Eastern Student Dnemah Quenah Participates in African Club Cultural Extravaganza

2011 Dec 9

Dnemah Quenah '14 of Granby, CT, participated in the African Club Cultural Extravaganza at Eastern Connecticut State University on Dec. 2. Quenah is majoring in Business Administration.

Dozens of students, faculty and staff joined members of the African Club at its annual Cultural Extravaganza on Dec. 2 in the Betty R. Tipton Room. Yaw Nsiah, associate professor of biology at Eastern, was the guest speaker. He discussed public health services in Ghana, West Africa, his native country. "Public health is about the health of the community where everyone is responsible," said Nsiah. "We all have to do our part in making sure the drinking water is clean; we have good sanitation; the hungry have been fed; and the homeless have shelter."

The program included traditional African dancers; a display of African artwork; African storytelling by English Professor Raouf Mama; and delicious African food. The extravaganza also provided information on community service programs available to Eastern students. For more information, contact africanclub@easternct.edu.

More than 30 percent of the full-time students enrolled at Eastern now participate in at least one club/organization–an increase of almost 10 percent since fall 2007. Students who participate in clubs/organizations excel in the classroom and do better academically than students who do not participate. In spring 2011, almost 1,200 students participating in clubs had an average GPA of 3.10, much higher than the 2.87 average for those students not taking part in any of the nearly 70 clubs/organizations.

Clubs/organizations planned and implemented almost 600 events last academic year. These programs have a direct impact on the daily life of all students on Eastern's campus. The programs range from social to educational, physical to spiritual, and civic engagement programs that equally affect the community.

Eastern Connecticut State University is part of the Connecticut State University System(CSUS) and is the state's public liberal arts university. Eastern serves more than 5,500students each year on its Willimantic campus.