Author: Carissa Rutkauskas

Professional Development Workshops

 

By Caroline Lynch, UConn ECE Graduate Assistant, Master’s Student, UConn, Higher Education and Student Affairs

 

It’s been a busy semester for our certified ECE instructors; as of today (November 8, 2024) we have already had the pleasure of hosting 15 professional development events, both on- and off-campus, in-person and virtual. Instructors from Philosophy, American Studies, Maritime Studies, U. S. History, Medieval Studies, Civil Engineering, Environmen­tal Sciences, Biology, Chinese, Marine Sciences, Music, Economics, Physics, Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems, Sociology, and English, along with our ECE Library Media Spe­cialists, have had the opportunity to connect with their colleagues, faculty coordinators, and the ECE program staff so far this school year! We would like to take the time to highlight some of these incredible events and thank all attendees and organizers for their efforts this semester.

 

September 27, 2024: AMST/MAST/U.S. History at Mystic Seaport

Late September marked the beginning of a new initiative for Early College Experience: interdisciplinary professional develop­ment experiences. Approximately 75 instructors from Maritime Studies, American Studies, and U.S. History convened at Mystic Seaport Museum, where they had the opportunity to explore the Seaport’s current featured exhibit, Entwined: Freedom, Sovereignty, and the Sea, following a discussion by the exhibit’s curator, Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes. Additionally, instructors engaged in several hands-on sessions around the muse­um property. These included a rope-making activity, a tour of the oldest com­mercial ship still afloat in the U.S., as well as a visit to the museum’s library, where instructors engaged with primary sources which highlighted Connecticut’s rich whaling and maritime history.

 

October 4, 2024: Medieval Studies (HIST 1300) Workshop

To kick off our October events, instructors from Medieval Studies convened on the UConn Storrs campus, to engage in conversation surrounding the Mali Empire in Western Africa with guest speaker Pro­fessor Christine Cooper-Rompato, of Utah State University. Attendees were asked to grapple with their personal connections to the continent, and interacted with a variety of resources (maps, articles, historical documents, videos, etc.) to enhance understanding.

 

October 15, 2024: Environmental Sciences at CAES

Our Environmental Sciences instructors traveled to New Haven, CT for their professional development experience this year. Under the guid­ance of Associate Professor Morty Ortega, the group explored the Connecticut Agricultural Experi­ment Station, and received several informative lectures from resident scientists, including Dr. Scott Wil­liams and Dr. Megan Linske, who both received their Ph.D.’s from the University of Connecticut! Lecture topics included integrated tick management research from Dr. Williams, “Di­versity and Disease: Assessing Backyards for Tick Bite Prevention and Awareness” from Dr. Linske, and Monarch butterfly biology and conservation courte­sy of Dr. Kelsey Fisher.

 

October 18, 2024: Chinese via Webex

Our first virtual PD of the year. Chinese instructors met on Friday, 10/18, and thanks to the virtual modality, they were given the opportunity to hear from Professor Zhiying Qian out of Florida State University. Professor Qian delivered a fascinating lecture on the emerging relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chinese language instruction.

 

October 23, 2024: Economics Workshop

The UConn Storrs campus hosted our Economics instructors on Wednesday, 10/23, in col­laboration with faculty coordinator Natalia Smirnova, Associate Profes­sor in Residence. The event began with some exciting stories of ECE student successes (congratulations to Cheshire High School for placing 3rd in their Future Business Leaders of America competition!), and brain­storming classroom activities. Several guest speak­ers joined us in the afternoon, including Ariel Slonim, curriculum designer for Marginal RevolutionUniversi­ty, a nonprofit dedicated to providing everyone with a “world-class economic education”, and Mary Claire Peate, a Senior Economic Education Specialist from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

 

October 29, 2024: SPSS Workshop with CIPWG

SPSS instructors were given the opportunity to attend the 12th biennial Symposium for the Con­necticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG), thanks to faculty coordinator Professor Julia Ku­zovkina. CIPWG is an organization committed to mitigating the nega­tive environmental impact of invasive plant species, through educating themselves and others on identi­fication and management of invasive plants, as well as replacement of invasive with native species. The theme of the Symposium was “Real Talk: Making an Impact in Invasive Plant Management”, and attendees were treated to a variety of discus­sions emphasizing the critical role of education in conserva­tion and rooting the discussion of eradicating invasive plant species in local case studies. The day even finished up with a raffle for a collection of potted plants native to the area!

 

October 30, 2024: Physics Workshop and Planetarium Visit

Our annual physics workshop offered a variety of enrichment oppor­tunities for our attendees. First, instructors engaged in valuable discussion on exam format and grading techniques, followed by our main event: a demonstration in the newly renovated Cynthia Wyeth Peterson planetarium. Our workshop marked one of the first uses of the new facility, and we extend thanks to Dr. Matt Guthrie and PhD student Kelcey Davis for al­lowing us into the facility, and for providing a fantas­tic show! Beginning in 2025, regular public shows are set to begin, and several of our attendees left the event excited by the opportunity to bring their students back to campus for a show sometime soon.

 

November 1, 2024: Annual English Conference

Marking our largest event so far this year, we wel­comed just over 100 ECE English instructors to the UConn Storrs campus on Friday, November 1, for a conference entitled “Collaborative Circulation: A Recursive Roadmap”. Attendees attended four breakout sessions in small groups, followed by a panel discussion hosted by UConn English De­partment faculty and guests. Session descriptions were as follows:

  1. Circulation for Brainstorming and Ideation
  2. Circulation of Feedback
  3. Circulation as a Rhetorical Device/Context
  4. Interconnected Circulation: an Activity

 

What an exciting few months we’ve had! Not to mention, we still have events for Communication, Chemistry, Human Rights, Anthropology, and Math to look forward to before the Fall Se­mester comes to a close. To find more information and photo­graphs from these and the rest of our professional development events, please feel free to visit the “ECE PD Blog” on our web­site. Planning for Spring 2025 workshops is well underway, and we plan to post details and dates on the ECE website’s “Dates to Remember” page as soon as possible. Thank you again to all who have attended an ECE event so far this year; it is always a pleasure to connect with our instructors across Connecticut. And to those we haven’t seen yet this year, keep an eye on your email inbox! We look forward to connecting with you and your colleagues very soon. n

Fall 2024 News to Know

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 Annual Site Representative Conference

 

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…

 

…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.

2023-2024 UConn ECE Professional Recognition Awards

 

By Jessica Dunn

 

Each year, we look forward to receiving and reviewing hundreds of nominations for the Professional Recognition Awards and working with the review committees to select the winners. With that said, it is no easy task, as we have over 2,000 members of the UConn ECE community, mak­ing it very difficult to choose just a few professionals who stand out each year. But once selections are made, the hard part is over, and the celebrations begin.

 

UConn Early College Experience hosts an annual Awards Ceremony for all winners to publicly recognize and thank them for their dedication and commitment to the UConn ECE Program. Those recognized have exceeded program expectations and excelled in preparing their high school’s students for the next level in their education. Candidates are nominated by their colleagues, students, administra­tion, and UConn Faculty for their exemplary instruction and management of the UConn ECE Program.

 

On April 25, 2024, we hosted our annual Awards Ceremo­ny for award winners, family, and friends on the UConn Storrs Campus. Our award winners and guests gathered at the UConn Alumni Center for an elegant sit-down din­ner where they were welcomed by Office of Early College Programs (OECP) Executive Director, Christopher Todd as well as UConn’s Interim Associate Vice Provost, Amit Savkar.

 

The night was filled with speeches from UConn OECP staff along with program partners to personally recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of each winner. This year we had the great honor to recognize thirteen Professional Recognition Award winners along with six award winners of the Silver Jubilee Award (25-year partners). The night was filled with heartfelt speeches, tears of joy, laughter, and celebration as winners, accompanied by their family and friends were able to pause and acknowledge the great im­pact they have on the lives of their students, their commu­nity, and those who work alongside them.

 

Congratulations to all recipients of this year’s awards. Your dedication, expertise, and outstanding contributions have truly set the standard for excellence within the UConn ECE Community. The UConn ECE Program would not be successful without the passionate and dedicated partners we are honored to work with, and we are grateful for all you do.

 

Principal Award for Program Support & Advocacy

Keri Hagness, The Morgan School

Thomas E. Recchio Faculty Coordinator Award for Academic Leadership

Natalia Smirnova, Economics, University of Connecticut

Site Representative Award for Excellence in Program Administration

Kevin Barbero, James Hillhouse High School

Instructor Award for Excellence in Course Instruction

Kyle Candia-Bovi, English, Suffield High School

Austin Cesare, U.S. History, Joseph A. Foran High School

Gina Corrado, Spanish, Cheshire High School

Christina Hernández-Williams, Spainish, Cromwell High School

Heather Watts Mathieu, Biology, Montville High School

“Rookie of the Year” Award for Excellence in First-Year Course Instruction

Gemetta Neal-Goulet, Educational Leadership, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

Margaret Clifton, English, RHAM High School

Award for Outstanding Research in the Field of Concurrent Enrollment

Scott Campbell, English, University of Connecticut

Kathrine Grant, English, Connecticut Education Assoc.

Carissa Rutkauskas, University of Connecticut

Silver Jubilee Award

Julie Barker, Physics, Cheshire High School

María DiVirgilio, Spanish, Lyman Hall High School

Cathy Fedeorowicz, Mathematics, Seymour High School

Gan Manelli, Europeon History, Masuk High School

Amy Nocton, Spanish, Edwin O. Smith High School

Tina Riccio, Spanish, Southington High School

 

 

 

Student Scholarships

 

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