Next up we have Nicole, she’ll talk to us about juggling work, kids, and college as she pursues her dream of becoming a dance teacher and opening a performing arts dance school. She’ll tell us why she chose Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and also explain what the three Fs are. Okay, Nicole, you have us all intrigued. Please take it away.
– Thank you, Alex. My journey at Chandler-Gilbert Community College began when my son was born. I was a new mother, going to school, balancing work, living on my own all at the same time. I decided to continue my education because I didn’t want to give up all my dreams of establishing my own performing arts dance school, and I wanted to set an example for my new son. The inspiration to further my education came from a dance instructor who mentored me while I was growing up. She taught me the true meaning of dance, the focus and expression of being a dancer and how performance can enrich the lives of others. I looked up to her so much that I felt that I too wanted to inspire others. From that point, I knew Chandler-Gilbert Community College was going to be the place where I followed my passion for dance and education. The college’s helpful staff made it easy for me to begin my journey. Chandler-Gilbert’s Performing Arts center and program speaks to all forms of dance experience and levels from modern, jazz, ballet, you name it. As a member of the Performing Arts program, I’m reminded every day of my goal and why I decided to continue my education. I’m hoping to become a dance teacher to mentor others in hopes of creating a better future. I believe in the three Fs, faith, focus, finish, which has helped me accomplish my educational goals as well as in other areas in my life as well. I am proud to say I am now almost at the finish line, graduating with my fine arts degree in dance. My favorite saying is, it’s not about how you start, but it’s how you finish. Well, everyone, that’s my story. Back to you, Alex.
– Nicole, thank you for sharing your dream of becoming a dance school owner and how Chandler-Gilbert helped you on your educational journey. Your story about overcoming life’s challenges while keeping your eye on your goal is truly phenomenal. A big congrats on all your incredible accomplishments. Thanks again for sharing your story. Take care.
Let’s meet up with William who got his start in NASCAR as a former race engineer. William is now studying engineering at Chandler-Gilbert, and he’s gonna share his story about his journey, how he chose Chandler-Gilbert and the experiences he’s had so far. Okay William, you’ve got the green flag. Go for it.
– Thanks for the introduction, Alex. When I graduated Maryland High School, I decided to move to Charlotte, North Carolina, to pursue a career working for a NASCAR racing team. Eventually, I’d get hired by Front Row Motorsports, where I worked in numerous roles, such as a pit crew tire changer, a mechanic, and a tire specialist. Eventually I’d go on to work for Richard Petty Motorsports as a race engineer where I ended my racing career, but it was well before that moment that I knew education was gonna be my next best move. I chose Chandler-Gilbert Community College because of how friendly and enthusiastic their staff is and how quickly they work to get me into their engineering program. Remember, I came from a world of NASCAR where speed and efficiency are key. In just a short amount of time I’ve been at CGCC, I’ve had amazing experiences. The user friendly online student center makes signing up for classes, checking financial aid, and viewing academic progress a breeze. My favorite parts of attending CGCC are the various class formats that are offered such as live online, hybrid, fully online, or in person. At CGCC, the instructors not only care about their students, but they’re always working on ways to improve their instruction. One of my engineering instructors currently works full-time for an aerospace company and still takes the time to teach at CGCC. You cannot beat this. This type of connection is critical because students can learn real world problems that current industry engineers are facing. CGCC has taught me that education is more than just learning skills in a classroom, but that building relationships with fellow students and instructors are imperative to my success. I love that I can be myself with the inclusive environment that CGCC promotes, so I can focus on school and still have a fun, enjoyable experience whether on campus or online, all at an affordable rate. With CGCC, you’re having your cake and you’re eating it too. But enough about me, let’s send it back to Alex to hear more great success stories.
– William, what a cool story. Your experiences with NASCAR was an amazing first lap and your next ones will be even more exciting as you race towards your new career in engineering. Sounds like you’ve found your own pit crew at Chandler-Gilbert and the community of friends that will last a lifetime. Thanks again.
Okay, everyone, let’s head over to one of UCONN’s greenhouses. We’re gonna talk with Maura. Who’s getting her bachelor’s in Environmental Science with a concentration on sustainable community food systems. Maura’s not only studying these subjects. She’s experiencing them by living on a working student-run farm pretty cool. Maura, please take it away.
Hi everyone. Like most 18 year olds starting the college search, there were so many things that factored into my decision. As a budding environmental science student, I wanted a school that would help me learn how to live a sustainable life. That’s why I was so excited to learn about UCONN’s commitment to limiting their impact on the environment. I got involved in sustainability at UCONN on day one, as a member of the Eco House learning community.
Being surrounded by other students who were motivated to learn about the environment and live sustainably was an amazing experience. That’s where I learned about so many of UCONN’s environmentally focused clubs. Like Eco Husky, where we would volunteer at green game days. Picking up trash after the games and informing people how to dispose of waste properly as trash, recyclables, or compost. Or the soil and water conservation society where we help maintain the green infrastructure on campus. Like the green roofs the Bioretention areas and the rain gardens. We also got to look inside the many ways campus is becoming greener. Like the student led office of sustainability. Which helps keep UCONN in the top 10 of the Sierra club’s cool school rankings. Or, the food waste disposal strategy which uses quantum biopower to turn excess food into energy.
In the Fall of 2019, we also participated in a global climate strike as part of the Fridays for future campaign. To show how seriously students take the climate crisis, we striked classes and instead spent the day educating each other on climate change. We marched the president’s office to read him our demands on how UCONN could improve. And as a response, a student led working group was formed to address the issues and let students’ voices be heard. Freshman year, I also learned about UCONN’s Spring Valley Student Farm, where I’ve lived for the past year.
SVSF is a three-quarter acre sustainable farm, located four miles off campus that uses organic and low till practices to grow fresh, pesticide-free produce for the dining halls. We’re dedicated to sustainability and food justice with a main goal of educating the community. UCONN students can volunteer with us at Farm Fridays to learn about sustainable agriculture and how to grow food. At SVSF, we grow all kinds of vegetables. We have several beehives which help pollinate the vegetables. And we plant pollinator friendly plants and flowers, making us a nationally recognized bee campus. We’re also in the process of installing several solar panels which will help power the greenhouses and the home that we share.
By immersing myself in sustainability at UCONN I’m able to get a unique hands-on experience in topics I otherwise wouldn’t have discovered. Working so closely with food helped me realize a new passion for making food production more sustainable. I am confident that the knowledge I’ve gained here will serve me well at UCONN and beyond that’s all from me, Alex, back to you.
Thanks Maura. It’s fitting that a land grant school with a long history of agriculture education is still making new discoveries and blazing new trails in that field. It sounds like UCONN is giving you the tools you need to go out and make the world a better place Maura. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, take care.
Okay, who’s feeling a little hungry? Let’s go over to the Whitney dining hall and talk to Riley. He’s a double major in Biomedical Engineering and Spanish, who’s gonna tell us about the most important time of the day. Meal time! Riley what’s on the menu?
Hello, everyone! Leaving home for college is a really exciting experience. There are so many changes in your academic and social life. And let’s be honest, being away from home has a lot of wonderful advantages. But the one thing people don’t talk about a lot is often what they really miss the most – food. Those meals, snacks, take out places from back home that you grew up on. That being said, food is a huge factor for life at school. And here at UCONN, we have some amazing dining opportunities that do an excellent job of filling in for all that food from home.
The first thing you’ll notice when you come to UCONN is how many dining options you have. With any of our three different meal plans, you can eat as many times a day at our eight different dining halls. So in other words, you’ll never go hungry at UCONN. You can wake up in the morning and grab breakfast from our South dining hall. During the day, you can stop by any of our several different cafes or a student union marketplace for a quick lunch or a coffee. And for dinner, you might meet up with some of your friends at Northwest dining hall which, along with two other locations, has extended hours for any of those late night cravings you may have.
No matter where you end up eating at UCONN, there’s always gonna be kosher and halal options nearby. As well as a range of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meal options. So no matter your preferences there’s aways something for you. UCONN dining services is consistently recognized for a wide range of awards. For example, we regularly rank amongst the top three universities with the best vegan recipe and have also nationally in the top 10 most accommodating gluten-free universities. We pride ourselves on the fact that Boston Children’s Medical Center created their menu based off of our own gluten-free program.
Additionally, as a campus, we’re always trying to reduce our environmental impact and our dining services is at the forefront of that movement. UCONN dining serves fresh, locally sourced produce, honey, jarred right here on campus, and even has their own robust composting program. All of which aim to reduce campus waste and emissions.
We’re also fortunate enough to have many off campus dining options as well. Several of which are within walking distance, or you can venture to those restaurants throughout the surrounding towns. My favorite off-campus spot, and one of the most popular among students is Downtown Storrs. Which has everything from a cafe, to pizza, to even some late night cookies. Speaking of sweetness, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of UCONN’s biggest attractions, our world famous Dairy Bar. Opened in 1953, the dairy bar serves ice cream made from the milk of the cows that graze right next door on Horsebarn Hill. My favorite flavor has to be black raspberry, but don’t just take my word for it. Come and try it yourself.
No matter your needs or preferences UCONN dining services is going to work extremely hard to make sure that all of their students’ desires are satisfied. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m gonna go grab some of that black raspberry ice cream. Back to you, Alex.
Riley, that all sounds delicious. And it’s great that UCONN is nationally recognized for its vegan and gluten-free options. It’s so crucial to have robust real food options for everyone. And I’ll definitely take your recommendation and swing by the dairy bar before I leave campus. For research purposes of course. Thanks for filling us in Riley.
Now let’s go over to the brand new student Recreation Center and meet up with Grace. She’s been involved in undergraduate student government and writes for the undergraduate political review. And she’s gonna tell us how her passion for fitness helped define her experience at UCONN. Grace, how’s it going?
Thank you, Alex. I came to UCONN because I believe in the power of public education. And I wanted to experience a diverse campus environment. As a Political Science major, I am driven by the desire to make change in the world through representation and advocacy. Through my studies, I learned that barriers ahead of us can only be broken if we work together. This idea of unity comes in many forms at UCONN.
In my time here, I’ve been involved in many clubs and organizations, all centered around a common cause or interest. I’ve served in the undergraduate student government, enrolled an accelerated master’s program for public administration, and I also write for the undergraduate political review. I believe that you can’t have a healthy mind without a healthy body. In addition to my major related extracurriculars I also joined the UCONN Brazil Jiu-Jitsu club and UCONN Barbell, a club dedicated to the sport of power lifting. Trust me, I’m not the only one on campus who loves to get fit. With over 35 club sports teams and numerous intramural sports leagues, so many Huskies like to stay healthy.
Personally, when I feel like pumping iron I like to hit the campus gym, which is also where I work. To myself and many others, UCONN recreation is like a second home. Being active is such a huge part of campus culture. You can tell just by how so many students enter the Student Recreation Center forming a line even before we open. UCONN recreation has something for everyone. Group fitness classes, a climbing center and my personal favorite, the squat rack area. We also have two pools, an indoor track, and our own spin studio. After every workout I need to refill my body. So I have to hit up Mango for a smoothie. My go-to order is a chocolate peanut butter protein smoothie with extra protein of course.
In addition to our clubs, sports teams, and the gym, students find so many other ways to practice wellness on campus. During the warm weather, sunrise yoga on Horsebarn Hill is an absolute must. The student health and wellness department also host many events that encourage students to practice mental wellbeing on campus, such as meditation Mondays. And during finals season, therapy dogs are brought into the library to give our hardworking students a much needed break. Here at UCONN, there are so many ways to become a healthy Husky. Back to you, Alex.
Thanks, Grace, all of that sounds so amazing. I love the idea of doing sunrise yoga on Horsebarn Hill, but I’ll probably leave the Jiu-Jitsu to you. Grace, you really showed how the pursuit of excellence at UCONN isn’t limited to the classroom or lab, but takes in the entire student experience. Thanks again for that.
Okay, everybody, we’re gonna head over to the Benton Museum of Art, which stages multiple exhibitions every year including student and faculty art. Brianna, a vocal performance major and first-generation college student, is gonna tell us how the arts made her feel right at home on campus. Brianna, you’re on.
Thanks Alex. So, here’s my story. As a first-generation student I wasn’t sure if UCONN was for me. The idea of higher education intimidated me and it was something my family just couldn’t understand at the time. I was worried that if I attended UCONN, I wouldn’t be able to find students like myself. When I first visited campus however, I stumbled across the Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center, also known as PRLACC, and the student support services, SSS, office – two places that would eventually become my home, besides the school of fine arts.
PRLACC is what led me to live in the Latinx learning community. I was able to connect with my culture, while appreciating the cultures of my peers. Student support services helped guide me through my first year on campus as a first generation student. This is where I met my closest friends and established professional networks. From that day, I knew UCONN was a school for me.
UCONN offers a wide variety of cultural and creative experiences for its students. As a student in the school of fine arts, I furthered my creativity and broaden my horizons. Harmony and ear-training classes have allowed me to mature as a musician. And instrumental technique classes have given me exposure to every instrument under the sun. My goal is to become a music educator, and I’m so grateful that my journey as a future teacher began in the school of fine arts. Through UCONN choirs, I’ve sung with local groups and choirs all over the world. Last semester, we collaborated with the Uni Zulu choir in South Africa and learned indigenous choral and south African dance.
If you love the arts, there’s something for you on campus. UCONN is home to 10 A cappella groups, over 15 dance groups and a plethora of annual performances. Our Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and Connecticut Repertory Theater host many of these performances. From the A cappella rush concert, to plays and musicals, a mixture of students, broadway stars, and celebrities have graced our stages. Students also have free access to the William Benton Museum of Art and the Ballard Institute and Museum of puppetry. During my free time, I like to attend performances with my friends and browse the galleries on campus.
Attending UCONN has provided me with academic and creative opportunities. Not only have I been able to explore my passion for music but I’ve also taken advantage of the many co-curricular opportunities UCONN has to offer. With support from the women’s gender and sexuality studies department, I’m creating a documentary about housing insecurity and homelessness in college. Two issues I’m passionate about besides music. Exploring socioeconomic status is important to me and in the future, I hope to combine my passion for activism and art as I venture into the field of education. Back over to you, Alex
Thank you so much, Brianna. The way you establish yourself with the arts community and with the Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center, really shows the diversity of opportunities and pursuits at UCONN. Getting to sing all over the world with UCONN choirs sounds like a dream come true. Great job, Brianna.
Next up, is a spot on campus that’s familiar to anyone who’s ever filled out a match madness bracket. Gampel Pavilion, home of the national champion men’s and women’s basketball teams. Adam just completed his bachelor’s degree here and is working on his master’s degree now. He’s gonna tell us what it means to have Husky spirit. How’s it going Adam?
Hey, everyone. I’m so excited to talk to you about athletics and the Husky spirit here at UCONN. Cheering on the Huskies has always been near and dear to my heart growing up in Connecticut, my whole life. And while you may know about the men’s and women’s basketball teams here on campus there’s so much more to cheer for. But first I wanna tell you why I chose UCONN.
First, yes, the athletics – but second, also my education. I’ve always been really good at math and I always really, really wanted to help people. Becoming a math teacher was always a really easy decision for me. And my stance on math is that it’s not something that you can or cannot do. It’s something that you need to practice and everyone can do some form of math. Choosing which teaching program was a bit of a struggle for me though, until I read about how great the Neag school of education was. One campus tour and a childhood of watching UCONN basketball later and I was sold.
On campus, I’ve been the president of the UCONN future educators where I found a great group of people to play intramural sports with be it flag football, soccer, handball, volleyball, or my personal favorite inner tube water polo. The math teacher in me can’t help but spew some Husky stats. 20 division-one programs led by men’s and women’s basketball, which have always been the top dogs here on campus and with good reason. 15 national championships between the two of them, they bring an excitement and buzz to campus come October when basketball season starts. And for some of the biggest games of the year the line can go all the way down Fairfield Way. And once you’re inside, you’re in for two hours of nonstop yelling and screaming from the Husky fans. There are memorable games in Madison square garden and exciting tournaments in Downtown Hartford.
And there’s more than just basketball to support here on campus. We have football down at Rentschler field and you can’t forget about our hockey team. They have a brand new arena on campus or you can take the ice bus to see the games in the city. And there’s our baseball team getting the national recognition it deserves, with some proud alumni making it up to the big leagues. For me, all these athletic events – it’s all about going with a group of friends and cheering on the Huskies. I’m a proud member of the UCONN gold patrol, the best student section in all of college soccer. You can expect Moroni stadium to be packed and rockin’. There isn’t a better place in the country than the UCONN student section. Jonathan, you wanna go to a game back to you, Alex.
Great job, Adam, and good luck with your masters program.
Alright, let’s check out the maker space. Cydney is a Biomedical Engineering major who’s been able to spend time in multiple labs at UCONN doing research as an undergraduate. One of the many things that sets UCONN apart. She’s gonna to tell us what it’s like to have a hands-on role at a research-one university. Take it away Cydney.
Thanks Alex. Hi everyone. I’m originally from Albany, New York and I chose UCONN for its sense of community, proximity to home and how well-rounded it is. Many other schools I looked at excelled in one department whereas UCONN had great programs all around. So I had to take advantage of all these opportunities. In the past, I’ve served on the executive board for the undergraduate student government as well as UCONN’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. Additionally, I’ve worked as a teaching assistant, a campus tour guide and I even sing the national Anthem for basketball games, volleyball games, and many other events.
One thing you’ll find out about UCONN is that there’s opportunities for everyone here no matter your major. I’m a biomedical engineering student, yet I work in a material science engineering lab and a civil engineering lab which I was able to do after speaking with my professors. UCONN is an R1 institution, meaning that nearly every professor here is conducting some sort of research. In order to get involved students can simply send an email to the professors and set up a meeting to find out more. Additionally, if students have a particular project or idea in mind, they can receive funding through UConn’s Idea Grant of up to $4,000 to begin a project of their own. My friend Walla received this award the Summer after her freshman year, which goes to show that UCONN wants to get involved as early as your first year here on campus.
Students can also find out about opportunities from our center’s career development, research fair, as well as our amazing research website, which details all of the programs that are currently going on. These resources all go to show that UCONN wants you to excel in your classes, conduct research, and still have time to take part in extracurricular activities.
Let me tell you a bit about my research. I currently work in the Castleman Building in the center of campus, which is our main engineering building. There, I assist Dr. Kai and graduate students to understand and analyze the properties of nano fibers within ultra-high performance concrete. My daily tasks range from mixing samples, casting samples, grinding, and polishing them. Afterwards, we conduct a series of stress and compression tests to understand the benefits of each individual mixture.
The state of Connecticut is currently experiencing a concrete crisis which is affecting the foundations of people’s homes. So I’m so glad to be a part of the group working on solving this problem. When I’m not in this lab, I’m in a material science engineering lab funded by Pratt and Whitney. There, I work alongside another undergraduate student to analyze thermal barrier coatings at high temperatures. We also analyze CMASS samples through viscometers optical pyrometry and a gradient rig. I wish I could show you guys the inside of this lab but it’s currently top secret. So, I guess that’d have to be another time.
So if you couldn’t already tell, UCONN really wants you to become a part of something bigger than yourself. I know that I’m beyond grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had to help make a difference but also because of the connections I’ve made with undergraduate students and graduate students. So thanks Alex for letting me share my story back to you.
Cydney, that’s fantastic. I love how even with all the work you’ve done in labs on campus you’ve been able to fit in all kinds of other activities, even singing the national Anthem before basketball games. It goes to show how much opportunity there is at UCONN regardless of what your passion is. Thanks Cydney.
Okay, let’s check out one of the most popular spots on campus. The statue of Jonathan, the Husky right in front of the famed Gampel Pavilion. Nicole, a special education major, is gonna tell us about some of the incredible student groups and activities she’s participated in. Nicole, what’s the good word?
Thanks for the introduction, Alex. When I first started my college search I knew I wanted to go to a big university with loads of school spirit, challenging academics and lots of clubs and organizations to join. When I first stepped foot on UCONN’s campus I knew that I found my perfect fit. Flash forward to today, I’m now a senior special education major in the NEAG School of Education.
I have joined countless extracurriculars that has shaped my experience here at the university as an unforgettable one. I lived in Husky Village, my sophomore year which is on-campus housing exclusive to fraternity and sorority members. Something unique about Husky Village is we hold late nights which is food fundraisers for our philanthropies. I also joined the Women’s Club Basketball team. UCONN is home to 37 different club sports. I was a three sport athlete in high school and knew that I wanted to get involved with athletics when I came to UCONN. Considering UCONN’s women’s basketball team is ranked number one in the nation right now, joining the varsity team wasn’t in the playing cards. However, my time here on the club team has been nothing short of amazing.
The most rewarding organization I am a part of is Husky-thon. Husky-thon, is a year-long philanthropic fundraiser that raises money for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. This year, we raised over $1 million for the kids. Every Spring we celebrate our fundraising efforts with an 18 hour dance marathon with no sitting. On top of the hundreds of clubs and organizations to get involved with. There are countless traditions that are unique to UCONN. My favorite tradition is One Ton Sunday, where during winter weekend students can fill an entire bucket with as much ice cream and toppings as they want. And it is something that is so fun to do with your friends. Another really cool tradition is Ooze Ball, which is a very muddy volleyball tournament held every Spring. And it is a favorite tradition that has gone back for decades.
From the friends and memories I’ve made through Husky-thon, Gamma Phi Beta, and club sports. I could not imagine my time here without these organizations. UCONN offers the student body so much. You just have to go out and find it. That’s all from me back to you Alex
Panhellenic council, club basketball, dance marathon – talk about a full slate of activities! Really impressive stuff, Nicole. And the fact that the Husky-thon has raised millions of dollars for children’s healthcare is such an inspiring example of how UCONN students can make a difference in the world. Thanks again, for that insight, take care Nicole.
Now it’s time to head over to the Wilbur Cross building, or just Wilbur Cross as everyone calls it here. We’re excited to talk to Shane Young, a Finance major who founded a business group for underrepresented students, who plays on the practice squad against the best women’s basketball team in the country. Shane, tell us about some of the incredible experiences you’ve had here.
Hey everyone, one of my favorite aspects of UCCON is the breath of opportunities available to students. As a research one institution with over 700 student organizations the university provides an amazing selection of opportunities to find yourself, as well as your people. This breath has challenged me to hold leadership positions in six of the nine organizations. And I’m actively involved in, as well as, applying knowledge attained from the classroom to real experiential learning opportunities that can have a real impact on people’s lives.
I‘ve been able to merge my interest in consulting for my passion on racial equity to embark on a really unique leadership opportunity within the UCONN consulting group. And if you can’t find an organization that fits your interests, you can create your own club which is exactly what I did last Fall. I founded business leaders of UCONN, an organization focused on supporting underrepresented students interested in business. Not only have we supported Bi-pod in achieving the most ambitious professional goals but more importantly, we’ve created a safe space for Bi-pod to share their experiences and discuss racial equity to maintain collective consciousness of marginalized experiences. With the extensive selection of opportunities available you’ll be sure to find something that pulls you out of your comfort zone.
A significant decision I had to make in high school was whether I wanted to play college basketball. It would have been a huge commitment. Instead, I found the best of both worlds where I can stay connected to a sport that I loved my entire life while also having a diverse college experience. The UCONN Women’s Basketball team takes on male practice players each year through their practice team. I’ve been able to stay connected to a significant sport in my life while also competing against and building relationships with some of the best women’s basketball players in the country.
I’ve also discovered different parts of the world and learn how my existence is shaped by history and my place in the world. My involvement has brought me to New York to give a consulting presentation to a startup company to Detroit, tour and housing discrimination but like in the privatization of education is currently subjugating black communities and to Tampa to cheer on the women’s basketball team in the NCAA final four. Beyond the US, one of the greatest influences in shaping my ideology has in my study abroad experience in Barcelona where I studied photography, fashion marketing, and contemporary neocolonialism. In college, I’ve embarked on a journey to find myself in my identity in this world. And it would not have been possible if it weren’t for the amazing extracurricular opportunities here at UCONN. Thanks Alex, back to you.
Amazing stuff, Shane getting a chance to study in Barcelona sounds like a life changing experience on top of everything else. And how cool is it to say you played basketball against players with multiple final four appearances to their credit. Thanks for sharing your story cheers Shane.