01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, May 21, 2006

BY ALEX KUFFNER
Journal Staff Writer

BRISTOL -- As she stood on stage at Roger Williams University's graduation ceremony yesterday, First Lady Laura Bush spoke the names of three members of the Class of 2006.

"Nadima Sahar. Arezo Kohistani. Mahbooba Babrakzai," she said slowly in her Texas accent.

As their 900 classmates heard the names of the three young women who came to Roger Williams from Afghanistan on scholarships in 2002 and 2003, and who graduated together yesterday, they cheered wildly and applauded.

"Someday, the world will know these women as accomplished Afghan leaders," Mrs. Bush said. "But today, the Roger Williams Class of 2006 knows them as classmates, teammates, roommates and friends."

"You've laughed with each other and you've learned with each other. What they've learned about America from you will help build a lasting friendship between the people of Afghanistan and the people of America."

For Sahar, Babrakzai and Kohistani, it was a fitting way to end their time at Roger Williams. Each of them came to the university with a simple desire to get an education, and each of them leaves with hopes of helping to rebuild their country.

The first lady came to Bristol to see them graduate. She was invited to deliver the commencement address by Paula Nirschel, the founder of the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, and the wife of university President Roy J. Nirschel.

Four years ago -- shortly after the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan -- Paula Nirschel started the initiative, aiming to give Afghan women a chance at higher education in the United States.

Babrakzai and Sahar were members of the program's inaugural class, recipients of full, four-year scholarships. Kohistani joined her countrywomen a year later, but by taking a heavier load of classes than most students, she was able to finish her studies in three years.

As the program grew -- to 20 women this year, at schools across the country -- it attracted the attention of the White House.

Mrs. Bush, a former teacher and school librarian who has emphasized the importance of education, contacted Nirschel after seeing her talk about the scholarships on a TV news program a couple years ago.

Since then, the two women have met several times, in Washington, D.C., and before the graduation ceremony yesterday, Mrs. Bush briefly visited the Nirschels' home, across from the university campus.

On stage, after receiving an honorary doctorate in education, the first lady called Laura Nirschel a friend, and devoted much of her 20-minute speech to the scholarship program.

"American women understand that Afghanistan's future success requires widespread education among Afghans," she said. "By educating promising young Afghan women in American colleges, these institutions are making sure Afghanistan's future leaders will extend the freedom and opportunity in their new democracy to all Afghans, including women and girls."

Mrs. Bush, who visited Afghanistan last year, talked of the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women in the context of a shrinking world in which connections between all countries are becoming tighter. She told the graduates that, as Americans, they face a responsibility to help deal with problems abroad.

"More than any other generation of Americans, the Class of 2006 is tasked with resolving challenges that lie far beyond your doorstep, even far beyond America's borders," she said. "Because your world is so small, you cannot ignore a tsunami in Southeast Asia or a genocide in Darfur. And -- as everyone at Roger Williams knows -- you can't neglect millions of people around the world living under tyranny."

The first lady's speech was lighthearted at times. She began by showing the thousands of people in the audience photos of "Little Roger" -- a cardboard cutout of Rhode Island's founder, Roger Williams, and the emblem of the university's 50th anniversary celebration this year -- posed around the White House and its grounds.

There, on big-screen television flanking the stage, was Little Roger on the south lawn of the White House. There he was in the Rose Garden. And there he was with the president and first lady at a recent state dinner for the Australian prime minister.

Earlier, when Roy Nirschel had started singing an off-tune rendition of a song from American Idol, during his less-than-serious address to the graduates, the first lady had led the crowd in a round of applause.

After giving her own speech under a cavernous tent on the university's waterfront campus, Mrs. Bush stepped off stage and, according to university officials, headed back to Washington, ending her two-day trip to Rhode Island.

The commencement was a joyous event for the members of the Class of 2006, especially the Afghan women.

As Babrakzai stood waiting to collect her diploma from Roy Nirschel, a teacher came up hugged her. Then, several of her classmates did the same.

When Kohistani walked across the stage to receive her diploma, she looked skyward, raised her left hand into the air, and then placed it over her heart. As she walked offstage, she held her diploma tightly in both arms, clutching it to her body.

After the ceremony, Sahar told a group of reporters how she felt:

"Today, you see our dreams coming true."

akuffner@projo.com / (401) 277-7457

EXTRA: keep up with graduation coverage, see lists, upload your pix

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The local graduates are:

FEINSTEIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Bachelor of Arts

Mariamah Ahmed

Brecken S. Applegate

Contessa Brown

Robert P. Brown

Alysha A. Campagnone

Aron S. Chabot*

Brandee L. Choquette**

Katelyn E. Cinquegrana

Brian J. Combra

Denise M. Couto*

Kirsten M. D'Amico

Jessica K. Daneault

Kiyomi Donnelly***

Ingrid D. D'Souza-Speed*

Ruth F. Durning*

Crystal L. Dussault***

Nellie L. Ferreira

Eric P. Fournier***

Charles N. Garabedian

Kathryn A. Gorman**

Scott B. Holtz

Zachary J. Izzi

Margaret E. Jennings

Ryan Johnston**

Lindsay A. Kappeler*

Miyuki Kobayashi

Nora LeBlanc**

Benjamin L. Lesco*

Timothy R. Lizotte*

Sheena Loewen

Kimberly A. Madden*

Kathleen E. Manchester***

Danielle N. McKay

Candice C. McLean*

Cindy R. Medeiros

Melissa Medeiros

Morgan S. Moffa*

Tien P. Nguyen

Jane E. Nirschel**

Lindsey A. Nordstrom***

Kelly L. Olson

Christopher H. Parish

Brigette E. Paton*

Jeffrey E. Pella*

David R. Petrarca***

Kyle A. Rocha

Ann M. Rosa**

Audrey A. Rostohar

Nadima Sahar

Zachary M. Schulze

Monique St. Paul*

Megan K. Taylor

Amy M. Teixeira

Erik S. Thomassen

Andrew T. Viana

Isabel Maria Viveiros***

Laura A. Zinno*

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Nora L. Almeida**

Carol R. Claassen**

David W. Corbett

Eric D. Cwalina***

William R. Fleming*

Hillary A. Ryan*

Bachelor of Science

Jessica L. Almeida

Moses C. Anderson

Stephanie Bolcon

James A. Burke

John L. Croteau*

Joseph A. DeResta

George Fowler***

Nikoline M. Frade

Denis J. Giroux

Christa Hanson

Gary L. Helton

Nancy L. Hulme

Cheryl A. Jason

Erin E. Kennedy

Michele L. Kusiak

Sheree L. LaMountain

Felicita Lebron*

Laura A. Mazo

Jeffrey T. McCra

Lyndsey J. Medeiros

Michael P. O'Brien

Olanrewaju L. Osho

Allan P. Ramella

Melanie L. Rand

Anthony D. Rebello

Michael D. Riddell

Linda V. Romano

Randal C. Rothwell

Cory D. Strickland

Valerie M. Tavares

Lee R. Totten

Michael E. West

Dana N. Wilson***

GABELLI SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Bachelor of Arts

Anthony V. Siravo*

Bachelor of Science

Joseph N. Alcocer

Erin M. Aldcroft*

Michael J. Andreozzi***

Levi S. Andrews

Kevin Arcand*

Derek A. Bailey

Ryan B. Baker

Deborah L. Belsinger

Margaret Boldt***

Lauren A. Brahimsha

Linda Briggs*

Jaclyn N. Bushey

Claudina Sofia A. Caetano*

Richard A. Catallozzi

Brian M. Champagne

Phillip B. Chesky

Christine L. Costa**

Ann M. Costa**

John Da Silva

Elaine A. Davenport

James L. Day**

Shawn H. DeArruda

Mallory B. Decof

Stephen R. Dutra*

Ian D. Flippo

Heather J. Frazier*

Patricia A. Gomes*

Janice Gomes

Omar K. Gonzalez

Mark Grochmal

Jeff N. Hilton**

Akiko Hirayama

Matthew W. Hollis

Lori A. Jackson

Joseph D. Kaye

James G. Kendera

Young-Joon Kim

Arezo Kohistani**

Matthew R. Kopin*

Peter J. Kuylen***

Christine Labouliere**

Peter J. Levesque*

John A. Maintanis

Matthew J. Margetta

Colleen V. Micheletti**

Marilynn Miranda

Jennifer L. Mota**

Emily S. Noto Varney*

Jessica L. Oliver***

Nicole R. Petricca

Ryan J. Pinto

Stephen M. Rioles

David J. Scholten

Madhav S. Shah*

Michael F. Silvia

Manizha Sultan*

Michael A. Tavares*

Rachel R. Truehart

Joseph S. Truncellito

Marcus W. Varner

Travis T. Williams

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, ART AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Bachelor of Architecture

Ryan E. Bieber

Colin A. Bonfield

Matthew A. Clemence*

Michael J. DeMatteo

Tracey C. Diaz

Jeffrey P. Harris

Stacy A. Hassell

Snehal T. Intwala

Justin A. Lipata

Chul Hoon Park

Robert J. Peixoto

Nathaniel L. Richards

Jeffrey A. Tibbetts

Bachelor of Arts

Ashley A. Gannon

Emilie Larrivee**

Amie L. Silva*

Bachelor of Science

David M. Dahlin

Ellen M. Lind

Karen C. Marshall

Quinn R. Stuart**

Master of Architecture

Charles E. Duboc

Sara E. Fitzgerald

Derek J. Lariviere

Elizabeth C. Paolini

Hua Wing V. Sin

Marcio F. Tavares

Frank J. Wierszchalek

SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES

Bachelor of General Studies

Lee Ann V. Cameron*

Kathleen M. Smith

David M. Tomazin

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Master of Arts

Suzanne K. Dunbar

Melissa L. Francis

Megan L. Labrecque

Diana L. Ouellette

Master of Arts in Teaching

Meredith P. Astrologo

Amy-Jean S. Bessette

Lou-Ann G. Broadmeadow

Mary M. Brogan

Antoniette C. Chimento

Carrie L. Clegg

Maria Do Ceu Costa

Jennifer Creighton

Jocelyn A. Doherty

Brian A. Eagan

Jennifer Francis

Suzanne M. Gadoury

Thomas P. Gaska

Melissa A. Gendreau

Cady B. Harrington

Sarah L. Heatherly

Thomas J. Holden

Jennifer K. Jasmin

Bethany Johnson

Christine C. Kilgus

Mark C. Kirkwood

Denise M. Labrecque

Matthew McConnell

Jason P. Newton

Julie A. Oliveira

Patricia M. Page

Kaitlin S. Palmieri

Betsey S. Robertson

Jennifer L. Rolfe

Rebecca K. Royal

Aura M. Ryder

Kerry Ryder

Kelly Servant

Ann Marie Torres

Juliet Veltri

William Warner

Darlene Wood

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, COMPUTING AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Bachelor of Science

Alexander J. Calvino

Eddy K. Chiu

Vladislav I. Eidelson

Todd M. Garcia

Bretton C. Gardner

Matthew C. Morrell

Carlos C. Neves

James Ros

SCHOOL OF JUSTICE STUDIES

Bachelor of Science

Palmira G. Azevedo

Erik R. Baccari

Heather J. Baptista

Paul E. Belsinger

Charles A. Boisseau

Sirly C. Borja

Richard N. Brown*

Janis M. Bubluski

Paul R. Campbell

Barry S. Carinha

Andrea M. Casavant

Jamie L. Chamberland*

Emanuel C. Correia

Cindy E. Costa

Jamie L. Crossley

Nichole R. Dayson

Mayra L. Delaroca

Kimberly A. Discullio

John S. Donley*

Jason M. Dunlea

Trevor V. Fittro

Rachel M. Fleury

Jeffrey A. Fraser

Jean R. Georges

Mary P. Gwann

Heather C. Harrell*

Robert W. Hazard*

Paul E. Holden

Misato Hoshi

Olasunkanmi K. Ijaduola

Michael K. Kane

Nathaniel W. Kennedy**

Steven T. Kilgore***

Michelle E. Kinney

Matthew J. Kite

Dana M. Kopec

Jennifer C. Laroche

Adam A. LeDoux*

Margarett S. Lima

James C. Luiz

Connie Luke

John R. Maher

John A. Marano

Christopher J. Marrero*

Sheena E. Meloni**

David W. Mowry

Joseph M. Nasiatka

Robert J. Naylor

Silas C. Neale

Richard C. Norato

Thomas E. Noret

Dineira Paulino

Melissa A. Pellegrino*

Edward F. Pelletier

Herland W. Pierre

Danilo R. Quinonez

Tupee K. Ramos

Bryan M. Ricci

Gerald P. Richard***

Tara J. Richard

Ryan M. Rose*

Christopher P. Rose**

Matthew S. Salisbury

Kevin S. San Antonio

Matthew D. Sardinha**

Lynn A. Scanlon-Hernandez

Amit Singh**

Erica Skoutas

Christopher P. Sloan

Patricia M. Smith-Disu***

Ryan A. Souza**

John J. Sullivan

Kyle S. Svendsen

Cherise B. Velilla

Nicole M. Washburn*

Alyson M. Watson

Ronnie M. Young*

Master of Science

Leigh A. Boshold

Jeffrey D. Chaves

Wanda M. Clark

Tracy Cote

Hans L. Cute

Ronald C. Desnoyers

James D. Dougherty

Michelle Esposito

Michelle Ethier

Stacey M. Fantini

Laura L. Frechette

Rebecca T. Garrahan

Jody L. Gearing

Steven M. Goozey

Victoria M. Kalnietis

Ronald Longolucco

Bridget A. Palombo

Dianne E. Pinto

David M. Randall

Stacy L. Santagata

Staci K. Shepherd

Patrick M. Sullivan

Paul Villa

*** -- summa cum laude

** -- magna cum laude

* -- cum laude