew Dougherty
Connor Dubois
Ryan Dumont
Andrew Dunn
Mairead Dunn
Judy Duong
Sean Dupuis
Stephen Durkee
Alexandra Eanniello
Peter Elder
Kaitlyn Fales
Christopher Fasano
Owen Fay
Marie Fearnley
Lauren Fedor
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Miguelina Feris
Matthew Finkle
Jamie Fischer
Michael Fischer
Cadri Folami
Brandon Fontaine
David Foulds
Derek Frame
Nicholas Fratto
Jake Friedman
Melanie Funnye
Zachary Furlong
Maxwell Furtado
Adam Gallucci
Martin Gauba
Veronica Geberth
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Senior Portraits
Maya Genetelli
Allison George
Andrew Gibbs
Benjamin Giglio
Eric Gilbert
Kendall Giles
Miranda Gillett
Andrew Gillis
Stephanie Goguen
Alexander Goldman
Jacob Goodwin
Craig Gordon
Emily Gordon
Samantha Gorzocoski
Benjamin Goulart
Charles Gover
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Elizabeth Goyette
Mitchell Greany
Mikaela Gresty
Nina Grogan
Kyle Gudewicz
Vandit Gupta
Melissa Gurzenda
Laurethe Gyamfi
Sara Habig
Jonathan Hagenow
Michael Halligan
Aziza Hamidi
Nicole-Alexis Hammond
Samuel Hanna
Jackson Hanrahan
Christopher Hart
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Senior Portraits
William Hayden
Skye Hazel
Bridget Healy
Molly Healy
Alexandra Heim
Aura Heinsen
Malthe Helt
Brogan Heneghan
Natalia Hernandez Vinas
Melissa Hernandez
Alexandra Hickey
Christopher Hindle
Michael Hogan
Anthony Holloway
Ethan Holmes
William Holmes
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Andrew Hopgood
Brody Hopkins
Dominique Hughes
Troy Hughey
Stanley Hultin
Jonathan Huntley
Lily Iacurci
Karan Jethmalani
Erica Johansson
Catherine Jokela
Kristen Jolley
Vahe Kafafian
Ayse Kamber
Matthew Kane
Rachel Kasson
Alison Keener
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Senior Portraits
Courtney Kelleher
Shane Kelly
Zack Kenneally
Justin Kennedy
Ayushman Khemka
Abigail Kiggen
Ryan Kilcoyne
Maeve Kiley
Philip Kimmell
Jordan Klein
Alexa Koch
Connor Koch
Darrell Kwiecinski
Abigail Labrie
Mercedes Marie Lahaie
Emily Lancaster
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Karissa Lappas
Madison LaSpisa
Luke Latino
Joseph Leary
Cameron LeBlanc
Jared Lee
Vivian Lee
Derrick Leroy
Caleb Lewis
Jonathan Lewis
William Limperis
John Finn Littlefield
Kierstin Lock
Sean Lohle
Peter Longo
Carli LoPresti
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Senior Portraits
Caroline Lovering
Erica Lovering
Hayley Lowell
Thomas Lucena
Shawn Lynch
Jessica Macia
Kaitlyn MacInnes
Thomas Maranian
Taylor Markey
Emily Markos
MaryKate Marshall
Norianne Martinez Viota
Nicole Masi
Nathalie Massoud
Madeline Mastrianni
Matthew Mastroianni
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Nicole Matarazzo
Michael Matkowski
Michelle Mattern
Tyler Mattison
Jacob McCaughey
Andrew McCotter
Joseph McDonald
Broghean McGovern
Christopher McHeffey
Aidan McHugh
Sarah McKeveny
Timothy McLaughlin
Pierce McNally
Thomas McNeil
Caroline Meizen
Denisse Mejia
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Senior Portraits
Allyson Mendez
Anthony Menorath
Eli Merrill
Jake Michalewicz
Michael Michaud
Rebecca Michaud
Isabella Mignosa
Elizabeth Miles
Michael Millette
Olivia Millstone
Richard Minasian
Jennifer Mitchell
Devon Mollica
Benjamin Molongoski
Alexander B. Morrow
Sawyer Morrow
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Remember When... Freshman Year • Around the world freshman year. Met some of my friends who I ended up being friends with for all four years. -Adam O’Neill • Remember when Bryant MSoc beat sacred heart #TB25FirstGoal - Anthony Barreia • The Spin Cycle @ Joey B - Jared Silveira • The Hall 15 Lobby Kids became a cult at Bryant - Cara DelSesto • We had to sneak past the RAs on duty - Jon Hagenow
Sophomore Year • Remember when Hall 15 (Bristol) flooded... poor kids - Ryan Kilcoyne • Sox/Pats Championships - Anthony Barreia • We went to one of the best experiences of our lives, the Sophomore International Experience #SIE - Linette Pichardo • We learned the difference between good and bad monkeys in Malaysia - Jon Hagenow 32
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Senior Memories
Four Years of Memories
Class of 2021
Junior Year • Remember when we went home for two weeks due to COVID thinking we’d come back... Ryan Kilcoyne • We got a “two-week extension” on our Spring Break - Cara DelSesto • We left for Spring Break and things changed drastically... We transferred to Zoom University! #ThanksCovid - Linette Pichardo
Senior Year • Remember when we got a new president! -Ryan Kilcoyne • Life was turned upside down by COVID-19 with its New Normal yet we still thrived and prevailed. -Jon Hagenow The Archway 2021 Commencement Issue
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Nicole Mullally
Connor Mulligan
Abby Murphy
Daniel Murphy
Jared Murphy
Marcus Navarro
Kylie Nelson
Nika Nguyen
Adrián G. Nieves Montesinos
Carla Nigaglioni
Taylor Nuzzo
Sarah Oakes
Alyssa Olivieri
Amelia Olsen
Hannah Olsen
Arianna Oropeza Petersen
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Senior Portraits
Cole O’Brien
Kathryn O’Connor
Michael O’Connor
Allie O’Keeffe
Adam O’Neill
Maria Parfenova
Nickolas Park
Airani Patel
Victoria Pearlingi
Jenna Pearlman-Marriott
John Pensallorto
Robert Perez Jr.
Jhani Perez
Kathleen Perkins
Joshua Pestana
Colin Peterson
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Jared Piatnik
Linette Pichardo
Emily Piker
Nikolette Pitten
Matthew Poirier
Haley Pollock
Kristen Porcaro
Morgan Powell
Cassandra Prazeres
Rocco Prestia
Joseph Prete
Ariana Prichard
Angelica Provost
Michael Queenan
Gino Ramasci
Kylie Ratelle
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Senior Portraits
Erica Raus
Eileen Read Maria
Trent Remillard
Emily Ren
Gabriela Reymont
Frank Ricci Jr.
Lorenzo J. Ricci
Alyssa Rice
Zachary Richards
Matthew Richard
Alexa Rivera
Ryan J. Roberge
Liam Roberts
Nicholas Robischeau
Melissa Rodriguez
Alejandro Rojas
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Zoé Rojo
Caterina Rokke
Sophia Romano
Troy Romano
Nicole Rosario
Kyle Rosa
Amanda Rosenberger
Matthew Rosenthal
Ashley Rose
Jennifer Rosinski
Madeline Roy
Cameron Ruggiero
Luz-Margarita Ruiz
Leah Ryan
Nicholas Samia
Luke Samperi
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Olivia Sampson
Jocelyn Santiago
Samuel Sargent
Gabriela Scarduffa
Michael Schiappa
Tyler Schoff
Nyeka Scott
Meghan Sengstacken
Julia Setter
Grace Sewell
Elina Shahmarova
Alexa Silva
Jared Silveira
Robert Simoneau
Nyla Simon
Arin Smalls
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Ryan Smith
Bridget Smyth
Sophia Soares
Matthew Sorensen
Michael Spadaro
Jocelyn Spas
Brigitte Spencer
Amanda Spitaleri
David Stahr
Matthew Stansky
Bennett Stefanowicz
Devin Steinmetz
Michael Stournaras
Lyndsay Swanston
Kathryn Sweeney
Venkata Ullas Tadisetty
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Senior Portraits
Venkata Uthej Tadisetty
Mark Tantorski
Michael Tareteta
Kandis Taylor
Noah Tellier
Savanna Templeton
William Theodoropoulos
Peter Theuerkauf
Jake Thomas
Katherine Tibbitts
Brian Tierney
Natalia Torrellas
Jennifer Tougas
Alex Trompetta
Emilio Trujillo
Konstantinos Tsakonas
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Olivia Tsamparlis
Sara Tyma
Joel Urizar
Olivia Valenti
Rylee Van Epps
Michael Vaughan
Meghan Veenstra
Jack Veglas
Patrick Vienneau
Kyle Vignone
Julia Villanueva
Aislinn Vitale
Ronald Vitarelli
Jack Waldron
Jillian Walinski
Andrew Wallace
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Senior Portraits
Michael Warren
Jakub Wasilewski
Camryn Wesoloskie
Morgan Whalen
Amanda C. Whitham
Caroline Williams
Jonathan Williams
Mark Williams
Peter Williams
Michael Wojcikiewicz
Heather Wong
Brendan Wood
Shelby Wuchek
Yuan Yao
Xiao Yu
Xincheng Yu
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Robert Zacchio
Lauren Zimmerman
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Senior Portraits
Xianyi Zeng
Nicholas Zeoli
Eric Zhang
The Senior Class Gift
Class of 2021
The Class of 2021 has taken the Bryant experience to unprecedented levels. Our Class should take pride in their achievements, academically, athletically, and personally, over the past four years, and especially now in the face of extreme adversity. Bryant has allowed us to grow into confident graduates, ready to take on any challenge presented to us. The Class of 2021 will pay-it-forward through its Senior Class Gift to the area of campus that means the most to each individual senior. Reflecting on the skills we have gained from Bryant, we found that there is no substitute for strong leadership. Those who came before us have helped in guiding our paths to success; now as soon-to-be alumni, we feel the responsibility of helping those who follow us. The Class of 2021 has seen incredible success with senior participation. Although we may not beat the current record held by the Class of 2019, our class has truly left its mark on Bryant history. In order to break new ground in Bryant Senior Giving, the Senior Class Committee had planned events throughout the year for the Class of 2021. We kicked-off the year with Bryant Giving Day, followed by a celebration of 100 days until graduation in the Rotunda, and a celebration of 50 days until graduation in Fisher. We would like to thank our Senior Class Committee Members for their hard work in planning such wonderful events. Alyssa Rice, Amanda Whitham, Anna Torregrossa, Ayse Kamber, Laurethe Gyamfi – your insightful vision and thoughtfulness made our Senior year exceptional. In addition, we would like to extend our gratitude to our advisors, Jessica Raffaele and Julia McLaughlin. Thank you for putting in so much of your time and hard work for these events and Senior Class Gift. Your guidance has meant the world to us. Congratulations to the Class of 2021! It has been an honor to serve as your Senior Class Committee Co-Chairs. Go Books, Go Bulldogs! -Allie O’Keeffe, Madison Brown, Kelly Barry, and Caroline Meizen
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Seniors Not Pictured
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Tyler Adkins Shaurya Agarwal Jack Aigner Aidana Aisa Aaron Alden Morgan Almeida Jaime Alvarez Veronica Amarelo Michael Andrejco Matthew Archetto Max Asnes Tyler Audet Luka Autard Zachary Ayers Zachary Babineau Ryan Baker Timothy Baker Aron Barbell Owen Barnes Daniel Barrett Huseyin Basak Nicholas Batutis Nicholas Beeson Philip Belmatch Michael Bianco Lian Bishop Michael Biskupic Brooke Bjelko Christopher Black Hannah Bloomwald Lee Blumsack Caitlin Bolen Devon Bolen Jacob Borgia Sean Brady Austin Briggs Jakob Britton-Doucette Patrick Brosnan Sean Brunelle Eoin Byrne Michael Calder Kevin Cameron Bryant Campbell Colin Campbell Joan Candelas Lauren Canning John Cappelletti Matthew Caruso Dylan Cashman Christopher Catanzaro Natalie Chadwick Taylor Chamberlin Douglas Champagne Elliot Charron Audrey Chase Nicholas Chaves Siru Chen Xuanhong Chen Yijie Chen Seth Christmas
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Alec Citrano Eric Citrano Brett Cloutier Veronyca Conrado Robert Cooke Jr. Sophie Cooper Dylan Coppinger Megan Cosgrove Richard Costello Rachel Cousineau Janelle Couto Alexandra Coyne Matthew Crisafulli Kory Curtis Adriana Czarniecki Alexander DaCosta Connor Dane Ludeen Danielson Dylan DeBettencourt Dren Dedushaj Matthew DeFreitas Frank Dejkus Jack Delfino Trevor Dell’Oso Paige DiForte Daniel DiMaria Natalie DiMichele Kaitlyn DiNapoli Michael DiNapoli Colby Dixon Jake Donaruma Zhenxiong Dong Ryan Donohue Stephane Driesen Emma Dubuc Robert DuCharme Kieran Duncan Madison Dupee Kyle Dupont Zachary Eaton Armen Eghian Hall Elisias Abbigail England Amelia Erbe Christopher Ethier James Ewing Haixu Fan Mark Farah Shea Farrell William Felix Brenden Femiano Paul Ferrecchia Jeremy Fishman Zachary Fiss Michael Fitzgerald Shannon Flaherty Alvin Fleischer-Djoleto Lucas Florio Vincent Florio Kyle Foley
Ryan Follett Tyler Freitas Lawrence Fritz John Gallagher Nicholas Gannon Hernan Garcia Colleen Gear Jackson Genatossio Caroline George Cameron Germaine Caleb Gibbons Marcus Girard Emma Gobbi Samuel Goforth Edward Golas Karla Gonzalez Conor Gorman Danielle Gorman Easton Gormican Sydney Gorski Adam Gosselin Michael Grassetti Philip Guarino Kyle Guenthner Marc Guerette Jenna Gurley Garrett Hagen Hailey Hammick Miranda Harpin Julie Harris Trevor Hazlewood Xiao He Aura Heinsen Garrido Nicholas Henkin Sandra Hicks E. Wyatt Hoechner IV Jordan Hoey Matthew Hogan Robert Holmberg Matthew Houde Qiurong Huang Yiming Huang Yuxin Huang Jamie Irwin Michael Jagos Aashna Jain Shengqi Jiao Justin Johnson Nicole Johnston Kathryn Kalogeris Giana Kapoosuzian John Karam Jorge Karduss Jr. Abel Karugu Jason Katz Alexandra Kazarian Emmet Kemble Ciara Kenny Austin Kent Shawn Kilcoyne
Thomas Kimmell Erin King Kate Konratev Ben Koplovsky Jiaqi Kuang Daniel Kurson Nicholas LaFreniere Jacquelyn Lambert Natalie Langella Austin Larabee Zachary Laramie Juan Lastra Cody Latimer Jacob Laurence Lexa Lauzier Christopher Lavalley Mitchell Leahy John Leary Jackson Leduc Cameron Leeman Madelyn Levis Haozhe Li Hongsen Li Qian Li Wenxuan Li Shiying Lin Yun Lin Emma Lindquist James LoChirco III Julia Lopez Xiaoruo Luo Yuanshu Luo Brendan Lussier Christina Lussier Ryan MacGlashing Erika Malczynski John Maloney Gregory Mancini Brendan Mandile Miles Manning Benjamin Marini Patrick Marmen John Martin Trent Massam Megan Mausert Matthew Mays Andrew McCarthy Megan McCarthy Meredith McDonald Philippe McDonald Thomas McDonald Evan McGinn Joseph McHugh Brendan McIrney Andrew McKenzie Ishan Mehta Carlos Meltz Jr. Cameron Mendonca Jacob Miller Connor Mislow
Class of 2021 Robert Mitchell III Leandro Moro Thomas Mountain Nicholas Mulligan Nidhi Murli Cole Murphy Evan Murphy Karni Murray Jessica Muzzulin Rebecca Nalesnik Kevin Nardone Andrew Nicolas Noah Nowak Sarah Nowick Peter Oberg Mark O’Brien Owen O’Keefe Stephen Olive Chelsea Oliveira David Onyemem Marc O’Rourke Khadija Ouzaka Christian Padova Kristen Page Nichole Page Savannah Palardy Noah Pallotta-Walsh Caleigh Paquette Megan Parker Aditya Paruchuri Dante Pasqualoni Nathaniel Patch Max Paul Christina Pearl Dana Peck Austin Pegram Grant Pertile Carter Petro Morgann Plante Aidan Powers Maxwell Pudvar Bryce Pulkinen Zachary Quirk Nicholas Riccio Jakob Richardson Zachary Richardson Gabrielle Ritzer James Rizzitano Marc Rizzo Michaela Robbio Paul Rocheleau II Abigail Rocker Chantel Rodriguez Nazir Rodriguez Francisco Rolon Mitchell Romsey Sarah Ross Samantha Rowell Samuel Rubin-Grant Ved Rudra
Madison Ruggieri Luigi Sabino Samantha Sagnella Jonathan Saker Leon Schmid Aaron Schulz Emma Schwartz William Seyler Muhammad Shafi Ashley Sharma Hongyi She Brendan Shea Thomas Shea Alexis Sherwin Wanyi Shi Patrick Shurdut Ryan Simpson Sydney Sims Andrea Skawinski Caterina Soto Stephanie Sousa Zoie Spinnler Benjamin Strauss Carly Sullivan Liam Sullivan Margaret Sullivan Daniel Summers Alex Syku Shijing Tan Hao Tang Kris Tase Brandon Taylor Srikanth Thatavarthy Luke Therieau Brendan Therrien Brandon Timulty Joseph Tocco Jackson Tormey Anna Torregrossa Adam Tosi Valerie Trabucco William Treuel Samantha Turcotte Alec Turner Taylor Tyan Christopher Tzimorangas Drew Ugaro Brandon Valcourt William Vanner Nicholas Vencile Harshwardhan Vijan Amy Villegas-Zwerg Matthew Vincent Nicholas Viscariello Benjamin Volpe Aaron Wall Matthew Wallace Nini Wang Yiru Wang Yule Wang
Zihan Wang Erika Ward Tyrrell Washington Blake Wasserman Victoria Wec Baoyi Wen Harrison Wheeler Nadia White Samuel White Seamus White Mackenzie Wild Fu Kang Wong Gregory Wood Christopher Wright Jonathan Wurtmann Yu Xia Lan Xian Yixuan Xu Luyao Yang Yifei Yang Yijian Yang Emma Ye Zeshu Yu Anqi Zhang Ruilin Zheng Ling Zhu
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What’s Your Favorite Spot On Campus?
I always found the area near the pond to be very peaceful. I loved the willow trees there. Sometimes I would love to throw a football around there or just chill on a nice day.- Adam O’Neill My favorite spot on campus is by the pond when the fountain is on. It becomes such a serene area where someone can decompress or do homework while sitting under a tree. - Timothy McLaughlin Bryant Pond on 80 degree days - Anthony Barreia The Bryant Pond because you can always catch the most beautiful sunsets from there! - Madison Crowley
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Senior Memories
Class of 2021
My favorite spot on campus is Beirne Stadium! - Kory Curtis
My favorite spot on campus is the center bridge and the Archway! This became my favorite spot because when the going got tough, looking at the Archway always reminded me of how great it would feel to walk under it during graduation reflecting on all the great accomplishments, hard work, and even tough times college brought. All the hard work really paid off! - Ryan Kilcoyne The Archway 2021 Commencement Issue
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Which Bryant Community Member Made A Meaningful Impact On You? Thank you to Professor Derderian (Mara Derderian/Director, Financial Planning Program/Finance) for leading the CFP Program at Bryant and helping to ensure students have ample opportunities to further their knowledge of financial planning. Thank you to Professor Nigro (Peter Nigro/Professor/Finance) for teaching FIN 315 in a such a way that you pushed students to further their understanding of financial markets and institutions while also preparing them for a career in the realm of finance.- Sophia Romano
Jess Raffaele, Director, Student Events and Orientation Programs Jess has opened the door to many opportunities for me and helped me grow as a person throughout my time at Bryant. She has always taken time out of her day to guide and motivate me to be my best self. Thank you for everything! - Allie O’Keeffe
Flo St. Jean | Student Affairs | Advisor of The Bottom Line Thank you Flo for always being there for me! From my first year all the way to the end of college, Flo went above and beyond as she advised The Bottom Line. Flo has been a true mentor to me and I’m excited to keep in touch as true friends in my life after college. -Ryan Kilcoyne
I want to give a quick shoutout to Professor Deluga in the Psychology Department! He always made class so fun, enjoyable and always had the class laughing! I will never forget dog sitting in your class and your red Gatorade! - Madison Crowley
Jess Raffaele / Director of Student Events and Orientation Programs / Shout out to Jess Raffaele for being a person who has helped me grow from a shy student to an empowered leader, and a person who does not apologize for being who I am. My time at Bryant would not be what it has without your mentorship and guidance. - Cara DelSesto
Isil Yavuz, Head of the Entrepreneurship Department: I have been incredibly lucky to cross paths with Professor Yavuz during my time at Bryant. She has been working effortlessly to build up the Bryant Entrepreneur Department. It has been a pleasure working with her on some new and exciting initiatives. Cannot wait to see how they play out in the coming months! - Melissa Hernandez
Edi Tebaldi / Director of Honors Program / I want to thank Professor Edi Tebaldi for the mentorship he provided me during my time at Bryant. His guidance over the last three years as my professor, supervisor, and thesis advisor has allowed me to grow as a student and researcher. His dedication to his students and supporting academic excellence at Bryant is unparalleled. - Michael Matkowski
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Class of 2021 I want to give a shoutout to some faculty and staff members who have made a huge impact in my college years, and for that I’ll be eternally grateful. I am better because of you! - Patricia Gomez (Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages Department (Spanish) - Kaoru Paganelli (Assistant Director, Office of International Students and Scholars, PDSO/ARO) - Kevin Keith Martins (Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) - Emily Collins Garcia (Coordinator for International Student Integration, PwC Center for Diversity & Inclusion) - Alex Perullo (Professor, English and Cultural Studies) - Katayoun Alidadi (Professor, History and Social Sciences) Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Miguelina Feris
The Bryant Community is undoubtably nothing short of amazing and full of many inspiring individuals. This community is full of endless opportunity, unmatched potential, challenging but fulfilling academics, and friends and classmates who turn into family. The Bryant Community is truly one of a kind, and because of that I can’t imagine spending these last four years anywhere else! I am eternally grateful for everything that Bryant has given me because it shaped me into the person I am today. - Samantha Iacone
I would like to thank all my professors throughout my time at Bryant. They all had their significant impact on me and i am grateful for all of them. - Aziza Hamidi
I will always be grateful to Professor Lori Coakley, Management Department, for all that she has done for me during my time at Bryant. I want to say a special thank you to her for being an inspiration. She has really made a huge difference in my education. I am grateful to have her as a professor for two classes. Her criticial feedbacks, art of challenging and getting me out of my comfort zone are big wins. She is awesome! Kirsten Hokeness, Departmental Chair of Science and Technology. She has always been a supportive guide and source of motivation during my time here at Bryant. Dr. Noelle Harris, Counseling Servies, for all the courtesies extended on my behalf. Margarete Jean-Louis, Undergraduate Advising, for making my transition each semester a smooth and stress free one. Special shoutout to Esther Kalajian, Professor Brittany Newmann, Kaoru Paganelli, Professor Christopher Reid, Professor Brian Blais, Professor Stephanie Mott, Professor Steven Weicksel, Kelley Tiarks, and Professor Suzanne Walker. - Nyeka Scott
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The best thing about Bryant is... The best thing about Bryant is the fact that there is a sense of belonging on campus and a space for everyone. - Nyeka Scott
The best thing about Bryant is the community. During these years at Bryant I have met some of the most amazing people in my life, not only the students but also staffs and professors. The Bryant Community is so strong and welcoming that it feels like a second home. Linette Pichardo
The paths to growth. There are so many different ways to gain hard, soft, and real-world skills. From joining a club to participating in a work-study, there are avenues for every person. - Alyssa Rice
The best thing about Bryant is its commitment to the students. - Timothy McLaughlin
The best thing about Bryant is the community and the real world application in and out of the classroom. - Ryan Kilcoyne
Any lessons learned through the pandemic? When the pandemic began we all were put into quarantine, when we came back in the fall it may have been scary but we got through the tough times together. Bryant is a strong community and a big lesson learned is to help one another and that we are strongest when acting together. - Timothy McLaughlin
Tough times don’t last, tough people do. - Anthony Barreia
I learned that we shouldn’t ever take the fun experiences in life with friends for granted. The pandemic showed me how much I value time with my friends more than anything else in my life. - Ryan Kilcoyne
The COVID-19 Pandemic has taught me that we are so much stronger as a community than we can ever be as individuals. - Cara DelSesto
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Senior Memories
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Professor Eileen Kwesiga - Faculty Reflection Class of 2021, I thank you for the nomination and I am honored to provide the faculty perspective for this year. Most importantly, I hope that you will feel affirmed and encouraged by my opinions about you. Resiliency is the word that comes to mind when I think of you. According to national averages, about 34.5 % men and 36.6 % women attained undergraduate in 2019. This year we can assume the numbers are probably lower, which attests to your strength especially with extra challenges you endured because of COVID 19 pandemic. Four years ago, you came to Bryant full of hope, curious and ready to test your independence. For many of you it was your first time living away from the safety and comfort of your homes and parents. Before ever stepping in a classroom lecture, you were immersed into the IDEA Program where you worked on challenging real-life problems with a team of students you did not know as you bopped to Shape of You by Ed Sheehan, HUMBLE by Kendrick Lamar, Look at What Made Me Do by Taylor Swift etc. This experience begun stretching and preparing you for the many sleepless nights that you would experience in your four short years at Bryant. As if IDEA was not crazy enough, GFOB, MGT200, and many other “fun” classes were waiting for you which taught you concepts and ideas that expanded you cognitively. By this time, you had resigned to the fact that you could not avoid team projects at Bryant, and therefore it behooved you to learn how to work well with others for your sanity as well as your grade. Just as you were about to forever hate the concept of teams (in your sophomore year) and accept the fact that other humans or students are sloths that cannot be incentivized to do good work, something in your brain switched on and you become good at working with and leading others! In fact, in your third year you were now comfortable with college life and took on more leadership without the
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Faculty & Staff Reflections
professors begging and just like emperor Kuzco you found your groove! As you started to smoothly coast in your third year as you now knew how the system works i.e., how to work (manage) the professors, you liked your major, you had garnered some internship experience; COVID 19 Pandemic hit! You were sent home and had to adjust to zoom university with many challenges. Some of you experienced losses and stresses which could have made you give up, and yet you prevailed. Even though the going was tough for you, you sympathized with the seniors who were robbed their last year on campus. You hoped and prayed that you would not suffer the same fate. Summer was long and boring as you worked online, that is if you were lucky enough to find work. Some of you become actively involved in Black Lives Matter Movement and other social justice issues at home and at Bryant. Nevertheless, you could not wait to get back to school in the fall and see what your senior year would look like. Your senior year can be quickly summarized as the year of quarantine! Many of you accumulated plenty frequent stay miles at the quarantine club. Withstanding, you rolled with the punches and strove to excel and make the best of the hand that was dealt to you. You continued your campus engagement activities, you interned, volunteered, attended classes whether online, in class, or somewhere in the stratosphere, and yet you did not complain too much. As you go out into this uncertain world, I have every confidence that the resiliency that you have continuously solidified through planned (Bryant’s excellent curriculum) and unplanned real-life challenges will serve you well. Everyone at Bryant is cheering for you, and I am sure they will all agree with me that the Class of 2021 you have overcome a lot and thoroughly turned those sour life lemons into one darn good lemonade! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Dr. Kevin Keith Martins - Staff Reflection To the Bryant University Class of 2021: Take stock of this moment. Recognize the gravity of this day. Reflect on your journey. And Rejoice in your accomplishments. I want to challenge you to reflect on the entirety of your time at Bryant. The challenges and the joys, friendships and heartbreak, successes and failures. No one alive has experienced early adulthood just quite like you. Over the past four years, there were countless national and global events that have shaped your outlook and prepared you to be the future leaders we all need. The #metoo movement gained international attention as women led the way for awareness and advocacy for accountability. Climate change and its devastating effects manifested in some of the worst wildfires ever recorded in California, Australia and the Brazilian Amazon. The movement for Black lives sparked worldwide uprisings when a series of high-profile murders forced the world to pay attention to racial injustice in America in the 21st century. Those events sadly, prepared us for more conversations when racial violence against Asian communities spiked in the same year. An increasingly polarized political climate, fueled by massive disinformation as a weapon against democracy and progress, culminated with a siege on the U.S. Capitol Building. And the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic changed many aspects of our lives for over a year. Many of you were thrust into necessary yet difficult conversations you did not quite feel equipped to have. I admire how many students chose not to be passive bystanders and actively sought ways to get involved locally and nationally. I hope that when you reflect on this period of your life, you will be able to say that Bryant University helped prepare you to face the challenges of tomorrow. Global events may serve as a backdrop to your time in college, but the core of your memories will be filled with the people, places, and activities that meant the most to you. I have had the distinct pleasure to witness the transformational experiences that allowed you to push the limits of excellence. Along your journey, you forged relationships that strengthened your capacity to challenge, love, and lead. A distinctive feature of Bryant is how well it teaches students to ask better, more meaningful questions. As you prepare for the next phase of life, ask yourself, what did you learn from the challenges you thought were too great to overcome? What have you learned about yourself and how can you use that knowledge to shape a better world? Personally, I want to thank you for allowing me to take part in so many of your experiences. From the 4MILE Program in the summer of 2017 to the 2021 commencement, I am fortunate to have accompanied you on this journey. Thank you for allowing me to be a mentor, an advisor, and an advocate. Thank you for the one-on-one conversations, the creative performances, and the considerate gestures of appreciation. Thank you trusting me to keep you safe when we were thousands of miles from campus in Europe for Sophomore International Experience. Thank you for telling your parents that you felt seen, heard, and appreciated on campus. Thank you for allowing me to provide guidance and support with some of the most important decisions you have made while in college. Thank you for making Bryant the place where you found your voice and decided how you will use it. I will cherish these moments knowing that I learned from you as much as I hope you learned from me. Today, you should celebrate with family and friends. Tomorrow, the world needs you to roll up your sleeves and lead. Congratulations, Bryant University class of 2021! Sincerely, -Kevin K. Martins
The Archway 2021 Commencement Issue
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2021 Commencement Award Recipients
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Award
2021 Recipient
The Achievement in Creative Expression Award: The Anna M. & Jere St. Angelo ‘61 Accounting Award (1): The Anna M. & Jere St. Angelo ‘61 Accounting Award (2): The Bryant University Good Citizenship Award: The Bryant University Scholar Award: The Bryant University Scholar Award: The Communication Department Award: The Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key: The Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key: The Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key: The Environmental Science Leadership Award: The Excellence in Biology Award: The Excellence in Data Science Award The Excellence in Economics Award: The Excellence in Information Systems Award The Excellence in Marketing Award: The Excellence in Psychology Award: The Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award: The George J. Kelley Award: The George J. Kelley Award: The George M. Parks Award: Global Studies Award: The Jack H. Rubens Leadership in Finance Award: The Jack H. Rubens Leadership in Financial Services Award: The Jeremiah Clark Barber Award: The John Hancock Insurance Company Award (1): The John Hancock Insurance Company Award (2): The Leander Francis Emin Endowed Homestead Award: Legal Studies Award: The Literary and Cultural Studies Award: The Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award: The Modern Languages Department Award: The NEHRA - Management Department Commencement Award for Excellence in Human Resources Management (1):
Dana Brokmeier Sara Tyma Connor Koch Kojo Appiah Amy Villegas-Zwerg Edward Golas Alexis Sherwin Shawn Kilcoyne Danielle Caci Christopher Dodd Amelia Olsen Caroline Williams Matthew Houde Christopher Dodd Jordan Klein Peter Elder Meghan Dalton Rebecca Michaud Christopher Dodd Shawn Kilcoyne Olivia Valenti Alyse Beauchemin Kaitlin Dickey Michael Alfieri Kyle Rosa Jonathan Huntley Rebecca Michaud Zachary Fiss Gianna Ceccarelli Nichole Page Jack Aigner Maia Correll Abby Murphy
Senior Awards
The NEHRA - Management Department Commencement Award for Excellence in Human Resources Management (2): The NEHRA - Management Department Commencement Award for Excellence in Human Resources Management (3): The Pell Medal for United States History Award: Political Science Award: The President’s List Sash: The President’s List Sash: The President’s List Sash: The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Achievement Award: The Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants Award: The Roger W. Babson Award: The SAS Institute Award (1): The SAS Institute Award (2): Sociology Award: Student Charge The Student Senate Service Award (1): The Student Senate Service Award (2): The Student Senate Service Award (3): The Student Senate Service Award (4): The Student Senate Service Award (5): The Student Senate Service Award (6): The Student Senate Service Award (7):
Olivia Millstone Katherine Tibbitts Alyse Beauchemin Kathleen Bannon Shawn Kilcoyne Danielle Caci Christopher Dodd Justin Johnson Angelica Provost Shannon Flaherty Kaitlyn Fales Edward Golas Hannah Bloomwald Cara DelSesto Ryan Kilcoyne Olivia Valenti Jonathan Huntley Amanda Whitham Alec Turner Cara DelSesto Matthew Caruso
The Archway 2021 Commencement Issue
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From the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dear Members of the Class of 2021: You have thrived in one of the most difficult senior years I have seen in my time in higher education. You have been resilient and as I said you have thrived. You didn’t let this pandemic stop your education. And for those of you unable to be on campus in person, you also told the pandemic that it would not stop you and your education. You took classes in the middle of the night and kept up with the community by attending on-line events. I am so proud of all of you. Resiliency is the word that describes for me your class. It was awe inspiring to watch you work through all of this – to test weekly, to go into quarantine when needed, to wear masks in and out of class, to stay in small groups, and to keep student events going virtually. You embedded the real meaning of community at Bryant. That experience and approach are gifts you will have in the rest of your lives and the gift you have given all of us who remain on campus for the next students to come. You are resilient, strong, and innovative and as the class of 2021 will always be known for those qualities. I hope for you, that you take those qualities and build and discover a life of hope without fear; of love; and of grace. I also want to take this opportunity to personally thank the class of 2021. During some long COVID days and nights, your encouragement and support for me and the entire Student Affairs team has meant everything to us. You encouraged us not to give up with your spirit of continuation no matter the obstacles. It is an honor to watch you graduate. When life has hard moments as it is currently displaying and will as you go forward, remember the resiliency, strength, and innovation you displayed and let that give you hope. Congratulations Bryant Class of 2021. I will remember you always for helping us all get through this very challenging year. You did it!!!! Always hold on to that and be proud!!! Sincerely, Inge Dr. Inge-Lise Ameer Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students
From the Provost On behalf of the Office of the Provost and the Academic Affairs division, congratulations to the Class of 2021! What a year you have shared and it is truly wonderful to be together today in person to celebrate your success. You have successfully completed a rigorous program of study. It has been a pleasure to watch you mature professionally and personally and develop over the past four years. The Class of 2021 is an exceptional class, the epitome of “grit”, and one that has enjoyed tremendous academic success. During your time matriculating at Bryant, you experienced a campus life that inspires personal growth in a culture that excites intellectual curiosity and embraces academic excellence. You are now Bryant ambassadors in the communities where you live and work and are ideal representatives of our university’s commitment to academic quality. You are unique, professional, collaborative thinkers impacting the world in ways unimaginable. Never settle for mediocrity; continue to embrace greatness. I wish you all much happiness and success in your future endeavors! Go Books. Go Bulldogs.
Glenn M. Sulmasy Provost and Chief Academic Officer
