College Visions

Thrilled to see New England Council Board Member Tim DelGiudice at our Woonsocket site connecting with our Fellow, Natalia Perez! We're grateful for the New England Council's partnership and Natalia's incredible support of our students this summer.

College Visions is thrilled to partner with United Way of Rhode Island once more on the UnitedWeVoteRI campaign. We are 5 days from Rhode Island's primary registration deadline of August 10th! Check your registration status, update your address, or register to vote at vote.sos.ri.gov. Every vote counts, every voice matters!

For more than 20 years, College Visions has expanded access to higher education for first-generation students in Rhode Island. We are proud to share an important milestone in our journey: the establishment of the College Visions Endowment Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.

This endowment represents a significant step in our organization's history and reflects the strong foundation that CV has built over the past two decades. The fund will help ensure our long-term growth and sustainability, providing a lasting source of support that will allow us to continue expanding access for generations to come.

As we look to the future, the endowment fund—alongside a planned giving program currently under development—offers meaningful ways for supporters to make a lasting impact. Through legacy gifts, donors can help secure the future of CV and ensure that generations of students continue to benefit from the transformative power of education.

If you have questions about the CV Endowment Fund or would like to make a contribution, you can donate directly here or call Nancy Cao Levesque at 401-490-3996.

Read RIF's Feature on CV's Endowment:

College Visions Endowment Fund As Rhode Island’s only community foundation, we mobilize generosity and motivate change that makes a difference.

In April, students in CV’s Fellowship program traveled to Washington, D.C. for an inspiring experience centered on history, leadership, and community.

Fellows spent a day on Capitol Hill, taking a Civil Rights tour of the U.S. Capitol, examining the struggles and triumphs that have shaped our nation’s ongoing pursuit of equality. They also had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Gabe Amo, who spoke about the importance of leadership and public service.

The Fellows were treated to a private visit to the home of the late Congressman John Lewis, where they learned about his extraordinary life and legacy from the president of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. Later, they attended a special performance of Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest, a musical that chronicles Lewis’s early years as a young activist and his rise as one of the nation’s most important voices for civil rights.

The trip was a unique opportunity for Fellows to connect with history, reflect on their own leadership, and strengthen the bonds they share as a cohort.

On May 21, 2026, CV held its annual Student Recognition Ceremony, a memorable evening dedicated to celebrating our graduating high school seniors as they prepare to embark on their college careers.

Two students were selected to speak at the event. Abraham, who recently graduated from Classical High School and will enroll at the University of Rhode Island with the support of the Carter Roger Williams Scholarship, spoke with gratitude about the CV advisors whose guidance and support made all the difference throughout his college application journey.

Victoria, a graduate of Classical High School who is also heading to the University of Rhode Island this fall, delivered a moving address in which she reflected on how CV helped her gain the confidence she needs to pursue her future: "I came in intimidated, but now, I'm leaving ready. And that's not something I take lightly. I used to think you had to figure everything out alone. Now, I don't believe that anymore."

At the end of the ceremony, Scholars were presented with a dorm essentials gift bag courtesy of luxury linens company Matouk. CV is incredibly grateful for Matouk's ongoing dedication to our Scholars.

Excited to see our Summer Prep students exploring what’s next, thanks to our partnership with Providence Public Schools!

Happy National Summer Learning Week!

Today, College Visions officially kicked off CV Summer Prep Providence 2026! This five-week college and career readiness program is made possible through our partnership with the Providence Public School Department and the City of Providence, and we're grateful for their continued support!

During Orientation, students learned about the program, met their instructors, and connected with their summer classmates.

As one student shared, they're looking forward to building stronger relationships with their peers while gaining new skills to prepare for college.

That's what summer learning is all about—building the skills, confidence, and community that help students thrive in college and beyond.

We're also excited to welcome our newest Summer Prep site in Newport to the College Visions family this summer!

On May 29, 2026, more than 250 community members and leaders from the education, business, and public sectors gathered to celebrate and support CV’s mission, raising a record-breaking $466,000 to expand opportunities for first-generation students in Rhode Island.

Hosted by WPRI-12’s Ted Nesi and Kim Kalunian, the program featured three exceptional CV Scholars - Haadiyah Folarin, Jully Myrthil, and Dayana Read - who shared their personal journeys and achievements and reflected on how CV has helped them pursue their dreams. The evening culminated with CV honoring Joan Wernig Sorensen with the inaugural Visionary Award for her deep dedication to our Scholars and her extraordinary investments in our work.

Distinguished guests included Congressman Gabe Amo, General Treasurer
James Diossa, and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. In a special video message from Washington, D.C., Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse announced a transformative $723,000 federal grant that will enable CV to significantly expand our Fellowship Program.

This unforgettable evening was a powerful reminder that when a community comes together around a shared vision, extraordinary things are possible. Thank you to our incredible gala committee chaired by Katie and Malcolm Chace and Alison and Larry Eichler. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, invested in our mission, and demonstrated their support of young people in our community.

Click here to view the photo gallery: https://collegevisions.org/get-involved/spring-gala/spring-gala-gallery/