Hands-on learning, close-knit environment guide Physical Therapy student to success
March 24, 2022
For several years, Alissa Prew bounced between two cities and two different colleges
as she tried to balance her schoolwork with her husband’s military schedule.
When she finally had the opportunity to settle down and focus exclusively on her education,
Prew choose the Community College of Rhode Island to pursue her career in physical
therapy.
The 25-year-old Prew, a Scituate, RI, native graduates this spring with her Associate
Degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant, where she will work under the direction
of a licensed Physical Therapist to help patients suffering from injuries or disease
improve their strength, mobility, and overall quality of life.
Prew enrolled at CCRI in the Fall of 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic forced
many institutions, including CCRI, to transition to remote learning. The change was
difficult at first for Prew, who describes herself as a “hands-on learner,” but she
adapted and maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout her time at CCRI and joined
the college’s Pi Omicron chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for
two-year colleges.
As a result of her success in the classroom and her score in the All-USA Academic
Team competition, which was the highest in the state, Prew recently earned a $1,250
New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship, an award that recognizes the most outstanding
workforce-bound student from each state.
Prew credits much of her success to CCRI, whose Physical Therapy Assistant program
offers the necessary hands-on training and ample one-on-one time with professors and
industry experts to ensure students get the direction they need to effectively treat
patients.
“The individuality of the program is what makes CCRI so special,” Prew said. “I had
such a small class, so I was able to work directly with my teachers and classmates.
That intimate atmosphere helps you develop a relationship with all of your classmates.
You bond through such a challenging program.
“I really enjoyed that sense of community at CCRI.”
A standout athlete most of her life, Prew played volleyball and softball at Scituate
High School, where she developed a passion for helping others. The desire to work
in both sports and healthcare made physical therapy an obvious choice.
After high school, Prew attended the University of Rhode Island for one semester,
then transferred to Craven Community College in North Carolina when her husband, Santiago,
a member of the United States Marine Corps, was reassigned to Camp Lejeune.
Within two years, Prew and her husband moved back to Rhode Island to be closer to
family, finally allowing Prew to pursue her degree at CCRI without any interruptions.
She began her clinical work at The Miriam Hospital when the state began lifting COVID
restrictions and continues working part time as a Physical Therapy Aide at Sport &
Spine Physical Therapy in West Warwick, where she assists a variety of patients in
need of physical therapy.
Some clients are recovering from surgery and need help regaining mobility or range
of motion. Others are athletes rehabilitating from an injury. Sport & Spine has an
additional location in Coventry and allows for direct, one-on-one interactions with
the patients and therapists, which is a more comfortable setting for Prew.
“I’ve always preferred that environment over much larger hospitals or clinics,” she
said. “You can spend more time with the patient to fully understand his or her limitations
and it allows you to provide the best care possible.”
While her ultimate dream is to one day open her own practice, she has happily found
her niche in a critical, competitive industry where she can apply her personal and
professional skills to help those who need it most.
“You see it all in this industry,” Prew said. “It’s a difficult, but rewarding, field.”
Share this story
Latest News
CCRI Players close out the semester with production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
April 24, 2024
Written in 1967 by Clark Gesner, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a musical based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts – a perfect opportunity for the Players to end the year on a light-hearted note following a stretch of heavy, thought-provoking performances dating back to 2021.
Read More
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
Upcoming Events
Mar.
18
March 18, 2024 All Day
Flanagan Campus
Mar.
23
March 23, 2024 All Day
Apr.
18
April 18, 2024 3:00 PM - June 27, 2024 3:30 PM
Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)
Apr.
26
April 26, 2024 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Knight Campus
Apr.
28
April 28, 2024 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
East Providence High School
Apr.
28
April 28, 2024 8:00 PM - 8:21 PM
Online
Apr.
29
April 29, 2024 All Day
Apr.
29
April 29, 2024 All Day
Apr.
29
April 29, 2024 All Day
Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)
Apr.
30
April 30, 2024 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Knight Campus