ECSU graduate students receive degrees

Eastern Connecticut State University’s 124th Commencement took place at the XL Center in Hartford on May 13. In all, 65 graduate students and 1,162 undergraduate students earned their degrees. The following local students graduated:

Rina McGinley received a Master of Science degree in elementary education. McGinley is a resident of Killingworth.

George Becker received a Master of Science degree in science education. Becker is a resident of Deep River.

Kerry Lynch received a Master of Science degree in secondary education. Lynch is a resident of East Hampton.

Russo graduates from Sacred Heart

Kelsey Russo, of Middletown, received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, graduating summa cum laude and earning the Silver Medal of Excellence at Sacred Heart University’s annual commencement in May 2014.

Local students graudate from WCSU

The following local students have fulfilled the requirements of their respective departments in order to complete their bachelor’s degrees at Western Connecticut State University. The graduation ceremony was held May 11.

Andrew Brooks of Clinton

Austin Charles of Middletown

Robert Coyne of Clinton

Greg Dash of East Hampton

Beata Grzymala-Puka of Cromwell

Hannah Haggerty of Deep River

Carly Neil of Westbrook

Melanie Rogers of Rockfall

Tyler Wilcox of Higganum

Local students graudate from ECSU

Eastern Connecticut State University’s 124th Commencement took place at the XL Center in Hartford on May 13. In all, 1,162 undergraduates and 65 graduate students earned their degrees.

Sarah Albanese of East Haddam, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Jaye Bennett of East Haddam, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems.

Brittany Bernier of Clinton, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.

Kelsea Burkhardt of Old Saybrook, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Timothy Callahan of Portland, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

Samantha Camolli of Higganum, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.

Olivia Carney of Chester, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Alixandra Carr of Old Saybrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Danielle Cleaver of East Hampton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Mallory Daley of Old Saybrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Marketing/Communications (Individualized).

Nicholas Denegre of Centerbrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Earth Science.

Brian Denette of East Haddam, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

James Diamond of Clinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Matthew Domenichini of East Haddam, graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Biochemistry.

Brittany Doran of East Hampton, graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Accounting.

Jack Duggan of Essex, graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Business Administration.

Andrew Fetter of Middletown, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Earth Science.

Nicki Flynn of Clinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.

Matthew Fortier of Moodus, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Kathleen France of Portland, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and History/American Studies.

Courtney Gagne of Clinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology.

Brittany Garofola of East Haddam, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Cora Gingras of East Hampton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Kaligh Hargraves of Moodus, graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Business Administration.

Wyatt Haynosch of Higganum, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

Jennifer Hill of Clinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Anthony Jefferson of Middletown, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts.

Krystina Johnson of Killingworth, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Kayla Kaan of East Haddam, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology.

Mary Catherine Karcich of Clinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Emma Kuehnle of Durham, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Taylor Lauretti of Middlefield, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy (Individualized).

Rachel Leibiger of Durham, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Social Science.

Christopher Lorentson of East Haddam, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Earth Science.

Emily Lund of Moodus, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.

Courtney MacNeill of Old Saybrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Hannah Malcolm of Middlefield, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.

Lindsey Martel of Old Saybrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.

Jessica Michalowski of Middlefield, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts.

Samantha Mims of East Haddam, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts.

Mykal Navin of Moodus, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

James Nixon of Killingworth, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Sarah Nolan of Portland, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Elizabeth Palmieri of Old Saybrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Ashley Pine of Cromwell, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

Zachary Powers of Clinton, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Michael Radlbeck of Westbrook, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.

Romal Rankins of Middletown, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Alyssa Reilly of Westbrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts.

Elizabeth Roberto of Deep River, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Leisure Management.

Haley Russenberger of East Hampton, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Meagan Salisbury of East Haddam, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and Sociology.

Michael Santostefano of Middletown, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Michael Sbona of Durham, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Leisure Management.

Janelle Schmittberger of East Haddam, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Timothy Seidl of East Hampton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Kelly Stalsburg of Westbrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Arts.

John Stephenson of Cromwell, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Emily Stevenson of Portland, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication.

Dorji Tamang of Old Saybrook, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.

Stephen Taylor of Higganum, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Austin Terreri of Old Saybrook, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Jeff Tiedemann of Durham, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Leisure Management.

Patrick Wendt of Clinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Earth Science..

Claire Williamson of Middletown, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Nicole Woodcock of Cromwell, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Elementary Education.

Laskowski, Lee graduate from Pomfret School

With faculty, students, family and friends looking on, the 105 members of the class of 2014 were honored on May 25 at Pomfret School’s 120th Commencement. Addressing the students was Dr. James Rothman, a 2013 recipient of the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. Nora Lee of Old Saybrook was among the 105 graduates who received a diploma. Gage Laskowski of East Haddam also graduated and received a science award.

Area residents named to dean’s list

Madison Reinhard, of East Hampton, Emmery Bates, of Haddam, and Paige Wache, of Portland, have been named to the dean’s list for the 2014 spring semester at the University of New England. Dean’s List students have attained a grade point average of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester.

Local students graduate from Westover

Westover graduated 54 members of the Class of 2014 this spring. Included among the graduates were Britney Elizabeth Dumas and Emily Morgan Potts, both of Killingworth.

ECSU part-time students named dean’s list

Connecticut State University recently released its spring 2014 semester dean’s list.

Part-time student Matthew Fortier of Moodus, was named to the dean’s list. Fortier’s major is business administration.

Part-time student Nadine Lisowicz of Moodus, was named to the dean’s list. Lisowicz’s major is psychology.

Sacred Heart Academy AP Scholars recognized

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams.

The following local students from the Sacred Heart Academy Classes of 2014 and 2015 have been recognized by the AP Program for their outstanding achievement on the 2014 AP exams.

Ashley Garcia, of Deep River, was named an AP Scholar. This honor is granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

Lauren Davis of Middlefield and Nneoma Obi of Middletown were named AP Scholars with Honor. This is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

Gemma volunteers in Ecuador

Jeannine Gemma, of East Hampton, volunteered with United to Benefit Ecuadorean Children International during the summer of 2014 and documented her experience on her blog, “Hola Ecuador: A Social Work Perspective to Volunteering in Ecuador.” Gemma’s major is social work at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic.

Along with other volunteers, she put her Spanish skills to the test by teaching and mentoring young children who accompany their parents to work in the Quito marketplaces and don’t receive a formal education.

“We set up tents and mats on a sidewalk next to the market,” she said. “When the kids arrived they were excited to see us and ready to do activities like Legos, puzzles and reading books.”

She quickly noticed the drastic differences between the lives of the children she worked with and many U.S. children.

In addition to her volunteer work, she took Spanish classes, lived with a local host family and traveled around Ecuador. She called the experience a stepping stone to her future social work career.

Schroeder honored by the University of Hartford

Larissa B. Schroeder, of Clinton, was honored during the University of Hartford’s annual faculty/staff kickoff celebration on Aug. 27. Schroeder, an assistant professor of mathematics in the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, received an award for Innovations in Teaching and Learning. The awards were created to recognize the remarkable teaching that sets the University of Hartford apart from other institutions, the school said in a release.

Schroeder and four other mathematics professors collectively received an award for “flipping the classroom” for Caluculus 1. In these flipped classrooms, students spend time out of class acquiring basic knowledge of the course material, so that class time can be devoted to further exploring the concepts by watching videos and doing group problem-solving activities.

In contrast to a traditional lecture, where students are passive recipients of knowledge, students are actively engaged in small groups discussing mathematics and critiquing each other’s ideas.

Metzger graduates from Emory University

Julia Metzger of Essex received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, on Aug. 8.

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate experience, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities.

Palnitkar honored for academic achievement

Bowdoin College held its annual Sarah and James Bowdoin Day ceremony Oct. 31 to honor those undergraduates who distinguish themselves by excellence in scholarship.

Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar Tara Palnitkar, of Cromwell, is a member of the Bowdoin College Class of 2016. Palnitkar is earning a major in mathematics and a minor in physics.

Those students who are designated Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholars are in the top (highest GPA) 20 percent of each class for the previous academic year. In addition, those scholars who earned a GPA of 4.0 are designated Sarah and James Bowdoin Book Award winners.