Two Cranston Students Win Scholarships Honoring Roger Williams

CRANSTON, RI — Two Cranston students are among six high school seniors statewide who will head off to freshman year sharing $100,000 in college scholarships, the Rhode Island Foundation said Tuesday.

Taleen Donoyan and Diana Iglesias will receive the four-year, renewable scholarships through the Roger Williams Initiative, which honors the state’s founding father.

More than 120 students applied for this inaugural round of scholarships. The six recipients were selected based on financial need, appreciation for Roger Williams’ values and record of academic achievement and community service.

Taleen plans to attend the University of Rhode Island and go into nursing. In her application, she had this to say about Roger Williams' legacy.

"As a first generation citizen of immigrant parents from Syria and Lebanon, I have been told the stories of my parents’ journeys to America in order to escape a life of war and begin building a new life in what they saw as the promised land. I have been brought up in a family of determined and driven people - people who appear as any average folk, but in reality have endured hardship, resistance and brutality, just as Roger Williams himself experienced in his journey in establishing the Providence Plantations, in hopes of revolutionizing peoples’ thoughts on new and different religion, culture and lifestyles.”

Diana plans to attend Providence College.

“The Roger Williams scholarship has impacted me tremendously. It gave me a boost of confidence, knowing that I can attend a college and not have to worry about financial circumstances, and I can attain my goal of majoring in the business field,” she said. “I had implemented Roger Williams’ characteristics of diligence to continue striving for my aspiration and goals, because I am proud to be an educated Latina, proving to many individuals that we can all achieve our dreams if we put our minds to it, just like Roger Williams."

Joining Diana and Taleen as this year’s scholarship recipients are Kelsey Dellinger of North Kingstown; Fatou Dieng, and Ngan “Kim” Le, both of Woonsocket; and Night Jean Muhingabo of Providence.

Photo Caption: Cranston residents Taleen Donoyan, left, and Diana Iglesias are among six high school seniors who will head off to freshman year sharing $100,000 in college scholarships from the Rhode Island Foundation.