Eastern Student Sister Kateri Ludick of Willimantic Named Recipient of History Department's Victoria Leigh Soto Memorial Fund Scholarship for 2015-16 Academic Year

2015 May 6

Eastern student Sister Kateri Ludick '15 of Willimantic, CT, was named as the recipient of the the History Department's Victoria Leigh Soto Memorial Fund Scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year. Ludick's major is History and Social Science. The scholarship was created in honor of Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Victoria Leigh Soto '08, an elementary school teacher, who lost her life protecting her first-grade students at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, on Dec. 14, 2012.

Soto was a dean's list student while she attended Eastern as an elementary education and history double major. She was also a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society.

"It is truly humbling to receive an award that honors the memory of a heroic young woman, Victoria Soto, who conveyed, through her actions, what teaching is all about -- the students. She gave of her life for the students with whom she cared for so deeply and has inspired me with her courageous witness of sacrifice and love. She is a shining example who will inspire all teachers, especially those in Eastern's program, to become true advocates for the children as we put them first and foremost," said Ludick.

In 2013, the Department of History established the award in memory of Victoria Leigh Soto for a graduating senior who is a History major, a member of Phi Alpha Theta and planning to become a teacher. The award is presented annually during the Phi Alpha Theta initiation ceremony at Eastern. Sister Ludick is the third recipient of the scholarship.