Seniors Allyson Faubert and Roan Doyle from Westerly High School, Brandon Thorp from Chariho High School and Chase Donnarummo from Stonington High School were presented with scholarships from The Westerly Lodge of Elks recently during a ceremony held at the Elks Lodge.
Lisa Konicki, president of the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, and the chamber itself will be honored as the Shining Stars at the Stonington Community Center’s Stars Over Stonington Annual Gala.
Megan Mills of Hope Valley was elected to membership into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Rhode Island.
Aimee Filippetti, owner of the Never Enough Bake Shop in Mystic, has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration Connecticut’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Bella Donatelli and Andrew Solomon represented New England at the American College Dance Association’s National College Dance Festival at Georgetown University. Donatelli is a member of the class of 2025 and Solomon is a member of the class of 2027 at Connecticut College.
Conductor Luis Viquez of Westerly has been appointed music director for the Chamber Orchestra of Barrington at St. John’s, beginning in the 2025-2026 season. A member of the faculty at the University of Rhode Island where he is the Music Director of the URI Symphony Orchestra and serves as URI’s Director of Orchestral Studies.
Mystic Seaport Museum was named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the “Marketing Campaign of the Year Non-profit” category in the 23rd annual American Business Awards.
The following local students have been named to the spring 2025 dean’s list at Southern New Hampshire University:
Frank Muller of Pawcatuck; Noah Fagan of Westerly; Ryan Imhof of Westerly; Emma Beauchemin of Westerly; Kaysandra Burns of Hope Valley and Jacob LaRoche of Carolina.
The following local students have been named to the spring 2025 president’s list at Southern New Hampshire University: Alie Vaillancourt of Pawcatuck; Leah Diamanti of Pawcatuck; Brian Canady of Pawcatuck; Shanitza Valentin of North Stonington; Louisa Masilela of Mystic; Alyssa Menard of Westerly; Austin Thorp of Kenyon; Peter Gendreau of Hopkinton; Adam Brandt of Hope Valley; Matthew Stanley of Carolina; Erin Poirier of Bradford; Stephanie Michaud of Bradford.
The following local residents have been named to the 2024 fall semester dean’s list at Simmons University in Boston: Rachel Fretard, Pawcatuck; Maggie Spadaro, Stonington and Anna Kelly, Wakefield.
Jocelyn Foye, a community leader and “tireless advocate for reproductive rights and bodily autonomy,” was awarded an honorary doctorate from Rhode Island College during the college’s 2025 commencement ceremonies. Foye is the executive director and co-founder of The Womxn Project, a grassroots organization committed to advancing equity, bodily freedom, and civic engagement. Under her visionary leadership, The Womxn Project has become a powerful force for social and political progress in Rhode Island, recognized for its bold advocacy, creative community organizing, and unique fusion of art and activism.
