FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2002

11 Honored by the Rhode Island Speaker of the House and House of Representatives

Providence, RI—Ten current Rhode Island College student-athletes and one alumnus were honored by the Honorable John B. Harwood, Speaker of the House, and the Rhode Island House of Representatives at a reception held in the House Lounge at the Rhode Island State House on Thursday, May 2.

The event was designed to give significant public recognition to men and women from the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island who have had significant achievements in their academic and athletic pursuits at their respective institutions. The honorees have also demonstrated exemplary citizenship and community service.

Gordon Fox, House Finance Chairman, and Kenneth Carter, Secretary of House Finance, were the masters of ceremonies.

The ten Scholar-Athletes from Rhode Island College were: Justin Deveau, a freshman wrestler from North Attleboro, MA; Joyelle Galli, a senior who competes in both indoor and outdoor track & field from Exeter; Alex Gracia, a senior men’s soccer player from West Warwick; Shannon Hughey, a junior gymnast and women’s lacrosse player from Warwick; Cynthia Murray, a senior women’s tennis player from Brooklyn, CT; Tim Rudd, a junior cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field student-athlete from Warwick; Caitlin Schimmel, a senior women’s soccer and softball player from Cumberland; Brandee Trainer, a senior women’s volleyball player from North Kingstown; Erica Waltonen, a senior women’s volleyball player from West Greenwich and Kim Warrington, a sophomore softball player from North Kingstown.

An Athletic Alumnus from each school was also honored. Providence’s Matthew J. Gill, Jr. was RIC’s award-winner.

Gill, a former baseball player at RIC, is currently the President of Hudson Liquid Asphalts, Inc., located in Providence, a position he has held since 1994.

Prior to joining the Hudson Companies, he was employed by the Gilbane Building Company in a senior management position responsible for client relations from 1990-94.

Gill was the Director of the State of Rhode Island’s Department of Transportation from 1985-94. His responsibilities included the administration and enforcement of all laws pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles, the administration of the state’s six airports, high maintenance garages, construction and maintenance of all state roads. In his capacity as Director of RIDOT, he also served on the Board of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, a statewide mass transit system, and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.

He served as the Assistant Director of the Division of Adult Services for the Rhodes Island Department of Corrections where he was responsible for all adult facilities at the ACI.

He has been an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University since 1980 as an instructor of Special Topics in Corrections Administration, Introduction to Corrections and Corrections in Americas.

Gill is a 1970 graduate of RIC with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in administration.

He resides in Narragansett with his wife Ellen, RIC class of 1971, and their children: Matthew (23) and Allison (20).