Beyond the Classroom

Greek life has shaped Sophia Squillante’s URI experience. Not that she originally had ambitions to join a sorority, but when a number of her friends decided to rush Alpha Delta Pi, Squillante decided to try it.

“I was surprised by how welcoming everyone was and how involved I was, not only in activities but also in philanthropy events,” said Squillante. “I have a wonderful time in my sorority, and it is one of the reasons I love URI so much.”

The junior history major who minors in secondary education chose URI mostly because of its location.

“My twin brother is at UConn, but I wanted to get out of state, be near the ocean, and still be able to travel home,” says Squillante. “During the pandemic, my parents’ restaurant took a hard hit.”

“The scholarship I received gave me the freedom to attend URI, which was my first-choice school. It took stress off of my parents and I don’t have to be concerned about college debt.”

URI has exceeded her expectations by providing a broader view of the world. While she still thinks she may become a history teacher in middle or high school, her passion for the subject has broadened and she’s thinking about a graduate degree.

“Prof. Hutchison was my first-year international politics professor and he started my love for politics,” she said. “His class made me want to learn more about history and politics and how they coincide. If I hadn’t loved his class so much I don’t know what I would be doing now.”

Her classroom experiences have been complemented with hands-on learning experiences.

“I observed a classroom in Providence, and I was in Tolman High School [in Pawtucket] once a week for a semester. It opened my eyes to an environment I had never seen before. I learned a lot not only about teaching but also about the world around me. The fact is an entire environment and culture of people can exist 10 minutes down the road from you that you don’t even know exists.”

It has all led to an increased sense of self-sufficiency and independence.

“I always considered myself independent in high school, but URI has inspired me to explore new ideas and new opportunities.”

Isn’t that what a university should do?