Eastern Connecticut State University

Two civic engagement groups at Eastern Connecticut State University traveled to Richmond, VA for the IMPACT conference on Feb. 27 at Virginia Commonwealth University. Eastern's Jumpstart group and its local host, the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) sent student alumni brainpower to the meeting.

Eastern's Office of Opportunity Programs hosted the Dream Awards, where students were recognized for their achievements and TheDream.US class of 2025 received stoles to showcase at graduation. Taking place on March 28 in the library's Paul E. Johnson, Sr. Community Conference Room, the event served as a night of celebration and inspiration for TheDream.US scholars at Eastern.

Eastern's first cohort of nursing students was honored at the university's inaugural "white coat ceremony" on Jan. 23 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Concert Hall. A rite of passage for nursing students across the world, the ceremony marks the beginning of students' clinical education and their commitment to compassionate patient care. During Eastern's ceremony, 28 students donned their white coats and received a "Keeping Healthcare Human" pin from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, whose namesake established the ceremony in 1993. The students will now begin on-site clinical experience at two sites this semester: Pierce Memorial Baptist Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn and Westview Health Care Center in Killingly.

Eastern Connecticut State University will be featured on Amazon Prime's "The College Tour" next spring as one of the show's season 13 episodes. Filming took place on Eastern's campus Oct. 7-11, showcasing a diverse group of 10 students and alumni who represent life at Connecticut's only public liberal arts university.

A biology major at Eastern Connecticut State University recently published a children's book based on her study of marine biology. Junior Jasmine Antonucci's "Friends with the Ocean" takes readers into the depths of the ocean through the eyes of the various creatures dwelling in its waters.

A group of incoming first-year students interested in STEM fields participated in Eastern's inaugural Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program this July. The program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and aims to diversify Connecticut's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

With the Class of 2024 recently graduated, many of Eastern's newest alumni are beginning their careers while others are choosing to continue their studies. Here are a few of the graduates pursuing advanced degree programs.

The Department of English at Eastern Connecticut State University honored graduating seniors at its spring semester English Night on May 1. The event featured awards and student presentations.

Eastern Connecticut State University welcomed its newest Warriors to campus this June during the annual Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) program. Through the guidance of student orientation counselors (SOCs), hundreds of incoming students from the Class of 2028 acquainted themselves with Eastern's campus and pondered their collegiate aspirations during four separate two-day orientation sessions.

English majors were honored at the close of the fall 2023 semester during English Night, an annual celebration in which awards and presentations were given and students were inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta honor society.

Senior English major Lilia Burdo has published a chapbook of poems, "Yin Ri Bei," inspired by her life growing up as a transracial adoptee from China.

From burnout to masculine honor, six student projects were recognized at the recent Psychological Science Research Event on Dec. 4. Timothy Jacques, Kaylee Drobish, Victoria Janosi, Kylie Rataic, Stacie Kinlen and Samantha Shatas won "best poster" awards at the event.

Brainstorming paid off for Eastern Connecticut State University computer science students Ian Valeta and Diego Hernandez Ramirez when their plan for a tree-planting digital game won them the top prize at the Hack4Delta Sustainability Hackathon Sept. 15-17 in Hartford.

Three biochemistry students at Eastern Connecticut State University are expanding their understanding of how supercomputers can be used to solve complicated health issues, under the guidance of Kedan He, assistant professor of chemistry and the only computational chemist at Eastern.

The Honors Program at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized 19 graduating seniors at its annual reception this past May in the University's J. Eugene Smith Library. The event celebrates students who completed an honors thesis, the program's capstone requirement.

With financial support from the federal government, Amirah Foster, a senior majoring in business administration at Eastern Connecticut State University, is getting a jump start this summer on a career in international business.

Eastern Connecticut State University's English Department recognized student achievements on Dec. 8 during its annual English Night celebration. Thirty students were inducted into the national English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta, and several others received scholarship awards and presented capstone projects.

The Honors Program at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized 14 graduating seniors at its annual reception on May 14 in the J. Eugene Smith Library. The event celebrates students who completed an honors thesis, the program's capstone requirement.

Nancy Gonzalez '22 was recently named a fellow by the Pfizer Research and Development Rotation Program. After she graduates, Gonzalez will join more than 2,000 scientists in this highly selective paid fellowship to explore new knowledge in health care. She will rotate in multiple Pfizer research and development offices and laboratories over the next two years.

The Student Activities Office at Eastern Connecticut State University recently concluded its fall session of the LEAP leadership program. Standing for "Learn, Explore, Achieve, Perform," the program is designed to help students develop their leadership skills through a variety of workshops. This semester's session trained thirteen students.

Eastern Connecticut State University's newly developed Peer Educators Advocating for Campus Empowerment (PEACE) program has spent the fall 2021 semester promoting inclusion and diversity on campus. Founded by the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing, the educational program empowers student leaders to influence the campus culture.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Erin Raymond was an organizer and performer in the 20th Annual 5x5 Dance Festival on Nov. 6. Raymond served as an intern and aslo performed with a group of Eastern dancers at the festival, which occured at the University of Saint Joseph's (USJ) Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities.

Three Eastern Connecticut State University students have been hired as peer mentors for the "Beyond the Curriculum: A Learning Community for Success" program. Funded with a $650,000 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the "Success Scholars" program is designed to support lower-income students who are pursuing science-related careers. The peer mentors are working closely with the first cohort of Success Scholars.

Eastern Connecticut State University's competitive Honors Program admitted 23 new students this fall 2021 semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Office of Housing and Residential Life has hired 63 resident assistants (RAs) for the 2021-22 academic year. The RAs oversee 14 residential buildings as the work to provide programming and foster community among student residents.

Eastern Connecticut State University music student Samantha Warshauer is midway through an intensive five-week opera training program by the name of La Musica Lirica, which runs from June 21-July 23. Traditionally held in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, the program has relocated to the Al. Ringling Theatre in Wisconsin due to the pandemic.

Six Eastern Connecticut State University students and alumni recently concluded a 600-mile bike ride to raise awareness of mental health issues. The group, known as "The Valley Boys Ride," concluded their two-week journey in mid-June in the Outer Banks, NC, and raised more than $5,000 for the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Connecticut (NAMI CT).

The Honors Program at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized graduating seniors at its annual Senior Reception on May 13. The event celebrates seniors who have completed their theses projects as part of the Honors Program's graduation requirements.

Two students and one faculty member from Eastern's Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) received awards at the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Eastern District Awards this April.

Eastern Connecticut State University recently hosted its first Minority Health Conference, which examined the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 among people of color and racial/ethnic health disparities across Connecticut. The virtual conference featured state and local health officials and was organized by four Eastern students.