2025 TRIS Scholars
Melissa Gonzalez Gutierrez – 2025 Winner
Cranston West
Melissa’s Big Idea: A Community Built on Books, addresses the lack of access to books faced by low-income families in Rhode Island. The hands-on program aims to foster a love of reading by combining creativity and community engagement.
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Haven Hoenick
La Salle Academy
Haven’s Big Idea is a youth leadership and civic engagement program for Rhode Island’s underserved communities. This after-school initiative will provide students with training in leadership, public speaking, advocacy and civic engagement.
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Nachiket Patel
Barrington High
Nachiket’s Big Idea is a community-based approach to alleviate systemic inequities that includes building bonds in the community to brighten the prospects of those in poverty, assistance with bills, tutoring and mentoring, and community events that will empower those in poverty to build a brighter future.
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Jessiret Peña Gomez
Central High
Jessiret’s Big Idea is to build food pantries in Rhode Island schools so no student in school has to feel the pain of hunger while trying to learn.
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Rocco DeMartino
Cumberland High
Rocco’s Big Idea is to restore the Blackstone River, a historic waterway that flows through some of Rhode Island’s most underserved communities.
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Kendra Ramirez
Central Falls High
Kendra’s Big Idea is to create a mobile student support lab that would be designed to meet students where they are and give them the tools they need to succeed in school and in life.
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Jace Goldstein
Moses Brown
Jace’s Big Idea is to create an intergenerational program that connects youth with senior citizens in Rhode Island communities, to combat loneliness and isolation.
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Safiyatu Gassama
Blackstone Valley Prep
Safiyatu’s Big Idea is SmileRI, an app that would allow low-income families in Rhode Island to connect and set up free appointments with local dentists. The app’s “Give a Grin” drive would accept donations to support the program.
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Quadratullah Omari
The MET
Quadratullah’s Big Idea is to turn local laundromats into community learning hubs. While waiting for their laundry, patrons can participate in free English language classes, turning everyday chores into opportunities for growth.
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Suhani Srivastava
North Kingstown High
Suhani’s Big Idea, the Write for the Stars program, offers writing workshops to Rhode Island’s underserved youth. Through these workshops, youth will learn to express themselves, build confidence in their writing and develop essential skills for success in school and beyond.
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Only by listening, can we truly help change narratives.