Colombia native and volleyball star defies odds to pursue career in physical therapy
Dec. 12, 2019
The Rhode Island Promise scholarship has made what seemed impossible at first suddenly
within reach for former Community College of Rhode Island women’s volleyball captain
Manuela Restrepo.
“Because of Rhode Island Promise, I’m here right now doing what I want to do,” said
the 18-year-old Colombia native who is on track to earn her Associate Degree and continue
her education at Rhode Island College to study physical therapy.
“College is expensive. I wouldn’t have been able to afford it without Rhode Island
Promise.”
Growing up, Restrepo dreamt of moving to the United States to escape the escalating
violence in her native country of Colombia. With her family’s support, Restrepo immigrated
to the United States at the age of 15, settling in Central Falls, where she lived
with extended family and enrolled at Central Falls High School.
The transition was difficult at first. Restrepo spoke limited English and felt “lost”
because she couldn’t communicate with her teachers or fellow classmates. While she
excelled in ESL courses, her performance on the volleyball court helped Restrepo acclimate
to her new surroundings by teaching her to communicate with teammates and coaches.
After school, practice and homework, she worked nights at La Casona, a Colombian restaurant
in Central Falls.
She always wanted to attend college, but the cost of tuition stood in the way. When
her guidance counselors introduced her to the Rhode Island Promise scholarship program,
she knew it was the most logical choice to put her on the fast track to a college
degree.
At CCRI, Restrepo thrived in the classroom and on the court, serving as women’s volleyball
captain this past season, where she led the Knights to a 14-6 record. Her love of
volleyball led her to pursue a career and academic path to become a physical therapist.
“Through this program, I can combine my love of sports with my passion to help others,”
Restrepo said. “My experience as an athlete will benefit my work, as I understand
what it takes to overcome injury to return to playing at a high level.”
Adjusting to college life while still mastering the English language has been an eye-opening
experience for Restrepo, but she’s received tremendous support from coaches, teammates
and professors. She credits English professor Ali Khalil, a native of Syria with whom
she has taken ESL and English courses, for an open-door policy that has afforded her
the opportunity to seek extra help when necessary. The structure provided by both
the NJCAA academic eligibility requirements and the Promise scholarship guidelines
keep her on the right track in the classroom.
“She is an excellent student,” Khalil said. “She is intelligent, diligent, and persistent.
These three qualities constitute the bedrock of her success in my class. She does
not accept mediocrity, and she always makes participating in class and voicing out
her thoughts a priority. Her writing skills have significantly improved since the
beginning of the semester, and there is a reason for this progress: She takes what
we do in class seriously. I see a bright future ahead of her.”
From a shy teenager new to the United States to the captain of the volleyball team,
Restrepo is well on her way to pursuing a successful career in physical therapy, a
goal that seemed far beyond her grasp until CCRI’s Promise scholarship.
“I’m proud of what I have accomplished,” she said. “CCRI is making my dreams come
true.”
Share this story
Latest News
CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program
November 22, 2024
With the support of a $250,000 workforce investment from the RI Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT), the college will begin offering apprenticeship readiness programming in January through the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness curriculum that delivers an industry-recognized credential.
Read More
CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting
November 20, 2024
For the past two election cycles, the Community College of Rhode Island has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as part of its Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition program.
Read More
Navy experience guides CCRI alumna in her new career as a full-time Communication professor
November 07, 2024
Assistant Communication and Film/Media professor Jennifer O'Rourke, a Warwick, RI, native and Class of 2007 graduate, is in her second year as a full-time faculty member after serving as a Mass Communication Specialist for the U.S. Navy.
Read More
Second high school joins CCRI's free advanced manufacturing dual-enrollment certificate program
October 29, 2024
One year after CCRI and North Kingstown High School partnered to launch the college's free Advanced Manufacturing Program for high school students interested in earning a Manufacturing and Design Certificate, Mount Pleasant High School has joined the program this fall to extend this unique opportunity to a group of 14 students.
Read More
CCRI receives grant to empower and celebrate First-Generation college students
October 24, 2024
The $1,000 grant will be used to support a First Generation Family Night event at CCRI’s Lincoln Campus on November 7 as part of its First-Generation College Celebration Day programming. First-Generation College Celebration Day is observed each year on November 8 to celebrate the success of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff who were the first in their families to graduate college.
Read More
Vampire love story takes center stage as CCRI Players launch 2024-25 season
October 23, 2024
The CCRI Players, the college's student-run theater group, kick off their fall semester this week at the Bobby Hackett Theatre with an adaptation of Let the Right One In, based off the best-selling 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist.
Read More
Employee Spotlight: Joshua Seguí-Rodríguez
October 21, 2024
In today’s Employee Spotlight, we meet CCRI's new Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Joshua Seguí-Rodríguez and uncover what inspired him to serve others, how he brought that passion to the forefront as a college student, and his unique skillset beyond the console.
Read More
Alumni Association inducts nine new members into Society of Knights and Squires
October 16, 2024
Nine Community College of Rhode Island alumni were inducted into the college’s Society of Knights and Squires as part of the CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association’s 2024 Outstanding Alumni Awards at the Warwick Campus.
Read More
Theater alum Wong becomes CCRI's fourth to earn Gamm fellowship in 2024-25
October 09, 2024
Allison “Sonny” Wong of Barrington, RI, a Class of 2024 graduate, is one of four fellows selected as part of the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre's 10-month 2024-25 Gamm Fellowship Program, which will be the theatre's 40th anniversary season.
Read More
CCRI celebrates grand opening of new Casino Training Academy at Lincoln Campus
October 03, 2024
The state-of-the-art Training Academy, sponsored by Bally's Corporation, features eight blackjack tables and will provide a simulated gaming environment for the 30 students enrolled in the first cohort of the college's Introduction to Table Games Dealer Training course.
Read More
Editorial: How Philanthropy Fuels Student Success at CCRI
September 25, 2024
With CCRI continuing its goal of providing accessible, high-quality education that leads to strong learning outcomes and successful career pathways, innovative programs and substantial financial support are necessary to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Read More
Newport Campus opens its doors to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County Teen Center
September 18, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County to relocate the B&GC’s Teen Center to CCRI’s Newport County Campus as part of CCRI’s Community First initiative.
Read More
CCRI receives historic $2 million private gift to fund launch of new CCRI Advantage program
August 29, 2024
This historic gift – the largest private gift in the college's 60-year history – supports the new CCRI Advantage program, which assists students who need help with developmental programming get the guidance they need to overcome barriers and stay on track to earn their degree.
Read More
Summer Rep season comes to a close with weekend performance of Shakespeare's Coriolanus
August 08, 2024
The 2024 Summer Repertory theater season comes to an end beginning tonight at the Warwick Campus’ Bobby Hackett Theatre with the CCRI Players' rendition of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, based on the life of the legendary – and controversial – Roman leader.
Read More
CCRI joins prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative to support workforce training programs
August 06, 2024
Eighteen community colleges nationwide, including CCRI, will receive a grant from the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) for $75,000 to provide financial support for students enrolled in the college’s medical assistant and patient support specialist workforce training programs.
Read More
Upcoming Events
Mar.
18
March 18, 2024 All Day
Flanagan Campus
May.
7
May 7, 2024 All Day
Sep.
5
September 5, 2024 All Day
Nov.
1
November 1, 2024 All Day
All Campuses
Nov.
23
November 23, 2024 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Warwick Campus Vincent Cullen Fieldhouse
Nov.
23
November 23, 2024 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Newport Campus Atrium
Nov.
24
November 24, 2024 9:00 PM - 9:21 PM
Online
Nov.
25
November 25, 2024 All Day
Nov.
25
November 25, 2024 All Day
Nov.
28
November 28, 2024 All Day