By Mikala Kane, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy, UConn Neag School of Education
Eight Districts Bring EDCI 1100, EPSY 1100, and EDLR 2001 Students to Storrs
In October, the UConn Neag School of Education hosted nine high schools that offer its Early College Experience courses in Storrs for a day. The 116 high schoolers in attendance learned more about the University, the Neag School, and potential careers in education and sport management.
“Expanding our Early College Experience courses offered through the Neag School has been a priority for me,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “In 2023-2024, our four courses provided the opportunity to earn college credits to 669 high schoolers in 25 districts. I’m thrilled Neag School faculty and staff organized an ECE Day for some of the students currently enrolled in our courses.”
Irizarry kicked off the day’s program, welcoming students and teachers from Bristol, East Hampton, Enfield, Farmington, Milford, New Britain, Plainville, and Trumbull. All either teach or take EDCI 1100: If You Love It, Teach It; EDLR 2001: Contemporary Issues in Sport; or EPSY 1100: Introduction to Special Education.
The group then heard an overview of the Neag School from ECE faculty coordinators and professors, as well as Assistant Director of Student Support Dominique Battle-Lawson and Academic Advisor Sydnee Jones.
“The Neag School continues to prioritize Early College Experience as an opportunity to connect with high school students,” says assistant professor in residence Danielle DeRosa, who is also one of the School’s ECE faculty coordinators. “We wanted the opportunity to bring ECE students who are taking our courses to campus so they could get a taste for campus life and learn more about the Neag School.”
Around midmorning, students enjoyed tours of campus and the athletics facilities before attending one of two panels: either about the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education Program or the Sport Management Program.
Both panels were organized and led by current Neag School students. Cece Echevarria ’25 (ED), ’26 MA; Anneliese Ide ’26 (ED), ’27 MA; Eben Hikade ’25 (ED), ’26 MA; Brynn Madonna ’25 (ED), ’26 MA; and Logan McCallum Laval ’24 (ED), ’25 MA spoke on the teacher education panel, while Paige Bjerke ’26 (ED), Teddi Ferraro ’25 (ED), Jake Steinberg ’26 (ED), Donte’ Carter ’26 (ED), and Ava Inesta ’26 (ED) offered insight as part of the sport management panel.
“The students asked insightful questions that allowed current Neag School students to share their advice and experiences of what to expect from both the University and our programs specifically,” says McCallum Laval, who also helped coordinate and host the day’s activities. “We hope to continue this event for years to come.”
“We hope the high school students and their teachers were able to learn more about UConn, the Neag School, and our programs, faculty, staff, and current students,” says Ann Traynor, assistant dean and certification officer for the Neag School.
“Neag Day was an invaluable experience for my students,” says Molly Anderson, an educator from Jonathan Law High School in Milford. “The visit sparked an excitement about life after high school, and my students are still talking about it. It’s undoubtedly one of the highlights of being part of the Neag School’s ECE community.”