Meet Helene Tjoumakaris, a nursing major from Egg Harbor, New Jersey, and this year’s student commencement speaker for the College of Nursing. Helene’s journey into nursing began during a life-changing experience in high school. When her best friend was diagnosed with kidney failure, Helene witnessed firsthand the profound role nurses played—not just in medical care, but in offering emotional support and strength. That experience ignited a passion to become the kind of nurse who not only heals, but also uplifts. She immersed herself fully in campus life, from serving on the Executive Council of ztauri to guiding new students as a Head Panhellenic Recruitment Counselor. Helene also worked as an Undergraduate Research Fellow, conducting research in palliative and hospice care with Dr. Susan DeSanto-Madeya, a mentor and a major influence in her journey. Her proudest moment at URI was raising funds for Habitat for Humanity during the Mr. and Mrs. Greek Week Pageant, where she placed seco...