Author: Carissa Rutkauskas

Seeds of Success: Nuturing students’ potential through UConn PCS

 

By Abigail Piotrowicz, UConn Pre-College Summer Program Assistant

 

Deciding what comes next after high school can be a daunting task. With so many po­tential paths to take, from college to careers to personal passions, the choices often feel endless. With ten years under our belt since we first opened our doors to students, we at UConn Pre-College Summer, (PCS) under­stand the challenges these questions pose when students are considering their future. That’s why we offer a unique opportunity for high school students from around the world to experience college life, explore new interests, and connect with a vibrant academic community all on the Storrs campus.

 

At UConn PCS, our mission is to provide students with an exploratory experience that helps them engage with college life while reflecting on which path might be right for them. To support this mission, in the last year we have focused on implementing ad­ditional program resources for students and families that are commit­ted to providing a range of opportunities to guide students on their journey toward success.

 

One measure of how we aim to provide our students the greatest number of resources is by offering the most courses our program has offered in its history. This past summer, we offered a to­tal of 29 different courses spanning over sever­al topics and subjects ranging from Agriculture, Health, & Natural Resources, Fine Arts and Digital Media, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Phar­macy and Pre-Med.

 

Alongside the vast number of courses offered last summer, UConn PCS offers exploratory workshops for students to engage in during the week to further explore and navigate academic, extracurricular and leadership sources. A few examples of workshop topics offered were “Breaking Down Barriers: You CAN Study Abroad!”, “Leading the Way to Getting an A”, “Promoting Mental Health”, “Nutrition for College Students”, “Mirroring in Communication”, “The Art of Crafting a Compelling College Essay”, “Professor! I Need to Get an A in My Class!”, “Personal Leadership Plan”, “UConn Campus Tour and Information Session”, “Who Am I? The Power of Me?”, “Using Your Voice: Self-Advoca­cy in College”.

Prior to the start of the summer program, UConn PCS introduced its first-ever Open House event in March! Open House was designed to give prospective students and their families a closer look at the program and UConn campus. Attendees had the opportunity to interact directly with UConn PCS instructors, program administrators and former summer residential staff to better understand what participating in the program would encompass.

 

Open House began with a brief presentation for families about the program in Lawrence D. Mchugh Hall, followed by a community Q&A session where participants could submit questions for our team to answer. Afterward, families were invited to have lunch at Israel Putnam Refractory to experience the dining halls where students dine during the summer. Finally, we concluded with a guided tour of the UConn campus, so families could get an insider perspective at the spaces students utilize during their time in the program.

 

In conjunction with our open house event, we were pleased to debut our Career Fair, which brought together program participants, UCo­nn staff, faculty, and professionals from a wide range of fields. This event provided students with valuable career insights, expert advice, and the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders. It also allowed students to explore potential career paths and gain a clearer understanding of the professional landscape across various disciplines. By interacting with professionals from diverse industries, students acquired practical knowledge and guidance that will support their career development.

 

Each year, UConn PCS is dedicated to helping students discover their passions and reach their full potential. By immersing students in UConn’s campus and academic community, we’ve created a supportive environment for students to grow, explore and discover the possibilities of tomorrow.

 

If you are interested in learning more about UConn Pre-College Summer visit pcs.uconn.edu, call our office at 860-486-0149 and or email us atpcs@uconn.edu

 

Empowering Student Leaders: The Growth of the ECE Ambassador Prog

 

By Christ-Anne Jean-Francois, UConn Student Administrative Assistant

 

Since its inception 9 years ago, the UConn ECE Ambassa­dor Program has grown significantly. This extracurricular opportunity plays a crucial role within the UConn Early College Experience Program, where ambassadors actively assist with ECE marketing and administration, support fellow students, and collaborate with Site Representatives at their high schools. In recent years, we’ve expanded their responsibilities to make them more interactive and present on the front lines of our social media platforms and publications.

This year, we have 35 ECE Ambassadors representing 27 schools across Connecticut. Our ambassadors are primarily seniors, with 30 seniors, 3 juniors, and 2 sophomores mak­ing up this year’s cohort.

 

Some of the initiatives that ambassadors have contributed to recently—and will continue to participate in this year—in­clude the ECE Student Advice Column, where ambassadors share tips and insights for success in the program. They also participate in Ambassador Spotlights, allowing each ambassador to highlight their personal achievements and goals, and showcase their experiences with ECE. Addition­ally, ECE Instagram Takeovers give students a chance to provide a behind-the-scenes look at their daily lives as ECE students, sharing updates, advice, and glimpses into their classes and extracurricular activities.

 

Ambassadors are also involved in semester reports, provid­ing updates on what’s happening in their classrooms and UConn courses. During the fall term, they assist teachers with student registration, supporting a smooth enrollment process.

 

The UConn ECE Ambassador Program is an excellent leadership opportunity, and it’s rewarding to see the impact on our students’ futures. Through our intake process, we’ve learned that all of our ambassadors plan to attend a four-year university after high school. This program not only cultivates leadership skills but also serves as an inspiring pathway for other students who share similar values and aspirations to get involved in their schools and the UConn ECE Program.

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

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.

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.

 

Course Offerings and Expanded Access

 

By Christopher Todd

 

One of the most important fundamental principles in public policy is that the more complex a change, the less one can force that change upon stakeholders. Look to any state or federal education mandate, and one can understand the complexity of change. Simply mandating or forcing students to take advantage of the multitude of dual credit opportunities their school provides doesn’t lead to success. However, creating a robust catalog of offerings that allows for choice, and aligns with student interests will ultimately shift the landscape of dual credit opportunities in Connecticut.

 

In his book “Inquiry Mindset”, Trevor Mackenzie writes Passions create opportunities for deeper learn­ing as students are highly motivated and willing to explore them further. Their proper knowledge of the topic accelerates and amplifies their inquiry. Student interest and passion must drive the opportunities we look to create in an expanded course catalog. As the UConn ECE program quickly approaches 100 unique UConn course offerings, the program stands on the precipice of determining which new courses to add to our catalog, and as such, advocates with the appropriate university leadership within corre­sponding disciplines. The program will continue to look for disciplinary gaps in our course offerings and will work to bring in new course offerings that align with partner school needs, relevant career pathway pursuits, and most importantly student interests and passions.

 

Taking this into consideration, the UConn ECE program is excited to share new course offerings available during the forthcoming 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. These courses align with the program’s strategic vision of expanding course offerings in a way that addresses both disciplinary gaps and student interests and needs.

 

ASLN 1102: Elementary American Sign Language II (4 credits)

Continued development of basic knowledge and understanding of conversational ASL.

BUSN 2235: Personal Financial Literacy (3 credits)

Introduction to essential topics in personal finance for individuals and entrepreneurs. Financial literacy, personal finance topics including recordkeeping, budgeting, risk, insurance, credit, purchasing decisions, savings/invest­ment options, income taxation of individuals and small businesses, and retirement savings.

CHIN 3210: Chinese Conversa­tion and Composition I (3 credits)

Development of ability to communicate in Chinese, orally and in writing.

CHIN 3211: Chinese Conversations and Composition II (3 credits)

Development of ability to communicate in Chinese, orally and in writing.

CSE 1010: Introduction to Computing for Engineers (3 credits)

Introduction to computing logic, algorithmic thinking, computing processes, a programming language and computing environment. Knowledge obtained in this course enables use of the computer as an instrument to solve computing problems. Representative problems from science, mathematics, and engineering will be solved.

KINS 1100: Exercise and Wellness for Everyone (3 credits)

Overview of the five pillars of health (exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress and relationships); role of exercise in health promotion and disease prevention across the lifes­pan; impacts of exercise in leisure time, culture, community, careers and the workplace.

MATH 1070Q: Mathematics for Business and Economics (3 credits)

Linear equations and inequali­ties, matrices, systems of linear equations, and linear program­ming; sets, counting, probability and statistics; mathematics of finance; applications to business and economics.

PUBH 1001: Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)

This course describes the history, philosophy, and science of public health. Students will identify biological, environmental, and social determinants of health from a comprehensive perspective. They will apply these principles to define health problems, evaluate possible causes, and recommend effective public health responses to health concerns. By doing so, students will learn about career opportunities and the complementary role public health plays with health care and voluntary and governmental organizations in protecting the public’s health.

To learn more about each course offering and UConn ECE Instructor requirements, we encourage you to visit our entire course catalog.

 

Addendum

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.
ARE 1110E: Population, Food, and the Environment (3 credits)

The role of agriculture in the growth and development of societies throughout the world. Economic, social, and environmental problems of food production and resource needs in developing and advanced societies.


 

Teacher Appreciation

 

By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

National Teacher Appreciation Day was May 7 and National Teacher Appreciation Week was May 6-10. For UConn ECE, we are extending our teacher appreciation and recognition throughout the summer! After receiving hundreds of instructor nominations from UConn ECE students, we are recognizing our top 15 most frequently nominated UConn ECE Instructors on our social media over the summer months. These exemplary educators also received their choice of a UConn ECE hoodie or a UConn ECE insolated picnic basket. Below is a snapshot of what students had to say about their UConn ECE Instructors.

 

Mrs. Altimari, Amity Regional High School, SPAN3178 & 3179: Intermediate Spanish Composition & Spanish Conversation: Cultural Topics - Mrs. Altimari is the brightest, friendliest, and warmest ray of sunshine I have ever met. She’s helped me so much with my fluency in Spanish while still making sure the class is stress free, fun, and engaging. She isn’t happy unless you’re happy, and she’s the best teacher I have had.

 

Mrs. Caruk, Hall High School, BIOL1108: Principles of Biology II - Her ability to plan out her entire year and execute that plan is always done flawlessly. She gives her students plenty of time to prepare for their exams while being available for extra help very often.

 

Mr. Condosta, Ridgefield High School, ERTH1051: Earth’s Dynamic Environment - He has a personality that could light up any room, enthusiasm and a true love for the subject that is contagious. Every day I walk into his classroom, I walk in smiling, and by the time I leave it’s always too soon.

 

Mr. Dempsey, St. Joseph High School, HIST1502: United States History Since 1877 - Mr. Dempsey is the best!! Such a dedicated teacher who puts a lot of effort into presenting slides, grading research papers, exams and projects while having the best jokes and sarcasm!!!

 

Mr. Fagan, Rocky Hill High School, PHYS1201Q: General Physics I - I am able to understand even the most complex topics because Mr. Fagan breaks it down in a way that makes sense logically. He is very encouraging and believes that everyone is capable of doing well!!

 

Ms. Field, South Windsor High School, MARN1003E: Introduction to Oceanography with Laboratory; NRE1000E: Environmental Science - Not only has she given us inspiration to lead our lives both inside and outside of the classroom, she is able to give us critical constructive criticism that improves both our writing and abilities to creatively think of different solutions for problems that we face in class.

 

Dr. Harvey, Wilton High School, ENGL1007: Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Com­position - Dr. Harvey makes UConn English one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever taken. I look forward to coming to class every day because although the course is challenging, she always makes sure that her students are enjoying learning.

 

Mr. Mizak, Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School, ECON1000: Essentials of Economics - As a student who struggles to keep up, in a class as high octane as his is, I find Mr. Mizak to be an instructor who knows the value of hard work and perseverance, an instructor that can instill a good work ethic through meaningful lessons and hard objectives. Through class discussion and meaningful dialogue in a classroom that promotes a difference in opinion and an equal work environment, Mr. Mizak is hands down the best teacher I’ve had in years.

 

Mrs. Niles, Lyman Hall High School, HDFS1070: Individual & Family Development - Ms. Niles is very kind and cares about her students. She creates fun lessons that are engaging for every student to help us learn the topic at hand.

 

Mrs. Norige, Torrington High School, BIOL1107 & 1108: Principles of Biology I & II; SPSS 3230: Biotech­nology- Science, Application, Impact, Perception - I am so grateful to have a teacher that cares for her students education as much as Mrs. Norige. She not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures a love of learning, instills confidence in her students, and prepares them for success both academically and personally.

 

Ms. Schager, Staples High School, HRTS1007: Introduction to Human Rights - The class feels incredibly personal and uplifting while also being a rightful challenge. The amount of writing and research I’ve had to do is almost unparalleled as of recently, and I love doing the work so much.

 

Ms. Turcotte, Jonathan Law High School, CHEM1128Q: General Chemistry II - She is really passionate about what she does and she shares/spreads that energy to us. She also makes our class really fun and feel like a family.

 

Mrs. Walston, The Morgan School, PHYS1201Q: General Physics I - She always teaches with so much energy and enthusiasm that makes the whole class excited and engaged to learn.

 

Mr. Wilson, East Haven High School, POLS1602: Introduction to American Politics - Mr. Wilson is an amaz­ing teacher and friend to all, making our learning experience not only fun, but also engaging. His use of humor and engagement with the class is unlike any other history teacher I’ve had, and it’s clear he loves his job.

 

Mr. Wisniewski, Berlin High School, BIOL1107: Principles of Biology I - Mr. Wisniewski always finds ways to connect with his classes in a more casual/personal way than any other teacher I’ve seen, and he encourages his students to personalize his room a bit, make it a bit more homier for everyone. He also gives the best concise notes I’ve ever taken for a course of this difficulty, and I’m really glad that I had the privilege of being a student of his this year!

 

 

Wallace Stevens Poetry Contest

UConn ECE Wallace Stevens Poetry Contest

 

By Sean Frederick Forbes

 

The theme of this year’s ECE newsletter “Doubling Down on Success” reminded me of the card game blackjack. My grandfathers and uncles used to play blackjack during summer family gatherings, so I was familiar with the phrase “doubling down.” In blackjack, the term means to double one’s original bid in exchange for only one more card; it’s a move that suggests great surety of winning, despite the potential risk of losing. The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers a secondary definition of the term: “to become more tenacious, zealous, or resolute in a position or undertaking.” With all that said, perhaps the theme for this essay can be: “Doubling Down on Poetry,” since a poet must set to the page a sense of surety in their written creation despite the potential risk of being misunderstood by others. Writing poetry in any form or style is no easy undertaking especially in the high-tech world we live, in which digital distractions abound. There will always be poets, committed to painstakingly crafting verses to be read.

 

This year the ECE Wallace Stevens poetry contest received twenty-three poetry packets. My fellow judges, Sophie Buckner and Anh Le—both PhD candidates in the English department at UConn and creative writers—and I selected four poetry packets by Brooke Vazquez, Yimin Wu, Mikayla Vazquez, and Jenny Li as the first, second, third, and Hon­orable Mention prize winners, respectively. On a cold, yet sunny, Friday morning in February, Sophie, Anh and I held a Zoom meeting to deliberate and select the winners, and the three of us noted how enriching, innovative, and vibrant all of the submissions were. Four poets stood out to us since each packet captivated our individual and collective poetic sensibilities.

 

The title of Brooke Vazquez’s poem “Alphabetic Entomopho­bia,” introduces the reader to a different type of alphabet, one in which the irrational and per­sistent fear of various insects, is front and center with dazzling details that act as verbal and visu­al somersaults when read aloud. What’s most striking in these thirteen couplets is the merging of scientific and poetic language to create a rhythmic flow to the narrative: “uliodons savored her physique with silk / veins crawl with starving, matured maggots,” causing the reader to engage with the dynamic lives of insects in nature.

 

In five distinctive stanzas, Yimin Wu’s “Pomelo Peel” offers a com­plex and layered braided narrative as a speaker confronts cultural and social constructs regarding skin color, ethnic identity, and otherness. In the final stanza, the speaker eats a pomelo, its juices “sewing between cracks within / The rinds of my amber, pomelo heart,” a heavy image to decipher.

 

Mikayla Vazquez’s “Land of the Brave Lord” is a narrative poem written in four sequences about the Indigenous peoples of South America and the Caribbean, the Arawaks. Each sequence acts as a portal into the spiritual and ritu­alistic aspects of their lives. The speaker states, “The stars were crafted for the Arawak people, cultivated with crystals gathered from the darkest of caves, and the gold at the depths of their rivers;” a truly mythic-poetic vision.

 

Jenny Li’s “Loud Whispers” offers a seemingly simple end rhyme scheme in semi-regular rhyming couplets, which upon first glance one might not detect the cascad­ing rhetorical and sound effects established. Toward the end of the poem, the speaker thinks about the intensity of the battery of loud whispers, and states, “In the trees / With the breeze / The leaves flee / I want to be free;” with a gift of hope offered in the final image.

First Place

Brooke Vazquez

 

Brooke Vazquez, a junior at Rockville High School, has earned numerous accolades for her work, including a platinum award in the 2020 Connecti­cut Student Writer contest, two Silver Keys from the 2021 and 2022 Scholas­tic Arts & Writing contest, an honorable mention in the 2023 Nancy Thorp Poetry contest, and many more. Brooke’s future in the literary world looks promising as she continues to pursue opportunities to innovate and promote her work.

 

“I love writing, specifically the genre of poetry as it is a major outlet for me and a way to express my feelings on greater issues, primarily for women. For me, writing is the ability to paint a picture of a moment in time using words, and I try to implement that notion in my own work.”

 

Second Place

Yimin Wu

 

Yimin Wu is a junior at Hall High School and the Vice President of the school’s Creative Writing Club. He enjoys writing poetry, reading manhua, and listening to music.

 

“Through writing poetry, I’ve formed a stronger sense of self-identity and shared my cultural heritage. My pieces often deal with envy and Chinese-American struggles, which I hope to share with the rest of the world and foster a little more understanding of the immigrant experience.”

Third Place

Mikayla Vazquez

 

Mikayla Vazquez, a junior at Manches­ter High school, is most recognizable by her untamed curly hair, and visceral love for creative writing. She enjoys creating a variety of poems and prose that explore the human experience, and all the happy, strange moments within it. When she’s not buried in her comforter reading, she’s either thrifting, or not drinking enough water.

 

“I gifted my mom a poem for Mother’s Day in 2022, and it was the first time I had ever seen her cry. It made me realize just how much words are a way to make people feel a range of emotion, and poetry is the most bare, and deeply personal form.”

 

Honorable Mention

Jenny Li

 

Jenny is a high school senior at Montville High School. At Montville, she studies various AP and ECE classes in order to feel prepared for her future pursuit in nursing. Although writing isn’t one of her passions, she does spend some time whenever she is free to write down ideas and poems that come to her. For the most part, she spends her free time either studying, at work, or through social media consumption.

News to Know

 

By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

Congratulations on your retirement!

Congratulations to Glenn Lewis from Berlin High School on his retire­ment. Mr. Lewis has taught UConn SPAN 3178 and SPAN 3179, Interme­diate Spanish Composition and Span­ish Conversation: Cultural Topics, since 2012. His unique gift to ECE classrooms was bringing alive the language, culture, and history through his storytelling based on his extensive travel experiences in the Hispanic and Portuguese worlds, and his Chilean heritage. In his retirement, Mr. Lewis will move on to his third career teach­ing Buddhist philosophy and practice, and eventually living part time in the White Mountains and in Chile.

 

Congratulations to Maria Vilardo from Crosby High School in Water­bury on her retirement. She entered teaching as a second career and has been teaching for 19 years, nearly 12 of them in Waterbury. Ms. Vilardo has taught UConn’s History 1502: US History Since 1877, since 2020 and describes her affiliation and partner­ship with UConn ECE as her “crown­ing achievement as an educator.” In her retirement, she plans to enjoy life, relax, read, and travel. She has already traveled to Europe and South Amer­ica and extensively throughout the Caribbean. In the future she would like to visit Japan and Singapore.

Promotions

Congratulations to Dr. Evan Perkoski, one of Early College Experience’s Faculty Coordinators or his promotion to associate professor and tenure.

Conference Attendance

Franklin Academy (East Haddam) UConn ECE Political Science and Human Rights Instructor Fahd Rafiq was awarded UConn ECE Instructor Conference Funding to attend the 2024 International Studies Asso­ciation Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA in April, where he presented a research paper on Nation­alism and identities in South Asia, an article version of his dissertation. He also co-presented on forming na­tional identities, mass culture, and land rights. Dr. Rafiq was able to attend several sessions, including foreign policies, using role theory and Arab Spring 2.0, and civil war research.

UConn ECE Student Successes

Congrats to UConn ECE Student Maya Bynoe from Pathways Acad­emy of Technology and Design for: being a nine-time scholarship winner; admission to University of Con­necticut School of Business Honors Program; achieving 28+ credits by fall enrollment; having started a business which now has product placement inside of a local store; served as sec­retary for the Greater East Hartford Community Fund.

 

Hanh Tran, Saint Thomas More School. “Thanks to the amazing courses from UConn ECE, I am able to discover my new interest in eco­nomics, especially microeconomics. Initially, I didn’t think economics was an excit­ing subject to take but it was great to finally learn something practical and I figured out that what I’ve learned can be applied positively to my consump­tion habit. As a result, I received an Excellence in Economics Award from Saint Thomas More high school!”

 

UConn ECE Student Perspectives

Jia Yi Lu, Bristol Eastern High School. “Recently, I passed my Calculus final with an exceptional score. I don’t think I would’ve been able to achieve this without the help of my ECE Instructor.”

 

Reygina Pierre, Ledyard High School. “Having gone through the ECE experience I have more confi­dence in myself in the field of animal science classes I took.”

 

Jonathan Plona, Wolcott High School. “I did really well in my ECE courses, earning A’s in them. I learned a ton from my instructors and earned college credit. It was a great experience,and I’ll be taking ECE courses again next school year.”

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