Author: Carissa Rutkauskas

Fall 2024 News to Know

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By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

Welcome Woodhouse Academy and a Warm Welcome Back to 6 Returning Partners!

UConn ECE is proud to announce Woodhouse Academy in Milford has joined our network of partners this year, offering KINS1100: Exercise and Wellness for Everyone to their stu­dents. In addition, we are thrilled to welcome back six previous partners— Bassick High School, Darien High School, Eli Whitney Technical High School, Vinal Technical High School, Wilbur Cross High School, and Weav­er High School —who will continue to provide their students with access to UConn courses through the ECE program.

 

An update on By the Numbers

One of the most anticipated features of the UConn ECE Magazine Winter edition has been our By the Numbers article, which highlights key statistics including student enrollment, course sections, instructors, and the highly anticipated Top Ten lists. This year, for the first time, this data will be included in the Spring edition of the magazine. Beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, UConn ECE incor­porated a Spring Course Adjustment Period in which students can add or drop a Spring course, thus allowing for a more accurate snapshot of en­rollment by March.

 

Although numbers aren’t finalized yet, we are, however, happy to share that student enrollment continues to increase, breaking our all-time record of the number of students enrolled in a UConn course in their high school.

 

Amy Bigelow of Franklin Academy Attends Computer Science Teachers Association of New England Conference

Ms. Bigelow is certified to teach UConn CSE1010: Introduc­tion to Computing for Engineers, MATH1030Q: Elementary Discrete Mathematics, MATH1131Q: Cal­culus I, MATH1132Q: Calculus II, MATH2110Q: Multivariable Calculus, STAT1100Q: Elementary Concepts of Statistics

Yet again, I am so appreciative of the UConn ECE program’s incredi­ble support of teachers’ professional development. I attended my first-ever Computer Science Teachers Asso­ciation of New England conference in Boston, and it was a wonderful experience! The presentations and workshops focused on AI as a tech­nical skill set (instead of a consum­er skillset) and teaching machine learning were particularly valuable. They were full of so many engaging and relevant activities that applied the foundational concepts of functions and if-else statements from CSE 1010. The discussions on the ethical use of AI were rich and thought-provoking. As a first-year CSE teacher working to build our school’s computer science offerings, I also found the panel dis­cussion of “Strengthening the Com­puter Science Pathway from High School to College” especially helpful. Overall, the entire event was incred­ibly positive and supportive! It was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday, and I feel energized and confident to return to the classroom knowing what to stress and with many more connec­tions and ideas for extensions. Thank you for supporting this opportunity!

 

Andrew Morehouse of The Woodstock Academy Attends American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Mr. Morehouse is certified to teach UConn CAMS3102: Topics in Advanced Latin

I had an enriching experience at the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) conven­tion held in Philadelphia, PA, where I connected with similarly enthusiastic educators from across the country. The event was a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas and build rela­tionships with colleagues dedicated to advancing language education. I attended engaging sessions focused on equitable practices in language teaching, gaining valuable insights into creating more inclusive and accessible learning environments for students of diverse backgrounds. A standout moment for me was a thought-provoking presentation on integrating AI in the classroom. It highlighted how we as teachers can integrate AI into our curricular plan­ning to create evergreen lessons that reduce the cognitive load and the workload of teachers. The experience reinforced the importance of col­laboration and staying current with evolving methodologies in language education and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Jessica Chapman of Norwich Free Academy Awarded 2024 Milken Educator Award for Connecticut

Ms. Chapman is certified to teach UConn SOCI1001: Introduction to Sociology

Congratulations to Ms. Chapman for being selected as the recipient of the Milken Educator Award, awarded to “early-to-mid career education pro­fessionals for their already impressive achievements and, more significant­ly, for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future” (Milken webpage, 2024). To read more about Ms. Chapman’s accomplishments, vis­it the Connecticut Education Associa­tion (CEA) website’s article, Norwich Free Academy Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Award (CEA, 2024).

 

UConn ECE Data Dashboard is Now Live!

We are excited to announce that UConn ECE data is now publicly accessible through two interactive dashboards available in the Data & Research section on ece.uconn.edu:

  1. UConn ECE High School Part­ner Profiles – Featuring data for the 2023-24 school year, including student, course, and school infor­mation.
  2. Ten-Year Trends – Showing student and course data over the past decade, with the ability to drill down by county, school size, city/ town, and year-over-year growth.

These dashboards, created by Busi­ness Analytics & Project Management graduate student Siva Sekhar Mediset­ty, offer an in-depth look at UConn ECE’s reach and impact. Please note that data included in the UConn ECE data dashboards captures only UConn Early College Experience data and differs from Connecticut State Department of Education’s Ed Sight UConn Dual Credit Courses Complet­ed data. Ed Sight’s dashboard differs from the UConn ECE in that UConn ECE includes private schools and does not include other credit-bearing opportunities offered to high school students.

The two UConn ECE data dashboards will be updated with the 2024-25 data in April 2025, and we are excited to share that UConn ECE data will be included nationally, in the 2025 IP­EDS report on Dual Enrollment.

 

New Courses

ME 3295: Special Topics in Mechani­cal Engineering (3 credits)

  • SolidWorks for Industrial De­sign option
  • AutoCAD for Industrial Design option

NUSC 1165: Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)

  • An introduction to the princi­ples and concepts of nutrition with emphasis on the nature and function of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins, and their application to the human organism.

 

Concurrent Enrollment Review

Volume 2 of Concurrent Enrollment Review, the first independent, open access, peer reviewed journal dedicated to research in the field of dual/concurrent enrollment is now available at surface.syr.edu/cer.

 

NACEP 2024 Conference, Orlando

The 2024 National Alliance of Con­current Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) national conference was held in Orlando, Florida this year from October 27 through October 29, 2024. The theme of the conference was Spotlighting the Student Expe­rience. The Office of Early College Program’s Early College Experience’s Christopher Todd, Jessica Dunn, and Carissa Rutkauskas had the oppor­tunity Academy and present his capstone project, “Navigating the Tide: Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Instruc­tor Certification in an Era of Teacher Uncertainty”. Chris’s project will result in a forthcoming NACEP Policy Brief and NACEP Webinar on strategies for State, District and Educator Prepara­tion Program leaders to mitigate the impacts of teacher shortages on dual credit access. Regarding the confer­ence, he states, “NACEP is an incredi­ble opportunity for practitioners from across the nation to come together and explore best practices in the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment space. While UConn’s Office of Early College Programs is recognized as a national leader, the team and I always walk away feeling inspired and re-imagin­ing ways to better support our partner schools, students and instructors.”

Jessica was excited to return to the NACEP Conference this year and honored to attend along with 1,200 other partners. The last time Jess was able to attend, the participant count was in the 800s, but this year’s re­cord-breaking registration of 1,200 secondary partners, DE/CE programs, district administrators, and consul­tants is a true testament to how the country has embraced these programs and their partners’ commitment to improvement to elevate the student experience. Jess notes, “it was eye opening and encouraging to engage in conversations focused on students and their experiences with dual and concurrent enrollment programs. It was particularly interesting to learn new student advising practices in the field, and I am excited to work on implementing new practices and resources for our UConn ECE Stu­dents.”

 

Carissa had the opportunity to con­nect with the New England Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partner­ship (NEACEP) board members and work on the organization’s by-laws. The conference presentation on lever­aging artificial (AI) was the highlight for her, where she learned about such tools as Adobe Firefly (prompt-based image generator) and Apple’s Pi (chatbot providing emotional and factual support), MicroSoft’s Co-Pi­lot (AI-powered productivity tool) and Google’s NotebookLM (which can produce podcasts from upload­ed documents) from colleagues. She echoes one presenter’s comments that takeaways, connections, and ideas gathered from the NACEP conference is something that fills her cup for 6 months and then she spends the next 6 months looking forward to the next one!

 

2025 NAECEP Call for Proposals and Conference

The New England Alliance of Con­current Enrollment Partnerships is preparing to open a call for proposals for their 2025 conference just after the new year. The one-day conference is traditionally held on a Friday and is anticipated to take place in the Boston area in the spring. To keep up to date with dates and deadlines, follow NEACEP on LinkedIn, become a NEACEP member at no cost, and/or join the NEACEP listserv. Additional information can be found at nacep. org/neacep.

 

Ramona Puchalski Piretti of Conard High School Presents at the National Council of Teachers of English Conference

Ms. Puchalski Piretti is certified to teach UConn ENGL1007: Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition.

The conference is a vital event to engage with fellow English educa­tors and supporters, particularly in a moment in history when the very work we do and the pathways we travel to do it are under attack. While at the conference I presented on the coursework I have created for my ECE course alongside two other bril­liant fellow ECE educators who are also in the secondary classroom, Arri Weeks and Emily Genser. In addition, I attended multiple presentations to further my own practice and engage my inquiry skills around how to grow my skills and pedagogy. Beyond that, I also did three additional presenta­tions each of which included course­work, mindsets and practices which are central to my ECE course; the work was well-received and provided some tremendous networking op­portunities for the near and distant future. As an Asian educator, I value the opportunity to represent my heri­tage in the classroom and beyond it at events such as NCTE.

 

I want to also say “thank you” for the financial assistance to attend this important learning and networking event.

 

 

Promising Practices

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By Christopher Todd

 

Recently, an October 2024 edition of “Education­ Week” focused primarily on what the magazine referred to as “The High School Handoff”, high­lighting what happens to students after high school and what some schools and districts across the nation are doing to invest in new pathways, grading and innovative teaching approaches. Not surpris­ingly, within the volume readers will find numerous references to, and highlights of, Dual Credit and career-based opportunities. With nearly 2.5 million students engaged in dual credit programs nation­wide, dual credit programming has become an increasingly recognized and integral component of the changing educational landscape.

 

As both Dual Enrollment (high school students on college campus) and Concurrent Enrollment (high school instructors teaching college courses) begin to accelerate within national educational discourse, concurrent enrollment is not new, nor obscure to Connecticut, whose UConn’s Early College Experi­ence (ECE) program is nationally recognized as the oldest program in the nation1. Educators and school leaders across the state know that these programs bridge the gap between high school and college, of­fering students a head start on higher education and fostering a smoother transition to postsecondary success. Additionally, UConn coursework through the ECE program allows students to explore career pathways, build critical foundations of content and knowledge and enter the postsecondary space better prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

 

To maximize the potential of UConn ECE, stake­holders—including our educators, school leaders, and university faculty and staff—play critical roles in ensuring program quality, accessibility, and effec­tiveness. Focused on Expanding Access, Seamless Registration and Celebrating Success, the following excerpts highlight 3 partner schools working to en­hance their connection to the UConn Early College Experience.

 

1 Check out the incredible article, “Formative Threads in the Tapestry of College Credit in High School: An Early History of the Development of Concurrent Enrollment and a Case Study of the Country’s Oldest Program” written by ECE Staff and Community members, Carissa Rutkauskas and Kathrine Grant in the first edition of the Concurrent Enrollment Review (CER): https://surface.syr.edu/cer/vol1/iss1/3/

 

Expanding Access: Norwich Free Academy

Stephani Jones, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

 

Since 1856, Norwich Free Academy (NFA) has adhered to its mission to “return to our hamlets and our homes its priceless freight of youthful minds, enriched by learning… and prepared for the highest usefulness and the purest happiness.” With over 2000 students from a multitude of towns and nations, we celebrate our diversity and endeavor in the creation of opportunities to fulfill our historic mission.

 

The intent behind the expansion of our dual enrollment program was twofold: to increase both our course offerings and student access to the UConn ECE experience. With a robust course catalog and the support of the UConn ECE team, we were able to identify existing overlap between NFA and UConn ECE courses. This allowed us to target departments with fewer UConn ECE offerings while simul­taneously increasing the numbers in other content areas. As a result, we added eleven new courses, including the high interest Intro to Allied Health Professions (AH 1100), Contemporary Social Issues in Sport (EDLR 2001), and Exercise and Wellness for Everyone (KINS 1100).

 

We begin our course selection process with an “Exploring Opportunities” event which provides students the oppor­tunity to visit teachers, learn about classes, and have their questions answered by representatives from the UConn ECE team. During this time, we coach students, especially those who have received a Rigorous Coursework letter, to register for challenging courses like our UConn ECE offerings. This year we increased our outreach to ensure that all students and families have the necessary support for completing the UConn ECE registration process. The addition of new courses, the targeted coaching, outreach and support led to a 40% increase in students registered for UConn credits.

 

Seamless Registration Practices: Suffield High School

Gina Garfield, School Counselor/6-12 Team Leader

 

On September 16, 2024, Suffield High School held its second annual ECE Registration Day, with Todd Blodgett, Registration Coordinator for Early College Experience, joining us. The event was both informa­tive and highly productive!

 

The day is carefully organized to run smoothly. A schedule is shared in advance with ECE teachers, informing them of the time their class will come to the Library Media Center and preparing them for the registration process. During the 7-period day, each class comes downat their scheduled time with their ECE teacher. Some periods have more than one class, so it’s important to have additional school counselors available to support the process. Students are greeted by the four school counselors and Todd, and we walk them through the registration process step by step, troubleshooting as needed. Additionally, second-semester students are registered by scheduling them during a period as well, making sure all ECE students are included in the process.

 

On registration day, we cross-reference printed class rosters with the ECE rosters in the registration system as students come in to confirm that all students who need to be registered are accounted for. We also leave 7th period open to catch any students who missed their session—whether due to lateness or another reason— and call them to the Library Media Center for registration.

 

By the end of ECE Registration Day, 95% of students were successfully registered, with only seven requiring follow-up due to absences. Having Todd on-site was invaluable, as it allowed counselors to refine trouble­shooting techniques and resolve issues on the spot. We were able to meet with the remaining students the next day, achieving 100% registration by 9/17. Students also provided positive feedback, with many saying the pro­cess was much more efficient and helpful for them.

 

We look forward to using the same process next year, as it has really helped organize our registration program­ming, resolve issues on the spot, and strengthen our positive collaboration with UConn, all in support of our students!

 

Celebrating Student Success: New Britain High School

 

As New Britain High School works to expand student access to dual credit opportunities, including 17 UConn courses, a key building strategy has been intentionally focused on the celebration of student success. UConn ECE Site Representative Eileen Marquez collaborated with New Britain High School Guidance Counsel­or Stacy Rosado and her team to lead school staff in implementing several promising practices to celebrate the work and dedication of their students, starting with a first ever college credit ceremony held last May. The ceremony celebrated the efforts of more than a hundred students who participated in dual credit coursework through one of New Britain’s various higher education partnerships, including UConn ECE.

 

In reflecting on the event, Todd Blodgett said “It was a great evening attending the first New Britain High School College Credit Recognition Ceremony. I was able to talk with many of the graduating students who took UConn Early College Experience courses while at New Britain and hear about their future plans. The school and counseling office put on a wonderful event for families to come honor their students who have challenged themselves to take college credit courses while at New Britain High School.”

 

In addition to the first annual celebration, New Britain High School has also worked to leverage their UConn ECE Student Ambassadors to celebrate dual and con­current enrolled students through various social media platforms, including their @nbhs_uconnece Instagram account.

 

Eileen wrote “Our student ambassadors have been do­ing an excellent job showcasing the course highlights, interviewing students, and posting individual student accomplishments. They receive support from the social media managers for our high school and district pages who always showcase what they post on the @nbhs_ uconnece Instagram as well.”

 

These promising practices to intentionally expand access, streamline student registration, and celebrate student success represent just a small sample of the incredible initiatives taking place across the UConn ECE community. These exemplary practices expand on our May 2024 Site Representative Conference highlights of the incredible initiatives happening in Glastonbury, Rockville, East Lyme, and at University High School of Science and Engi­neering where each partner school is intentionally focused on building programming that best supports student success and postsecondary aspirations.

Student Perspectives: Focus on American Studies and English

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By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

AMST 1201: Introduction to American Studies

What is an American? A multi-disciplinary inquiry into the diversity of American societies and cultures.

 

Aleina from Granby Memorial High School

My decision to take ECE American Studies was one of the best decisions I ever made since it introduced me to the style of college level courses, a factor that helps me feel more relaxed about college. Further, taking this course helped me improve my paper writing skills while learning American History. Namely, this course made me open my eyes, and realize that American History is nuanced, with several decisions that seemed beneficial initially, but eventually failed to achieve the initial goal.

 

Dylan from Rockville High School

I participated in ECE American Studies this past year and found it to be not only developmental to myself as a student, but fun as well! We were taught straightforward concepts and information, but the way we were able to express this information creatively was the fun part. For example, we had to make a 15-minute long documentary about whether or not the founding fathers ideals were held up in society today. So, me and my friends made a video, and the concept was that the founding fathers had been revived and they were interviewing people to work in the government with them, so these people being interviewed gave examples of how their ideals were held up today to try and get the job. Being able to do projects creatively like that with friends while learning in the process led to my success and the fun I had doing this ECE course.

 

Fabio from John F. Kennedy High School

Attending UConn has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Although the coursework was sometimes challenging, my hard work and determination led to successful completion. This opportunity provided me with valuable college experience, which was essential for me as a European immigrant, given the significant differ­ences in how college operates here compared to Europe. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

 

ENGL 1007: Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition

College composition through multiple forms of literacy, including rhetorical, digital, and information literacies necessary for twenty-first-century contexts. The develop­ment of creatively intellectual inquiries through sustained engagement with texts, ideas, and problems. Emphasis on transfer of writing and rhetorical skills to academic and daily life. ENGL 1007 includes a built-in one-credit studio component.

 

Jayden from Berlin High School

Over the course of this school year in a UConn writing course, I have learned an immense amount of informa­tion on how to perfect my writing craft. From tone and diction, to critical thinking, I have improved in every aspect of my writing; thus, my confidence has skyrocketed over the course of the year.

 

Ian from Daniel Hand High School

This course treated me like a college student unlike any other AP class. I was able to truly get a feel for what college coursework was like and learned more about myself and my writing. I’ll use what I learned this year to continue my education and athletics at the University of Missouri.

 

Andrew from Seymour High School

It was a great class that informed me more on how we need empathy for those who are struggling around us. The humans in education project was a success and taught me that those who are struggling with food need help from the community.

 

2024 UConn ECE Cardboard Boat Race: Chariots Afloat

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By Jessica Dunn

 

On Friday, September 20, 2024 UConn ECE hosted our annual UConn ECE Cardboard Boat Race at the UConn Avery Point Campus drawing just over 400 attendees in­cluding students and instructors from 12 different UConn ECE high school partners from across the state. We were also joined by UConn Avery Point and Storrs Administrators, faculty, and staff, and a very special Guest of Honor, Jonathan XV!

 

With an energetic crowd and a packed agenda of academ­ic presentations, the event was a true celebration of both scholarship and creativity. We are grateful for the unwav­ering support of our UConn ECE partners and colleagues who make this event possible year after year.

The day began with a warm welcome from Chris Todd, Executive Director of the Office of Early College Programs, and Dan Mercier, Director of Academic Affairs at UConn Avery Point. Their inspiring remarks set the tone for the day and encouraged students to embrace the opportunities to collaborate with their peers and engage in collegiate experiences.

 

After the welcome, students transitioned from the beautiful Gazebo Lawn, overlooking the mouth of the Thames River, to the classroom where they heard from distinguished UConn Faculty. Presentations covered a variety of topics related to the event, such as engineering, politics, history, and archaeology. The morning sessions featured:

  • Professor Kroum Batchvarov – Black Sea MAP Project
  • Professor Matthew McKenzie – Navigating the Past: A Seafarer’s Approach to Studying History
  • Professor Frank Griggs – Maritime Politics: Making Waves of Progress?
  • Professor David Giblin – Engineering a Cardboard Race Boat: A detailed look at the mechanics, constraints, trade-offs, and decision-making.

These sessions helped students dive deep into the academic topics related to maritime studies, engineering, and more setting them up for the afternoon’s hands-on competition.

 

The theme for this year’s race was “Chariots Afloat”, in honor of the Paris 2024 Olympics and as a fun nod to the iconic movie Chariots of Fire. Students arrived prepared, having carefully designed and built boats made solely of cardboard and duct tape. They also came up with creative boat names to fit the theme. Just as we had hoped, the students came to the event well-prepared and determined to persevere in the infamous Cardboard Boat Race.

 

Among the twelve participating high schools, 24 boats competed for the coveted Cardboard Trophy. The Morgan School had proudly displayed the trophy for the past two years hoping to bring it back home for the third year in a row. Although the competition was tight, and The Morgan School placed in two of the four heats, Daniel Hand High School broke their streak and brought home the Cardboard Trophy as the winners of the Championship Race! Daniel Hand High School’s Usain Boat set the record for the fastest completion time during the initial heats, and then took first in the Championship race as well. They will display the Cardboard Trophy until next year, when a plaque with their school and boat name will be affixed to the trophy, and then be passed along to the 2025 Champions!

 

Thank you to all our UConn ECE partners for your support in making this event a success year after year. Kicking off the school year with over 400 UConn ECE Students on our UConn Avery Point Campus is a true testament to the strength of our community and to the dedicated and passionate students we serve. Congratulations to all participating schools and teams!

 

Heat 1 Trophies

#1 The Narwheel – Bethel High School

#2 Fish N’ Chips – Ledyard High School

#3 ROB (Recycled Olympic [village] Bed) – Daniel Hand High School

 

Heat 2 Trophies

#1 Gold Medal Cruiser – The Morgan School

#2 Banana Keel – Ellington High School

#3 Seiugis – Bethel High School

 

Heat 3 Trophies

#1 The Floating Scotsman – Ellington High School

#2 LeBoat James – Manchester High School

#3 Steeple Chasers – East Granby High School

 

Heat 4 Trophies

#1 Usain Boat – Daniel Hand High School

#2 Socra-Seas (SS) – Bethel High School

#3 Poseidon’s Champion – The Morgan School

 

Championship Race Usain Boat – Daniel Hand High School

Best Visual Design Award Rowe v Wave – Daniel Hand High School

Best Boat Name Award Sorcra-Seas (SS) – Bethel High School

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award – Daniel Hand High School

People’s Choice Award Trident’s Point – University High School

 

 

 

2024 Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to the following UConn ECE Instructors were were selected as their district’s teacher of the year.

 

  • William Allik Lyme-Old Lyme High School
  • Matthew DeBacco Rocky Hill High School
  • Jennifer Ewart Thomaston High School
  • Gretchen Hess* Putnam High School
  • Robert Jendrewski Parish Hill High School
  • Rachel Riendeau* Windham Technical High School
  • Abigail Walston The Morgan School

 

*Indicates CT Teacher of the Year Semifinalist

2024 UConn ECE Italian Immersion Day and Quiz Bowl

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By Jessica Dunn

 

On October 24, the University of Connecticut’s Early College Experience (ECE) Program Office along with UConn ECE Italian Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Tina Chiappetta-Miller, hosted the highly anticipated 3rd annual Italian Immersion Day & Quiz Bowl. The event, which took place at UConn’s Storrs campus in the Student Union Theatre, set a record for participation. Over 100 students from six high schools across Connecticut came together for a day of competitive fun, language immersion, and cultural celebration.

 

At this year’s event we welcomed students from Bristol Central High School, Newington High School, Plainville High School, Holy Cross High School, Torrington High School, and Southington High School. After the welcoming remarks, the students broke up into several small groups to sit in on Ital­ian language classes with UConn graduate teaching assistants. This unique opportunity to experience college learning in an authentic college environment is a highlight of the partnership between UConn’s ECE program and Connecticut high schools.

 

After lunch, the head-to-head showdown of the Quiz Bowl took center stage in the theatre, where the atmosphere was electric. Excitement among the students was clear as teams answered questions cover­ing everything from grammar and vocabulary to Italian history and geography. The competition was tight and in the end a tiebreaker was needed to separate 2nd and 3rd place.

Holy Cross High School finished in first place, Bristol Central High School in second, and third place went to Pla­inville High School. The MVP round was also quite lively, with Luis Hysen­llari of Plainville High School taking home the medal.

 

UConn ECE Italian Immersion Day & Quiz Bowl serves as an important opportunity for high school students to deepen their understanding of the culture while strengthening their lan­guage skills in Italian. With about 15 high schools in Connecticut offering ECE Italian as part of their curriculum this year, it was inspiring to see so many students and instructors in attendance, celebrating their shared passion for the language.

 

We are so pleased that this event continues to grow in popularity. As part of our mission to foster a strong community of students and educators dedicated to advancing their understanding of Italian language and culture, we look forward to bringing it to you every year. The experience is not only an academic challenge but also an unforgettable cultural exchange that leaves partici­pants with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation of Italian.

 

Congratulations to the 2024 winners and many thanks to all this year’s participants.

 

 

 

2024 Annual Site Representative Conference

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By Todd Blodgett

 

The annual Site Representative Conference was held this May at the UConn Storrs campus. The Early College Experience (ECE) program staff hosted 190 Site Representatives from 155 of our partner high schools. The morning kicked off with a plenary session focusing on Promising Practices at Partner Schools. Representatives from Glastonbury Public Schools, East Lyme High School, Rockville High School and University High School of Science and Engineering discussed ways they are expanding their concurrent and dual enrollment opportunities at their schools. They shared an approach that focused on creating diverse course offerings to meet the unique needs of their high school populations. Site Representatives attended breakout sessions which focused on high school specific program data, expanding access to course offerings, registration 101, a Q&A with a panel of former UConn ECE students, and information from UConn’s Center for Students with Disabilities. The conference ended with a barbecue lunch on the Student Union Terrace for attendees to enjoy a beautiful, sunny day on the Storrs campus. We look forward to having everyone back on the Storrs campus next year.

 

We challenged our community to submit artwork…

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…with the prompt: Growth Mindset: Doubling Down on Success and received many fabulous submissions

 

First Place: cover

Akira Gunawan, New Britain High School
Shooting for Success, original photo
Cultivate your life and take the shot. Jackson Forte (#2) takes a three pointer amongst his peers waiting for the game winner.

Second Place

Alexis Mastrangelo, Enfield High School
T.P.C., acrylic on canvas
I created this piece centered around childhood and nostalgia… The moment captured in my painting is intended to provoke many different feelings, one being success. While it is very icky, I will always remember the day I joined the Toad Pee Club.

Third Place

Shelby Lewis, Ridgefield High School
Ocean, acrylic on canvas
The Sea at night. An acrylic painting on canvas, the sea at night.

Student Scholarships

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By Jessica Dunn

 

Through a rigorous review process, the UConn Early College Experience Office scholarship committee se­lected six outstanding 2023-2024 UConn ECE Students as scholarship recipients. Each student has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship applicable to any institution. All recipients are high school seniors, who have completed at least one UConn Early College Experience course and have demonstrated outstanding achieve­ment in their project submissions. Additionally, applicants are evaluated using a holistic rubric that considers various factors including academic success, future academic aspirations, and demonstrated financial need.

 

View the 2024 UConn ECE Scholarship Winner video.

 

Excellence in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences

Winners demonstrate academic achievement and a potential for future academic and professional accomplishments in a field focusing on the Arts, Humanities, and/or Social Sciences.

 

ARIANNA ANDERSON
Pathways Academy
of Technology
and Design		 TAINA TOLSON
Greater Hartford
Academy of the Arts

Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics

Winners demonstrate academic achievement and a potential for future academic and professional accomplishments in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics.

 

GIANNI DRAB
Robert E. Fitch
High School		 MUKTHA RAMESH
Rocky Hill High School

Excellence in Civic and Community Engagement

Winners are academically successful, are already making a positive difference in their town or neighbor­hood, and are inspiring others to do the same. The students chosen for this award are UConn ECE Students who demonstrate ambition and self-drive evidenced by outstanding achievement in both school and their community.

 

TESSA FABIANO
Stamford High School		 DANIELLE KANTER
Fairfield Ludlowe
High School

Celebrating our student staff

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As the Office of Early College Programs works to sustain our unprecedented growth, the program continues to rely heavily on the support, insights, and dedication of our OECP student workers. Undergraduate and graduate students alike, our ECE student staff works tirelessly to provide customer service to our students and families, support student and instructor events, and keep our communication and social media presence relevant and timely. OECP has a long tradition of leveraging the power of student workers. In fact, the majority of the full-time program staff began their journey with OECP as student workers.

 

Yara Medawar, Graduate Assistant

PhD Candidate, UConn, Civil and Environmental Engineer­ing

“I am very excited to join UConn’s Office of Early College Programs, where I look forward to sup­porting and inspiring the next generation of students. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to contribute to innovative educational initiatives that bridge high school and college experiences, fostering academic excellence and personal growth among our students.”

 Amanda Mueller, Student Administrative Assistant, 4 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Rockville High School (‘20); UConn, Molecular and Cell Biology with a Minor in Psychological Sciences, (‘24); UConn, Genetic Counseling (Rising 1st year graduate student)

“What I enjoy the most about working with UConn ECE is the kind and supportive program staff and giving back to a program that has given so much to me!”
Caroline Lynch, Graduate Assistant

Master’s Student, UConn, Higher Education and Student Affairs

“As a former ECE student myself, I am very excited to contribute to a program that has so positively impacted my education.

Additionally, I am looking forward to the opportunity to complement my graduate education in such a hands-on and valuable way!”

 Siva Sekhar Medisetty, Graduate Student Worker/ Data Dashboard Designer

Master’s Student, UConn, Business Analytics and Project Management

“I’ve truly enjoyed collaborating with my colleagues and witnessing the collective creativity and dedication that drives our work forward. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the innovative projects we’ll tackle together!”
Christ-Anne (CJ) Jean-Francois, Student Administrative Assistant, 2 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Central Magnet High School (class of 2021); UConn, Political Science and Psychology major; rising junior UConn ECE Alumni

“What I enjoy most about working with the ECE program here at UConn is how understanding and kind everyone on the team is, and their commitment to helping me grow in my role and fostering my independence.”

 Emma Winston, Student Ad­ministrative Assistant, 2 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Sacred Heart Academy (class of 2022); UConn, Majoring in Psychology and Philosophy; rising junior

“Working with the kindest and most compassionate staff at ECE. I also love contributing to a program that assists these students in reaching higher in their education and really exploring what they’re passionate about.”
Whitley Sumpter, Student Ad­ministrative Assistant, 2 years of experience

Hayesville High School (class of 2022); UConn, Social Work major; rising junior

During my time working with UConn ECE, I have gained many valuable skills that will not only help me in future career endeavors but in life. What I have learned has allowed me to evaluate and solve problems much more efficiently, and my confidence in my abilities to handle issues that arise inside and outside of work has grown exponentially. No matter what kind of day I am having, it is nice to know that I will be walking into a supportive work environment with staff who go above and beyond, whether I need help with a project or even just to talk. I am incredi­bly grateful that through UConn ECE, I have met some of the most kind and genuine people who have played a large role in shaping my experience at, and love for, UConn.

 Julia Swanson, Student Adminis­trative Assistant, 2 years of experi­ence, UConn ECE Alumni

East Catholic High School (class of 2020); UConn, Elementary Educa­tion, minor in English and Speech Language Hearing Sciences; rising senior

“I’ve enjoyed working with the ECE team because they foster inclusivity, support one another, and create a welcoming environment. ECE held a Christmas party that included all staff, featuring food and a gingerbread house competition, which the student staff won! The ECE staff are incredibly kind and caring, always ensuring everyone feels included and supported.”
Charlotte Daigle, Student Ad­ministrative Assistant, 1 years of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Wethersfield High School (class of 2023); UConn, Major: Pre- Teach­ing/Elementary Education Minor: HDFS; rising sophomore

“Working in the UConn ECE office I have enjoyed interacting with parents and students and seeing how helpful this program is for them when tran­sitioning into college. Seeing that the work we put in every year pays off when we see how grateful these students are.”

 Elizabeth Hinkson,

Student Content Creator, 2 years of experience

Norwood High School (class of 2022); UConn, Nursing; rising junior

“As a Content Creator at UConn ECE I have enjoyed cre­ating innovative content for students. The supportive staff motivates me to improve daily, which has been an enriching experience.”
Sameul Alam, Student Content Creator, 1 year of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Wethersfield High School (class of 2023); UConn, Marketing with a minor in Business Management & Communications; rising sophomore

“As a content creator for UConn Early College Experience, I enjoyed interviewing around the UConn campus, speaking to instructors, participating in meetings, and being motivated by the supportive com­munity within the office.”

 

 Brayden Bloom, Student Content Creator, 6 months of experience, UConn ECE Alumni

Ridgefield High School (class of 2023); UConn, Finance; rising sophomore

“UConn Early College Experience has given me the chance to work with some amazing people and get more involved. I really enjoy getting to meet new students and staff every day, as well as getting to be more comfortable with our campus.”