ECE

Rights and Responsibilities in History

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Connecticut History Day Scholars Descend on Storrs

 

The University of Connecticut and the Office of Early College Programs is proud to support Connecticut History Day (CHD), an enriching program that empowers students to explore the past through in-depth research and critical thinking. This year’s theme, “Rights & Responsibilities in History”, resonates deeply with UConn’s mission to cultivate an informed, engaged citizenry committed to upholding democratic values. By encouraging students to investigate the historical struggles for rights and the responsibilities that accompany them, UConn and Connecticut History Day together help nurture the next generation of civic-minded leaders ready to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.

 

On Saturday, March 29th, UConn Storrs hosted 25 schools comprised of 29 educators and 468 students for the Mansfield Regional Connecticut History Day Contest. In total, 4,106 students participated in Connecticut History Day contests this year, with the State Contest held at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) on Saturday, May 3rd.

 

Cyndee McManaman, the Mansfield Regional Coordinator, wrote: “While we have quite the growing library of resources on the CHD website, the workshops are a powerful tool to support our educators and students. It’s so exciting for me to travel to different classrooms and work with our History Day participants! Seeing history through the eyes of our students, and understanding their passion for what they’ve learned, is inspiring!”

 

Several Mansfield Region students received awards or recognition at the National History Day Contest held at the University of
Maryland-College Park June 9-13, 2025.

 

MEDALS
Seniors Amanda Zadnik and Simonne Thibeault (E.O. Smith High School) finished third in Senior Group Exhibit, “Rewarded by Death: How Operation Columba Exemplifies the Rights and Responsibilities of Civilians in Wartime”

 

SPECIAL PRIZES
Julianne Pashe and Katie Smith (Ellington Middle School) received the World War II History Prize for their Junior Group Exhibit “Civilian Public Service Camps: The Compromise between Personal Rights and National Responsibility”

 

Vivaan Pandey and Vyom Kadegaonkar (Timothy Edwards Middle School) received the George Washington Leadership in History Award for their Junior Group Documentary, “Shays’ Rebellion: The Uprising that Shaped a Nation”

 

AWARDS
Bhaavni Kirshna (South Windsor High School) was awarded the Outstanding CT Award (Senior Division), finishing 7th place overall with her Senior Individual Performance “Noor Inayat Khan: A Responsibility to Resist”

 

FINALISTS
Lillian Magnoli (Timothy Edwards Middle School) 4th place Junior Paper, “Don’t Call Her a Business Woman; Call Her a Woman in Business; Beatrice Fox Auerbach’s Pioneering View of Rights and Responsibilities in History”

 

Emma Hennessey, Emma O’Brien and Lily Flynn (Timothy Edwards Middle School) 10th place Junior Group Performance, “The Abolitionist Who Never Stopped Writing: The Liberator’s Fight for Anti-Slavery”

 

Aarna Jaggi (Timothy Edwards Middle School) 10th place Junior Individual Website, “A Line in the Sand, A River of Blood: The Partition that Stole Millions of Rights”

 

Salma Hassan and Sohyla Hassan (Madina Academy) 9th Place Junior Group Website, “Luminous Lives, Remarkable Legacy: The Radium Girls’ Fight for Workplace Rights and Employer Responsibilities”

 

Salma Mahmoud, Sidra Bedir, Tasneem Zoghol and Zainah Khaliq (Madina Academy) 9th place Senior Group Performance “Nellie Bly, Asylum Spy: Exposing the Abuse of Patient Rights and Neglect of Medical Responsibilities”

 

Faqiha Faheem, Noora Mahmoud and Sarah Elsherbini (Madina Academy) 9th place Senior Group Website “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: From Tragedy to Reform”

 

HONORABLE MENTION (Top 20)
Kalyani Tihaiya and Mia Chen (E. O. Smith High School) Senior Group Performance “From California’s Campuses to Communities: Asian Student Activists’ Fight for Inclusivity”

 

Jacob Brown (Rockville High School) Senior Individual
Exhibit “Sheff v. O’Neill: Equal Education in Connecticut”

 

Noor Hassan (Madina Academy) Senior Individual Website “Rights Denied, Responsibilities Betrayed: The Veiled Injustice of the Untreated Syphilis Study”

 

It is important to remember that the National History Day is not just a day, but an experience. Once students met with judges, they enjoyed a myriad of activities ranging from button trading to an Ice Cream Social and a day spent in Washington D.C. where the group met Senators Blumenthal and Murphy and toured the Capitol. Avner Wilson-Spiro from Wilton High School was one of only ten students invited to participate in the prestigious writers workshop at the White House. Jacob Brown from Rockville High School represented CT with his exhibit on Sheff v. O’Neill at the National Museum of American History as part of a daylong display of 47 History Day projects.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

UConn Italian Multimedia Competition

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By Jessica Dunn

May 2025

 

The 2025 UConn Early College Experience Italian Multimedia Competition brought Italian language learning to life through creativity, culture, and connection. Now in its second year, the contest—led by UConn ECE Italian Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Tina Chiappetta Miller—invited students to explore the theme “Il linguaggio…della natura” (The Language of… Nature) through original multimedia projects combining images, words, and sound.

 

More than just a language showcase, the competition encouraged students to think artistically and globally. Nearly 30 diverse and imaginative entries were submitted, ranging from poetic video essays to narrated animations and soundscapes inspired by the natural world.

 

For the second consecutive year, the judging panel was composed of 9th-grade students from Florence’s Istituto Agrario (Agricultural Institute). With thoughtfulness and care, they evaluated the submissions and selected the winners. Their final selections were shared in a special video presentation by jury representatives Lapo, Ettore, and Lorenzo, adding a personal and international dimension to the event.

 

The competition reflects the mission of UConn Italian and UConn ECE—to make language learning meaningful, immersive, and creative. By blending digital tools with cultural expression, students not only practiced Italian but brought it to life in new and powerful ways.

 

As this year’s entries show, Italian is more than a subject—it’s a living, expressive language. Through “Il linguaggio…della natura,” students gave voice to both language and nature, reminding us of the beauty that emerges when the two meet. Congratulations to all participants and winners!  Italian Multimedia Competition

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

UConn ECE MELD

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By Dr. Michael Kienzler, Assistant Professor UConn Chemistry

 

Dr. Fatma Selampinar UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for Chemistry, Associate Professor in-Residence UConn Chemistry

 

UC MELD

May 2025

 

More than 240 students from 12 high schools—Rocky Hill High School, O.H. Platt High School, Enfield High School, Berlin High School, The Woodstock Academy, University High School of Science and Engineering, Jonathan Law High School, Joseph A. Foran High School, Daniel Hand High School, Bristol Eastern High School, Academy of Information Technology & Engineering, and Lewis S. Mills High School—across Connecticut gathered at the University of Connecticut’s Chemistry Building for the annual ECE Chemistry Lab Day. Held over two sessions on May 20 and May 22, 2025, the event provided students with immersive, hands-on laboratory experiences that offered exposure to UConn lab environments and research practices.

 

The MELD (May ECE Lab Day) event was coordinated by the UConn Early College Experience Program Office and Dr. Fatma Selampinar, Professor in Residence and UConn ECE Chemistry Faculty Coordinator. Science activities were hosted by Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Kienzler. Following Dr. Kienzler’s presentation, students transitioned to six undergraduate teaching laboratories, where they conducted a series of experiments designed by Dr. Kienzler. These sessions were supervised by graduate students, providing participants with hands-on experience in a collegiate laboratory setting. This collaborative effort offered high school students an immersive introduction to advanced chemical research and methodologies, fostering early engagement with the scientific community at UConn. Students synthesized three different derivatives of the dye azobenzene, a compound known for its photoswitching properties—changing structure when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. The students then investigated the properties of the azobenzene they made using ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy and thin-layer chromatography. These experiments mirror ongoing research going on in Dr. Kienzler’s lab.

 

Beyond the laboratory work, participants engaged with UConn’s advanced scientific equipment. Dr. Selampinar coordinated sessions introducing students to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, while graduate students provided insights into mass spectrometry techniques. These experiences aim to familiarize students with tools and methodologies prevalent in modern chemical research. The UConn ECE Chemistry Lab Day not only enriches students’ understanding of chemistry but also fosters connections between high school students and UConn faculty and graduate students. Such initiatives underscore the UConn ECE and Chemistry Department’s commitment to bridging secondary education with higher learning, inspiring the next generation of scientists.

UConn ECE Chinese Talent Show

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By Dr. George Chunsheng Yang | Photos by Gordon Daigle and Mike Illuzzi

 

March 14, 2025

 

On March 14, 2025, UConn ECE, in collaboration with UConn’s Language, Cultures, and Literature (LCL) Chinese program, hosted a Chinese Talent Show for both UConn ECE Chinese high school students and UConn Chinese students. Hosted at the UConn Student Union Theater, the event featured more than 20 student-led performances, and drew an audience of more than 150 students, instructors, and community members, all eager to witness the creativity and dedication of high school and college Chinese learners.

 

The event showcased a wide variety of performances, including solo and group singing, traditional and modern dance, Chinese poem recitations, and engaging sanju ban (a comic dialogue style popular in Chinese storytelling). Between the acts, UConn ECE Chinese instructors hosted interactive mini-games and cultural trivia sessions, keeping the audience entertained and engaged throughout the event.

 

At the end of the event, three standout performances were honored with special awards. The Best Language Expression Award went to Amity High School for their flawless Mandarin poem recitation. The Best Performance Award went to Norwich Free Academy for their powerful Taiji dance. The most Popular Award went to Amity High School for their popularity among the audience.

 

The event was proudly sponsored by UConn ECE Office and UConn Chinese Program. The Talent Show reflects a broader community-wide initiative to foster cultural understanding, confidence in Chinese communication, and global competence through language education.

High School Engagement

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By Jessica Dunn / Image by Carissa Rutkauskas

 

In the winter 2024–2025 edition of our magazine, we introduced a map showcasing the Connecticut high schools that participated in UConn ECE student events during the Fall semester. Since then, the map has been expanded to capture the full scope of the 2024–2025 academic year—including all student events held throughout the Spring semester.

 

This updated version reveals an even broader level of engagement, with many additional high schools now represented. The growth in participation highlights the increasing enthusiasm among schools across the state to connect with UConn ECE student enrichment opportunities with a deep investment and emphasis on access for all students. From large urban districts to small rural communities, the updated map tells a compelling story of how academic curiosity and opportunity continue to spread.

We’re proud to see such strong involvement from our partner schools and applaud the efforts of instructors, students, and UConn ECE Faculty Coordinators who make these valuable learning opportunities possible. We look forward to continuing this momentum and encourage all high schools to take advantage of the valuable opportunities available to students across various disciplines.

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.

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.

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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!

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