Rhode Island
Meet the R.I. high school graduate who wants to be America’s next great sports broadcaster – The Boston Globe
Now he’s taking his talents to Rhode Island College thanks to winning the Rhode Island PBS Scholarship from the Rhode Island Foundation, which provides up to $60,000 (over four years) to students who want to pursue some form of journalism in college. Yean was selected from 27 applicants this year.
I asked him to tell us more about his high school experience and his dreams of becoming a sports broadcaster.
Q: This scholarship is going to help you pursue your dream to become a sports broadcaster. When did you decide you wanted to get involved in sports journalism?
Yean: I wanted to delve into sports broadcasting during the middle of eighth grade, following a math problem in my eighth grade algebra class writing a tortoise-and-hare-like story. The teacher liked my story, which sparked my interest in joining the sports journalism industry. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I joined Thunderbolt Sports Media and quickly became involved in broadcasts with my mentor, Mo Holtzman. Those experiences, along with the guidance of my club advisor and dear friend, Mr. Ken Simone, prompted me to go further into the industry and pursue my dreams of being involved in sports.
Q: You were the Student Council president at Cranston East and also the lead play-by-play announcer for many of the school’s athletic teams. What do you love most about calling games?
Yean: Commentating mainly high school sports, and being a (now former) high school student myself, getting to know these athletes off the field and in the classroom too is a one-of-a-kind thing you rarely see at higher levels of sports. I was able to meet so many awesome people through commentating, being able to get to know them, and build some great relationships. The people I worked with on my broadcasts as well are also fantastic people to be around. It’s the connections with other people that make what I do, at least at this level, worth it.
Q: You’re heading to Rhode Island College in the fall. What does the Rhode Island PBS Scholarship mean for you?
Yean: Being able to go to college without much financial worry through the Rhode Island PBS Scholarship is the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. To have the last four years of hard work rewarded through a massive scholarship such as this feels amazing – there’s really no other reaction that I could have now. But I’m really glad that my mom and dad don’t have to worry so much about paying for my college education anymore. They’ve already done so much for me, and I’m grateful for them being in my life.
Q: The media has changed so much in recent years. What’s something older readers (and journalists) should know about your generation?
Yean: Social media has transformed how we take in our info. Lots of people my age take in their sports news through video content rather than reading articles. Especially on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc, it’s quick and easy information to take in and instantly react to it. For example, Eric Rueb from the Providence Journal does a lot of video content on Instagram, and I and many people know and love him from that. It’s an interesting time for not just sports journalism, but journalism overall in terms of how journalists and news companies adapt to how people like to take in their news.
Q: Last question: How the heck did you become a Miami Heat fan?
Yean: My father’s been a Miami Heat fan since they became a team, so I followed in his footsteps, so a pretty easy come-up as a Heat fan. I’m unfortunately a speck of red in a sea of Celtic green, so I’ve had too many arguments with my friends to try and recount all of them. Their Finals’ win this year does not help my case, although I’m sure Jimmy Butler and crew will find a way to avenge this year’s embarrassment of a season. I’m a die-hard Patriots fan though, so hopefully it makes up for it in some way for my fellow New Englanders.
This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.
(WJAR) — Rhode Island and Massachusetts governors said residents’ EBT cards will remain active amid new directive on SNAP benefits.
The Trump administration’s new guidance follows a Supreme Court stay.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said pending any new direction from the Food and Nutrition Service, states should not issue full November benefits and should only load the partial 35% of the money.
A store displays a poster indicating it accepts SNAP benefits. (WJAR)
This comes after states such as Rhode Island and Massachusetts filled SNAP recipients’ EBT cards with the entire months’ worth of SNAP benefits on Saturday, following a previous court order and USDA’s issuance.
USDA now said states that have sent full SNAP payments need to “immediately undo any steps.”
“To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” the new USDA directive said. “Failure to comply with this memorandum may result in USDA taking various actions, including cancellation of the Federal share of State administrative costs and holding States liable for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.”
On Sunday, Gov. Dan McKee said Rhode Island recipients’ EBT cards will remain active, and that his team has reached out to the Food and Nutrition Service related to the latest update.
“I am disgusted by the chaos and hardship that President Trump and his Administration continue to create across the country. While states have been forced to navigate a series of conflicting and erratic directives around SNAP benefits, Rhode Islanders, and all Americans, have been anxious, confused—and hungry,” McKee said in a statement.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said residents should continue to spend funds on their EBT cards.
“If President Trump wants to penalize states for preventing Americans from going hungry, we will see him in court,” she said. “These funds were processed in accordance with guidance we received from the Trump Administration and a lower court order, and they were processed before the Supreme Court order on Friday night. We will continue to work with Attorney General Campbell to make sure everyone gets the full benefits they are owed.”
McKee said on Saturday that so far, 79,000 in-state recipients have received their benefits and contingency plans are in place if future funds aren’t released.
Meanwhile, 100% of Massachusetts beneficiaries have received their November allotment.
RIFC opens Centreville Bank Stadium, May 3, 2025
RIFC opens Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket on May 3, 2025. Rhode Island and San Antonio FC played to a 0-0 final.
Rhode Island FC is moving on in the USL Championship playoffs.
Albert Dikwa found the net twice late in Saturday’s match at North Carolina FC to lift the Ocean State club to a 2-0 victory at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The victory means, for the second straight season, RIFC will be playing in the Eastern Conference Final with a chance to play for the league title.
North Carolina has had RIFC’s number in the previous two meetings at First Horizon Soccer Stadium, earning shutout wins in both matches. That changed on Friday night, thanks to Dikwa’s goals.
The first score, in the 81st minute, came on a header from the left side of the six-yard box that found the bottom left corner. Noah Fuson got the assist. The second score came in the 90th minute when Dikwa’s right-footed blast from more than 35 yards out found the bottom right corner of the net, following a fast break.
With the win, Rhode Island will advance to the conference final set for next week (Date/time TBD), against the winner of Saturday’s semifinal matchup between Detroit FC and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Earlier this week, news broke that North Carolina FC will not field a team in the UFL Championship next season. First reported by The Athletic, North Carolina’s players were informed of the news as the club prepared for their playoff game against Rhode Island. All players under contract will be released after the season and can sign elsewhere. Those with guaranteed deals will receive about two months’ salary, per the report.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — High school football playoffs have returned to Rhode Island, and ABC6 has a full slate of action from all four divisions in the Ocean State.
Scores from featured games are listed below:
- DI — (No. 4) Cranston West 14 / (No. 5) Portsmouth 7
- DI — (No. 3) Hendricken 23 / (No. 6) St. Raphael 0
- DII — (No. 2) South Kingstown 42 / (No. 7) Lincoln 12
- DII — (No. 4) West Warwick 35 / (No. 5) Woonsocket 13
- DII — (No. 3) East Providence 48 / (No. 6) Pawtucket 9
- DIII — (No. 4) Johnston 28 / (No. 5) North Providence 14
- DIV — (No. 3) Davies 28 / (No. 6) Juanita Sanchez 0
- DIV — (No. 1) Narragansett / (No. 8) Hope 6
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