Congratulations to the 2022 Recipients of the Ponaganset Distinguished Alumni Award:
Arnold Poole - Class of 1975
Arnie Poole is lawyer and municipal court judge in Oregon.
Arnie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island
and received his commission as a 2 nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He also
participated in the URI marching band, wind ensemble, and orchestra.
He had served in the US Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan as Logistics Officer, Supply
Officer, and Fiscal Officer attaining the rank of Major in 1991.
Arnie received his Juris Doctorate from Williamette University College of Law in 1988.
As a lawyer, his primary practice has been as a court-appointed criminal defense attorney
from 1990 to present (2023). He has represented people charged with crimes of everything
from trespass to major felonies. He has also advocated for prisoners who were appealing
convictions showing that their due process procedures were not followed by another court.
Arnie has also been actively involved in assisting people with mental disabilities obtain
appropriate treatment within the mental health system instead of the criminal justice
system.
Not only has he made a career of defending those who could not afford a lawyer but his
performance over many years has led to being selected as a Municipal Court Judge in
McMinnville, OR, in Toledo, OR, and in Lincoln City, OR.
In addition to his professional activities, Arnie is very active within his community. He is a
volunteer, a commissioner, and serves on the Boards of Directors for:
Linn County Oregon Defenders;
Linn County Court Appointed Special Advocates (for children);
Linn County Juvenile Consortium;
Oregon State Military Access Panel;
Oregon State Bar New Lawyer Mentor Program;
Boy Scouts of America Adult Volunteer;
Calapooia District Roundtable Commissioner;
Calapooia District Adult Training Chairman;
CPC Advance Youth Leadership Program staff;
Woodbadge Adult Leader training staff;
Scoutmaster Troop 99;
Santiam River District Eagle Scout Board member;
Order of the Arrow;
President’s Volunteer Service Award;
Calapooia District Commissioner;
Santiam River District Commissioner.
“While on the bench or in my practice, I try to treat each person I encounter with dignity
and respect, including clients, other lawyers, court staff, police and witnesses.“ — Arnie
Poole
Linda Samson Lane — class of 1978
Linda is an accomplished Martial artist, teacher, and mentor to
her students. She has distinguished herself as a Master
Instructor (“Shihan”).
Her curricula include American Kenpo karate, Okinawa karate,
Jiu Jitsu, Kobudo — self-defense and personal safety. She holds
the rank of Godan (5 th degree Black Belt) in Kenpo and Nidan
(2 nd degree Black Belt) in Kumi Chi Juijitsu.
In addition to her martial arts career, Linda is also a makeup
artist employed on television series and films that shoot in RI
and MA. Her most recent projects include HBO’s Julia, The
Storied Life of AJ Fikery, NOS4RA2,and Aftermath.
The combination of these two careers both complement and
depend upon one another — summed up best by the Kenosha
Karate school motto: “Mind Body Spirit”.
Through a grant from CAST (Citizens and Students Together)
Linda was able to produce, direct, and offer a dance program to
every member of the Foster-Glocester community — from
kindergarten to senior citizens.
Linda has traveled worldwide to train with the best teachers in
martial arts and has brought that knowledge back to her
students and mentees.
“Having a lasting, positive impact on another individual is the
greatest reward of all … some of us prefer to do our good deeds
quietly.” — Linda Lane
Jeff Hopkins — class of 1988
Jeff is a renowned artist, illustrator, and educator. After graduating from Ponaganset as
the class valedictorian (and class president for 3 years) he received his undergraduate
degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and then a graduate degree from
Harvard University for Arts in Education.
Jeff has worked with the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, as an illustrator for
children’s books for MacMillan/McGraw-Hill, as an animator for a Nickelodeon TV
show, and stars in his own story-drawing PBS series.
He has overseen the education programs for the Whitney Museum and developed
programs for school groups, adult visitors, and an after-school program for children
from a nearby temporary housing shelter. Additionally, Jeff began working with The
Guggenheim Museum, The Jewish Museum, Arts Connection, American Ballet Theatre,
and other arts institutions. As a New York City-based arts educator, he was frequently
asked to present or lead workshops and share his expertise and experiences in arts
education. The Guggenheim Museum asked Jeff to create a video drawing series for
them — “Sketch with Jeff”, which now appears nationally on PBS as part of the show
CAMP TV.
Jeff has been:
Keynote Speaker at the Rauschenberg Foundation;
Keynote Panelist at Continuing the Conversation - Harvard Graduate School of
Education;
Host and facilitator of week-long summer professional development for teachers at the
Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum;
Guest Speaker at the Metropolitan Museum of Art;
and,
Storyteller-in-Residence at the Delaware Art Museum
Heidi Verity Rivard — class of 1984
Firefighting/EMS/First responder
Heidi, now retired as Captain, was the first female officer with the Providence Fire Department.
She paved the way, broke down barriers, and overcame many obstacles for women in the
workforce — particularly, in the at-the-time, male-dominated fire departments.
She was first in her class for the Rescue Captain test in 2005, a member of the Fire Department
Honor Guard, and was recognized by RI Monthly as one of Rhode Island’s Amazing Women.
It was not easy in the late 1980’s for a woman to be accepted into such professions as a
firefighter and rescue personnel. Heidi was determined to make firefighting and emergency
services her career — starting as a volunteer with the Harmony Fire Department as a teenager.
She then earned her EMT certification and became a full-time member on the Smithfield Fire
Department and eventually to the Providence Fire Department.
Heidi had received many unit and distinguished heroic action citations for duties above and
beyond normal. She not only took every test and passed, she did so with confidence. When on
the job she was very much respected and loved by her fellow firefighters — male and female. She
was part of the family and a member who was a leader and someone who always made others
better. As more women joined the force, Heidi was someone these young people could look up
to.