Jim Hopkins led manufacturing operations management activities at A. T.
Cross for 20 years and at the Wardwell Braiding Machine Company for 14
years, the last 4 years serving as Managing Director, Wardwell Europe in
Berlin, Germany. A 1958 graduate of Coventry High School and a1962
graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Jim served as board member and
President of the URI Alumni Association and as board member and Interim
President of the URI Foundation.

He is a trustee of Centreville Bank, chairs the Butler Hospital quality
committee, and serves on Kent Hospital and Care New England quality
committees. He is a trustee of the Congregational Library & Archives in
Boston, treasurer of the Anthony Lyceum Library Association, and recently
chaired the Board of the Congregational Foundation in Milwaukee.

Jim had a major impact at the University of Rhode Island. Under his
leadership as Alumni Association President, the Centennial Scholarships
were established providing for tuition-free attendance for top students who
qualify. In addition, he was instrumental in establishing the J-Term Travel
Endowment to help needy students pay for international travel during the
January class break.

Jim has helped various organizations start out on a solid financial footing. At
Kent Hospital, Jim helped establish the Kent Hospital Foundation and served
as chairperson for two capital campaigns to raise funds for the hospital.
While on the Board of the National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches, Jim helped it to establish the Congregational Foundation in
Milwaukee, WI, to help fund support for member churches at URI.
Locally, he founded the Hopkins Family Scholarship fund and helped the
CHS Alumni Association establish an endowment to fund scholarships. In
2014 Jim was awarded the prestigious Philanthropic Citizens Award by the
Rhode Island Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for his
philanthropic work and volunteerism.

On October 5th, 2019, Jim received a 2019 URI Distinguished Achievement
Award.

His amazing accomplishments and example serve as a model of what is
possible for CHS graduates who wish to give back to their community and
truly make the world a better place.