Student Leadership Recognition

This month, we are proud to recognize Thatiana So, a junior Management major with minors in Accounting and Asian & Asian American Studies, for her exceptional dedication to leadership and community at Providence College. Thatiana’s involvement spans an impressive range of programs. She serves as a coordinator for the Horizons peer-mentoring program, is a member of Friars Club, a Friar Foundations Program mentor, a Dream Coach for the Transitions pre-orientation program, a multicultural scholarship program scholar, and a Writing Center tutor at the Student Success Center.

Thatiana’s leadership is grounded in communication, mentorship, and advocacy. As a Horizons Coordinator, she works to support multicultural students as they navigate campus life while honoring their cultural identities and values. One of the highlights of her involvement has been serving as a Friar Foundations Program mentor, where she helps incoming students adjust to campus before the academic year begins and continues guiding them as they transition into their first year.

As a first-generation student, Thatiana has learned the importance of asking questions, embracing unfamiliar experiences, and seeking support. Her leadership style reflects the mentors who once empowered her: supportive, encouraging, and focused on helping students recognize their potential.

Before graduating, Thatiana hopes to return for a fourth year as part of the Transitions pre-orientation program, which played a transformative role in her own first-year experience. She aims to create the same sense of belonging, confidence, and community for future students that made such an impact on her own journey. After graduation, she plans to continue fostering inclusive environments in her personal and professional life, using her skills to empower diverse teams and uplift those around her.

Congratulations to Thatiana So, our November Student Leader of the Month!

Best Buddies has been recognized as November’s Student Club of the Month for its outstanding commitment to inclusivity, connection, and community leadership on campus. Led by an executive board including Christian Florencia, McLain Ward, Francesca Schaub, Olivia Phelps, Mandy Frieswick, Kathleen de Winter, Peyton Auriemma, Paige Moroney, and Maggie Murphy, the club continues to set a powerful example of empathy, accessibility, and meaningful relationship-building between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In November, the club hosted a highly successful Halloween/Fall-themed event featuring team mummy wrapping, a costume contest, pumpkin painting, and other interactive activities. The event fostered genuine connection and teamwork, highlighting the group’s mission to create joyful, shared experiences that bring the entire community together. Their consistent collaboration, communication, and thoughtful planning reflect the club’s deep commitment to running an organized and impactful student-led organization.

As a fully student-driven club, Best Buddies has navigated challenges such as student retention, continually adapting their approach to strengthen engagement. This year, increased member meetings and a growing slate of student-focused events have already made a noticeable difference in building a strong, active community. Looking ahead to 2025–2026, the club aims to expand fundraising efforts through a collaboration with Bitty & Beau’s, deepen buddy pair programming, and create a formal transition plan to ensure leadership continuity.

Congratulations to Best Buddies for their incredible leadership, impact, and dedication to fostering a more inclusive campus!

The A Cappella Riff Off, held on Thursday, November 6th in McPhail’s, brought together Strictly Speaking, Anaclastic, and Special Guest for a lively three-round musical competition. Organized by BOP and co-hosted with the PC A Cappella Club, the night featured creative category performances, special acts between rounds, Cane’s for attendees, and a panel of faculty judges who ultimately crowned Special Guest the winner. More than 150 students filled the space with energy, applause, and excitement, making it a standout community event during a busy point in the semester.

The event was led by BOP’s Josie Muratore, who coordinated logistics, secured judges and food, created promotional materials, and collaborated closely with the PC A Cappella executive board. Students from all three a cappella groups played key roles in preparing and performing, setting up sound equipment, and ensuring the evening ran smoothly. Their teamwork demonstrated exceptional student leadership, highlighting strong organizational skills and the ability to unite the campus through shared creativity and performance.

Beyond the competition, the Riff Off offered students a much-needed break from academic stress, fostering joy, connection, and community spirit. Many attendees shared that they left feeling refreshed and uplifted. The organizers noted that the experience reinforced an important lesson in event planning at PC: “Expect everything to go wrong so that you have multiple backup plans. When things happen to go right, it makes the event more enjoyable and when something goes wrong, you are prepared!”

Congratulations to BOP and the PC A Cappella Club on creating an unforgettable event!