Providence, R.I.—Ten current Rhode Island College student-athletes and one alumnus were recognized by the honorable, K. Joseph Shekarchi, Speaker of the House, and the Rhode Island House of Representatives at a reception held in the House Chamber at the Rhode Island State House on Monday, April 22.

The event was designed to give significant public recognition to men and women from Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island who have had significant achievements in their academic and athletic pursuits at their respective institutions. The honorees have also demonstrated exemplary citizenship and community service.

Click here to watch an archived broadcast of the event.
 
The 10 Rhode Island College Scholar-Athletes were:
Senior Kelsey Gates (Orangeville, Pa.); women's gymnastics
Graduate Sophia Guerrier (Waltham, Mass.); women's basketball
Senior Avery Katz (Brookfield, Conn.); softball
Senior Olivia Keyes (Bridgewater, Mass.); women's gymnastics
Junior Abby Kidd (Granby, Conn.); softball
Junior Fred Luchs (Belford, N.J.); wrestling
Junior Madison Medbury (Scituate, R.I.); women's basketball
Senior Cole Podedworny (Wakefield, R.I.); baseball
Junior Daniel Trzepacz (Mont Vernon, N.H.); baseball
Senior Anna Vygoder (Lincoln, R.I.); women's swimming, women's tennis
 
Athletic Alumni were also recognized from each institution. Larry Gibson '75 was RIC's Athletic Alumnus Award recipient.

Gibson was an outstanding guard in men's basketball and a pitcher on the baseball team during his Rhode Island College career from 1971 through 1975.
 
The Cranston native was a 1971 graduate of Cranston High School East where he was an All-Class A selection in both baseball and basketball. Gibson was the first player in Cranston East history to reach the coveted 1,000-point milestone in hoops.
 
He moved on to star at RIC in both sports as well, serving as a team captain and helping bring both programs to new heights over the course of his career.
 
In basketball, the guard totaled 1,131 career points and 195 rebounds. As a senior in 1974-75, Gibson averaged 20.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He was a NESCAC All-Star, a three-time ECAC Team of the Week selection and led Rhode Island College to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
 
In baseball, Gibson was an outstanding right-handed pitcher and was a part of a NESCAC Eastern Division Championship in 1975. As a junior in 1974, he went 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA.
 
He received the John E. Hetherman Award in 1975, signifying him as RIC's top, graduating male student-athlete and was inducted into RIC's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.
 
He graduated from Rhode Island College in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in social work and earned his MBA from Providence College in 1982.
 
Gibson then went on to work as a human resource professional for high technology manufacturing companies, culminating in a Vice President of Human Resources position at Motorola. He moved on to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a $3 billion company at the time, as the Senior Vice President responsible for human resources, training, information technology, quality management, strategic and business planning. 
 
Gibson then started and has run his own human resource consulting business for the last 25 years. He has remained active in supporting his alma mater and currently serves as the chair of RIC's Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
 
He resides in Cumberland with his wife Suzann. They have twin sons: Matthew and Michael.

Athletic sponsor Steve Marocco was RIC's recipient of the K. Joseph Shekarchi Award, which is presented to an individual who is not an alumnus, but has made significant contributions to the athletic program.

Marocco is a lifelong Cranston resident and a 1979 graduate of the University of Rhode Island.
 
He has been the owner of Elmwood Sports Center in Cranston since 1991. Over the past 33 years, Steven and Elmwood Sports have supported hundreds of charities such as The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation, Rhode Island Honor Flight and The Johnny Cake Center just to name a few. He has sponsored well over 1,000 different teams in various sports and activities across the state.
 
When Director of Athletics Don Tencher took over at Rhode Island College, Marocco and Elmwood Sports became the athletic program's first corporate sponsor. It has been a special relationship that has lasted over a quarter century and shows no sign of slowing down.
 
Marocco states that one of his proudest accomplishments was providing the funding for the creation of the Marocco Family Student Academic Center at Rhode Island College, which was first of its kind in NCAA Div. III athletics. What began as a study hall in The Murray Center, complete with study space and computers for RIC student-athletes to utilize, has grown into a multi-purpose room located within The Ann Cullen Student-Athlete Success Center. Literally thousands of Rhode Island College student-athletes have benefitted from the services this space provides.
 
In addition Marocco has been a long-time sponsor of the annual Rhode Island College athletics Anchor Club Golf Tournament, which is held each July.
 
Marocco has been a volunteer in Cranston's League for Cranston's Future (CLCF), a youth organization which serves over 3,500 kids in the city every year, for over 45 years.  He has sat on the board since 1993 he has held various positions, as well as being elected president in 1999. 
 
Steven continues to serve the people of Cranston on the executive board for CLCF.  His current project is raising over one million dollars in donations for renovation and addition to the CLCF Sport Headquarters. 
 
Throughout the years, Marocco has been presented with various awards such as the Inspire Greatness Award for Distinguished Service by Special Olympics Rhode Island and the Community Service Award from Words Unlimited.
 
He has been inducted to the Rhode Island Breakers Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport of basketball. In 2019, he was inducted to the Rhode Island Babe Ruth Hall of Fame for his contributions to baseball in the Ocean State.
 
He has assisted in fundraising efforts to help the Jaxon Marocco Foundation build a playground in memory of his late grandson.
 
He has been married to his wife Linda since 1980 and the proud father of two sons: Matthew and Mark.