The College Crusade of Rhode Island Welcomes New Board Members

Two prominent members of the RI business community join The College Crusade board of directors in 2008

Providence, R.I., March 11, 2008 – The College Crusade of Rhode Island today announced that Stuart M. Yarlas, of Warwick, and Jami Ouellette, of Richmond, have joined the organization’s board of directors.

Stuart M. Yarlas is a senior staff accountant for Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli & Moran, Ltd., of Providence. Previously, Mr. Yarlas served for many years as Associate Professor of Accounting at Johnson & Wales University. He also was owner and president of Lang Video, an audio/video retail business based in Warwick. Mr. Yarlas is a Certified Public Accountant. He earned an M.B.A. degree in statistics and management from Providence College and an M.A. degree in business education from the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Jami Ouellette is president and creative director of Im-aj Communications & Design, Inc., of Richmond and Providence. Ms. Ouellette and her firm, which she founded in 1986, have won numerous national and international awards for marketing communications and graphic design, including Creativity Inc Awards, Communicator Awards, Telly Awards, MarCom Awards, and Summit Awards. Ms. Ouellette received The Meeting Street Walter Cryan Award in 2004 and the Children’s Crusade Partner in Philanthropy Award in 2006, among other notable recognitions. Her work has been widely published, and she participates regularly as an expert in national speaking and judging engagements on branding and integrated marketing communications strategies.

“We are delighted to welcome Stuart Yarlas and Jami Ouellette to our board of directors,” said Mary Sylvia Harrison, president and CEO of The College Crusade. “Their unique talents and leadership skills will be of great assistance in our mission to increase educational and career success for students in Rhode Island’s low-income communities. We are grateful for their commitment of time and energy and for their willingness to invest in the future by investing in youth.”

About The College Crusade of Rhode Island
The College Crusade of Rhode Island is the state’s most comprehensive college-readiness and scholarship program for middle school and high school students in low-income school districts. It serves over 4,000 students per year and rewards the efforts and achievements of financially eligible students with up to four years of college scholarships. From grade 6 through grade 12, Crusaders experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in activities that focus on academic enrichment, social and personal development, career awareness and exploration, and readiness for college. Since 2001, The College Crusade has awarded over $18 million in college scholarships to more than 2,500 graduates from Rhode Island high schools.

The College Crusade is a nonprofit organization funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP program, by the State of Rhode Island, and by private corporations, foundations, and individuals. For more information, please visit www.thecollegecrusade.org.