Yesterday, in an email that was sent out by Public Affairs, Roger Williams University broadcasted that sailor Cole Brauer, who made the historic journey last year as the first American woman to race solo nonstop around the world in the Global Solo Challenge, will address the Class of 2025 and receive an honorary degree for her pioneering spirit in sailing.
Throughout the Global Solo Challenge, Brauer sailed 30,000 miles over the span of 130 days solo and unassisted, beginning her journey in Spain on October 29th, 2024 and ending in Spain on March 7th, 2025. The 30-year-old professional sailor was the only woman in the fleet of 16 sailors who competed, racing past Africa, Australia, and South America, overcoming the threat of thundering weather, a rib injury, and freezing waters.
Other honorary degree recipients include Joseph M. Brito Jr., President and CEO of C.B. Utility Co., Inc., C. Brito Construction Co., Tupelo Realty, and Unity Park, and RWU Trustee Emeritus who created Bristol’s Unity Park, an approximately 400,000-square-foot industrial complex for blue economy manufacturing, offices, restaurants, a distillery and a brewery and Kevin M. Lynch ‘94, M’04, Chief of Police in Bristol, Rhode Island, a champion of ethical law enforcement reform, and an alumnus who earned his B.S. in Criminal Justice and M.S. in Justice Studies at RWU, as RWU wants to showcase leaders in the community.
In addition, the RWU School of Law will present an honorary degree to Clifton B. Newman, a retired judge from the South Carolina Circuit Court who has led a distinguished career as a private practice attorney and solicitor.
The universities Commencement celebration for undergraduate, graduate and law students of the Class of 2025 will take place on the main athletic field on Friday, May 16.
