2024 UConn ECE Cardboard Boat Race: Chariots Afloat

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

By Jessica Dunn

On Friday, September 20, 2024 UConn ECE hosted our annual UConn ECE Cardboard Boat Race at the UConn Avery Point Campus drawing just over 400 attendees including students and instructors from 12 different UConn ECE high school partners from across the state. We were also joined by UConn Avery Point and Storrs Administrators, faculty, and staff, and a very special Guest of Honor, Jonathan XV!

With an energetic crowd and a packed agenda of academic presentations, the event was a true celebration of both scholarship and creativity. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our UConn ECE partners and colleagues who make this event possible year after year.

The day began with a warm welcome from Chris Todd, Executive Director of the Office of Early College Programs, and Dan Mercier, Director of Academic Affairs at UConn Avery Point. Their inspiring remarks set the tone for the day and encouraged students to embrace the opportunities to collaborate with their peers and engage in collegiate experiences.

After the welcome, students transitioned from the beautiful Gazebo Lawn, overlooking the mouth of the Thames River, to the classroom where they heard from distinguished UConn Faculty. Presentations covered a variety of topics related to the event, such as engineering, politics, history, and archaeology. The morning sessions featured:

Professor Kroum Batchvarov – Black Sea MAP Project
Professor Matthew McKenzie – Navigating the Past: A Seafarer’s Approach to Studying History
Professor Frank Griggs – Maritime Politics: Making Waves of Progress?
Professor David Giblin – Engineering a Cardboard Race Boat: A detailed look at the mechanics, constraints, trade-offs, and decision-making.

These sessions helped students dive deep into the academic topics related to maritime studies, engineering, and more setting them up for the afternoon’s hands-on competition.

The theme for this year’s race was “Chariots Afloat”, in honor of the Paris 2024 Olympics and as a fun nod to the iconic movie Chariots of Fire. Students arrived prepared, having carefully designed and built boats made solely of cardboard and duct tape. They also came up with creative boat names to fit the theme. Just as we had hoped, the students came to the event well-prepared and determined to persevere in the infamous Cardboard Boat Race.

Among the twelve participating high schools, 24 boats competed for the coveted Cardboard Trophy. The Morgan School had proudly displayed the trophy for the past two years hoping to bring it back home for the third year in a row. Although the competition was tight, and The Morgan School placed in two of the four heats, Daniel Hand High School broke their streak and brought home the Cardboard Trophy as the winners of the Championship Race! Daniel Hand High School’s Usain Boat set the record for the fastest completion time during the initial heats, and then took first in the Championship race as well. They will display the Cardboard Trophy until next year, when a plaque with their school and boat name will be affixed to the trophy, and then be passed along to the 2025 Champions!

Thank you to all our UConn ECE partners for your support in making this event a success year after year. Kicking off the school year with over 400 UConn ECE Students on our UConn Avery Point Campus is a true testament to the strength of our community and to the dedicated and passionate students we serve. Congratulations to all participating schools and teams!

Heat 1 Trophies

#1 The Narwheel – Bethel High School

#2 Fish N’ Chips – Ledyard High School

#3 ROB (Recycled Olympic [village] Bed) – Daniel Hand High School

Heat 2 Trophies

#1 Gold Medal Cruiser – The Morgan School

#2 Banana Keel – Ellington High School

#3 Seiugis – Bethel High School

Heat 3 Trophies

#1 The Floating Scotsman – Ellington High School

#2 LeBoat James – Manchester High School

#3 Steeple Chasers – East Granby High School

Heat 4 Trophies

#1 Usain Boat – Daniel Hand High School

#2 Socra-Seas (SS) – Bethel High School

#3 Poseidon’s Champion – The Morgan School

Championship Race Usain Boat – Daniel Hand High School

Best Visual Design Award Rowe v Wave – Daniel Hand High School

Best Boat Name Award Sorcra-Seas (SS) – Bethel High School

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award – Daniel Hand High School

People’s Choice Award Trident’s Point – University High School

Professional Development Workshops

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 15, 2024: Environmental Sciences at CAES

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

October 18, 2024: Chinese via Webex

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

October 23, 2024: Economics Workshop

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

October 29, 2024: SPSS Workshop with CIPWG

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

October 30, 2024: Physics Workshop and Planetarium Visit

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

November 1, 2024: Annual English Conference

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

Circulation for Brainstorming and Ideation
Circulation of Feedback
Circulation as a Rhetorical Device/Context
Interconnected Circulation: an Activity

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

Empowering Student Leaders: The Growth of the ECE Ambassador Prog

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

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

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

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

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

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

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

2024 UConn ECE French Immersion Day and Quiz Bowl

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

By Jessica Dunn

On November 14, 2024, the University of Connecticut’s Early College Experience (ECE) Program Office along with UConn ECE French Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Florence Marsal, hosted the annual French Immersion Day & Quiz Bowl on the UConn Storrs Campus. This year’s event had over 120 students attend representing nine different UConn ECE partner high schools across Connecticut. We welcomed students from Coventry High School, Daniel Hand High School, Glastonbury High School, Lewis S. Mills High School, New Fairfield High School, Wilton High School, Bristol Eastern High School, Jonathan Law High School, and Norwich Free Academy.

Students started the day in the Student Union Theatre where they heard from OECP Executive Director, Christopher Todd; the Literatures, Cultures, and Languages Department Head, Dr. Jennifer Terni; and the UConn ECE French Faculty Coordinator and host, Dr. Florence Marsal. Chris welcomed students and instructors to Storrs with a brief commentary on the intertwined histories of the United States and France, particularly the shared revolutionary ideals of the late 18th Century, and the significant cultural, political, and intellectual exchanges which have shaped their paths as modern democracies. Dr. Terni spoke about Technopole, the UConn dual degree in French and engineering that offers great opportunities to travel and internship in France, while Dr. Marsal individually welcomed each participating high school, and provided them with guidance on how the event would unfold. Students were encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to interact with the UConn French Teaching Assistants during the morning immersion sessions, to collaborate with their peers from across the state, and to bring their best to the afternoon’s Quiz Bowl competition.

It was evident students were excited to be at the event, and to share their passion for learning the French language. After the morning immersion sessions where students discussed a wide variety of topics, such as comedy, paintings, BookTubers, European travel, the Breton regional identity, and fairy tales, they mentally prepared themselves for the jeopardy-style Quiz Bowl Competition in the afternoon. To accommodate the higher number of teams who entered the competition than in years past, Dr. Marsal shifted the format of the competition. Instead of single elimination rounds, each team competed a minimum of two times this year. The teams who achieved the highest number of correct answers advanced to the next round.

This format allowed all teams to be on stage and in the spotlight at least twice, which was a great improvement from years past, but it did create very close competition! After the first rounds, five teams were tied for the most correct answers and one team with over double that number of correct answers. Norwich Free Academy was deemed the Champion with the most correct answers after the first rounds. The competition then continued with single representatives from each of the five high schools coming to center stage to battle for second and third place.

Teams were eliminated one by one as rounds progressed, leaving Bristol Eastern High School and Glastonbury High School battling for their positions. In the last minutes of the competition, Bristol Eastern came out on top, taking home 2nd place and Glastonbury High School took home 3rd place.

Seeds of Success: Nuturing students’ potential through UConn PCS

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

By Abigail Piotrowicz, UConn Pre-College Summer Program Assistant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2024 Teacher of the Year

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

Congratulations to the following UConn ECE Instructors were were selected as their district’s teacher of the year.

William Allik Lyme-Old Lyme High School
Matthew DeBacco Rocky Hill High School
Jennifer Ewart Thomaston High School
Gretchen Hess* Putnam High School
Robert Jendrewski Parish Hill High School
Rachel Riendeau* Windham Technical High School
Abigail Walston The Morgan School

*Indicates CT Teacher of the Year Semifinalist

Student Perspectives: Focus on American Studies and English

Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

By Carissa Rutkauskas

AMST 1201: Introduction to American Studies

What is an American? A multi-disciplinary inquiry into the diversity of American societies and cultures.

Aleina from Granby Memorial High School

My decision to take ECE American Studies was one of the best decisions I ever made since it introduced me to the style of college level courses, a factor that helps me feel more relaxed about college. Further, taking this course helped me improve my paper writing skills while learning American History. Namely, this course made me open my eyes, and realize that American History is nuanced, with several decisions that seemed beneficial initially, but eventually failed to achieve the initial goal.

Dylan from Rockville High School

I participated in ECE American Studies this past year and found it to be not only developmental to myself as a student, but fun as well! We were taught straightforward concepts and information, but the way we were able to express this information creatively was the fun part. For example, we had to make a 15-minute long documentary about whether or not the founding fathers ideals were held up in society today. So, me and my friends made a video, and the concept was that the founding fathers had been revived and they were interviewing people to work in the government with them, so these people being interviewed gave examples of how their ideals were held up today to try and get the job. Being able to do projects creatively like that with friends while learning in the process led to my success and the fun I had doing this ECE course.

Fabio from John F. Kennedy High School

Attending UConn has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Although the coursework was sometimes challenging, my hard work and determination led to successful completion. This opportunity provided me with valuable college experience, which was essential for me as a European immigrant, given the significant differences in how college operates here compared to Europe. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

ENGL 1007: Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition

College composition through multiple forms of literacy, including rhetorical, digital, and information literacies necessary for twenty-first-century contexts. The development of creatively intellectual inquiries through sustained engagement with texts, ideas, and problems. Emphasis on transfer of writing and rhetorical skills to academic and daily life. ENGL 1007 includes a built-in one-credit studio component.

Jayden from Berlin High School

Over the course of this school year in a UConn writing course, I have learned an immense amount of information on how to perfect my writing craft. From tone and diction, to critical thinking, I have improved in every aspect of my writing; thus, my confidence has skyrocketed over the course of the year.

Ian from Daniel Hand High School

This course treated me like a college student unlike any other AP class. I was able to truly get a feel for what college coursework was like and learned more about myself and my writing. I’ll use what I learned this year to continue my education and athletics at the University of Missouri.

Andrew from Seymour High School

It was a great class that informed me more on how we need empathy for those who are struggling around us. The humans in education project was a success and taught me that those who are struggling with food need help from the community.

2024-25 By the Numbers

Posted on January 2, 2025October 23, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

19,886 students enrolled in UConn courses through UConn ECE

1,761 UConn ECE course sections offered throughout Connecticut

1,188 UConn ECE Instructors teaching throughout Connecticut

193 Connecticut High Schools participating

Welcome!

Woodhouse Academy
ACES at Chase
Lakeview High School

Welcome Back!

Vinal Technical High School
Wilbur Cross High School
Eli Whitney Technical High School
Weaver High School
Bassick High School
Darien High School

Highest Number of Students Enrolled in UConn Courses:

443 Glastonbury High School
431 Edwin O. Smith High School
366 Conard High School
356 Trumbull High School
355 Ridgefield High School
354 Staples High School
346 Southington High School
342 Manchester High School
339 Norwich Free Academy
309 Hall High School

Percent Enrollment Increase From 2024-2025:

560% Classical Magnet School
500% Grove School
268% Pomperaug Regional High School
214% Watertown High School
180% Wilby High School
123% Shepaug Valley School
122% Newtown High School
116.95% Amity Regional High School
116.67% Wheeler High School
115.79% Fairfield Ludlowe High School

Largest Percentage of High School taking UConn courses:

54.95% Academy of Science and Innovation
50.36% Marine Science Magnet High School
42.67% Edwin O. Smith High School
34.19% Xavier High School
32.35% Waterbury Career Academy
32.10% Franklin Academy
32.08% Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy
30.48% Achievement First Amistad High School
30.44% Avon High School
30.30% University High School of Science and Engineering

Exploring the Depths

Posted on January 2, 2025October 6, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

UConn ECE Marine Science Symposium Showcases Student Research

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.

Exploring the Depths

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Carissa Rutkauskas

UConn
ECE Marine Science
Symposium
Showcases Student
Research

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.