Andrej Cavarkapa ’09 was a passionate, caring, and devoted son, friend, and educator. A science teacher at RHAM High School where he was known simply as “Mr. C.”, his love for science was infectious. He was able to make difficult subjects like physics and chemistry fun and meaningful to his students.
The Andrej 5K Trail Run at Mansfield Hollow State Park was started in 2018 to help raise money for the Andrej Cavarkapa Memorial Scholarship. His family and friends wanted to ensure that Andrej’s legacy of helping students to thrive continues for years to come. This endowed scholarship created in his memory will be given annually to a RHAM High School graduate with financial need who is majoring in Biology or Biochemistry at Eastern. All are welcome to come walk or run the trails.
Eastern has held this popular annual tournament at beautiful Wethersfield CC the past three falls (2020-2022) after 14 years at Lake of Isles (2006 – 2019). This has been a wonderful event as Eastern has generated $1,250,000 since 2006. The proceeds from this tournament support scholarships for students with financial need as well as the Eastern Annual Fund and intercollegiate athletic program.
Special kudos to Chartwells for its generous leadership level sponsorship support over the years. Other key sponsors who have been consistently supporting this event during the past decade include: Barnes & Noble, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), Kell-Strom Tool, KeyBank, Mohegan Sun, Presidio, TRC Solutions, WalMart and Windham Pepsi.
Since 2012 Eastern has worked closely with Kathy Regan-Pyne '79, a past Distinguished Alumni award recipient and a member of the Mohegan Tribal Council, on an annual Mohegan Sun Sky Box cocktail reception, dinner and performance as a special scholarship fundraiser. Titan Energy has served as the title sponsor of the Music to Our Ears event since its inception in 2012.
The private 125-seat Sky Box has been packed to capacity for the following concerts: June 2012 - Neil Diamond; November 2013 - Keith Urban; July 2014 - Justin Timberlake; October 2016 - Carrie Underwood; November 2017 - Lady Gaga; March 2019 - Kelly Clarkson; and November 2022 - Luke Combs. These fabulous concerts support the John F. Kearney, Jr. '75 Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the Mohegan Tribe Scholarship.
