Thunderbolt Alumni Association

05/11/2026

05/11/2026

See you there!

04/14/2026

Last year, the Cranston East community was devastated by the tragic loss of alum Michael Kelly (‘00). Now his best friends from East are organizing a terrific golf outing to cherish his memory and raise money for his two young daughters.

If you want to honor Mike’s memory and catch up with fellow Bolt alumni, please consider attending or donating to the outing. Details below.

🏌️‍♂️ JOIN US FOR A GREAT DAY ON THE COURSE! ⛳

We’re excited to invite you to be part of an awesome Golf Tournament — a day filled with golf, networking, prizes, and a great time!

Whether you’re looking to:
✅ Play in the tournament
✅ Enter a foursome
✅ Sponsor a hole or prize
✅ Get your business in front of the community

…this is your chance to get involved!

🔥 Spots are limited — don’t wait!
Grab your friends, clients, or coworkers and lock in your spot today.

📅 Date: August 29
📍 Location: Cranston Country Club

👉 Check out all the details here:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAHDdWDPvNQ/jQPF6fV3Iphv6_T6BSXvpA/view

Let’s make this event a huge success — we hope to see you out on the course! ⛳

CommunityEvent

03/29/2026

Carmen is a second generation Cranston High School graduate. She attended , graduating from Cranston East in 1984. During her sophomore year of high school, she discovered a passion for working with students with varying abilities and specialized needs. While assisting in the classroom, working closely with Mrs. Madden and Ms. Scola, Carmen realized her desire was to become a special education teacher. She attended , earning her Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Special Education (1992 & 2000). In 1993, Carmen was hired by the Cranston Public School Department working as a special educator in the secondary setting. Of the 25 years in the classroom, she had the pleasure of once again becoming a "Thunderbolt" - teaching at her alma mater for 24 years. To further her education, Carmen returned to Rhode Island College and in 2011 she earned a CGS in Autism Education. She is currently the Autism Coordinator for the Cranston Public Schools.

03/23/2026

Mayor Ken Hopkins worked at Cranston East for 27 years. Thank you for supporting the Thunderbolt community and celebrating the school's centennial! ⚡️

03/17/2026

Check it out! owner Malcolm Najarian '76 proudly sporting his centennial sweater last week, featuring a fun photo with TAA member Carmen Ruggieri '84. 💚⚡️Get your own centennial sweater at the link in our bio!

02/27/2026

J.D. grew up in Edgewood, and is a member of the class of 1985. After a couple of less than successful years at Rhode Island College, he enlisted in the Army as a Programmer/Analyst. He served overseas in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, and served here at home in the Savannah, Georgia area. He graduated in 1995 and 1996 from what is now University of Maryland, University College with bachelor's degrees in Computer and Information Sciences, and Information Systems Management. In 1998, he moved to the Alexandria, Virginia area and began a program that would see him graduate with a Master's of Software Engineering in May 2001. He left active duty in July 2001, but didn't want to completely sever the military tie, so he enlisted in the Army Reserve, and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 as a Data Operations Warrant Officer before retiring from that in January 2025. On the civilian side, he's worked for many different firms as a software and database engineer. He works currently as the Chief Data Officer for Coggins International, a fuels automation and logistics company.

J.D. speaks, to some degree, five languages (English, Spanish, German, French, and Czech), and is a 3rd degree black belt in Olympic-style taekwondo. He's also been a Freemason since 2011, and likes to spend his free time in service to the community or relaxing at home with a good book. He's on the Board of Directors of the Wanna Learn More Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating inclusive educational spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, and communities can connect, learn, and thrive together. Through comprehensive programs, resources, and support services, they empower people to build understanding and create positive change in their communities.

02/27/2026

Repost from ' story: the 2026 Cranston East football schedule! Let's be sure to get out and support the team this season. Go Bolts! 💚⚡️

02/23/2026

The Blizzard of '26! ❄️☃️ Check out these photos of snowy neighborhoods from alumni Councilman Christopher Buonnano '02, Emily LeStrange '18, Kellsie King '18 and Carmen Ruggieri '84. Be sure to stay home, stay safe and stay OFF the roads!

02/19/2026

Kellsie King is a 2018 graduate of Cranston High School East. While at CHSE, she was a member of the yearbook where she served as the business manager and an editor for two out of the three years. She also was a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteered countless hours in the library after school. Both her mother and grandmother graduated from East.

Kellsie graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Currently, she works as a customer service assistant in the deathcare industry. In her free time, she also serves as a commissioner for the Cranston Historical Cemeteries Commission, voting director for the Thunderbolt Alumni Association, and volunteers as an alum for the Cranston East yearbook.