Motivated by family, persistent DelValle returns to CCRI to finish what he started
April 11, 2022
Jose DelValle will finally receive his college diploma from the Community College
of Rhode Island this spring, ending a decade-long journey by crossing a commencement
stage for the first time since kindergarten.
The 41-year-old Computer Studies major is living proof it’s never too late to finish
what you’ve started.
A much-needed boost from CCRI’s COVID Finish Scholarship – which helps students like
DelValle who have some college credits, but need assistance clearing the final hurdle
– gave DelValle the motivation to finish his studies and earn that important degree.
An on-again, off-again student at CCRI since 2011, DelValle enrolled for the third
and final time for the Spring 2022 semester and completed his remaining credits to
earn his Associate Degree in Computer Studies with a concentration in Computer Programming.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said the Providence resident and father of two.
“For years, I’ve wanted to go back and finish, but life always got in the way. A lot
of people used to tell me I was crazy for trying. Now I tell others who aren’t sure,
‘Yes, you can do it. You can achieve your goals. You’ve just got to put your mind
to it.’”
DelValle has worked tirelessly for the past two decades to provide for his family,
including 19 years in a variety of roles at T.F. Green International Airport, but
always dreamt of finishing his college degree to earn a more sustainable, high-paying
job.
With nothing more than his diploma from Central High School, he’s successfully climbed
the ladder at T.F. Green, starting as a dishwasher in 2003, working his way up to
a ramp agent, and now overseeing the airport’s baggage claim systems as a Baggage
Handling System Technician. But his dream is to be a manager, which is impossible
without a college degree.
He enrolled at CCRI in 2011 as a General Studies major. Since he didn’t own a car
at the time, he rode the bus to get to and from campus, often making it back to the
bus stop by the skin of his teeth to catch another ride to work after class. Whenever
he had free time, whether on the bus or during a break at work, he’d pull out a textbook
and catch up on his reading.
The daily grind proved too much to handle; DelValle lasted just two semesters after
enrolling in 2011 and stopped out twice over the next five years, also reenrolling
in the Fall of 2015 to begin pursuing his Computer Studies degree. But reality kept
calling, and as DelValle continued taking on a heavier workload at T.F. Green, he
had less time to concentrate on his studies.
“I needed a break,” he said. “I was just overwhelmed.”
Once his daughters – now 21 and 22 – graduated high school, DelValle’s priorities
shifted. The motivation to pursue a degree became less about proving others wrong
and more about proving to his children, who’ve yet to attend college, that they, too,
can continue their education and earn a career in the field of their choice.
After a six-year pause, DelValle enrolled again for the Spring 2022 semester. Weeks
later, a postcard from CCRI announcing the COVID Finish Scholarship arrived in his
mailbox – a sign, he said, to stay on track this time and finally finish his degree.
“I was still on the fence,” he admits, “but once I saw that postcard, I said to myself,
‘You know what? I’m going to do this.’
“CCRI has been an incredible experience. They have so many options, which allows you
to pick and choose how to plan your day, whether you want to take day classes, night
classes, or even weekend classes.”
Since he and his family moved often when he was younger – first living in Boston,
then spending two years in Puerto Rico before settling in Providence – DelValle never
had the chance to establish roots at any of the schools he attended. Even in high
school, he wasn’t allowed to participate in commencement because he had to finish
one final class that summer to earn his diploma.
Commencement 2022 will indeed be a “dream come true” as DelValle finally gets to don
his cap and gown and cross the stage for the first time in more than three decades.
“I’m doing this for my family,” he said. “I want to show my daughters that education
is important. Despite everything you go through in life, you can still do it. You
can still get your education. And when you do, you’ll see how many doors open up for
you in the real world.”
Share this story
Latest News
Broadway tour members visit Providence Campus next week to discuss life on the road
April 17, 2024
Students interested in a career in performing arts will have a unique opportunity next week to learn about life on the road from two well-traveled industry experts, Jay Carey and Christopher DeAngelis from the Broadway musical Company, during a free Q&A session at CCRI’s Providence Campus Theatre on Wednesday, April 24 at 4 pm.
Read More
First cohort of trainees graduates CCRI's GWO-certified Basic Safety Training program
April 11, 2024
Thirty-nine local residents are the first to complete the Global Wind Organisation (GWO)-certified Basic Safety Training curriculum at the state’s only offshore wind safety training center and are prepared to continue building fulfilling careers in America’s fast-growing offshore wind sector.
Read More
Class of 2022 grad Tavares gains acceptance into prestigious Juilliard School to pursue acting
April 01, 2024
Less than a year after wrapping up a life-changing fellowship with The Gamm Theatre, 22-year-old Pawtucket, RI, native and Class of 2022 graduate Eddy Tavares is one of only a small percentage of applications who were accepted into Juilliard's four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Drama beginning in the Fall of 2024.
Read More
Unwilling to give up her dream, New Century Scholar Grace pursues a career in Archaeology
March 28, 2024
After an on-again, off-again journey to further her education, West Warwick, RI, native Kelly Grace earned the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's 2024 New Century Transfer Scholarship for the state of Rhode Island, awarding her $2,250 toward her pursuit of a career in Archaeology.
Read More
CCRI earns Military Friendly® School designation for the third year in a row
March 27, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island has been named a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, a data-driven military company that helps connect the military community to civilian employment.
Read More
Insurance training grad makes investment in herself to break into a satisfying new career
March 26, 2024
Dorchester, MA, native and current Johnston, RI, resident Shamika Lyte initially worked in the construction industry fresh out of high school, but, thanks to CCRI's free Property and Casualty Insurance certification program, has found new life in a career that keeps her on her toes.
Read More
Social Sciences professor McCormack continues work to teach year-round inclusivity at CCRI
March 20, 2024
While February is known for the celebration of Black History Month and June is synonymous with Pride Month, among others, Suzanne McCormack works every day to ensure her students understand the importance of inclusivity and diversity while integrating such topics into her teachings throughout the year.
Read More
Budding artist and Promise scholar uses newfound ability to earn South Coast grant
March 19, 2024
Jonathan Colombo, a second-year Rhode Island Promise scholar and Fine Arts major with a concentration in Art, was recently named the South Coast Artists' 2024 Youth Grant Award of Merit recipient – one of several grants awarded annually to motivated high school and college students under the age of 21 to explore their artistic potential beyond the everyday classroom setting.
Read More
Former Student Ambassador and Class of '18 grad De La Cruz earns prestigious Emerging Leader Award
March 18, 2024
Mileiry “Milly” De La Cruz, a Class of 2018 alumna and former Student Ambassador at CCRI, is the recipient of this year’s American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network Massachusetts Emerging Leader Award for her hard work and dedication to serving students.
Read More
Renowned director Pitts-Wiley joins CCRI Players for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
February 28, 2024
The CCRI Players are collaborating with director Jonathan Pitts-Wiley this week for a special production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a novel written by Ken Kesey that was later adapted into the historic 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson that went on to win all five major Academy Awards the year it was released.
Read More
Secretary of Education Cardona visits CCRI to advocate for more statewide CTE training
February 21, 2024
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited the Community College of Rhode Island’s Warwick Campus today to discuss the need for more career pathways and career and technical education (CTE) programming and apprenticeships, especially in Latino communities, as part of Joe Biden’s President Joe Biden's Investing in America Tour, aimed to demonstrate how President Biden is delivering for underrepresented or minoritized communities across the country.
Read More
CCRI teams with city of Providence to host the 2024 Pell Lecture Series
February 14, 2024
CCRI is teaming with Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley and the Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism to host for the first time the 2024 Pell Lecture Series, set to take place Thursday, March 7 at the Liston Auditorium in Providence.
Read More
CCRI appoints new CIO, Director of Enterprise Applications to IT division
February 12, 2024
The college has announced the hiring of James Bradley as the new Chief Information Officer and Rajeev Jayadeva as its Director of Enterprise Applications.
Read More
Black History Month 2024
February 05, 2024
February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country and acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history.
Read More
Fall 2023 Dean's List
February 01, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2023 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
Read More
Upcoming Events
Mar.
18
March 18, 2024 All Day
Flanagan Campus
Mar.
23
March 23, 2024 All Day
Apr.
17
April 17, 2024 All Day
Apr.
17
April 17, 2024 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Knight Campus Lower Commons
Apr.
17
April 17, 2024 7:00 PM - 7:21 PM
Online
Apr.
18
April 18, 2024 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Flanagan Campus
Apr.
18
April 18, 2024 3:00 PM - June 27, 2024 3:30 PM
Apr.
19
April 19, 2024 All Day
Apr.
19
April 19, 2024 All Day
Apr.
19
April 19, 2024 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Knight Campus