Four University of Rhode Island employees who went “above and beyond” their job responsibilities have received 2008 Excellence Awards from the URI Foundation. Linda A. Acciardo, of Smithfield, director of communications and marketing, was honored for transforming the news bureau into a broad-based marketing and communications operation. Engineering professor Mohammad Faghri, of East Greenwich, was recognized for the work he did to obtain several research grants, and Prof. Gerry Tyler, of North Kingstown, chair of the political science department, was cited for her teaching excellence. Also recognized was Rhonda Hammond, of West Kingston, who recently retired after 30 years at the university. She was the administrative assistant in the Division of Academic Affairs.

A $100,000 financial aid fund for students at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington has been established by Amica Mutual Insurance to honor one of its former executives, Harold Hitchen Jr., of East Greenwich. Hitchen began working in Amica’s stockroom after graduating from St. Andrew’s in 1951. He continued working at Amica while attending the University of Rhode Island, and retired as the treasurer and chief financial officer in 1996. Amica announced the fund when Hitchen stepped down after 33 years as a member of St. Andrew’s board of trustees.

A healthcare advocate, a middle school science teacher and a gynecologist were honored recently by the Rhode Island Commission on Women for their outstanding accomplishments benefiting women. A cancer survivor, Joyce J. Dolbec, of North Smithfield, was cited for spending nearly 20 years on women’s health issues, starting as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and then as the first chairman of a state women’s health advisory committee. She now serves as the health and wellness manager/consultant for the YWCAs of Greater Rhode Island and Northern Rhode Island. Carol Englander, of Kingston, teaches at Curtis Corner Middle School in South Kingstown, where she created a new science and math learning program and set up an after-school science and math club for girls and minority students. Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin, of Sharon, Mass., a professor at Brown University and director of the clinical immunology center at Miriam Hospital, was cited for establishing in Rhode Island the nation’s first clinic to treat post-menopausal women living with HIV and AIDS.

The “Twin Cottages,” once part of the Vinland estate and now serving as Salve Regina University’s office of admission, were recently dedicated in honor of Noreen Stonor Drexel, longtime university friend, trustee and community advocate for education and health care.

A Sister of Mercy who turned a small nursery for 13 toddlers into an early learning center serving 350 preschool children and their parents will receive the 2008 Roger Valcourt Memorial Outstanding Citizen of the Year from the Fall River Chamber of Commerce. Sister Kathleen Harrington is executive director of the John E. Boyd Center for Child Care and Development, an operation which started in 1967 with a staff of three and a budget of less than $19,000 and now has 100 professional employees and an annual budget of $2.5 million. The Citizen of the Year gala will be held Nov. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Venus De Milo in Swansea. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling (508) 676-8226 or on the Chamber’s Web site, www.fallriverchamber.com.

Recently inducted into the Greater Woonsocket Hall of Fame were the late Viola Berard, a community activist, and the founders of CVS, Stanley Goldstein and the late Sidney Goldstein. No longer associated with CVS, Stanley Goldstein is active in education reform.

Laurie White, of North Kingstown, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Karen Adams, of Lincoln, anchor at Channel 12, WPRI-TV, and Jamestown resident Lori Porcaro, the program director of St. Edward Food and Wellness Center, were honored recently at a fundraiser for the Providence Center.