Alex Tirrell ‘04

Alex Tirrell ’04 (East Providence High School, East Providence Career & Tech Center) graduated from Rhode Island College in 2011 with a B.A. in Music, double majoring in Voice and Piano. Alex started off at RIC with the intention of pursuing a B.S. in Music Education, but he decided that teaching K-12 wasn’t really what he wanted to do. Instead, he went after his true passion and has found a niche working as a music director for various theatre companies in southern New England. “My job consists of teaching vocals to the actors, coaching them on technique and good vocal health, as well as playing piano and conducting the orchestra for the shows,” he says. “It's a fun job but also tons of hard work. It's thrilling and a privilege to work with so many talented people of all ages, and extremely rewarding to see the young talent that I work with excel.”

Alex’s latest project is directing the music for the Rhode Island premiere of Grey Gardens at Salve Regina University. In the past year, he has served as music director for the New Bedford Festival Theatre and Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium, as well as for area high schools and community theatre groups. He also works part time as an Easy Tech Associate for Staples.

“I had some amazing professors in college that really shaped the standards and work ethic that I have today,” Alex says. “I learned so much from them and was taught the valuable lesson that there is always room for improvement in all aspects of life. College was also extremely useful as far as networking, and it was great overall just meeting people and making friends. Much of my work as a musician comes from referral, so networking is huge for me.”

Alex appreciated receiving a College Crusade scholarship to support his education. “The Crusade scholarship made a great difference for me, especially because as a music major, my lessons were charged as additional fees and were not part of regular tuition,” he says. “Because the Crusade scholarship helped to cover tuition and lessons, it was much easier for me to purchase books and sheet music for my classes, which are a very expensive part of college that many students may not initially factor in.”

Having multiple jobs and working from show to show doesn't leave Alex with very much free time, but he manages to fit more music into whatever time is left. “There is some blur between my interests and work, because I absolutely love to sing and play music,” he says. “At least once a week I will be out with friends singing karaoke. I am also keyboardist and a vocalist for the alternative pop/rock band Shryne. And as time permits, I sometimes donate my services as a vocal coach and accompanist.”

His best advice for Crusaders starting college in the fall? “Get involved in clubs and activities on campus,” he recommends. “It's exciting and rewarding to be part of a community. You can learn a lot in the process, and make a difference at the same time.”

Monsurat Ottun ‘02

Monsurat Ottun ’02 (Shea High School) graduated from Boston College in 2006 with a B.A. in Human Development with a focus on Community Advocacy and a minor in Faith, Peace and Justice. After graduation, she worked for Upward Bound and then was employed at MetLife, The Women’s Center of Rhode Island, and New Roots Providence. Monsurat currently works as a Program Manager at City Year Rhode Island. She manages 19 AmeriCorps members between the ages of 17 and 24 who serve as tutors and mentors at Gilbert Stuart Middle School and Roger Williams Middle School in Providence. “I like that I get to work to make a difference in the lives of youth,” she says. “I also love the way I get to work with my Corps members to help them develop their future goals and plans.”

Monsurat appreciates the opportunity she had to be mentored as a Crusader. “Being in the Crusade was like having a big brother or big sister to take you exploring places, introduce you to people around your community, and keep you focused on the college path,” she says. “I had people I could talk to and ask questions. When I was in elementary school, I remember learning how to make pizza and going on field trips. It felt special being called on the intercom at the end of the day to go hang out with the Crusade at Baldwin Elementary School. When I got older, the Crusade offered me the Kaplan courses for free so that I could prep for my SAT,” she continues. “I wouldn’t have done as well without it.”

For Monsurat, college was eye opening. “I learned a lot about life,” she says. “College allows you to look at the world from a completely different perspective. You get to move beyond your own small little microcosm of a community and see what other people are like, see the professional world a little bit, and learn a lot about things you may never have known about or experienced.” College also offered her an avenue for travel and study. “A huge experience for me was my service trip to Jamaica and studying abroad in Egypt for a semester,” she says.

Her advice for Crusaders? “Take it all in,” she says. “Take advantage of every opportunity. Meet as many people as possible. Take advantage of traveling opportunities and service opportunities. Take classes you just want to learn about for fun in addition to your core courses, and take your academics seriously. You’ll never have another opportunity like it, so use the time wisely and it’ll bring you success in the future!”

In her free time, Monsurat writes and sometimes performs poetry. Her first book of poems, Little Pink Dress (http://www.facebook.com/Little.Pink.Dress.byMOttun), was published in April 2011. She hosts workshops and panels for men and women about how to live healthy and successful lives and has founded a volunteer program at her mosque. “I love to volunteer and feel fortunate to be able to do so,” she says. “I am always busy. I am also taking classes at CCRI for Entrepreneurship and Marketing Certificates and look forward to graduating this May!”