The Ridgway F. Shinn Jr. Study Abroad Scholarship Fund at Rhode Island College honored four student scholarship winners at its annual spring benefit on Saturday, April 16. The benefit began with a performance of “FAME” in the auditorium at Roberts Hall, followed by an Around the World reception in the Forman Theater.

“Our spring event is a way for people to enjoy a magnificent theater production, and to meet the talented students that will benefit from the Fund’s assistance,” said Joy Fox, chair of the Shinn Committee.

Following the performance of FAME, the Shinn Fund congratulated and introduced: Nicholas Girardi, of Johnston, a senior majoring in business management and Spanish, who will be studying economics and foreign trade at the University of Granada in Granada, Spain; Brandi Jackson, of Providence, a junior communication major, who will be traveling to the Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy to study communication and the Italian culture; Alexander Lupica, of Warwick, a sophomore English major, who will be traveling to the Lorenzo di Medici University in Florence, Italy to study Italian language and literature; and Natalie Patalano, of Cranston, a sophomore Italian studies major, who will be traveling to the American International University in London (Florence Campus) in Florence, Italy to study Italian language, literature and art history.

The Fund, maintained by the Rhode Island College Foundation, provides undergraduate scholarships in planned study outside the United States. The scholarship has supported 59 RIC study abroad scholarships in the last 22 years, totaling over $200,000. They have studied in 24 different countries on six continents.

Established in the 1987-88 academic year by Dr. Shinn through the support of many of his friends, colleagues and former students, this fund marked his retirement from 29 years of service at RIC. During those years, he was professor of history, the first chair of the Department of History, the first dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and vice president for Academic Affairs.