Newsflash
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U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd District) was the keynote speaker for Eastern’s 117th Commencement; 1,053 undergraduate and 114 master’s degrees were conferred on May 20.
Rep. DeLauro was first elected to Congress from Connecticut’s 3rd District in 1990 and is currently serving her ninth term. She sits on the influential House Appropriations and Budget Committee and also serves as chairwoman of the Agriculture-FDA Appropriations Subcommittee and as a member of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education and Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittees.
“Congresswoman DeLauro is one of the most distinguished public servants of our time,” said Eastern President Elsa Nuñez. “Her brilliant career of advocacy for quality health care, affordable education and equal pay for women provides moral guidance for us all. Congresswoman DeLauro will serve as an inspiration for all of our students, faculty and staff at Eastern, and the families and friends of our graduates.”
Eastern Professors Win Prestigious CSUS Research and Teaching Awards
Elizabeth Cowles, associate professor of biology, center, and Eric Martin, associate professor of management in the Department of Business, second from right, have been named recipients of Connecticut State University’s Trustees Teaching Award and Trustees Research Award, respectively. Eight outstanding faculty throughout the System were acknowledged for their research and teaching.
Martin was recognized for his work in management issues in international development assistance and the evolution of inter-organizational relationships of media development and deployment, as well as privatization of state-owned enterprises, and refugee return.
Cowles was recognized for being an educator able to integrate biology with her knowledge of physical sciences and society to engage and motivate students, a thoughtful implementer of technologies in teaching and learning and an inspiring force for students to engage in independent research.
Two Eastern Students Win Barnard Scholar Awards
Adam Lachendro ‘07 of Enfield and Carter Anne Lennon ’07 of Manchester, were among the 12 scholars recognized on April 25 at this year’s annual Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award Banquet held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Joseph J. Grano, Jr., chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings LLC, was the keynote speaker for the event. He told the gathered crowd that he attributed his success to hard work, a positive attitude, and a genuine caring for people. “In the end, our children are our legacy.”
The Barnard award is named for the first U.S. commissioner of education, Henry Barnard, a distinguished Connecticut educator who was the state’s first superintendent of schools and principal of what later became Central Connecticut State University.
Lachendro is a senior health and physical education major and has a 3.83 GPA. In 2004, he traveled to New Orleans to work as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, building houses for those less fortunate.
Lachendro has been an assistant coach in both soccer and basketball for Enfield youth, was junior coordinator for the Teen Center at St. Bernard’s Church, and volunteered at the Enfield Food Shelf and Enfield Soup Kitchen. He also has volunteered at the Windham Elementary School’s After School Program and at the 2005 and 2006 Windham Special Olympics.
Lennon is a psychology major and has a 3.95 GPA. Completing her studies in only three years, Lennon has been president, vice president and secretary, as well as project manager of “ECSU Hits the Streets” for the American Humanics Student Association; president of the Psi Chi psychology honor society; public relations head for the Honor Club; editor-in-chief and sports editor for the yearbook; team leader for the Omicron Delta Kappa Student Leadership Development Program; and treasurer of the Psychology Club. She has also been a teacher’s assistant, a research assistant and a peer mentor. For the past four years, Lennon has helped the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department create and distribute food baskets for those in need and has assisted in repairing homes through the Christmas in April program.
“Adam and Carter represent the very best in our students at Eastern,” said Eastern President Elsa Nuñez. “They are bright, conscientious students who place a high value on scholarship and service to community. They have distinguished themselves by maintaining superb academic records in the classroom and by displaying exemplary leadership roles in helping others. We could not be more proud.”
Eastern Students Win National Marketing Awards
Congratulations to the Eastern chapter of the American Marketing Association, which won two prestigious awards at the 29th Annual American Marketing Association’s International Collegiate Conference recently in New Orleans.
Building on the previous year’s success, Eastern students once again won an award for Outstanding Community Service. This year, Eastern students also captured an award for Outstanding Chapter Planning. With more than 120 universities competing for the planning award, Eastern students did the best job in demonstrating their ability to enthusiastically plan and execute professional development activities and community services in collaboration with other organizations and clubs, and fundraising activities. “It is a great pleasure to work with these talented marketing students,” said Katalin Eibel-Spanyi, associate professor of business and the group’s faculty advisor. “They contributed over 623 hours of community service. They are dedicated and highly professional. They built a fabulous team and it is exciting, stimulating and fun working with them. I am very proud of each and every one of them.”
Students Shine at Research and Exhibition Conference
More than 70 students presented cutting-edge research on April 21 in areas ranging from earth science to graphic design during the Eighth Annual Student Research and Exhibition Conference, hosted by the School of Arts and Sciences. The conference showcased creative endeavors in video, narrative, poetry, sculpture, painting and drawing. Several student expositions presented findings from research done in the areas of biology, biochemistry and environmental earth science.
Topics included “The Relationship between Roommate Compatibility and Depression among College Students,” “Bias in the Media,” and “Happiness as a Function of Materialism.” Other topics explored historic and social events and their impact on women, children, education and politics.
Exhibits and demonstrations took place throughout Alvin B. Wood Support Service Center and Eastern’s J. Eugene Smith Library. Eastern President Elsa Nuñez and Arts and Sciences Dean Carmen Cid greeted the students. Imna Arroyo, professor of visual arts at Eastern and the 2006 ECSU Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year, delivered the keynote address.
Exceptional Work Demonstrated at Excellence Expo
More than 200 students from the Business Administration, Communication, Economics, Education, and Health and Physical Education Departments presented their research at the School of Education and Professional Studies’ Seventh Annual Excellence Expo on April 25.
Students presented on a variety of topics such as early childhood education, advertising campaigns,economics, fitness, business marketing, and health.
The expo began with a gallery photography exhibit in the Paul E. Johnson Community Conference Room of the J. Eugene Smith Library. The popular poster exhibition took place in the main lobby of the Alvin B. Wood Support Services Center. Posters were judged on originality, clarity, insight, and overall presentation. PowerPoint presentations in Webb Hall were judged on their content, presentation, and overall presentation. And WECS-FM Radio (90.1) broadcast the production “All Ears Radio Theatre” LIVE!
Electronic Music Electrifies Audience
From mid-April until May 6, Eastern’s campus came alive with a special brand of music featuring electronic sounds mixed with acoustic instruments like the cello and saxophone, videos of rainforests, performers on turntables, and even an accordion. Performing Arts Professor Anthony Cornicello,(below right), brought the Electronic Music Festival to Eastern, which also showcased Eastern’s own improvisational electronic group, EEE! (Eastern Electronic Ensemble).
EEE! was formed in 2002 as a performance-oriented extension of the electronic music labs at Eastern. EEE creates music with nontraditional instruments by making use of Kaoss Pads and laptop computers, just to name a few. Their performances have been well-received and even have been featured on the stage at Hartford’s RealArtWays, a popular venue for all forms of art.
Honor’s Program Relaxes
Members of Eastern’s Honor’s program concluded their activities every year with a picnic and barbeque at English Professor Jim Lacy’s house. This year, they got a special treat. Professors Emil Pocock (History), Charles Booth (Biology), Phillip Elliott (Biology), Carmen Cid (Dean, Arts and Sciences), and Jim Lacy (English), served as chefs, cooking up delicious hamburgers and hotdogs for the students. Throughout the year, this group of talented and motivated students takes trips to cultural events and conducts fund-raisers for charitable events.
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