Countdown to Commencement 2021: Nicholas Rino

Each year, College News Highlights recognizes members of the graduating class in the “Countdown to Commencement” series where rising graduates are nominated by faculty and staff for the impact they have made on the campus community.

The first member of the Class of 2021 to be featured in the series is Nicholas Rino, a human resources management major and economics minor who was nominated by Fr. Kevin Mannara, director of campus ministry.

A Massachusetts native, Rino is a student-athlete who also holds several student leadership positions. He was a captain of the men’s rowing team for four years and has been a lead student ambassador charged with training and evaluating new ambassadors. He has also been involved with Campus Ministry and is a Service Scholar completing 200 hours of service each year.

“The holistic experience over these four years has been so beneficial to me. It has given me confidence in all areas of my life. I’ve had so many meaningful interactions, and it’s just been so important that the school has instilled that within me. It has also improved my own confidence and my own skills and my own abilities, so I can’t say enough about that,” said Rino.

Mannara says that Rino has left quite a mark on the campus community and that he is someone he can always count on when something needs to get done. He added that what he will remember most about Rino are his sincerity, generosity, and concern for others.

“Nicholas got very involved, forged many friendships, and was always helpful or available to try new things. He has been a quiet leader among his friends; a young man of honor and quiet virtue,” he said.