Author: Carissa Rutkauskas

Professional Development Workshops

Posted on by

 

By Stefanie Malinoski

 

Throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, UConn Early College Experience partnered with dedicated Faculty Coordinators to offer 50 professional development workshops to certified Instructors. These opportunities were designed to enrich teaching practic­es, foster interdisciplinary connections, and broaden educators’ perspectives. Some highlights from the spring semester are below. Please be sure to review the UConn ECE Professional Development Blog on the UConn ECE website for details from all spring workshops and pictures from the events.

 

Environmental Science

Dr. Morty Ortega, ECE Faculty Coordinator for Environmental Science, met with 32 Environmental Science Instructors for a “Journey through Ecotoxicology” with graduate student Anika Agrawal. Ecotoxicology focuses on studying the effects of toxic chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals on ecosystems. Anika Agrawal, a PhD Candidate in Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) at UConn studies the effect of mercury in oysters in the Long Island Sound.

 

Spanish

UConn ECE Faculty Coordinators from Spanish, Profs. Gustavo Nan­clares and Eduardo Urios-Aparisi met with more than 60 Spanish In­structors to listen to Prof. Maria Acosta Cruz, Professor of Spanish in the Language, Literature & Culture Dept at Clark University. Prof. Acosta shared her talk “Ecocrítica, cultura y nación: La cultura puertorriqueña a través de cinco siglos” (“Ecocriticism, Culture, and Nation: Puerto Rican Culture Through Five Centuries”) with the teachers.

 

Educational Psychology

Prof. Joseph Madaus, our UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from Educational Psychology, gathered with instructors for a virtual meeting and thought-provoking discussion with young adult author Terry Trueman. Trueman’s novel, “Stuck in Neutral,” used in ESPY 1100: Introduction to Special Education courses, offers insights into the lived experi­ences of individuals with cerebral palsy and sparked meaningful conversation among participants.

 

French

UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from French, Prof. Florence Marsal met with 30 UConn ECE certified French Instructors to hear from Joëlle Vitiello, Pro­fessor of French and Francophone Studies at Ma­calester College for her talk “Enseigner les trésors d’Haïti” (“Teaching the Treasures of Haiti”). In addi­tion, Mary Catherine Decoteau, Career Consultant from UConn’s Career Services, spoke to teachers about enhancing and highlighting career competen­cies in UConn French courses.

 

Biology

Dr. Tom Abbott, ECE Faculty Coordinator for Biolo­gy, met with a group of 34 UConn ECE certified Biology Instruc­tors and embarked on a groupcampus trail walk. The theme for the daywas “In the “Heat” of the Moment, For­ests Move Center Stage”. The field walk took the group through small forest stands and provid­ed Instructors with a unique perspective on ecological dynamics and biodiversity in the Storrs area.

 

English

UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from English, Prof. Scott Campbell and Graduate Assistant Adam Mc­Lain curated a dynamic conference for 80 UConn ECE certified English Instructors on UConn’s Hart­ford campus. The theme for the conference was “In­quiring About Writing: Syllabi and Texts in the ECE English High School Classroom”. From exploring literary theory and art to engaging with inquiry and identity at the Wadsworth Atheneum, the confer­ence fostered collaborative dialogues and innovative pedagogical approaches.

 

Latino and Latin American Studies

Prof. Anne Gebelein, UConn ECE’s Faculty Coor­dinator from Latino and Latin American Studies, met with a group of 20 LLAS 1190: Introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean Instructors on the Hartford campus. The day included a presentation and discussion with special guest Lorenzo Martinez Ruiz about challenges to indigenous sovereignty in Nicaragua. Lorenzo is an indigenous leader of the Rama-Kriol peoples in southeastern Nicaragua. His firsthand insights into indigenous rights activism un­derscored the complexities of sovereignty and land rights issues in the region, provoking critical reflec­tions among participants.

 

New Instructor Orientation

In addition to our spring professional development workshops, UConn ECE celebrated a significant milestone by welcoming 297 newly certified in­structors into our community in May. Among them, 238 fresh faces joined us for New Instructor Orien­tation which was held on the Storrs campus, mark­ing it as our largest Orientation gathering to date.

This comprehensive event covered essential as­pects of Early College Experience from Instructor responsibilities to student engagement strategies. Noteworthy presentations by Student Success and Engagement Librarian, Ery Caswell, and Educational Technologies expert, Jordan Vinikoor, enriched par­ticipants’ understanding of available resources and technological tools. Additionally, instructors had the opportunity to connect with their Faculty Coordina­tors and fellow newcomers in dedicated afternoon sessions to ensure teachers are fully prepared to begin offering UConn courses in the fall.

As the academic year draws to a close, it’s evident it has been characterized by no­table achievements and successes. Look­ing forward, we aim to double down on these accomplishments to provide our UConn ECE community with even greater opportunities for continued growth.

2024 NEACEP Conference hosted at UConn

Posted on by

 

By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

The University of Connecti­cut Early College Experience Program hosted the 2024 New England Alliance of Concur­rent Enrollment Partnerships (NEACEP) annual conference on Friday, May 17, 2024 in the UConn Student Union. Approx­imately one-hundred dual/ concurrent enrollment and early college professionals and advocates from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, as well as several experts from outside of New England were in attendance. The event was kicked off by a warm welcome by Kari Suder­ley, NEACEP President/ Direc­tor of Early College Programs, University of Maine and Dr. Amit Savkar, Interim Associate Vice Provost CETL, University of Connecticut.

 

During the Plenary Session, participants had the opportu­nity to hear from six program directors, a school superinten­dent, and a state chief perfor­mance officer as they offered insights into the landscape of dual and concurrent enroll­ment programs in their respec­tive states. The panel high­lighted key aspects of their programs such as program structure, partnerships, goals, achievements, and advance­ments, sparking further discus­sion and idea sharing from the audience.

 

A total of 14 breakout sessions were featured throughout the day, covering various aspects of early college programs, re­search, equity, policy, and sup­port resources. Topics ranged from stakeholder perspectives on research, alumni insights, collaborative initiatives for improving early college ac­cess, and disrupting racist systems to promote student success. Sessions also delved into advanced course pat­terns, educator pathways, dual enrollment policies, diverse learning landscapes, career pathways advising, support for multilingual students, recogni­tion in early college programs, targeted support for trade oc­cupations, and a comprehen­sive look at Connecticut State Community College’s early college programs. The confer­ence concluded with closing remarks from Kari Suderley, door prizes, and the distribu­tion of certificates. Participants left with valuable insights and a growing network of connec­tions in the field.

 

Special thanks to the following partners for participating in the Plenary Session:

  • Christopher Todd, Executive Director, Office of Early College Programs, University of Connecticut
  • Salvatore Menzo, EdD, Super­intendent of Goodwin Uni­versity Magnet Schools
  • Ajit Gopalakrishnan, Chief Performance Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
  • Beth Doiron, Director of College Access and NHED Programs & Initiatives Community College System of New Hampshire
  • Jerry Appell, Early College Coordinator, River Valley Community College -Community College System of New Hampshire
  • Amy Hubbard, Executive Director of Early College, University of Maine System
  • Mercedes Pour, Director of College Access and Secondary Partnerships, Maine Community College System
  • Phylitia Jamerson, Executive Director of Early College, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Education

 

 

 

Explore a complete list of topics, presenters, and slides on the NEACEP conference website.

 

 

Course Offerings and Expanded Access

Posted on by

 

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

Posted on by

 

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!

 

 

Investing in Continued Success

Posted on by

 

By Christopher Todd

 

Reflections from our 2023-2024 Course Enhancement Grant Winners

 

UConn Early College Experience recognizes that educators across the state have limited access to funds, but do incredible things on behalf of students. As educators, each of you looks to leverage grant opportunities and the UConn ECE program is proud to offer Course Enhancement Grants for courses taught in partner high schools. The purpose of these grants is to create opportunities for classroom and community development for UConn ECE courses. Instructors currently teaching courses at their high school can submit proposals for books, technology, equipment, or other materials that enhance the subject matter taught in the classroom. UConn ECE also funds Community Development submissions to solicit funds for projects that have a large impact on the surrounding community, including plans to repurpose or allocate space, make communities healthier, or to foster creativity, research and build community culture. See below for reflections from some of this past year’s recipients.

 

Christian Heritage School
ECE Instructor: Jamie Cosgrove
UConn Course: BIOL 1107: Principles of Biology I

 

Description: Students had hands on experience to new technology that they otherwise would not have been exposed to because of Professor Cosgrove’s effort to secure funding for a new CRISPR lab set.

 In reflecting on the new CRISPR lab set, Jamie thanked Dr. Abbott for his encouragement and wrote “In this lab, they also learned how to correctly plate bacteria to obtain single colonies, how to use micropipettes, and how to use a microcentrifuge. One student, as she was taking her plate out of the warmer exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, is it white?... it’s white! That means we did it!” Many students expressed how “cool” it was to use relatively new technology in a high school classroom.”

Lewis S. Mills High School
ECE Instructor: Laura Faga
UConn Course: FREN 3250: Global Culture I

 

Description: This award allowed students to attend the French Quiz bowl in the Fall of 2023. Students returned to their school and shared the knowledge they gained with younger students.

 Laura wrote “My favorite day of the year with my UConn ECE French class is always the day of the UConn Quiz Bowl. I was thrilled this year when UConn ECE was able to help us finance the ever-increasing cost of our bus to attend this amazing event by providing me with a course enhancement grant.” The ECE French Quiz Bowl was a great way for students to kick off the year and bond with their classmates. One student reflected on the day stating “I was able to bond with classmates that I wouldn’t usually have talked to, namely some of the seniors that I didn’t know beforehand which helped me feel connected to the class for the rest of the year.”

Middletown High School
ECE Instructor: UConn ECE team

UConn Courses: HIST1300: Western Traditions Before 1500, HIST1400: Modern Western Traditions; ENGL 1007: Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition; ANSC 1676: Introduction to Companion Animals, ANSC1602: Behavior and Training of Domestic Animals; SPSS 1110: Fundamentals of Horticulture; and HRTS 1007: Introduction to Human Rights

 

Description: This award was used to support an all-day community event for Middletown High School students. Students were able to network with community members and explore resources available to them. Middletown High School Pride Leaders, who are students that take UConn ECE courses, lead events, directed students, and were positive role models. This event benefited all involved parties.

 Leveraging their joint capacity, a team of ECE Instructors at Middletown High School helped host a Community Day Planning event where Middletown’s partnership with the UConn ECE program was celebrated along with numerous other community and school partners. Jason Boyle, ECE
Site Representative wrote “Aside from the great community building, the event also helped our ECE students learn about required steps for registration. As a result 97% of students in ECE courses finished their registration on time.”

Newington High School
ECE Instructor: Carla Toney
UConn Courses: ILCS 3239 & ILCS 3240: Composition & Conversation I & II

 

Description: With the goal of increasing opportunities for students to access authentic materials, funds have been provided to create a readers’ library in the classroom.

 In reflecting upon the grant funds Clara wrote “In just a few months, my ECE students have had opportunities to read some of the stories and improve their literacy skills. The books are appropriate for their ability and ages – something that was lacking with my previous library. The book covers are appealing with colorful images that spark their curiosity about the stories inside.” These sentiments were also highlighted by some of Clara’s ECE Students, one of whom wrote “The stories we read so far are entertaining, better than what we were reading before.”

University High School of Science and Engineering
ECE Instructor: Caryn Baseler
UConn Course: MARN 1001E: The Sea Around Us

 

Description: Students in the UConn ECE Marine Sciences class visited Meigs Point Nature Center and participated in their Three Shoreline Ecosystems program so students could visualize and apply what they learned in class to the rocky shore, sandy beach and salt marsh ecosystems.

 Upon reflecting on the grant, Caryn wrote “Thanks to the UConn ECE Course Enhancement Grant, the UHSSE MARN 1001E class was able to travel to Hammonasset State Park to participate in the Meig’s Point 3-ecosystem program. The students expected just a day at the beach, some of the students having never been to the beach, but experienced so much more! The sandy beach was most familiar to them, but the rocky shore and salt marsh were not places that they had previously experienced.”
One student wrote the day was “Surprisingly educational (I didn’t think I would learn so much) yet fun experience which allowed me to interact with the beach environments and learn more about why our beaches and marshes are so important.”

Waterbury Career Academy
ECE Instructor: Frank F. Marcucio, III
UConn Course: AH 4092: EMT Training

 

Description: Funds for this award went towards the purchase of cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequins that records their performance and interface with AEDs. This provided immediate feedback to Mr. Marcucio’s students. The mannequins allow students to develop and hone their skills and address inadequacies in a scientific method based on recorded performance.

 With the help of the funds, Frank commented that the program “trained and certified over 100 students in our health strand with this equipment during our academic year.”

The Woodstock Academy
ECE Instructor: Sharon Geyer
UConn Courses: CHEM 1127Q & CHEM 1128Q: General Chemistry I & II

 

Description: This classroom enhancement was awarded for the acquisition of Go Direct sensors and probes that allowed the implementation of science experiments in UConn ECE courses. The sensors were used throughout all UConn ECE science courses, allowing approximately 160 students annually to benefit.

 Sharon wrote “Woodstock Academy supports a wide breadth of ECE science courses including Biology (BIOL 1107); Chemistry I and II (CHEM 1127Q, CHEM 1128Q); Biotechnology (PLSC 3230); Physics I & II (PHYS 1201Q & 1202Q) and Environmental Science (NRE 1000). The ECE Instructors have developed a rich lab program for each of these ECE science courses offered at the Academy by taking advantage of the 90-minute class blocks to engage in college-level experiments. The acquisition of six pH probes, six temperature probes, and three conductivity probes has helped to expand our laboratory program. The chemistry 1128Q students had a positive experience with buffers this spring because we could give each student a pH probe for more in-depth exploration. The additional pH probes, coupled with the student iPads, turned the buffer lab into one of the highlights of the semester. These same students were able to conduct a more accurate identification of molar mass using freezing point depression. The physics students used the high temperature probes to confirm Newton’s Law of Cooling. Our biology students made good use of the pH problems in their enzyme studies. The grant allowed us to start the transition to Go Direct sensors that will connect directly to the student iPads. Vernier Go Direct sensors has given our ECE science students a similar data collection experience and analysis to the college courses taught at UConn.”

The Woodstock Academy
ECE Instructor: Sara Dziedzic
UConn Courses: HRTS 1007 & HRTS 2200: Introduction to Human Rights & Introduction to Genocide Studies

 

Description: This community enhancement grant helped offset the essential financial demands of arranging a 300-350 person conference. Primarily, the grant helped support part of the cost of lunch and scholarships for various school’s busing needs. The program is designed with equity in mind and hopes to bring together a diverse student population from the eastern Connecticut region.

 To learn more about the Human Rights Conference hosted at The Woodstock Academy, we encourage you to watch the student produced video.

Student Events: Marine Science Symposium, UConn Avery Point

Posted on by

 

By Jessica Dunn

 

On May 13, 2024 students from Universi­ty High School of Science & Engineering and Marine Science Magnet High School attended the annual UConn ECE Marine Science Symposium on the UConn Av­ery Point campus. Dr. Claudia Koerting, UConn ECE Marine Science Faculty Coordinator, organized and led the event as she has for the past 10 years with the goal of extending student learning outside of the classroom and building relationships between students, instructors, and UConn faculty. This end-of-year event celebrates the academic achievements of the students throughout their UConn Marine Sciences courses taken through UConn ECE and exposes them to the UConn Avery Point faculty and facilities.

 

Although this year there was less represen­tation from high schools across the state than we have had in the past, we had an extremely scholarly group of students who were able to experience an intimate and interactive day. In the morning session, the students presented their yearlong research and scientific findings to their peers and UConn faculty in oral and poster presentations, heard from graduate students on their personal research and life as a UConn student, and then took to the campus in the afternoon to explore.

 

In their ventures around the Av­ery Point campus, students went to the docks where they pulled up submerged lines colonized by local marine invertebrates. While examin­ing the lines, they found animals such as mussels, sea squirts, tiny crabs, sponges, and shrimp all tucked into the seaweed. They went to the tidal pools where they discovered it to be dominated by the seaweed, Enter­omorpha. To a passerby, the Enter­omorpha may just look like green slime, but the students learned it is more than that and supports healthy barnacle and snail populations. To conclude their exploration, students toured the UConn research vessel, the R/V Connecticut, and then returned to the campus buildings where they were able to get up close to equipment scientists deploy on buoys and from the research vessel to get important oceanographic data.

 

We congratulate all students on their hard work and dedication this year and thank them for participating in the UConn ECE Marine Science Symposium.

Student Events: UConn Chem Day

Posted on by

 

As highlighted in the official online news source of the University, UConn Today, the UConn Early College Experience Chemistry Day was a great success on May 23, 2024. Sarah Al-Arshani, Communications Manager in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, wrote about the event in depth in her article, “High School Students Get Hands on Experience at UConn Chemistry Early College Experience Day,” published on May 31, 2024.

 

Student Events: Italian Multimedia Competition

Posted on by

By Dr. Tina Chiappetta-Miller
UConn ECE Italian Faculty Coordinator

 

For UConn ECE Italian, I wanted to offer a contest for prize money to students for creative work in Italian. Since creativity takes many forms, I decided on a multimedia contest in which individual students would create pieces based on the concept of language itself, “Il linguaggio di…”, in a combination of written, visual or audio components. This year’s concept was “The Language of…Friendship.” Students were asked to submit a pair of original and complementary pieces in two of the three categories.

 

I was thrilled to have a class of high schoolers from the Istituto Agrario di Firenze be the judges of the submitted work. The 10th grade class of Italians enjoyed evaluating the work of their American peers and very judiciously chose the contest winners. The three prizes were awarded to Claudia Wilson of Newington HS (1st place, $300), Alex Gavrilis of Newington HS (2nd place, $200) and Jade Gaud of Bristol Central HS (3rd place, $100).

 

The plan is to change the given concept year to year. Next year’s? “Il linguaggio…della natura” — “The language of…Nature.” Look out for more info early next school year (or see this year’s info). Please encourage your students to submit!

Per gli studenti di UConn ECE italiano volevo stabilire un concorso di lavoro creativo in italiano con premi in denaro. Dato che la creatività “va coltivata in tutte le direzioni”, come diceva Gianni Rodari, ho deciso di offrire un concorso multimediale basato sul concetto del linguaggio stesso in cui studenti possono creare opere creative con componenti di scrittura, arte visiva o audio. Il tema di quest’an­no è stato “Il linguaggio… dell’amicizia.” Gli studenti dovettero inviare dei lavori originali e complementari in due delle tre categorie.

 

Sono stata molto contenta di poter invitare la classe seconda B dell’Istituto Agrario di Firenze a giudicare i lavori consegnati. I ragazzi italiani si sono impegnati a valutare i lavori dei loro coetanei americani e in modo molto giudizioso hanno scelto i premiati: Claudia Wilson della Newington HS (primo posto, $300), Alex Gavrilis della Newington HS (secondo posto, $200) e Jade Gaud della Bristol Central HS (terzo posto, $100).

 

Il tema centrale del concorso cambierà ogni anno. Quale sarà quello dell’anno prossimo? “Il lingugaggio…della natura.” Arriv­eranno ulteriori informazioni all’inizio del prossimo anno sco­lastico (o vedete l’annuncio di quest’anno). Vi prego di spingere i vostri studenti a partecipare!

 

Student Events: Connecticut Science Olympiad

Posted on by

 

By Dr. Janet Belval

 

UConn ECE welcomed back the 2024 CT State Science Olympiad Competition on the UConn Storrs Campus this past April. This prestigious annual event brought together some of the brightest young minds from across Connecticut to demonstrate their scientific prowess, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. The Storrs campus was charged with excitement and collaboration as the aspiring teams competed fiercely for the top honors.

 

Science Olympiad is a renowned competition that tests students in a wide range of scientific dis­ciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. With twenty-three challenging events, participants showcased their extensive knowledge, creativity, and analytical abilities. This year saw an impressive turnout, with forty-two teams from across the state displaying remarkable dedication and months of rigorous preparation.

 

Participating in the Science Olympiad offers students more than just a chance to compete; it provides a platform to delve into their love for science and spark their curiosity. Teams faced challenges in building and engineering projects, written tests, and experimental designs. The campus buzzed with activity, from glider planes soaring in Hawley Armory to forensic investigations in the Chemistry Building. These experiences create lasting memories for high school students and inspire them to pursue careers in science.

 

South Windsor High School successfully defended their title, emerging as the State Champions. They proudly represented Connecticut at the National Tournament in Michigan in May. Other top-performing schools included Glastonbury High School and Hopkins School, both of whom delivered exceptional performances. Canton High School was recognized as the “Best New Team”. The camaraderie among team members was evident as they encouraged and supported each other, epitomizing the spirit of the Science Olympiad. Their passion for science shone through in every event, with their hard work andcommitment to excellence driving them to success.

 

The success of the Connecticut Science Olympiad competition underscores the importance of fostering scientific curiosity and encouraging students to follow their passion for science. This event would not be possible without the unwavering support of our donors, coaches, parents, community volun­teers, and the generosity and hospitality of the UConn’s Early College Experience Program.