Riverside’s Colton McAdams Named Young Alumni Award Winner by Rhode Island College

Riverside, RI | September 8, 2025 – Rhode Island College is proud to announce 2019 alum Colton McAdams as
the recipient of the 2025 Young Alumni Award, honoring his outstanding contributions to the RIC community
and his transformational leadership of the National Student Exchange (NSE) program.

As an Academic Advisor and Co-Coordinator of the NSE program at RIC, McAdams has become a vital advocate for expanding academic opportunity through domestic study away experiences. His leadership has revitalized the NSE program, making it more visible, accessible, and inspiring to students who may never have imagined studying outside Rhode Island.

NSE allows RIC students to study at institutions across the U.S. and its territories while paying RIC tuition,
making travel and cultural enrichment financially viable. Since stepping into the co-coordinator role in 2023,
McAdams has led efforts to reintroduce and grow the program through creative outreach and strategic
campus engagement. McAdams’ passion for accessible education exemplifies RIC values and mission.