Spring Break
Leadership takes the spotlight at 20th annual Rainville Awards
Justin Oswald
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News
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Anderson, a political science major, was honored with the student leadership award at the 20th annual Rainville Leadership Awards, along with Paula Arruda and We're Offering Women Wisdom group.
The winners were chosen with the hope of carrying on the legacy of A. Robert Rainville, vice president of Student Affairs from 1980 to 1986. The award is designed to "recognize, encourage and celebrate students' leadership in the campus community," according to the event's program.
Rob Rainville, the son of A. Rainville, addressed the audience at the start of the night.
"He took pride in the success of the people he came in contact with," Rainville said of his father. "If you could take a piece of him, and carry on that legacy, that is what would make him happy."
As a starting pitcher and captain of the URI softball team, Anderson was an exemplary model of these criteria. Her mother died of breast cancer the summer before Anderson entered the university. Although the death was an obstacle for Anderson, it propelled her to excel in each facet of her daily college life.
"It gave me a sense of a greater purpose. I was leaving so much behind that I had to make the best of it here," Anderson said.
Each step of the Rainville Award was unexpected for Anderson.
"It was a complete shock - from the nomination, to a finalist to winning," Anderson said.
Anderson said she never took the precious value of every day for granted.
Her leadership roles off the field included being an orientation leader for athletes and a peer advocate helping to increase awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault and drug-related issues.
Anderson credited softball as an enormous catalyst of her success, because she believes sports offer an active role in leadership. "I learned things on the field that could never be taught in the classroom," she said.
Anderson said she did not believe all leaders were born with the innate qualities that leadership requires.
"This university has made me the leader I am," Anderson said.
Paula Arruda, a 27-year-old single mother that transferred to URI from the Community College of Rhode Island in 2005, was awarded the student employee award.
Arruda has worked in the dean of arts and sciences' office and hopes to get her master's in college student personnel.
Her daughter Elyssa, 5, has been a motivating factor in Arruda's desire to help others.
"She gives me perspective and hope for the future," Arruda said. Arruda also attributed Elyssa with making her "good on my toes," and added that life with academics, work and a daughter is a juggling act around the clock.
"I love what I do. I love that I can help students," Arruda said with tears in her eyes as Elyssa stood next to her.
Arruda earned a 3.53 GPA while majoring in psychology. She said she enjoyed her job in the dean's office because she was able to advise and help students hands on.
"I get to help students know what they're responsible for, and their rights, and how to navigate through the system," Arruda said.
When asked what keeps her so involved in working with students, Arruda simply answered, "I care."
The Team Excellence Award went to the group We're Offering Women Wisdom, or WOWW. Member Haleigh Lipnick said that the group's mission is to provide mentoring to female freshmen, who join the group in their first year at college and then become mentors themselves in their sophomore year. The mentors take on freshmen to mentor as "big sisters."
"It gives [the freshmen] a sense of community and belonging in a time of their life when sometimes they don't know which way is up," she said.
Lipnick said that she thinks WOWW was able to win the Rainville Award thanks to "the hard work and dedication of our mentors, the school community, as well as the freshmen."
Another member, Erica Richard said that she is proud to belong to the group.
"I've never met a group of women so incredible and motivated and caring. They're my closest friends," she said.
News Editor Robert Preliasco contributed to this report.
