Author: Yvonne Page

CT State Community College’s 12 campuses will hold “Enroll in a Day” for new and continuing students on Saturday, November 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can meet with an advisor, finalize their schedules, and register for classes at one of CT State’s 12 locations listed.  

Bridgeport—CT State Housatonic, 900 Lafayette Boulevard 

Danielson—CT State Quinebaug Valley, 742 Upper Maple Street 

Enfield—CT State Asnuntuck, 170 Elm Street 

Farmington—CT State Tunxis, 271 Scott Swamp Road 

Hartford—CT State Capital, 950 Main Street 

Manchester—CT State Manchester, Great Path 

Middletown—CT State Middlesex, 100 Training Hill Road 

New Haven—CT State Gateway, 20 Church Street 

Norwalk—CT State Norwalk, 188 Richards 

Norwich—CT State Three Rivers, 574 New London Turnpike 

Waterbury—CT State Naugatuck Valley, 750 Chase Parkway 

Winsted—CT State Northwestern, Park Place 

These Saturday hours offer convenience for those prospective and current students who may wish to meet with student support staff in person, but who are unable to connect during regular Monday through Friday business hours. For more on reserving a spot in advance and details on what to bring, visit www.ctstate.edu/enroll.  

Representatives from the admissions, registration, financial aid, cashier and advising offices will be on-hand that day to work with students. Attendees can also learn more about course placement and how best to meet the prerequisites needed to take a class, as well as learn more about paying for college. In some locations, the campus bookstores may be open for students to buy textbooks and other supplies.  

Students intending to apply to CT State Community College for the first time should start by applying online. Applications for Spring 2024 semester can be found at www.ctstate.edu/apply. Spring semester credit classes begin January 19. 

Free college through PACT: Pledge to Advance Connecticut is still available to graduates of Connecticut’s high schools and first-time college students. Accessing PACT and any financial aid starts with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. PACT is not based on household income; all students who plan on attending full- or part-time should complete the FAFSA so they can access PACT, even if they do not think they will qualify for need-based aid. PACT funding is available on a rolling basis; applicants can see if they may qualify at www.ctstate.edu/pact.  

About CT State  

With the merger of the 12 Connecticut community colleges on July 1, CT State Community College is now the largest community college in New England. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus: Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington).

Quinebaug Valley Community College (soon to be known as Connecticut State Community College Quinebaug Valley) will celebrate the re-opening of its permanent location at 729 Main Street in Willimantic on May 15 from 1- 3 p.m. with a Ribbon Cutting event. Through a generous philanthropic donation by the Townsend family, the two-floor, 21,231 square-foot building containing 11 classrooms and 6 office spaces, underwent a major upgrade in the past 10 months. The expanded, fully renovated space will provide opportunities for students to pursue full degrees and certificate options in Willimantic. Among the fields of study anticipated will be:

• general education/ liberal studies
• business
• entrepreneurship
• practical nursing (anticipated in 2024-2025 pending approval from BOEN)
• human services
• English as a second language
• and several short term health and business based career options

Quinebaug Valley has had a presence in a number of locations in Willimantic since 1985. According to Karen Hynick, Chief Executive Officer, “This permanent location will be a game changer for the Willimantic community and surrounding towns, providing opportunities for students and their family members to earn a certificate or an associate degree in high wage, high demand fields without having to leave Willimantic.” Summer office hours will be 12-5 p.m., Monday -Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays. Fall classes begin August 29 and will be available at Willimantic from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday with students having the option to seek face-to-face academic and student support services on Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

A total of 187 students from 55 CT towns received the recognition.  

DANIELSON—Quinebaug Valley Community College has announced the names of those students who qualified for the Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester. Students enrolled in a certificate or degree program who have earned a semester grade point average of 3.4 or higher and have successfully completed 12 or more credits, or have earned 12 credits cumulatively over multiple semesters, are eligible for this academic honor.   

The college offers more than 50 associate degrees and certificates, from business, early childhood education and cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing and allied health programs. 

Quinebaug is among 12 community colleges in Connecticut merging July 1, 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. Other locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington). Find out more at www.ctstate.edu/becoming. 

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BELOW: QUINEBAUG VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS ON THE DEAN’S LIST FOR FALL 2022 SEMESTER, LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY TOWN.  

(Students reside in Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Central Village, Columbia, Danielson, Dayville, East Killingly, Eastford, Griswold, Hampton, Hartford, Jewett City, Killingly, Lebanon, Mansfield Center, Marlborough, Middletown, Mooseup, North Grosvenordale, Plainfield, Pomfret Center, Putnam, Rogers, Sterling, Thompson, Uncasville, Voluntown, Waterbury, Wauregan, Willimantic, Windam, Woodstock & Woodstock Valley, as well as Massachusetts and Rhode Island towns.)              

Quinebaug Valley Community College Dean’s List, Fall 2022 Semester 

Ashford                        

• Caitlin Boyce              
• Autumn Mahoney                  
• Eco Manso – Rich                   
• Jesse Murray              

Brooklyn                      

• Benjamin Bellavance             
• Shelby Bradley           
• Alyssa Bradley            
• Roger Brown              
• Savannah Buisson                  
• Kaylin Caissie             
• Murphy Chace           
• Hannah Clark             
• Robert Dearing                      
• Colton Douglas                      
• Jennifer Greene                     
• Kelvin Grisales            
• Brooke Harrington                 
• Shealyn Harvey                      
• Denis Hickey              
• Sage Lamparelli                      
• Lui Maldonado                       
• Jeremiah Marion                   
• Hector Morales                      
• Ann Nurse                  
• Aaron Powell             
• Derrick Raboin           
• Ali Richard                  
• Noel Rodriguez                      
• Luis Rojas                   
• Stormy Sawallich                   
• Anwar Shakir              
• Edward Simpson                    
• Emma Turner             
• Kenneth Weatherspoon                    
• Emily Zmayefski                     

Canterbury                

• Emma Curtis              
• Jenna Davidson                      
• Sarah Farland             
• Emmalee Fritzsche                 
• Haley Gault                
• Skyla Lindell               

Central Village                         

• Shania Scharlack                    
• Madison Tatro           

Columbia                   

• Robert Kimmerling    

Danielson                    

• Maegan Borella                     
• Payton Cathell           
• Melissa Clark              
• Antoniy Dzyuba                     
• Dmitriy Dzyuba                      
• Lennon Giambattista             
• Tate Larrow                
• Kenna Lavallee                       
• Angel Lewis                
• Ethan Miller               
• Lisa Parsons               
• Julia Revellese            
• Patricia Schnatter                  
• Ryan Schnatter                      
• Heather Speer            
• Kathryn Strangman                
• Victoria Trudeau-Mungham              
• Kaitlin Whalen           
• Laylah Zea                              

Dayville                      

• Khamvongsouk Bandith                     
• Sabrina Berard                       
• Philip Davis                
• Tina Fitts                    
• Nicholas Hindle                      
• Chase LeClerc             
• Tatiana Lenskaya                   
• Krystal Maclure                      
• Colin Nadeau             
• Gianna Ormstead                  
• Olivia Pigeon              
• Heather Souza           
• Kelsey Tichenor                     

 East Killingly              

• Rachel Sanchas                      

 Eastford                       

• Lee Schiavetti             
• Yves Tercius               

Griswold                    

• Jessica Morrissette                

Hampton                     

• Yael Garcia                 
• Danielle Greene                     

Hartford                       

• Rachel Inzana             
• Javier Reyes               

Jewett City                   

• Guerthie Dunois-Pierre                         

Killingly                        

• Jessika Laroux            

Lebanon                     

• Benjamin Purvins                   

Mansfield Center                    

• Arielle Hernandez                  
• Gary Komery                 

Marlborough               

• Taryn Olin                  

Middletown               

• Alexander Marzullo               

Moosup                       

• Sarah Chamberland               
• Candace Ciotola                     
• Robert Perez-Torres              
• Kennedy Shippee                   
• Kylie Shippee             
• Jessica Williams                     

North Grosvenordale              

• Lacey Allard               
• Bryan Erickson           
• Rebecca Giles             
• Lindsey Houghton                     

Plainfield                     

• Izabella Barrett                      
• Carson Belisle            
• Kristin Hawkins                      
• Brittney Murphy                    
• Ryan Saros                 
• Timothy Sweet                       
• Ryan Weldy                
• Abigale Wilcox           

Pomfret Center                       

• Hannah Dean             
• Emma Hayden           
• Iryna Huling               
• Julia Scandalito                      
• Ramsey Tarabishy                  

Putnam                      

• Kensington Boyer                  
• Roger Brodeur           
• Jinni Chakkalakkal                  
• Kelly Chambers                      
• Ian Dakers                  
• Kerryann Frenier                    
• Hazel Glaude              
• Selah Hall                   
• Anna Ionkin                
• Ethan Key                   
• Brandon Lynch                       
• Katy Maryanov                      
• Haddijatou Mbye                   
• Hannah Prestas                      
• Evelin Rivera              
• Kenneth Ryan            
• Jonathan Surowaniec            
• Jacob Tatro                
• Alison Tourtellotte                 
• Hunter Vanasse                        

Rogers              

• Alyssa Gaudreau                    
• Alyssa Hansen            

Sterling                      

• Denise Chartier                      
• Maggie Fallon            
• Myia Harris                
• Megan Hart                
• Olivia LaRose              
• Nina Mendez             
• Zachary Moore                      
• Faith Smith                 
• Joseph Thompson                  

Thompson                   

• Lynn Beaudoin                       
• Serena Cappello                     
• Lucy Chappell             
• Mckayla Noonan                    
• Anastasia Ramos                       

Uncasville                  

• Emily Mirante               

Voluntown                   

• Adam Eaton               

Waterbury                   

• John Carr                    

Wauregan                    

• Chandler Hebert                    

Willimantic                  

• Owen Delgado           
• Jenifer Diaz-Hernandez                     
• Carolina Feliz             
• Geisha Gonzalez                    
• Valeria Martinez-Rentas                    
• Miguel Nieves            
• Alicia Springer            
• Lorena Torres Rosales           

Windham                     

• Ashley Licata              
• Katarzyna Shamshad             

Woodstock                  

• Paige Audet               
• Julian Baracz              
• Paige Campbell                      
• Kiona Carpenter                     
• Aurora Charlton                     
• Matthew Gianfriddo              
• Benjamin Green                     
• Hailey Klar                  
• Cassandra Klingensmith                    
• Caleb Koleszar           
• Nicholas Majewski                 
• Alina Michalski                       
• Evan Odorski              

Woodstock Valley                   

• Isabelle Shead            
• Kadin Shepard

OUT OF STATE            

-Massachusetts 

Charlton                     

• Cole Komssi   

Dudley              

• Brett Spiewakowski               

Oxford              

• Jacob Scotti    

Webster                       

• Chase Chandler                      
• Luis Mateo Calderon             
• Jennifer McKinstry                 

-Rhode Island          

Cranston                      

• Jessica Matthias

CT State Community College’s first chief of police Chris Chute (center) is sworn in by Chris Watson, state’s attorney as his mother Norma Chute (left) looks on.

Efforts to grow and diversify Connecticut’s healthcare workforce received a major boost when the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) made several significant grant commitments to support recruitment, retention, and diversification initiatives throughout the state.

Over $220,000 was collectively awarded to Stamford Hospital, the University of New Haven, and the Norwalk Hospital Association to implement a community health worker program, increase access to necessary dental hygiene treatments for underserved populations, and support career opportunities for individuals who might otherwise face barriers to employment.

Quinebaug Valley Community College and Capital Community College also received grants totaling over $120,000 to support and expand their allied health and nursing programming.

Betty Sugerman Weintraub, Manager of Grant Programs and Philanthropic Outreach stated “As one of the only statewide philanthropic entities that makes significant awards for capital and programmatic expenses, CHEFA is uniquely positioned to support nonprofit organizations and the constituents they serve throughout the state. These recent grant awards demonstrate CHEFA’s commitment to enhancing the prosperity and welfare of all Connecticut’s residents.”

Saint Francis Hospital received over $70,000 to support innovative interventions and hold evening cooking classes where patients and their family members will learn new recipes using prescribed ingredients and interact with other residents taking positive steps to improve their health.

The University of Bridgeport also received a major commitment of $75,000 to make improvements to its STEM on Wheels Bus. The new equipment and bus improvements will enhance STEM programming and the hands-on learning experiences offered to nearly 1,000 K-12th grade students in Bridgeport.

Jeanette W. Weldon, Executive Director for CHEFA stated “These recent grant commitments not only demonstrate the invaluable role CHEFA plays by providing philanthropic support to residents throughout Connecticut, but they also demonstrate the widespread impact CHEFA programming has in driving economic and social mobility for Connecticut residents on a statewide basis.”

Contact: Betty Sugerman Weintraub
CHEFA Manager of Grant Programs and Philanthropic Outreach
(860) 761-8428
bweintraub@chefa.com

DANIELSON, CT — Quinebaug Valley Community College will hold its 16th Annual Julius Sokenu Poetry Prize Celebration on April 27 at 6 p.m. in Robert E. Miller Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public, with readings by award-winning student poets and guest speaker and poet Edgar Kunz. Sandwiches, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and beverages will be provided. 

Originally from Connecticut and a former community college student, Kunz is an assistant professor at Goucher College and author of the poetry collections “Tap Out” (Mariner, 2019), named a New & Noteworthy book by the New York Times, and “Fixer” (Ecco, 2023). His poems have appeared in many publications, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Poetry, and Oxford American. In addition, he has received fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, MacDowell, Bread Loaf, Vanderbilt University, and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. He resides in Baltimore. 

The annual Julius Sokenu Poetry Awards honors the best student poetry in English and Spanish at Quinebaug Valley Community College and Quinebaug Middle College. The event is sponsored by QVCC Foundation, Cultural Programming Committee, departments of English and Spanish, EASTCONN’s Quinebaug Middle College, and QVCC Student Government Association, as well as Julius Sokenu Poetry Prize donors.  

For more information contact Professor Jon Andersen at jandersen@qvcc.edu or Interim Academic Division Director Elkin Espitia-Loaiza, at eespitia-loaiza@qvcc.edu. 

QVCC is among 12 community colleges in Connecticut that will merge in July 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. In addition to Quinebaug, other locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven & North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown & Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury & Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson & Willimantic), and Three Rivers (Norwich) Community Colleges. For more information, see www.ctstate.edu/becoming. 

Danielson, CT– Quinebaug Valley Community College welcomed more than 90 students from 10 area high schools on October 28 for the 7th Annual “Manufacture Your Future” event, held annually as part of Advanced Manufacturing Month.

Students learned about QVCC’s credit, certificate, and degree programs, and met advanced manufacturing staff, instructors and graduates. They also toured the 10,000-square-foot facility and networked with businesses from Eastern Connecticut to explore future opportunities. During workshops, the students learned about robotics, 3D laser scanning and optics, lean and continuous improvement concepts, and programmable logic controllers.

“’Manufacture Your Future’ is so important for students because it serves as a pipeline for career exploration in the field of advanced manufacturing. From entry level machinists, CNC machine operators, quality assurance inspectors to automation technicians, well-paying jobs are waiting for those graduates,” said Steve LaPointe, director of QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. “The need is so great right now that some of our students who just started have already been hired at local companies so they can earn while they learn.”

More than half of the top 100 companies in Connecticut are manufacturers, employing over 168,000 people, according to the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. As a result, CBIA ranks Connecticut second in the nation for high-tech employment and defense contracts and accounts for almost $25 billion in total manufacturing output. “Manufacture Your Future”is a hands-on introduction to advanced manufacturing for high school students. It illustrates how QVCC can help students start a career path in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector, which includes aerospace, biotechnology, power systems, shipbuilding, automation and more.

To learn more about the manufacturing programs available at QVCC, visit: https://qvcc.edu/manufacturing. Spring semester begins January 20. Free college through PACT: Pledge to Advance Connecticut is still available to graduates of Connecticut’s high schools who have never attended college before. Accessing PACT and any financial aid starts with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. PACT is not based on household income; all students who plan on attending full- or part-time should complete the FAFSA so they can access PACT,even if they do not think they will quality for need-based aid.

About CT State

The 12 community colleges in Connecticut are merging on July 1, 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. The application for new students entering in fall 2023 is now open at ctstate.edu/apply. Locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown & Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington). Find out more at www.ctstate.edu/becoming.

Credit registration for the Spring 2023 semester is in progress at Connecticut’s 12 community colleges.

Credit classes start on January 20 with a mix of on-campus, online, and hybrid course options.

Students intending to attend a Connecticut community college for the first time should start by applying online. Applications for the upcoming Spring 2023 semester can be found at www.ct.edu/admission.

Connecticut’s community colleges offer hundreds of associate degrees and certificates as well as career training certifications that prepare students for transfer to four-year degrees and transition into the workforce with such programs as advanced manufacturing technology, business, cybersecurity, data science, early childhood education, information technology, health care, pathway to teaching careers, and technology. Students can complete a certificate in as little as six months, and a degree in two years.

Student support services, job placement assistance and financial aid are available. Prospective credit students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

Registration for career training certifications is ongoing, with programs and classes in health care, information technology, manufacturing, real estate, culinary, veterinary assistant, and more. Scholarships for information technology, health care and manufacturing classes are available through CareerConneCT. Certified dislocated workers and those receiving SNAP assistance may also be eligible for scholarships and tuition waivers for many continuing education programs. Some programs are approved for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding through the CT Department of Labor. For more information, visit www.ctstate.edu/ce.

About CT State 

The 12 community colleges in Connecticut are merging in 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. Locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington). Find out more at www.ctstate.edu/becoming.

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For Immediate Release: 21 December 2022
Contact Melissa Lamar, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
W 860-773-1407 mlamar@tunxis.edu
CT State Marketing Department
ctstate.edu

On Saturday, October 15th, runners from twenty-one states and two countries will take part in Tackle the Trail™, a trail race along the scenic Airline Trail in Northeast Connecticut. Tackle the Trail™ embodies the idea of a community event with 150 volunteers supporting a course that runs through the towns of Windham, Pomfret and Putnam, CT. Celebrating its ninth year, this annual event features marathon, half-marathon, and relay team options, as well as TackleJR, a half-mile youth race that ends at the official Tackle the Trail finish line.

Individuals and up to 5-person relay teams will enjoy the quiet solitude of nature with bursts of energetic and supportive volunteers at 4 relay stations during this point-to-point race. Individual runners can choose between the marathon and half-marathon course options for a fun and challenging experience with mixed terrain including some single-track technical sections. In addition to prizes for the top runners in each event, all finishers will receive race medals, complimentary food, and free beverages from brews sponsor Michelob Ultra. Following the finish line festival, runners are encouraged to explore the quaint but lively communities of Northeast CT, including the many fall festivals that coincide with race weekend.

Tackle the Trail™ serves as a major fundraiser for the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation and benefits students attending the Danielson and Willimantic campuses of Quinebaug Valley Community College. This cause, coupled with the event’s promotion of wellness, attracts the support of many sponsors on the local and national level. Race sponsor Whitcraft Group has supported the event since its inception in 2014 and has demonstrated the company’s commitment to employee health and wellness, with over 200 employees participating in the race over the event’s nine years. Community and youth wellness is also a motivator for TackleJR sponsor the Newell D. Hale Foundation, a charitable body known for their support of access to healthy activities and education for children. Sponsor support like this ensures healthier communities and future Tackle the Trail™ runners for generations to come.

Those interested in running at this year’s Tackle the Trail™ are encouraged to sign up before the registration deadline of September 25. For more information or to register, visit tacklethetrail.org.

Monique Wolanin
Race Director
742 Upper Maple Street
Danielson, CT 06239
(860) 932-4174
mwolanin@qvcc.edu

_{The QVCC Foundation Mission is to raise funds, so all residents of northeast Connecticut have the opportunity to attend QVCC regardless of income and to support educational excellence, technological advancement, and professional development at the College. The Foundation also serves as the Regional Advisory Council to the College.}