Saint Margaret School Recognizes Distinguished Alumni

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EAST PROVIDENCE - Saint Margaret School recently presented two of its former students with its 3rd annual Distinguished Alumni Award. In two separate ceremonies during Catholic School Week, Cory Almeida and Michael Rogers were recognized for their accomplishments and service to others.

During their respective award ceremonies, both Cory and Michael spoke to the students about the importance of family and faith, and shared how attending Saint Margaret School influenced their lives.

Cory Almeida graduated from Saint Margaret School in 1989. While at Saint Margaret School, Cory had the honor of holding several positions in Student Council including class president. He was also cast in one of the schools musical productions, which ultimately helped propel him into his career as an entertainer.

Attending Bishop Feehan High School, Cory participated in a variety of extracurricular activities and also continued his relationship with God and dove deeper into his faith. He became the captain of both the varsity football and baseball teams winning awards in sportsmanship and becoming part of the school’s student council, and it was here that he was cast in his first leading role on stage as “Danny” in the school’s production of Grease.

Cory graduated from Bishop Feehan and continued his education along with his pursuit of both career and God at Emerson College in Boston, MA. At Emerson he was an On-Air radio personality on both WECB and the award winning 88.9fm WERS Boston. After graduating from Emerson College, Cory immediately moved to California where he began working for Nickelodeon. He toured the country hosting Nickelodeon’s “Game Lab’ and hosted his own TV shows, “The Hi-Fi Room” and Pictureka!” He has also been the Warm Up Host for several shows, including Dancing with the Stars, The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, and American Idol, including the current season which just began airing!

Cory currently travels the globe entertaining corporate crowds and motivating leaders of today and tomorrow by sharing his inspirational story. He says that these days his faith is even stronger and his relationship with God is the center of his life, and that daily he strives to share and show the heart of Christ through his words and actions. He is grateful for the strength, mercy and GRACE of God in his life!

Michael Rogers graduated from Saint Margaret School in 2004. Active in many of the schools clubs, Michael was also voted Student council president. In addition, he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by his peers.

After graduating from Saint Margaret School, Michael attended LaSalle Academy where he was involved in a variety of clubs and was a National Honor Society member, member of student government and model legislature, and a captain of the swim team senior year. He was also an Eagle Scout.

The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA was Michael’s choice for college, and Michael excelled there, graduating with Honors in History. Encouraged by his family at a very young age to do community service, Michael continued his involvement in community service activities there. He served as the Co-Chair of the Spring Break Immersion Program at Holy Cross, which sends approximately 300 students a year throughout the country to complete service projects during spring break. He also volunteered in Worcester through the Student Programs for Urban Development ( SPUD) program, serving as a tutor and social justice teacher for local students.

After graduation from college, Michael joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and served in Detroit, MI for a year as Coordinator of Social Justice Activities at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). While at UDM, he organized a service trip of about 50 students, staff, and faculty to help with Superstorm Sandy relief efforts in 2013. He also helped establish and lead the “Discover the D” program, which took students on educational tours of Detroit.

Upon completion a year of service with JVC, Michael moved to Washington, DC . He began working as a Legislative Correspondent in the office of Senator Jack Reed in 2014, focusing on energy, environment, and transportation issues, and in 2016 assumed his current role as Legislative Assistant in the office of Congressman Frank Pallone, JR. of New Jersey. As a Legislative Assistant, Michael handles a diverse policy portfolio, including energy, environment, housing, and emergency management.