Eastern Connecticut State University

The Cultural Extravaganza at Eastern Connecticut State University on Dec. 2 was sponsored by Eastern's African Club, and was designed to showcase the cultures of Africa.

More than 800 Eastern Connecticut State University students attended the 16th annual University's C.O.P.S. (Community-Oriented Policing for Students) Open Rec Night on Dec. 2. The evening is a substance-free event hosted by Eastern's Police Department. Open Rec Night provides Eastern students with an evening of fun and a chance to unwind in a safe setting prior to final exams. A number of students who belong to various student clubs and on-campus groups provide support services at the event.

This fall, 32 athletes from Eastern Connecticut State University were recognized as members of the Little East Conference All Academic Team.

15 Eastern Connecticut State University students receiving awards at the National Association for Campus Activities regional conference in Hartford, CT, on Nov. 17- 19.

Twenty-five student volunteers helped Eastern Connecticut State University host its fifth annual "Day of Giving" Thanksgiving dinner for the Willimantic community on Nov. 23. Diners included patrons of local soup kitchens and other social service agencies. Upwards of 500 local residents enjoyed the Thanksgiving meal, which took place in Hurley Hall. In addition, almost $2,500 was raised towards food contributions to local food pantries, and more than 5,000 canned goods were collected.

On Dec. 3 at the edge of Patriots Park, Eastern students plunged into the chilly waters of Coventry Lake to raise money for the Special Olympics. Students or "penguins" solicited donations from family, friends and local businesses in order to take the plunge.

Members of Eastern Connecticut State University's student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) attended the AITP-Long Island Chapter 2011 Technology Showcase and Economic Forecast on Nov. 15.

Three Eastern Connecticut State University students participated in the sixth Collegiate Mathematics Competition on Nov. 18 at Connecticut College in New London. The event, sponsored by the Northeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America, was open to undergraduate students throughout the Northeast.

The Eastern Concert Chorale performed a concert at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich on Nov. 22. The chorale was joined by the Concert Choir of Northeastern Connecticut and the Norwich Diocesan Choir and sang Franz J. Haydn's "Te Deum" and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Coronation Mass."

This fall, 32 athletes from Eastern Connecticut State University were recognized as members of the Little East Conference All Academic Team.

15 Eastern Connecticut State University students receiving awards at the National Association for Campus Activities regional conference in Hartford, CT, on Nov. 17- 19.

The Eastern Connecticut State University Concert Chorale performed a special concert at Carnegie Hall on Nov. 13 as part of the Mid America Production Concert Series.

Athletes from Eastern Connecticut State University's men's lacrosse team, women's soccer team, volleyball and softball teams, and numerous other Eastern organizations recently participated in the third annual Poverty Awareness Marathon. They supported Health and Physical Education Professor Charles Chatterton by collecting more than 600 nonperishable items to donate to a local food pantry in Willimantic.

This fall, Eastern Connecticut State University's club rugby team finished in first place in the south region of the New England Rugby Football Union's Division III men's college standings and qualified for postseason play. They fought hard before losing in the semifinals against Tufts University.

Three Eastern Connecticut State University students participated in the eighth annual New England American College of Sports Medicine College Bowl on Nov. 3 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI. Fourteen other New England universities participated in the competition.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Center of Community Engagement worked alongside the University's People Helping People student club to organize a book drive on campus.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Habitat for Humanity campus chapter held its annual "Shack-a-Thon" fundraiser over a 24-hour period from Oct. 26-27 in front of Webb Hall. The fundraiser was held to increase awareness of substandard housing in the Willimantic community.

Nineteen students from Eastern Connecticut State University took a field trip from Oct 21 to 24 to the White House, the U.S. Congress and the World Bank. The students enrolled in Professor Dennis Canterbury's Sociology of Globalization class attended the trip.

The Theatre Program and Drama Society in the Department of Performing Arts at Eastern Connecticut State University presented "The Island," their first major production for the 2011-12 season, from Oct. 27 to 30 and Nov. 1 and 2.

The Theatre Program and Drama Society in the Department of Performing Arts at Eastern Connecticut State University presented "The Island," their first major production for the 2011-12 season, from Oct. 27 to 30 and Nov. 1 and 2.

Four students and two faculty members from Eastern Connecticut State University's Department of Environmental Earth Science participated in the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference (NEIGC) from Sept. 30-Oct. 2. The annual meeting was held at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT.

FEMALES (Females Excelling Maturing to Achieve Leadership, Excellence and Success), a women's leadership club at Eastern Connecticut State University, hosted its third annual "Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis" walk on Oct. 2. Proceeds benefited the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

Several local students are serving as resident assistants (RAs) at Eastern Connecticut State University this fall. Eastern has more than 70 RAs, students who are carefully selected and trained to help dormitory residents create an environment that is conducive to individual and social growth.

The students attended the trip for an 11-day study tour of marine and terrestrial environments this past summer. San Salvador's flora and fauna include both native and introduced species, making the island a natural laboratory for studying island biogeography. The following local residents were among a group of Eastern undergraduate biology students who traveled to the Gerace Research Center on San Salvador Island, the outermost island in the Bahamas:

Ten Eastern Connecticut State University Students volunteered with the Math Mania Tutor Program. Eastern students and staff have completed their second year of the renowned and successful Math Mania camp.

Students from Eastern Connecticut State University's Performing Arts Department performed "Ring Around the Bottle" as part of the Phoenix New Play Series on Oct. 8.

A group of Eastern Connecticut State University students recently visited the country of Nepal along with Associate Professor of Psychology Carlos Escoto, Geeta Pfau, retired associate director of health services, as well as ITS trainer Barbara Williams.

Nineteen communications majors from Eastern Connecticut State University recently travelled to London and Paris to learn about different platforms of European media and how they compare to American media.

More than 1,300 students, including first-time freshmen and transfer students, are attending Eastern Connecticut State University for the first time this fall. Christopher Dorsey, acting director of admissions at Eastern. notes that Eastern freshmen come from 164 of Connecticut's 169 towns, from 24 other states and from 48 other countries. Local students enrolled at Eastern include:

A record 303 Eastern Connecticut State University students have received ECSU Foundation's competitive scholarships in the 2011-12 academic year. The allotted scholarships total $334,000 in funds awarded through the ECSU Foundation's annual scholarship process.