WaterFire’s 2022 Celebration of Educational Excellence Was a Smashing Success!

Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green carries a torch during the WaterFire Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Photograph via Rhode Island Department of Education.

Students posing at the XQ Teachers Lounge. Photograph via Rhode Island Department of Education.

Lt. Governor Sabina Matos at the XQ Teachers Lounge

Lt. Governor Sabina Matos speaks with students and teachers at the XQ Teachers Lounge. Photograph via Rhode Island Department of Education.

Thank you to all of the educators, teachers, administrators, and visitors who joined us on Saturday, September 24 to celebrate educational excellence and recognize educators from across the state who are going above & beyond for students, families, & fellow educators. Thank you to the Rhode Island Department of Education, XQ Institute, Fidelity Investments, and igus for supporting this event and the 2022 WaterFire Season.

On September 24th, we were thrilled to be joined by XQ Institute, who hosted the “XQ+RI Teacher’s Lounge” to celebrate Rhode Island’s educators. XQ+RI is a statewide initiative powered by a partnership between the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and nonprofit XQ to rethink high school. People all over Rhode Island have come together to redesign Rhode Island’s graduation standards so that every high school student graduates prepared to thrive in today’s complex and rapidly changing world. Learn more about what’s next and how you can get involved.
– XQ Institute

Thank you everyone, including our spectacular educators, who filled downtown Providence for @WaterFireProv: Celebrating Educational Excellence. We couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful night. #OurKids #Back2SchoolRI @AInfanteGreen @Sabina_Matos @LisaO_V @LisaPas220 @XQAmerica pic.twitter.com/5rgD4YSQ9g
— Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) (@RIDeptEd) September 25, 2022

We had a wonderful time Celebrating Educational Excellence @WaterFireProv & recognizing educators from across the state who are going above & beyond for students, families, & fellow educators.

Check out our favorite photos from the event in this album📸: https://t.co/HfuGO63A3p pic.twitter.com/Ruf4JhZzxj
— Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) (@RIDeptEd) September 26, 2022

https://twitter.com/AndyMacMannis/status/1573797754861752327?s=20&t=vUDj-DwLnWdbmX6SkXG9fA

.@WaterFireProv: Celebrating Educational Excellence: a thread

We’ll be capturing moments from our reception for our educators, award ceremony & torch procession! We have some great students featured tonight. Plus, you’ll see the @XQAmerica+RI Teachers’ Lounge! Below: check in! pic.twitter.com/ORcjkl1Arx
— Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) (@RIDeptEd) September 24, 2022

The @xqamerica Teacher's Lounge is in full swing on the Washington Street Bridge. Stop by tonight until 10 pm. #TeachersLounge #WaterFire #celebratingeducators #celebratingeducationalexcellence #waterfire2022 https://t.co/eedTQKH3R7 pic.twitter.com/MKz2mNy1fq
— WaterFire Providence (@WaterFireProv) September 25, 2022

We're proud to be part of Celebrating Educational Excellence in RI with the Rhode Island Department of Education at tonight's WaterFire!https://t.co/GkPy14G8Xp #providence #waterfire #igusbike #engineers #support #WaterFire2022 #CelebratingEducators pic.twitter.com/t0XMeTa7Cs
— igus® Inc. (@igus_Inc) September 24, 2022

This was such a great event! 🌊🔥 @WaterFireProv @RIDeptEd

Saturday’s WaterFire honors Rhode Island educators https://t.co/sP7uoZo7E2
— Brown University Education Department (@BrownEduDept) September 28, 2022

See the igus:bike at #WaterFire tonight! https://t.co/tsW3j0pd54
— WaterFire Providence (@WaterFireProv) September 24, 2022

About the author

Tim Blankenship

Director of Special Projects at WaterFire | + posts by author

Tim Blankenship, newly appointed Director of Special Projects, is a 22-year veteran of WaterFire and a steadfast advocate for the organization’s mission to unite the community through shared artistic experiences. Having worked across multiple departments, including a decade in production and recent years with the creative services team, Tim brings unmatched institutional knowledge to his new role. He will focus on strengthening internal systems and supporting the creation of new visitor experiences at both the downtown installation and the WaterFire Arts Center.