North Kingstown High Student Wins Scholarship

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A North Kingstown High student is 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.

Kelsey Dellinger 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.

Kelsey, who will graduate from North Kingstown High School, plans to attend the University of Rhode Island.

“This scholarship means the opportunity to show the world what I am made of,” she said. “I want to prove that just because someone does not come from a highly educated family, it does not mean that they can't reach their dreams. The ability to attend college with as little debt as possible will lead me on the path towards the life I have always wanted to live.”

In her application, Kelsey had this to say about the Roger Williams' legacy.

“This new colony of Rhode Island was a lively experiment. We humans cannot live a life with boundaries or borders. We crave freedom, this need for liberty embedded in our very DNA. Because of this, I have learned that God cannot be housed under one roof. Tolerance, whether in the form of religion, culture or tradition, is a virtue that all must learn,” she wrote.

Joining Kelsey as a scholarship recipient are Taleen Donoyan and Diana Iglesias, both of Cranston; Fatou Dieng and Ngan “Kim” Le, both of Woonsocket; and Night Jean Muhingabo of Providence.

Photo Caption: Surrounded by her family, Kelsey Dellinger (center) of North Kingstown is among six high school seniors who will head off to freshman year sharing $100,000 in college scholarships from the Rhode Island Foundation.