Author: Raj

New Faculty Coordinators

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By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

Faculty Coordinators are the essential academic bridge between UConn and our high school partner sites, upholding the standards and integrity of UConn Early College Experience. As UConn professors, they bring their disciplinary expertise and departmental values directly to UConn ECE Instructors by reviewing certification applications, leading professional development, visiting classrooms, and ensuring that each course mirrors its on-campus equivalent. Their work helps maintain academic comparability while cultivating strong collegial relationships with instructors across Connecticut. While some Faculty Coordinators serve for just a few years, others have dedicated decades to this role, shaping the quality and consistency of UConn ECE. With ongoing growth in program offerings and departmental shifts, we are proud to welcome our newest Faculty Coordinators and thank all who serve for their commitment to academic excellence. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Gustavo Nanclares (Spanish), Laurie Wolfley (American Studies and Maritime Studies), and Matthew McKenzie (American Studies) for their years of dedicated service in the role of Faculty Coordinator, as they leave their position as Faculty Coordinator with UConn ECE.

Agricultural and Resource Economics

Emma Bojinova, Ph.D.

American Sign Language

Linda Pelletier, Ph.D.

American Studies

Karon McGovern

Business

Vishal Baloria, Ph.D.

Civil Engineering

Sarira Motaref, P.E.

Maritime Studies

Matthew Cieslowski

Mathematics

Andrew Jaramillo, Ph.D.
(Assistant to the Faculty Coordinator)

Mechanical Engineering

Jorge Paricio Garcia, Ph.D.
(SolidWorks)

Edward Weingart
(AutoCAD)

Introduction to Academic Writing (ENGL 1004)

Tom Doran, Ph.D.
(Assistant Faculty Coordinator)

Writing Center (ENGL 3082)

Tom Deans, Ph.D.

Kinesiology

Allison MacKenzie

Nutritional Sciences

Molika Chea, Ph.D.

Pharmacy

Charles White, Pharm.D.

Public Health

David Gregorio, Ph.D.

Spanish

Eduardo Urios-Aparisi, Ph.D.

University – Intro to Making

Cody Ryan

UConn ECE Health Sciences Day

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By Dr. C. Michael White

 

This year’s Health Sciences Day at the UConn School of Pharmacy brought together high school students from East Lyme, RHAM, and Waterbury high schools. They engaged with UConn faculty members (Ms. Laura Nolan and Drs. C. Michael White, Robin Bogner, Jennifer Girotto, and Nathaniel Rickles), a CVS pharmacist/UConn Alum ‘93 (Dr. Galushko), and a P4 Pharmacy Student (Ms. White) in three hands-on activities.

 

First, they navigated a cardiac arrest on our simulation manikin where they had to recognize the rhythm, give chest compressions and mask valve artificial breathing, and then select, draw up and administer the correct doses of drugs in between defibrillator shocks. Next, they moved to the compounding laboratory where they were able to create brand new dosage forms. This is something that pharmacists do for patients who cannot tolerate the normal doses of medications, cannot swallow pills, or require a cream that does not exist commercially. Finally, they learned how to draw up medications like vaccines, insulin, and weight loss drugs into syringes, expel the air bubbles, and administer them properly in muscle or the subcutaneous fat of the arms or belly.

 

This was followed by a luncheon with pizza, a brief presentation on careers in pharmacy ranging from community, hospital, nuclear, pharmaceutical industry, and managed care settings, and then informal discussions about the day’s events. Students loved intermingling with those from other schools, seeing the UConn campus, and applying what they learned in their UConn ECE courses to real world scenarios, but in a simulated environment.

Recognizing the 2024-2025 UConn ECE Student Scholarship Winners

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By Jessica Dunn

 

The UConn Early College Experience (ECE) Office is proud to announce the seven exceptional recipients of the 2024–2025 UConn ECE Student Scholarships. Following a highly competitive and rigorous review process, these outstanding high school seniors were selected for their academic excellence, thoughtful project submissions, and future aspirations.

 

Each recipient has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship, applicable to any institution of higher education. To be eligible, students must have successfully completed at least one UConn ECE course and demonstrated a strong commitment to academic growth.

 

We congratulate the 2024–2025 scholarship winners and commend them for their achievements and dedication to learning. Their accomplishments reflect the values and academic standards of the UConn ECE program, and we look forward to seeing their continued success in the future.

 

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.

 

MACIE BRAZAL, East Hampton High School

 

JASMIN GARCIA-CORONAD, Crosby High School

 

Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

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

 

MADELYN SYME, South Windsor High School

 

SUJAY CHAVA, Academy of Aerospace and Engineering

 

RANIAH IMRAN, Academy of Information Technology & Engineering

 

Excellence in Civic and Community Engagement

 

Winners demonstrate academic achievement and 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.

 

MEERA KANNAN, South Windsor High School

 

OLIVIA NOWAK, Farmington High School

 

Check out the Scholarship Winners video

Introduction to New Pre-College Summer Director

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By Bobbi-Jo Wathen

 

In February, Dr. Bobbi-Jo Wathen joined UConn full time as the Director of Pre-College Summer. She is no stranger to UConn’s Office of Early College Programs as she has been a Site Representative for the UConn Early College Experience program since 2014. Dr. Wathen has also been teaching in the UConn Counselor Education Master’s program since 2018 when she started her doctoral studies at the University. As a doctoral student from 2018 through 2023 her research focused on supporting black males through post-secondary transitions. Her mentors created opportunities to publish several works on this topic, contributing to the academic discourse. Her desire to engage in this research began when she was a high school counselor, and she witnessed the inequities in college access.

 

 

In 2011, she earned her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in School Counseling from Cambridge College and started a wonderful career in school counseling. Since then, she has worked in a variety of school settings and supported numerous students as they explored careers and made postsecondary plans. She has been a longtime advocate for high quality rigorous education for all and worked alongside organizations like the Legal Defense Fund, The Sheff Foundation, and NCWIT’s Counselors for Computing to create a real impact for students and families.

 

In her most recent position, she was the School Counseling Department Head at a large title one school district in CT. In this leadership role, she was able to adjust her service to supporting school counselors and district leaders with the same goal in mind, providing exceptional rigorous education for students that lead to positive postsecondary outcomes. During this time, she worked closely with CT Rise to create functional systems that evaluate school level data to impact student success as students transition into high school and out of high school.

 

Becoming a full-time Husky has brought much joy. From Johnathan sightings, basketball games, the beautiful sunsets, and a lively quad on a warm day are the things that make UConn special to her. More than that, she has really enjoyed preparing for her first summer welcoming high school students from around the globe to UConn’s Pre-College Summer program. She can’t wait to watch young high school students fall in love with UConn and build the confidence they need to find a sense of belonging in college. She believes every young person should have a champion telling them they CAN and SHOULD pursue higher education if they want to. This program has the opportunity to give that to the young people who find their way to campus.

Stakeholder Appreciation 2025

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By Carissa Rutkauskas

 

As part of our annual stakeholder appreciation efforts, the UConn Early College Experience program proudly recognized the invaluable contributions of school counselors, teachers, and principals who support and champion UConn ECE at their high schools. In celebration of National School Counseling Week (February), Teacher Appreciation Week (May), and Principal Appreciation Week (May), we honored those who go above and beyond to ensure student success within the program. For the first time, we launched School Counselor Appreciation Week to spotlight both our Site Representatives and the broader counseling staff who guide students through course selection and enrollment in UConn ECE. During Teacher Appreciation Week—now in its second year—we celebrated instructors who bring UConn courses to life in high school classrooms with passion and dedication. Principal Appreciation Week, also newly introduced this year, acknowledged school leaders who create a supportive environment that allows the program to thrive. This year, we received an overwhelming 300+ nominations for instructors, 132 for school counselors, and 16 for principals—each submission filled with gratitude and admiration for these outstanding educators and leaders. Selected recipients—defined by receiving two or more nominations in the counselor and teacher categories— were awarded UConn ECE merchandise of their choice, a printed poster featuring heartfelt quotes from nominators, and recognition on our social media platforms. These recognitions underscore the collaborative spirit and dedication of educators and administrators who help shape meaningful academic opportunities for students through UConn ECE. Below are some of the more powerful quotes from nominators:

 

Principal Appreciation

Mr. Kuckel, Cromwell High School

 

• Principal Kuckel’s consistent message to students, families, and staff is that dual enrollment courses help students prepare for college and their future careers. He has increased our ECE student enrollment and course offerings during his administration by adding five new courses.

 

• Principal Kuckel is always promoting awareness about the value and accessibility of these courses in a variety of ways. He thinks about all of our students and understands the value for every student tohave college exposure in addition to earning credits. His availability, flexibility and unconditional support is appreciated by our instructors, our students, and myself! – Alicia Melillo, UConn ECE Site Representative, Cromwell High School

 

School Counselor Appreciation

• Danielle Jurkiewicz, Fairfield Warde High School

Mrs. J, my school counselor, played a pivotal role in my success by helping me stay focused on my path toward my early childhood education major at UConn. She worked with me to plan my senior schedule, supported my decision to take the ECE course, and reassured me when I doubted myself— and now I’m excelling in the class, grateful for her encouragement to follow my passion. – Saylor, UConn ECE Student

 

• Janine Murdy, Woodland Regional High School
Mrs. Murdy is a UConn alum who continually promotes ECE programs to our students. She starts promoting these programs when we register students in 8th grade and continues to challenge students to enroll in challenging courses throughout their high school years. – Principal Mulligan, Woodland Regional High School

 

• Kate Kopylec, UConn ECE Site Representative; Lyman Hall High School
Throughout the UConn ECE experience, Mrs. Kopylec has provided clear information on what ECE classes are, deadlines and requirements for registering (also visiting all ECE classes to assist in the registration process), and scholarship information. Her support has made my (and others) ECE experience less stressful/overwhelming. – Anonymous UConn ECE Student

 

Instructor Appreciation

• Monika Fryc-Gabrys, Woodland Regional High School, MATH 1131Q: Calculus I
Monika inspires her students daily. She advises the Math Team and has generated huge participation in the Team… Recently she led a 14-hour math challenge at school and took students to a Jumanji math challenge… Her students have given such positive feedback on the UConn ECE exit survey. She has high standards and her students meet with great success. She continues to get letters from her former students thanking her! She is a true gem! – Andrea Gaetano, Math Department Chairperson

 

• Mr. Dalidowitz, Crosby High School, SOCI 1001: Introduction to Sociology; HRTS 1007: Introduction to Human Rights; & HRTS 2200: Introduction to Genocide Studies
My UConn ECE Instructor is awesome because they challenge us to think critically, push us beyond high school expectations, and genuinely care about our success. Their passion for teaching and real-world insights make learning both engaging and impactful! – Jasmine, UConn ECE Student

 

• Dr. Rabinsky-Ankrom, Robert E. Fitch High School, ASLN 1102: Elementary American Sign Language II
Dr. RA is a teacher every student wishes they had. She truly connects with each and every one of her students and pushes us to be ourselves while also learning a language that brings people together… I can confidently say that she has made a big impact on my life. – Anonymous UConn ECE Student

 

• Mrs. Norige, Torrington High School, SPSS 3230: Biotechnology- Science, Application, Impact, Perception; BIOL 1107: Principles of Biology I; & BIOL 1108: Principles of Biology II
Mrs. Norige always promotes classes to students who are interested and has pushed to make UConn courses available for all incoming interested students. – Anonymous UConn ECE Student

 

• Mr. Brewer, Bristol Central High School, PHYS 1201Q: General Physics I & PHYS 1202Q: General Physics II
Mr. Brewer pours his heart out into teaching us physics and makes it extremely fun to learn about. He spends countless hours making sure each and every student understands what they are doing and enjoys their time in physics and is all around a fantastic teacher. – Amber, UConn ECE Student

2025 Annual Site Representative Conference

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By Todd Blodgett

 

The annual Site Representative Conference was held this May at the UConn Avery Point campus in Groton, CT. The Early College Experience Program Staff hosted 170 Site Representatives from 135 partner high schools. The morning kicked off at The Branford House where attendees, many of whom were visiting the Avery Point campus for the first time, got to take in the breath-taking views of The Long Island Sound over breakfast with colleagues from across the state. After moving to the Academic Building for the core content of the day, and being officially welcomed by UConn ECE Executive Director, Christopher Todd, representatives from Newington High School, Norwich Free Academy, and Robert E. Fitch High School took the stage. Leading a panel discussion, the Site Representatives discussed ways they are expanding concurrent enrollment opportunities at their schools. They shared their experiences of implementing new UConn ECE courses into their schools and how they promote the courses to their students, families, and instructors. Participants then received programmatic updates before choosing from six breakout sessions, offered across two time slots. The conference was a great opportunity for our Site Representatives to discuss ways to enhance their concurrent enrollment offerings at their high schools and meet with colleagues and counterparts from across the state. We appreciate all the work that our Site Representatives do to make their UConn ECE programs successful at their schools and are excited to continue offering a diverse selection of course offerings to their students!

Exploring the Depths: UConn ECE Marine Science Symposium Showcases Student Research

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By Jessica Dunn

May 22 & 28, 2025

 

The 2025 UConn Early College Experience Marine Science Symposium made waves this spring at the UConn Avery Point Campus. With growing interest and over 175 student participants, the event expanded to two dates—May 22 and May 28—to accommodate the impressive turnout of UConn ECE student researchers and marine science enthusiasts from high schools across Connecticut.

 

Hosted on the scenic shores of Long Island Sound, the symposium provided an inspiring platform for high school students enrolled in UConn’s ECE Marine Science courses (MARN1001E: The Sea Around Us and MARN1003E: Introduction to Oceanography with Lab) to showcase the results of their year long research projects. Six schools participated in this year’s event: University High School of Science and Engineering, Marine Science Magnet High School, Waterford High School, Ledyard High School, The Morgan School, and The Sound School.

 

Students presented their work through a combination of oral presentations and detailed scientific posters. Research topics ranged from micro plastic pollution and marine biodiversity to the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems. The diversity of subjects reflected not only the rigor of the student projects but also the enthusiasm and curiosity these young scientists bring to the field of marine science. By splitting the schools between two dates, the symposium offered a more focused and engaging experience, allowing for deeper discussions, peer to-peer feedback, and meaningful interactions with UConn faculty and marine science professionals. This format helped bridge classroom learning with the real-world application of scientific research. Events like the Marine Science Symposium exemplify the power of experiential education. Students walked away with more than just academic credit—they gained confidence, presentation skills, and a genuine sense of belonging in the scientific community. Their work was not only ambitious and well researched but also impressively presented, showcasing a high level of professionalism and dedication.

Farewell with Gratitude: Nella and Melanie’s Decade of Dedication

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By Christopher Todd

 

As we bid a heartfelt farewell to several long-time UConn Pre-College Summer (PCS) staff members, we celebrate the profound impact two very special staff have had on the growth and success of the program. Collectively, Nella Quasnitschka and Melanie Banks represented a combined 30+ years of experience for UConn, having served in numerous roles for the Office of Early College Programs (OECP) but also having been instrumental in the rebranding and expansion of the Pre-College Summer Program (PCS), which launched in 2014. When Nella and Melanie joined the program in 2016 with a clear mission to expand and revitalize it, their leadership played a major role in driving the program’s significant growth over the past decade. As the Director and Associate Director of Pre-College Summer respectively, their leadership, creativity, and unwavering commitment to student development transformed PCS into a nationally recognized experience
for aspiring college students. Whether it was designing engaging residential experiences, mentoring high school participants and UConn graduate students, or building strong campus partnerships, their contributions created a supportive and inspiring environment that will continue to benefit future cohorts for years to come. Their legacy is woven into the fabric of PCS—reflected in every student who left our program more confident, curious, and prepared for college life.

 

Celebrating the combined impact of Nella and Melanie is easy for members of the Office of Early College Programs team. One doesn’t have to look very hard to find their professional and personal imprints on colleagues, stakeholders and programmatic offerings. But what better way to celebrate Nella and Melanie, than to hear from some of their former PCS colleagues who capture the true impact both incredible staff members had during their time at UConn. The voices below come from former UConn Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Graduate Students who worked directly with Nella and Melanie to support the expansion of the PCS program during their two-year Graduate Assistantships:

 

MEGAN GO
Program Coordinator | Brooklyn College AANAPISI Project (BCAP)
M.A in Higher Education and Student Affairs | University of Connecticut ’24
PCS: 2022-2024

 

Nella: thank you for giving me a wonderful experience with UConn Pre-College Summer. You made it feel like home for all the GAs and student workers, and my grad school experience wouldn’t have been the same without it! Thank you for your support throughout my time at PCS and Neag. Sending warm wishes and good vibes your way with your next steps! Also, I still have all the cool socks you gifted me. 🙂

 

Melanie: you were the first person to welcome me to Pre-College Summer in-person. Thank you for a great 2 years! You were always so caring and understanding and made the office environment a comforting place to be in, especially in the midst of grad school stress. Wishing the best for you and your family! You took such good care of the GAs at PCS, there’s no doubt that you’re giving your family the utmost love and support!

 

CODY OLSON
Academic Advisor
Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst
PCS: 2018-2020

Nella: Nella is one of the most thoughtful and caring supervisors I’ve ever had. She made work fun. And even when life was complicated and challenging in the Pre-College Summer world, I knew that I would leave work smiling because of Nella’s positivity and empathy. During the pandemic, we would have 3+ hour Teams Meetings. On paper, this sounds horrible, but I loved digging into projects with Nella and innovating within our program.

 

Melanie: Melanie was a joy to work with, and I learned so much
from her in our time together. Melanie saw me transition from being an undergrad to a graduate student to a young professional and helped me each step of the way. I will forever be grateful for our friendship and her mentorship.

 

JOSEPH R. FISHER
Associate Director of Facilities Management
Harvard Radcliffe Institute
PCS: 2017-2019

 

Nella: Congratulations, Nella, on your successful tenure at UConn! I am so grateful to have been a part of your professional journey during my time as a Graduate Assistant for UConn Pre-College Summer. I remember fondly my interview with you and Melanie, your enthusiasm for the program, and interest in bringing on the first Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) graduate assistant. You helped make my 2+ year of graduate study exponentially powerful, exposing me to new projects, asking me to solve complex challenges, and pushing us all to use technology in more useful and efficient ways. I miss our PCS days so much with our dream team — and do know that your professional legacy (and laugh) will be so missed!

 

Melanie: Congratulations on a wonderful journey at UConn! I am so grateful that our paths crossed to work together and that we were able to collaborate on many aspects of the Pre-College Summer program. I remember our short brainstorming conversations, “oh yes!” moments when we found a new way to do something better, and when those short conversations turned into long sessions where we’d create and build together. I admire your commitment to learning, to your professional career, your education, and of course, your growing family. I always miss our days of sharing our cubicle wall and window — and of course miss the vibrancy and professionalism you always brought to your work. Congratulations again!

 

As we will miss Nella and Melanie deeply, this moment of transition brings exciting possibilities. As we welcome new team members and fresh leadership into the PCS fold starting with our new Director, Dr. Bobbi-Jo Wathen, we look forward to reimagining the program with renewed energy and perspective. This is an opportunity to innovate, expand, and strengthen our offerings to meet the changing needs of students and families. By honoring the foundation laid by Nella and Melanie while embracing bold, forward-looking ideas, UConn Pre-College Summer is poised to continue shaping transformative experiences that prepare high school students not only for college, but for a lifetime of learning and leadership.

Professional Development Workshops

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

 

We’ve had yet another eventful semester for the UConn Early College Experience Program, including 22 unique professional development experiences for our certified ECE Instructors. A mix of on campus and virtual events were held, for our wonderful instructors from Allied Health, American Sign Language, Animal Sciences, Art, Asian & Asian American Studies, Digital Media and Design, Earth Sciences, Education, Educational Psychology, Environmental Science, French, German, History, Human Development & Family Sciences, Italian, Kinesiology, Latino & Latin American Studies, Political Science, Spanish, and Statistics as well as our Library Media Specialists. Please enjoy a brief overview of the professional development highlights from the Spring 2025 semester!

 

February 26, 2025: Political Science Workshop

 

For our first professional development event of 2025, we hosted a virtual conversation with our Political Science instructors on the theme Bringing Politics into the Classroom. The morning opened with a faculty discussion surrounding the effects of rising authoritarianism in world politics, with the goal of equipping instructors with strategies for teaching their students to understand and recognize harmful trends and their consequences. A major highlight of the day was a guest address by Denise Merrill, UConn alumna and former Connecticut Secretary of State.

 

March 12, 2025: Animal Sciences Workshop

Animal Science instructors met on the Storrs Campus in early March, where they had the opportunity to observe a class section of ANSC 1602: Behavior and Training of Domestic Animals. The true bonus highlight of the day was a trip to the UConn Dairy Bar, where instructors got to experience our world-famous UConn ice cream!

 

March 14, 2025: French Workshop

 

On March 14th, our ECE French Instructors convened on the UConn Storrs Campus for their annual professional development conference. The morning consisted of a lecture on the theme of childhood and its manifestations in French cinema, led by Assistant Professor in French Studies, Dr. Raphaël Koenig. Then, in the afternoon our instructors were given the opportunity to visit UConn’s Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry for a tour and a lecture on puppetry in France and French-speaking countries led by Dr. John Bell, Director of Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry and Associate Professor in the Dramatic Arts Department.

 

April 4, 2025: Italian Workshop

 

Our Italian instructors took a field trip to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT for a private tour of the galleries. Following the tour, instructors got to experience an informative lecture courtesy of Stephanie Barnett, School & Teacher Programs Manager for the Atheneum.

 

April 11, 2025: Spanish Workshop

 

Marking our largest professional development workshop of the semester, over 85 certified Spanish instructors joined us on the Storrs Campus on April 11th. The group was joined by Professor Oscar Martin, chair for the Department of Languages and Literatures at Lehman College. Professor Martin delivered a lecture entitled “Estudiantes, hay camino y se hace camino al andar” (Translation: “Students, there is a path, and the path is made by walking”). Following the keynote address, instructors had the opportunity to work on a collaborative group project with their peers.

 

April 25, 2025: EDLR 2001 Workshop

 

It was a beautiful day in Storrs when we were joined by a group of 15 EDLR 2001: Contemporary Social Issues in Sport instructors. Thanks to the continued efforts of Dr. Danielle DeRosa, our Faculty Coordinator for Educational Leadership, this group has grown to include teachers from a variety of unique disciplines, including History, English, Health/Physical Education, and Social Studies. Each provides a unique lens through which to teach their students about the industry of sport. Instructors were given the opportunity to meet with Eric Schneider, Associate Director of Athletics and Compliance at UConn, to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, including NIL (name, image, and likeness) policies. The afternoon was topped off by a walking tour of several of UConn’s athletic facilities, including Gampel Pavilion, the flagship site of the “Basketball Capitol of the World”, along with the baseball, softball, volleyball, and ice hockey facilities.

 

April 24 and 25, 2025: English at the 14th annual Conference on the Teaching of Writing

 

This semester, our ECE English instructors were invited to attend the 14th annual Conference on the Teaching of Writing, entitled “Joy to You and Me: Making Space for Joy in the Writing Classroom.” This conference challenged our instructors to embed joy into their pedagogy, finding it in unexpected places amongst upheaval and dread, and encouraging their students to embrace it. The keynote address, titled “Hell Yes, Joy is a Strategy: Reclaiming Play in Writing Assessment,” was delivered by Dr. Stephanie West-Puckett, Associate Professor of Writing & Rhetoric at the University of Rhode Island. Attendees of the conference were treated to a wide variety of sessions and workshops to choose from and had the opportunity to connect with individuals across the UConn First Year Writing community and beyond. It’s been an incredible semester! 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. As the spring comes to a close, we extend our thanks to our Faculty Coordinators, guest contributors, and instructors for their time and commitment to the ECE program. We’ll be back come Fall with plenty more professional development experiences, and we look forward to seeing many of you then!

CT Science OLYMPIAD

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By Janet Belvel CT State Director, CT Science Olympiad UConn ECE Instructor at South Windsor High School

 

State Finals 2025

 

The University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus hosted over 40 high school teams from across the state for the 2025 Connecticut Science Olympiad State Finals. Sponsored by UConn’s Early College Experience program, the competition showcased the creativity, problem-solving skills, and scientific expertise of Connecticut’s brightest young minds.

 

This year’s event featured a dynamic mix of challenges, from hands-on engineering events like Helicopters and Electric Vehicles to rigorous knowledge-based tests in Anatomy and Chemistry. Each competition pushed students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply their scientific knowledge under pressure.

 

After a day of intense competition, South Windsor High School emerged as the state champion, earning the opportunity to represent Connecticut at the National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Hopkins School claimed second place, while Wilton High School secured third, followed closely by Avon High School in fourth. Their achievements reflect months of hard work, dedication and a deep passion for STEM subjects by students and their dedicated coaches.

 

While trophies and rankings highlight the competition, the heart of Science Olympiad lies in the experiences it creates. Students took on scientific challenges, worked with their partners, and struggled through complex problems as a team. Whether they were fine-tuning an engineering design, solving chemistry puzzles, or testing flight mechanics, every participant walked away with new skills and unforgettable memories.

 

This year’s tournament was a testament to the strength of Connecticut’s science education community. Thanks to the dedication of coaches, the generosity of sponsors, and the continued support of UConn’s ECE program, Science Olympiad remains a transformative experience for students across the state. We look forward to seeing what next year’s teams will do in the competition!