Author: Carissa Rutkauskas

Teacher Appreciation

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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

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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

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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

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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

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By Jessica Dunn

 

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

 

View the 2024 UConn ECE Scholarship Winner video.

 

Excellence in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences

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

 

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

Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics

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

 

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

Excellence in Civic and Community Engagement

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

 

TESSA FABIANO
Stamford High School		 DANIELLE KANTER
Fairfield Ludlowe
High School

Student Events: UConn Chem Day

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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

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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

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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.

 

Student Events: Connecticut History Day

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Introduction by Christopher Todd

Body and participant data by Cyndee McManaman,
CT History Day Regional Coordinator

Connecticut History Day Celebrates 50th Anniversary in Storrs

On a beautiful Saturday in early March, more than 300 students accompanied by family, friends, and educators descended upon UConn’s Storrs Campus to participate in the Connecticut History Day’s Mansfield/Storrs Regional Contest. Organized by the Connecticut Democracy Center, in partnership with the Department of History at UConn, as well as UConn’s Office of Early College Programs, Connecticut History Day (CHD) built upon the program’s legacy of success. Students tackled this year’s theme, “Turning Points in History”, bringing to life the ideas, topics, and actions that directly and/or indirectly brought about change.

Connecticut History Day

Connecticut History Day (CHD) is an affiliate program of National History Day (NHD) which annually engages nearly 5,000 middle and high school students in historical research, interpretation, and creative expression through project-based learning. As stated by the CHD, the program seeks to bring students, teachers, museums, and scholars together to support young people as they engage in history. Led by the Connecticut Democracy Center, CHD is presented with major funding and partnership support from CT Humanities.
CHD offers a wide array of free resources for teachers and students to assist them with the History Day process,
including:
• Teacher Handbook (English and Spanish)
• Student Handbook (English and Spanish)
• Educator Workshops
• In-class student workshops
• Digital resources for research and writing

 

Mansfield/Storrs Regional Competition

Throughout the Northeastern Connecticut Region, 32 teachers representing 27 schools brought History Day into their classrooms during the 2023-2024 school year. The Northeastern region supported 868 of the statewide 4,392 school-level participants, with 272 students attending the Mansfield/Storrs Regional Contest at UConn on Saturday, March 2nd. In all, CHD held 5 regional contests around the state with the state contest held at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) on May 4th. The Mansfield Region was strong and represented a large portion of the medals and special prizes awarded: 23 entries won medals (first, second, or third place) with 18 of those qualifying for the National Contest, and 6 entries received special priz­es. At the National Contest, held at the University of Maryland-College Park campus June 9-13, 2024, students from the Mansfield region shined. The following students received medals, special prizes, or honorable mention for their entries:

  • Maura Armstrong & Teagan Dieterle (Ellington High School): 1st Place overall for their Senior Group Documentary The Creation of Sesame Street: A Turning Point in Educational History
  • Julianne Pashe & Katie Smith (Ellington Center School): Outstanding CT Entry, ranking 4th overall, for their Junior Group Exhibit The Capitol Crawl: A Climb for Disability Equality and the Push for ADA
  • Ishanvi Mahopatra (Timothy Edwards Middle School): ranking 8th overall for her Junior Individual Documentary William T.G. Morton’s Ether Day: A Turning Point in Surgical History
  • Aarush Kalia (South Windsor High School): Outstanding CT Entry, ranking 10th overall, for his Senior Individual Documentary The Great Swamp Fight: The Battle That Transformed American History
  • Aaron Aldrin (Timothy Edwards Middle School): received the Discovery or Exploration Special Prize for his Junior Individual Website Cogito Ergo Sum: Rene Descartes’ Cartesian Revelation (5th place overall)

The following students’ entries received Honorable Mention (each of these projects placed second in their judging room for the preliminary round of project evaluation):

  • Emmett Smith (Ellington High School): Senior Individual Exhibit A Battle of Rights for the Incarcerated: The Legacy of the Attica Prison Riot. Emmett’s entry also represented CT in the National History Day Exhibit Showcase at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
  • Andrew Doyle & Avishkar Kasiliya (John F. Kennedy Middle School): Junior Group Website Stalingrad: How the Triumph of the Red Army Turned the Tide of War in the East
  • Enaaya Mohammad & Musfira Bhuiyan (Madina Academy): Junior Group Website The History and Evolution of the Smallpox Vaccine
  • Bhaavni Krishna (South Windsor High School): Senior Individual Per­formance From Protest to Progress: Helena Hill Weed and the Birth of a New Activist Movement
  • Kalyani Tihaiya, Kayla Lin & Mia Chen (E.O. Smith High School): Senior Group Performance From Asian Exclusion to Inclusion: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

 

Comments from students at the Mansfield Regional Contest:

“I decided to participate in CT History Day because it will help me learn how to do research better and will help me grow as a learner and it will be fun to present all my hard work. I will also get to try something new.” (middle school student)

“I decided to participate in CT History Day to explore his­torical events and innovations in further depth than I have traditionally in classes and gain new insight on how they have affected the present day.” (high school student)

 

Comments from parents at the Mansfield Regional Contest:

“This is my daughter’s 6th year competing. History day has been the single most influential factor in her personal and academic growth; from her writing and research skills to the confidence she now has when presenting or speaking. “

“This whole experience with National History Day has taught my children to care about people whose experiences are different from theirs. They are looking around the world with a critical eye to what these events mean, how they affect people, and what we can do about it. I love that!”

 

Comments from teachers at the Mansfield Regional Contest:

Juanita Richardson, Carmen Arace Middle School, Bloom­field CT: “This year was my first time coaching students through the History Day process. There was a lot to learn and consider, but between the coordinators and the website, I felt confident that my students had the tools to be successful. I’m very proud of my students for taking on this new, unfamiliar opportunity. Not only did they place Top 3 at the Regional Contest for junior exhibits, but they also learned invaluable skills that they are carrying with them into high school next year!”

Matthew Sivo, E.O. Smith High School, Storrs, CT: “History Day helps students build more social aware­ness and historical empathy and also furthers their understanding of their civic duties and other communities.”

 

Comments from judges at the Mansfield Regional Contest:

“Every year I leave the History Day contest impressed by the enthusiasm for learning shown by the History Day students. I love seeing what students choose as topics. The in-depth research and analysis that these students do to complete their projects requires perseverance and dedication. History Day is a special day!”

“At this past year’s Mansfield, Connecticut, History Day regional competition, I was so pleased to see such good work in the senior papers that I and my co-judges read, as well as the diversity of participants and their topics, and the en­thusiasm among the students. The quality of research and writing was remarkably good overall, and outstanding in some cases. And the diversity of student topics was impres­sive, ranging from war and politics to biography and popu­lar culture, and across different societies all over the world. Most importantly, the students were quite enthusiastic about their papers, which they readily shared with each other in a seminar including all paper writers at the end of the compe­tition. Several parents attended the seminar, and they were enthusiastic, too. As we co-judges left the seminar, a father and son stopped and thanked us for the opportunity to allow the son to present in a rigorous competition on his interests. It was great to witness such enthusiasm for history and good historical work.”

Investing in Continued Success

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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.