By Mikala Kane, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy, UConn Neag School of Education
Photos by Gordon Daigle and Michael Illuzzi
EDCI 1100, EPSY 1100, and EDLR 2001 students visit Storrs to learn more about UConn and potential careers
On October 24, the UConn Neag School of Education hosted its second annual Early College Experience Day for high schoolers participating in its Early College Experience course offerings. Over 110 students from eight schools spent the morning in Storrs, learning more about UConn, the Neag School, and potential careers in education and sport management.
“In 2024-2025, our ECE courses provided the opportunity to earn college credits to 924 highschoolers in 45 schools,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “That is a significant increase from only 201 students in five districts in 2021-2022, when we piloted our courses. Offering this opportunity for high school students to learn more about higher education, as well as future career paths, is central to our goal of improving access to education.”
Irizarry began the day’s activities by welcoming students and teachers from Bridgeport, Burlington, Enfield, Milford, Simsbury, and Waterford. 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 Professor-in-Residence Danielle DeRosa and Assistant Dean and Certification Officer Ann Traynor.
“Supporting a vibrant ECE portfolio is a priority of the Neag School and the Sport Management Program,” says DeRosa, who is also one of the Neag School’s ECE Faculty Coordinators. “It allows high school students to earn UConn credit and experience the rigor of our courses. This experience helps to facilitate college readiness and prepare students for the student success journey.
Around midmorning, students enjoyed tours of campus and the athletics facilities before attending sessions specific to their classes. Those enrolled in EDCI or EPSY courses attended a panel moderated by Director of Teacher Education Alyssa Hadley Dunn and hosted by current Neag School students, who offered insights about the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education Program. The high schoolers enrolled in EDLR 2001 attended the Business, Sport and Human Rights panel at UConn’s Dodd Human Rights Summit, which was dedicated to Sport and Human Rights this year.
“Visiting UConn for my ECE class was a valuable experience,” says Marek Nardi, a student from Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington. “Seeing the campus, meeting faculty, and learning how college courses operate gave me a clearer understanding of what academic life looks like and what standards I should aim for going forward.”
“Being able to take my students to UConn Storrs is an incredible experience,” says Erik McKay, an educator from Lewis S. Mills High School. “UConn is providing insight into what college looks, sounds, and feels like. There are many intangible experiences my students get from being on campus, seeing the athletic facilities and classrooms, and meeting and working with the UConn faculty.
Overall, it is a great day for all educational stakeholders involved, and I look forward to doing it again in the future.”
• Bristol Eastern High School
• Capital Prep Harbor School
• Enfield High School
• Jonathan Law High School
• Joseph A Foran High School
• Lewis S. Mills High School
• The Ethel Walker School
• Waterford High School