Providence Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Kristen Reis, Taylor Baude, and Kevin Stenhouse wave to family and friends while walking into the Ryan Center for URI's class of 2013 graduation ceremonies Sunday.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- URI held commencement exercises for 3,235 undergraduates and 779 graduate students Sunday at the Ryan Center on the university's Kingston campus.Breaking with tradition, university officials moved the main ceremony indoors this year as a security precaution in the aftermath of the April bombing in Boston.
The move did not sit well with some graduates, and they cheered student speaker Matthew Hayes, who took the stage wearing sunglasses. As he started his speech, he took off the glasses, and said: "Bear with me while I take my sunglasses off. I thought we were supposed to be outside."
Honorary degrees went to Amica Mutual Insurance Co. Chairman Robert A. DiMuccio, American University general counsel Mary A. Kennard, World War II veteran and business executive Franklin W. Simon, Alex + Ani founder Carolyn Rafaelian and Alex + Ani chief executive Giovanni Feroce.