Bishop Hendricken Senior Tristan Boyns ’26 Named Top 10 Finalist for Transform Rhode Island Scholarship

WARWICK, RI – Bishop Hendricken senior Tristan Boyns was recently surprised and recognized by members of the Papitto Opportunity Connection after being named a Top 10 Finalist for the Transform Rhode Island Scholarship.

Presented by the Papitto Opportunity Connection, the Transform Rhode Island Scholarship challenges students across the state to answer one powerful question:

“If you had $1 million to improve the lives of those who need it most in Rhode Island, how would you do it?”

Tristan Boyns, a passionate business student, student-athlete, nonprofit founder, and top ten member of the Class of 2026, developed an innovative concept called RhodeReach, a statewide platform designed to make donating and volunteering easier, more efficient, and more accessible for Rhode Islanders.

The RhodeReach platform would allow users to verify items they wish to donate, schedule drop-off times with local nonprofits, and coordinate volunteer opportunities. The system would also support nonprofit organizations by reducing administrative work through tools that help manage social media outreach, post urgent needs, track inventory, and organize volunteers.

Boyns outlined four key focus areas for launching RhodeReach with the scholarship funding:

• User Experience: Creating an effortless platform where helping others becomes part of everyday life.
• Nonprofit Onboarding & Verification: Building a strong and efficient process for organizations to join the network.
• Operations: Establishing accessible donation drop-off locations across the state.
• Launch & Adoption: Piloting the platform in a specific Rhode Island community before expanding statewide.