Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State University has named its two 2025 recipients of the Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award, the most prestigious undergraduate honor given by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system. This year's honorees are senior mathematics major Ryan Toomey and senior English and psychology double-major Dana Arroyo Infante. Eastern selects two graduating seniors for the Barnard Award each spring, contributing to an annual total of 12 across Connecticut's four state universities. Recipients of the award are nominated for their commitment to academic excellence, campus involvement, and community engagement.

Eight physical education (PE) students at Eastern Connecticut State University earned top accolades at the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America National Convention and Exposition, held this April in Baltimore. Two Eastern teams beat stiff competition at the SHAPE America College Bowl, earning first and second place, respectively. The annual convention and exposition gathers health and PE teachers from across the country for a weekend of networking, workshops, educational sessions, and a "Jeopardy" style competition. The competition, which typically sees more than 20 teams, tests students in their knowledge of PE, health, anatomy, physiology, adapted PE, national standards, nutrition, dance, and gymnastics, among other topics.

The Department of Communication, Film, and Theatre at Eastern Connecticut State University presented its final main stage production of the year with "The Prison That Made America: Women's House of Detention (1932-1974)." Written and directed by theatre Professors Reginald Flood and Alycia Bright-Holland, the show ran from April 24-27 at the Fine Arts Instructional Center Proscenium Theater. The play took viewers behind the walls of the historic Women's House of Detention in Greenwich Village, New York, a neighborhood where Bohemian rebellion and queer culture flourished. The play follows "House of D" residents, some well-known, such as political activists Angela Davis, Afeni Shakur, and writer Andrea Dworkin. The unheard voices of criminalized people were also uplifted through "lesser-known characters such as Charlottle, Virginia, Louise B., and 'Big Cliff' Trundle," said Bright-Holland

From artificial intelligence (AI) on Mars to the impacts of cult brainwashing on parenting, nine Eastern students showcased their work at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), held April 7-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. NCUR is an annual conference with the mission of promoting undergraduate research from nationwide institutions and diverse fields of study. The conference featured mentor-led sessions, student poster and oral presentations, and a "Future Fair" showcasing undergraduate research.

Six students from Eastern's Business Information Systems/Information Technology Students of America (BIS-ITSA) club traveled to Springfield, MO, this March to compete in the United States IT Collegiate Conference (USITCC), which welcomed 15 colleges and universities from across the country. According to the USITCC website, the conference featured six competitions in different areas of IT, including database design, Microsoft Office, security, PC troubleshooting, business analytics, and a "hackathon." Winners received prize money, trophies, certificates, and formal recognition from the Foundation for IT Education.

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 Connecticut State University's 2025 Equity and Social Justice Awards recently honored three students for their commitment to civil rights, systemic change, and advocating for underserved groups. The ceremony took place March 28 in Eastern's Art Gallery.

History students at Eastern Connecticut State University and visiting students from other Connecticut State Universities (CSUs) presented their topical research at the CSU Making History Conference on March 28 in the Student Center. The event was sponsored by Eastern's Department of History, Center for Connecticut Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, and Provost's Office.

The Department of Communication, Film, and Theatre at Eastern Connecticut State University held a one-night sold out performance of "Summerhill," an original play written and directed by senior theatre major Finn McCarty. The play, described by McCarty as a "tragicomedy," was performed on March 28 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Delmonte Bernstein Studio Theatre and told the story of two brothers exploring themes of identity and generational curses.

Over spring break, Eastern's chapter of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) traveled to Lake View, SC, dedicating their time, labor, and resources to help construct a home for a family in need. The mission of the trip was simple: "to remove the barriers that prevent affordable housing for the [Lake View] community," according to Rebecca Drazul, the student organization's treasurer. The group spent five days in the southern community, constructing flooring, walls, window frames, and a porch. The student volunteers learned and utilized various carpentry/construction skills and techniques to help with the safe and timely construction of the building.

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.

31 students and two faculty members at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into Eastern's chapter of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Leadership Honor Society on March 2 in the Student Center Betty Tipton Room. The inductees were chosen based on their commitment to leadership within the campus and in their own communities.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Department of Communication, Film and Theatre (CFT) sent 16 students and two alumni to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), Region 1, from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at Central Connecticut State University.

The Department of Art and Art History at Eastern opened its biannual Asian Studies Expo in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Art Gallery on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. Coordinated by art Professor Soojin Kim, the exhibition is a celebration of Asian cultures and topics through a variety of artistic media.

Ian Valeta, a senior computer science major at Eastern Connecticut State University, has become involved on campus in a variety of ways. Most recently, he was accepted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), the international honor society for the computing and information disciplines. This involvement has paid off: in December 2024, Valeta was one of only 34 recipients nationwide to receive a $1,000 UPE scholarship.

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.

Two history students and a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University recently took a national stage to share their work on the sociopolitical impacts of three cornerstones of American culture: fast food, alcohol and tobacco. Senior Emma McCormack and Professor Thomas Balcerski presented at the American Historical Association (AHA) conference from Jan. 3-5 at the New York Hilton hotel in New York, NY. Junior Emma Schafer attended and was inspired by the breadth of historical topics being discussed at the conference.

Eastern Connecticut State University recently released its Dean's List for the fall 2024 semester, in which more than 1,300 students were recognized for maintaining high GPAs.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Department of English hosted an awards ceremony and capstone presentations on Dec. 5 to celebrate student achievements. The event recognized five scholarship recipients, 39 inductees into the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society and featured five capstone presentations.

More than 1,000 students are concluding their first semester at Eastern Connecticut State University this fall 2024. The new students include 808 first-time and 275 transfer students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate-level programs.

Twelve students from Eastern Connecticut State University's Department of English showcased their literary research at the Connecticut State University (CSU) Undergraduate English Conference on Nov. 1. The event was held at Central Connecticut State University and allowed undergraduates to share their scholarly and creative projects, developed under the mentorship of faculty members Allison Speicher, Susan DeRosa and Ken McNeil.

Students at Eastern Connecticut State University honed new skills and explored career interests this fall semester through a variety of paid, pre-professional experiences known as co-ops. Opportunities spanned industries such as insurance services, data analysis and sports coaching.

Eastern's Department of Psychological Science represented at two academic conferences this past October. At the annual meeting of the Berkshire Association of Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT) in Worcester, MA, Professor James Diller presented a poster with a student co-author. At the New England Psychological Association (NEPA) conference at Springfield College, students presented on college-student well-being and BIPOC peer mentoring.

More than 100 first-generation students from Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into the Tri Alpha National Honor Society on Nov. 8, recognizing their academic achievements despite the challenges of being the first in their families to attend college.

Eastern held two showings of "The Last American Jackrabbit" on Nov. 1, an original play directed and written by students Xsyanni Jackson and Kane Waggoner. The only student-made performance of the fall 2024 semester sold out its evening show and scheduled a matinee performance to accommodate its large audience. Both were held at the Delmonte Bernstein Studio Theater.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Activity Board (CAB) again earned various accolades at this year's National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Providence Conference. The meeting took place Oct. 24-26 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Two senior biology students from Eastern Connecticut State University have been selected to present their research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) this Nov. 13 - 16 in Pittsburgh, PA. Nancy Avalos and Anne Le's research will cover critical global health and environmental challenges.

Eastern Connecticut State University sent students from a broad range of disciplines to present at this year's Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) Northeast Regional Conference on Oct. 25 and 26 at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. Fifteen students from nine academic departments represented Eastern at the conference.

Two senior biology students from Eastern Connecticut State University have been selected to present their research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) this November. Nancy Avalos and Anne Le's research will cover critical global health and environmental challenges.

Several student leaders and interns at Eastern Connecticut State University's Center for Community Engagement (CCE) are spearheading various outreach programs in Willimantic this semester. The common denominator for each volunteer is personal development through their commitment to community outreach.