For the 46th consecutive year the Talent Development Program has shattered the record books in terms of providing an opportunity to those students who would otherwise not have one. As we all know the TD PREP program is where newly accepted TD students and their parents get a detailed look into the inner workings of the Talent Development program and the process by which our students are accepted, and provided, the means to successfully graduate from the University of Rhode Island. The number of attendees this year was so great that we had to expand the presentation to a live stream that went to two separate auditoriums in two separate buildings. Edwards Auditorium was packed to capacity as were the Swan and Cherry Auditoriums respectively. That made the total of TD friends and family to well over 1200 people! With that many people in attendance you can imagine that the atmosphere was electric!
The program started out with a brief but insightful talk from the Talent Development Assistant Director Joanna Ravello. She centered her talk around a word mosaic that was displayed on the screen in all auditoriums prior to the event. The message was a very poignant one explaining to the audience how the words in this mosaic actually explain what TD NATION means.
She started by explaining in these tough economic times it is only logical that people understand the significance of the Hardge/Forleo Award which is the TD need based financial aid grant that most students in the program receive upon their acceptance. However, Talent Development and the “TD Nation” means so much more than that. Ms. Ravello went on to explain how the TD staff came up with several words that really represented the essence of our program: opportunity, support, family, challenge, legacy, and righteousness. The Assistant Director closed by explaining through the passion of our core staff that ultimately Talent Development is a “ministry of social justice.” She then issued a challenge to the prospective students that by graduation they have their own set of words for what TD NATION means to them. What followed was the introduction of student affairs vice president Dr. Thomas R. Dougan.
Dr. Dougan gave a lively welcome to those in Edwards and the other auditoriums as well. He began by explaining that this day was one of his favorite days of the year because he sees “the accumulation of work, sacrifice, by parents and family so that your son or daughter can be a student at the University of Rhode Island.” He then thanked the parents and guardians for that. Dr. Dougan then proudly announced the one year anniversary of our new Dean of Students Dr. Mary Joe Gonzalez who was in attendance and stood to wave to the crowd. He then shared that this year’s freshman Talent Development class was the most academically gifted TD class in history. He then shifted the focus of his message to how challenging the summer program will be to all the students in attendance but also with that challenge comes all the support and encouragement of the Talent Development staff as well as the University of Rhode Island faculty, staff, and students. The vice president quoted the late Director Emeritus Mr. Leo F. DiMaio in letting the students know that “failure is not an option,” and that if the students failed then he himself has failed. The very animated Dr. Dougan explained that the reason he was so fired up was because these students needed to know that ” they were the future of Rhode Island, he also let the students know that when they arrive in the summer that the University of Rhode Island is their university as well as the fact that Talent Development is their program, and is that “this is a great opportunity you students should embrace Talent Development, celebrate it, be proud of it, be loyal to it, and you will come to absolutely love it as much as we do!” He congratulated the students once again and wished them luck and as is his tradition in signing off gave an enthusiastic “Go Rhody” as he left the stage to a resounding applause.
Next on the program was Talent Development Assistant Director for admissions Mr. Frank Forleo. As only he can, the Assistant Director set the tone by sharing some of his experiences and also opinions on the current NECAP standardized testing situation with Rhode Island high schools. He inspired the students in the room letting them know that each of them are greater than any test and that “no test can measure your heart.” Mr. Forleo then discussed the impressive numbers of over 1200 TD applications received 600 students accepted and how difficult and painstaking the admissions process can be becoming somewhat personal at times but that it is his responsibility to the program and to the TD Nation. He also paid homage to our Director emeritus Mr. Leo F. Dimaio and emphasized how he is and will always be with us as one of the “icons of TD” along with Dr. Harold Langlois, Rev. Arthur L Hardge, Associate Director Ms. Sharon Forleo, and our current Director Mr. Gerald Williams. At this point, brief but impactful history of the growth of TD was shared by Mr. Forleo to point out “the marvel of this diversity that we have in the room, and have had for 46 years.”
The highlight of Mr. Forleo’s talk was when he introduced to the crowd the first students to be accepted in the program from the country of Bhutan he asked if those two young men stand up and be acknowledged by the crowd and welcomed them once again to Talent Development. The Assistant Director then went on much like vice-president did to really accentuate the fact that this is such a great opportunity and that he is so excited to see the future of the state and of the university in the room. He also pointed out that in his experiences he “has never taken anything for granted” in terms of the opportunity that he provides and the responsibility that he feels to the students in the program. He then issued a challenge or as he said it, “put a burden” on the students that were accepted in the program to take responsibility for their acceptance and understand that there were a lot of students that were denied acceptance into the program. That they “carry a burden for those who have not been admitted, and you therefore have to make the most of this legacy and the fact that people died for this program, and for what you now enjoy.” In closing Mr. Forleo challenged the students in the room to accept the fact that it is possible that the future director of Talent Development may indeed be sitting in the room and to accept that challenge because “it takes a special commitment to walk in the same footsteps.”
The final the Speaker of the day was our current director Mr. Gerald R. Williams. He first enthusiastically welcomed all the people present at the event to the University of Rhode Island and the Talent Development program. The dynamic speaker thanked the vice president and once again acknowledged Dean of Students Dr. Mary Jo Gonzales and explained to everyone in attendance what her role was and how she has “cleaned house” since her arrival at the University of Rhode Island and has been outstanding in doing so. The director then acknowledged the presence of Senior Financial Aid Officer Mr. Barry O’Connor who assists Mr. Williams in giving out information and talking to parents during his breakout session after the main event. He finished the introductions by asking that all in attendance acknowledge the core staff and also the current students of TD for all their assistance on this great day. The last part of the introductions where the Director/Father introduced the first family of TD: his wife Mrs. Lisa Williams and his daughters Gelisa and Krystle. The director explained that he is a family man much like many of the people in the room and that he has the same ” teenage woes” as any father of two would have. The proud father then thanked his daughters for the fact that they often sacrifice valuable quality time with their father “allowing” him to lead and direct this great program (TD.) He also thanked his wife for “standing alongside” him as his wife of 26 years, this sentiment was met with resounding applause.
The director then focused his attention on all the prospective students that were in attendance bringing it back to where the event began with Assistant Director Ravello he then shared what TD means to him. He then stated that since 1983 when he entered the TD Program that “you all are my inspiration!” Because no one knows what each and every one of you had to go through to get here, and that the reason that they are here is because TD has been the greatest show on earth since 1968. Mr. Williams went further to emphasize that this day (TD PREP) is act 1 of their journey through TD, the Summer Program is act 2, the fall 2014 and the start of TD Advising is act 3 , and Graduation Day is the final act. In closing, the Director reminded everyone in the room that from here on wherever they are, what they all have in common with every other member of the TD Nation is that they can say that “they are the face of TD”, and that they should “hold their heads high” in knowing that.
With over 1200 applications, 600 acceptances, and more than 480 prospective TD students in house, how could this thing we call Talent Development “NOT” be the greatest show on earth?!