Eastern Connecticut State University

Ten students from Eastern Connecticut State University's Music Program performed "Romance and Revenge: Love at the Opera" on Feb. 12 at the National Opera Center in New York City.

Eastern Connecticut State University psychology student Noelle Ciccarelli presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) convention on Feb. 18. Ciccarelli's project was titled "Similarities and Differences in Mate Preferences among Parents and their Daughters," and focused on the ratings that daughters gave when seeking a male mate, compared to their parents' ratings when seeking a mate for their daughters.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Theatre Program opened the spring 2022 semester with "Sweet Flag" from March 1-6. Written and directed by Theatre Professor J.J. Cobb, the story follows the lives of women living in the Nebraska Territory in 1866.

Eastern Connecticut State University's men's and women's lacrosse teams are beginning their spring 2022 seasons. The men's team consists of 31 players and had their first game on Feb. 26. The women's team consists of 22 players and will have its first game on March 3.

Eastern Connecticut State University's men's baseball and women's softball teams are set to begin their spring 2022 seasons. The baseball team consists of 35 players and will compete in their first game on March 5. The softball team consists of 21 players and will compete in their first game on March 4.

Junior biology major Kate Arildsen has been selected as a research intern for the Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink Program. The program grants recipients up to $7,800 (Canadian) in funding and enables exceptional undergraduate students from the United States to spend 10-12 weeks at a Canadian university conducting research with a faculty mentor.

Biology student Megan Piechowicz was awarded the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) travel award to attend the Worldwide Plant Biology Summit from July 9-13 in Portland, OR. While at the conference, Piechowicz will present her research project titled "Phenotypic characterization and mutation analysis of mutants defective in anthocyanin and proanthocyanidins in the model legume plant medicago truncatula."

Eastern Connecticut State University welcomed 148 new students to campus this spring 2022 semester. The new students include first-time and transfer students who are enrolled in full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate programs.

Four students from Eastern Connecticut State University's Music Program recently performed in the 2022 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Eastern Division Intercollegiate Band. The conference took place Feb. 18 - 19 in Baltimore, MD, at Johns Hopkins University.

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.

Eastern Connecticut State University's men's and women's track and field teams are amid their spring 2022 seasons of competition with 28 athletes and 23 athletes respectively.

Eastern Connecticut State University graduated 189 undergraduate and graduate students at the conclusion of the fall 2021 semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Anayeli Arroyo Aguilera has won a design challenge for the non-profit Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art and Performance (EC-CHAP) in Willington. Arroyo Aguilera competed against fellow Eastern students in her graphic design class to create a visual brand for EC-CHAP.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Department of English held its annual English Night on Dec. 7. The night was dedicated to students who received scholarships, were inducted into the English honor society and gave capstone presentations.

Eastern Connecticut State University recently released its Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester, in which nearly 1,300 students were recognized for maintaining high GPAs.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Colleen Goff of Waterbury is one of only four college students statewide selected to be a Connecticut Student Touring Poet in the 2021-22 Connecticut Poetry Circuit. Each year, a panel of judges selects a handful of college student poets to tour the circuit, which hosts readings at universities and organizations across the state.

Eastern Connecticut State University students Alexa Franchetti and Madeleine McGee were recognized as Outstanding Future Professionals by the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHPERD) at its annual conference on Nov. 18 and 19.

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.

Many Eastern Connecticut State University students are spending their fall 2021 semesters working as interns for a multitude of organizations. Interning in fields related to their majors, students are receiving real-world training to prepare them for their future careers.

Eastern Connecticut State University's men's and women's basketball teams are amid their 2021 seasons. Both teams have 15 players.

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.

Two biology students from Eastern Connecticut State University presented at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists (NE-ASPB), held virtually on Oct. 30.

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.

Eastern Connecticut State University student Connor Pollick of is interning with the Willimantic Police Department as part of the Social Work and Law Enforcement (SWLE) Project. The statewide initiative is training social work students from five universities to work with four police departments across Connecticut. The initiative is being spearheaded by Eastern's Social Work Program and Willimantic Police Department.

The men's and women's swimming teams at Eastern Connecticut State University are amid their fall 2021 seasons.

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 Center for Community Engagement (CCE) has resumed in-person volunteering for the fall 2021 semester. With 14 volunteering programs, the CCE has appointed 12 student leaders to take charge and display the commitment Eastern has in helping the surrounding community.

Eastern Connecticut State University's Theatre Program presented its first production of the fall semester on Oct. 19-24 in the Proscenium Theatre. Directed by Theatre Professor Darcy Parker Bruce, "The Place That Made You" takes audience members through an altered narrative of a famous Bible story.

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

Eight students from Eastern Connecticut State University worked with Discovering Amistad this September and October, teaching Hartford-area middle and high school students about the famed revolt of The Amistad. For the "Amistad Journey to Freedom" program, Eastern students told of the ship's historic rebellion and helped to connect it to contemporary social and racial issues.