Alumni News

Honors graduate puts problem-solving skills into practice

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By the Honors Program

Outside the window of his classroom was a view of the Mexican border. His students were children growing up too fast in a climate of border violence and poverty. But Jeffrey “Steve” Ferketic ’08 found a way to reach them. Ferketic joined Teach for America, seeking to make a difference in the lives of south Texas students. A biology and political science double major in the Honors Program, Ferketic was inspired by the other teachers in his family. He also knew his UConn education had prepared him for the challenges of this experience. Continue reading →

Recent alumni pay it forward with new giving fund

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By Cheryl Cranick, Honors Program

A $10,000 gift established a new Honors giving fund this summer. Its donors are three Honors alumni who’ve graduated within the past six years. According to one of the fund’s creators, Nate Eaton ’05, “Our vision for the Young Honors Alumni Fund is to provide a mechanism through which young alumni can give back to the students of the Honors Program so that they may fulfill their own vision of an Honors experience at UConn.” Continue reading →

Young scholars discover potential through Holster grants

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2011 holsters

By Cheryl Cranick, Honors Program

In September, Robert Holster ’68 witnessed the culmination of his generosity: the first Holster Scholar presentations. His $1 million gift, given jointly by his wife Carlotta ’68, funds the Holster Scholar First Year Project, sponsoring Honors student research. But it has a unique qualification: the grants are given to first years.

Holster felt giving back was an “obligation,” crediting UConn Honors as “fundamental to getting me off to a good start,” he said. He was a member of the inaugural Honors class in 1964. Continue reading →

Rowe Researcher: Social Interaction and Anxiety in Mice

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Ashley Bonet with her research poster.
Ashley Bonet with her research poster.

Spring 2012: Social Interaction and Anxiety in Mutant BXD29 Mice

By A.C.Bonet1 , D.T.Truong2 , R.H. Fitch, PhD1

            The purpose of this research was to observe anxiety and social interaction in the BXD29 mice strain. BXD29/Ty -wild type and BXD29-Tlr4lps-2J/J -mutant mice have never been tested for social interaction or anxiety related behaviors, thus this research offers a preliminary observation of the behaviors. The BXD29-Tlr4lps-2J/J mice have subcortical heterotopias formed by neurons destined for layers 2-4 of the neocortex as well as partial callosal agenesis. Continue reading →

Rowe Researcher: Transition from NICU to Home

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Stephanie Jorge in the NICU.

Summer 2011: Family Empowerment in the Transition from NICU to Home: Evaluating the March of Dimes Family Support Program

By Stephanie R Jorge, Regina M. Cusson, Ph.D., NNP-BC, APRN, FAAN

The University of Connecticut Health Center’s (UCHC) March of Dimes Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Support Program (MODFSP) provides families of NICU patients with programs, support specialists, educational materials, and community resources to aide in the emotional and physical adaptation to a new life with a premature infant. Continue reading →

Honors Student Wins Fourth Major National Scholarship

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Colin Carlson
Colin Carlson ’12 (CLAS) (Photo: Dan Buttrey/UConn)

By Cindy Weiss, CLAS Today

Colin Carlson ’12 (CLAS), the young environmental activist who began his college career at UConn when he was only 12, has won a fourth major national scholarship, the Pearson Prize.

He is one of 20 students around the country to receive the $10,000 prize, which is awarded to students who demonstrate leadership in community service.

Earlier this year, Carlson won a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, given for academic merit in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and a Truman scholarship, which acknowledges college juniors for their leadership and dedication to careers in public service. Last year, Carlson received a Udall Scholarship for his commitment to the environment. Continue reading →

UConn Honors Student Receives Young Botanist Award

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Nikisha Patel and her advisor, Greg Anderson
Nikisha Patel ’12 and her advisor, Professor Greg Anderson. (Photo: Sean Flynn/UConn)

By Sheila Foran

Though still an undergraduate, Nikisha Patel has already made an impression on the world of botany. Patel was recently named a winner of a 2011 Young Botanist Award from the Botanical Society of America, one of about 30 students chosen nationally for this recognition, which is usually restricted to graduating seniors. Continue reading →

2011 Distinguished Alumni Award: Nicole M. Lindsay

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Nicole Lindsay is Executive Director of New York Needs You (NYNY), a start-up non-profit which supports first-generation college students in realizing their college and career ambitions. Ms. Lindsay joined NYNY in September 2009 as the first staff person.  Now the organization has a six-person staff and an operating budget of $1.2 million. NYNY closes the opportunity gap through the most intensive career mentorship program in New York City, enabling high-potential, first-generation college students to realize their college and career aspirations. NYNY is the only non-profit in NYC that focuses exclusively on first-generation college students. The primary components of the NYNY curriculum are life planning, career development, and community leadership. The first class of 50 NYNY Fellows began the two-year program in June 2010 and recruitment for the second class is underway. Previously, she was the Vice President of Talent Development at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), overseeing all program-related activities. Continue reading →

2011 Distinguished Alumni Award: Robert M. Holster

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Robert M. Holster has been Chairman of the Board of HMS Holdings Corp. (HMS) since 2006. He was also President from 2001 to 2005 and CEO from 2005 until 2009. HMS (which trades on NASDAQ under the symbol HMSY) is a leader in providing cost containment solutions for government-funded, commercial, and private healthcare payors. HMS helps clients ensure that healthcare claims are paid correctly and by the responsible party, and that those enrolled to receive program benefits meet qualifying criteria. HMS is headquartered in New York City, employs more than 1500 associates nationwide, and this year will report revenues in excess of $300 million. HMS was ranked tenth on Fortune’s 2010 “100 Fastest-Growing Companies” list and first on Crain’s 2010 list of the fastest growing companies in New York. Continue reading →

Class of 2011: Isabella Pilato

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Isabella Pilato
Isabella Pilato ’11 (CLAS). (Photo: Jessica Tommaselli ’11)

By Sheila Foran

Isabella Pilato speaks thoughtfully and with perfect diction. She is eloquent when she defends the importance of a liberal arts education. And when she talks about her love of music, or the role that home schooling played in preparing her for college, or living off campus with her sister – a UConn sophomore majoring in music history – she does so with an easy, self-deprecating sense of humor. Continue reading →