Student News

Rowe Researcher: Characterization of Drosophila Interacting Genes

Posted on August 14, 2012November 18, 2016 by Korner, Kathryn

Daniel Camacho conducting research at the Health Center.

Summer 2012: Characterization of Drosophila Interacting Genes: Elucidating the Mechanism(s) of PolyQ Toxicity in Huntington’s Disease

By Daniel R. Camacho, Ping Zhang, Ph.D.

Polyglutamine expansions are a type of genetic mutation that is responsible for several human neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease. The pathology of these diseases involves the accumulation of proteins containing polyglutamine domains within neuronal cells, which ultimately leads to cell death. The mechanism of toxicity of these protein aggregates is currently being investigated. My work involved using the model genetic organism Drosophila melanogaster to try to elucidate aspects of polyglutamine toxicity. Continue reading →

Rowe Researcher: Biofilm-Forming Bacteria

Posted on August 9, 2012December 16, 2013 by

Summer 2010: Determining the Effect of Spacing in Protection of Staphylococcus aureus by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

By Leonela Villegas and Leslie Shor, Ph.D.

The research that I have been conducting since the summer of 2010 includes the observation of two different types of biofilm-forming bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using a quad microfluidic device that simulates a controlled environment, I observed the interactions between these two bacterias at various distances from one another when being in contact with Tobramycin to ultimately compare these results to other types of antibiotics. Continue reading →

Twins run in the Honors family

Posted on June 16, 2012February 20, 2015 by

Spencer Reese ’13 and Tyler Reese ’13

Ju Young Song ’12 and Ju-Sung Song ’12

Hannah Tripp ’15 and Elizabeth Tripp ’15

Christopher Wasko ’13 and Nicholas Wasko ’13

Kaitlyn Carroll ’15 and Alexandra Carroll ’15

Paige Casaly ’12 and Allison Casaly ’12

Stephanie DeMaio ’15 and Jessica DeMaio ’15

Brittany Jasperse ’12 and Lindsay Jasperse ’12

Elizabeth Ojukwu ’12 and Mary Ojukwu ’12

Catherine Piotrowski ’14 and Kristyn Piotrowski ’14

Rebecca Puelle ’13 and Rachel Puelle ’13

By Cheryl Cranick, Honors Program

Currently in the UConn Honors Program, of the roughly 1,600 students enrolled or who have just graduated, 22 do not just have a sibling on campus; they have a physical double. In 2011-2012, the Honors Program included eleven sets of identical twins. The presence of identical twins is not unusual for the Honors Program, which has had twins in previous graduating years. Continue reading →

Honors celebrates scholars, faculty, and alumni at the 2012 Medals Ceremony

Posted on June 16, 2012October 26, 2017 by

Hettinger, DeWalt, and Kennedy — Award winners Dr. Virginia Hettinger, Dr. Bill DeWalt, and Ms. Marian Kennedy. (Photo courtesy of Thomas Hurlbut)

The Honors Medals Ceremony is a time for the Honors Program to individually recognize each graduating Honors Scholar before family, friends, and the university community. Seniors are presented with commemorative medallions to wear at Commencement and keep as a reminder of their successful completion of a rigorous Honors curriculum. The event also celebrates the contributions of Honors faculty members and marks the accomplishments of Honors alumni, highlighting the circular relationship of educators, students, and graduates. This year, three members of the extended Honors community were recognized. Continue reading →

Top U.K. grad programs have Honors Scholars within their ranks

Posted on June 16, 2012February 20, 2015 by

By Cheryl Cranick, Honors Program

Nestled in the quiet country town of Storrs, accomplished students are hard at work preparing for what waits after graduation. These Honors Scholars eventually disperse across the country and beyond; some settle close to home, while others cross an ocean. Two alumni—one an economist, the other a molecular biologist—graduated from the Honors Program just two years apart. They both pursued competitive funding for graduate schools in the United Kingdom—programs with only a handful of slots—and both were successful. They now reside relatively close to each other, though they’ve never met. What they have in common is the firm foundation they gained here at UConn Honors. Continue reading →

Understanding culture makes Honors alum a musical visionary

Posted on June 16, 2012June 7, 2017 by

By Cheryl Cranick, Honors Program

Building exterior — Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo courtesy of the Musical Instrument Museum)

In the desert of Phoenix, Ariz., is a sprawling $250 million, 200,000-square-foot facility that blends into the arid background. But inside the walls is a collection of instruments that brings to life the world’s music. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), led by UConn Honors alumnus Dr. Bill DeWalt ’69, ’76, is not just a museum that displays devices for sound. MIM has a deeper mission: to create an all-encompassing sensory journey around the globe. It promises to be “the most extraordinary museum you’ll ever hear.”

Continue reading →

Class of 2012: Alexandra Raleigh

Posted on May 2, 2012 by

By Lauren Lalancette

To prepare for her dream job of U.S. Secretary of State, Alexandra Raleigh ’12 (CLAS) will begin a Ph.D. program in political science at the University of California-Irvine this fall, specializing in political psychology.

“I am deeply patriotic,” says Raleigh, who is graduating with a double major in psychology and political science. “I care about my country’s values, and I want to work really hard to protect those values.” Continue reading →

Hayley Dunnack: Lasting Motivation and a Constant Smile

Posted on April 12, 2012October 17, 2017 by

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By Julie Bruhn

Sophomore Hayley Dunnack genuinely values her time here at UConn. As a nursing student, she takes full advantage of the simulation labs and is excited to start her first hands-on clinical experience next semester. Hayley serves as secretary for UConn Irish, a cultural organization that focuses on Irish stepdancing. Furthermore, she enjoys her job at the Student Activities office and believes that working on campus is a great way to get involved and build connections. Continue reading →

Class of 2012: Alexander Velázquez

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

Alexander Velazquez ’12 (CLAS) (ENG) (Photo: Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

By Lynnette Repollet ’12 (CLAS)

Alexander Velázquez’s passion for engineering first manifested itself when he was only 5 years old. “I told my parents I wanted to be an inventor,” he says. “I’ve always been very technically-inclined.”

Velázquez, who is graduating in May from UConn’s EuroTech program with a dual degree in computer science and engineering and German studies and a minor in mathematics, is fulfilling that childhood dream at an international level. During a four-month internship in Stuttgart, Germany in summer 2011, Velázquez contributed new code to the driving simulator, extending the traffic module that generates computer-controlled cars. Continue reading →

Honors graduate puts problem-solving skills into practice

Posted on November 21, 2011February 20, 2015 by

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 →