In the News — After 58 years, Three Rivers Community College graduates its final class

Norwich ― While delivering the student address at Three Rivers Community College’s 58th commencement ceremony Wednesday night, Ben Kinnie recalled the adversity he and his fellow graduates endured.

Kinnie, who earned an associate of applied science degree in general engineering technologies as well as a data analytics certificate, remembered graduating from high school in 2020 and enrolling at Three Rivers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was one of two major obstacles he had to overcome in his life after going through open heart surgery at 3-months-old for a congenital heart defect.

Before the rain clouds rolled in, Kinnie referenced the Metallica song “Nothing Else Matters,” and its message of staying true to who you are, living life to the fullest, and embracing new points of view.

“While it is important to get that work done to accomplish your goals, it is equally important to never forget about spending time with the ones you love, going out and trying new things, visiting new places, and not being afraid of new experiences,” Kinnie told his fellow graduates.

A total of 436 graduates earned associate degrees and certificates this year. Eight students earned two degrees, five earned a degree and a certificate.

The college also recognized four recipients of medallions of academic excellence, students who had a 4.0 grade point average and met degree requirements: Kyle Benito, Juliet Kimble, Jodie Lattanzi and Samuel Sims.

Wednesday’s commencement was the last commencement for the school under the name of Three Rivers Community College. After six decades of operation, the school will be merging with the other 11 community colleges under the name Connecticut State Community College as of July 1.

Graduates celebrate in the rain and confetti. (Sarah Gordan/The Day).U.S. Treasurer and Chief of the Mohegan Tribe Lynn Malerba delivered the keynote address. She told the story of her own career and how she began at a hospital-based nursing school as opposed to a traditional university, which allowed her to continue her education and earn an income like many of Three River’s graduates have done.

She talked about how she thought she would one day retire from Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and never thought she would one day be appointed chief of the tribe and eventually treasurer of the United States.

“Don’t hold onto your life plan so tightly that you miss the biggest adventure you never imagined for yourself,” Malerba said. “Life is a journey and it isn’t always a straight line.”

Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski told the stories of graduates that exemplified the diversity of the college, which included first-generation graduates, family members, and graduates ranging in age from 17 to 67.

Dr. O. John Maduko, president of Connecticut State Community College, commended graduates for being selfish ― missing birthdays, vacations and time with loves ones ― to pursue their education as well as their ability to adapt to an array of unforeseen circumstances. He said he learned the lesson of being necessarily selfish when he struggled as a freshman at California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

“Graduates, you are here today because, despite the very people and reasons that are dear to you, you were willing to sacrifice everything and uniquely be selfish to accomplish your life-changing goals,” Maduko said.

Mother and daughter graduate together

College commencements typically see parents seated as they watch their children receive their diplomas.

This year at Three Rivers’ ceremony, Dina Fares walked alongside her daughter, Kayla Lopez, in the ceremony.

Lopez, a single mother of two from Groton, told The Day before graduation that it was a long journey to get to this point. She works two jobs, one in the City of Groton’s finance department and the other as a co-secretary in the city’s public schools adult education program on a part-time basis.

The 41-year-old said she started taking classes in 2014, but could not do so consistently while her children, Kayla and her son Julio Lopez, were in middle school. As the children got older and more independent, she was able to enroll in courses on a consistent basis thanks to the affordability and schedule flexibility of Three Rivers.

She finished her course work at Three Rivers in the winter and has begun taking online classes with the University of Phoenix.

Fares, who received her degree in general studies, said she wants to be an inspiration to her children, as well as other mothers, to continue their education.

“You can do it,” Fares said. “You just have to stick with it. You can do anything you want.”

Kayla Lopez said she is proud of her mother for persevering after the two spent most of the last year taking classes at the same time.

“I think its really special for the both of us because I know it’s a really big dream of her’s,” Lopez said.

Lopez, 20, said living at home while the two were in school together was helpful as the two could relate to the struggles of coursework. Though the two were never in the same classroom at the same time, they did take some of the same courses throughout their careers.

Like her mother, Lopez finished her classes in the winter and has enrolled at Eastern Connecticut State University, where she will graduate next May with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in business administration, and plans to pursue a career in human resource management.

By Kevin Arnold, staff writer at The Day

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Diversity 365 Gallery hosts Exhibition #3

Three Rivers’ newest gallery, the Diversity 365 Gallery, will host Exhibition #3 now through April 17, 2023. The show features two-dimensional work from five Connecticut artists. All work explores themes of diversity, equity and inclusion. This show is the third in the series of Diversity 365 exhibitions and is the result of an invitation to all artists who either live or work in Connecticut. The Diversity 365 exhibitions have provided the Donald E. Welter Library at Three Rivers with a mechanism through which to identify art relevant to our greater community that will be purchased for the gallery’s permanent collection.

Liefeld, Julie Ann, TOO MUCH, never enough, mixed media, 2022Exhibition #1 featured art from the faculty at CSCU institutions, while Exhibition #2 featured art from the non-faculty staff and students in the CSCU system. The goal is that the library’s permanent collection will include work in a variety of two-dimensional media from the faculty, staff, and students from Connecticut’s state college and university systems, as well as from the general public. Purchases for the gallery’s permanent collection are expected to begin during the Spring 2023 semester. All art chosen for the three Diversity 365 exhibitions was selected anonymously by a reviewing committee.

Kwadwo Adae, from New Haven, had his work Protester Portraits selected for the show. As Adae describes in his artist’s statement, Protester Portraits consists of five large canvases that document the group fellow protesters that he met while “exercising his first amendment right of peaceable assembly protesting against police violence throughout Connecticut.”

Adae, Kwadwo, Protester Portraits, oil on canvas, 2020Julie Ann Liefeld, from Old Lyme, created two mixed media pieces that were selected for the show. She explains in her artist’s statement that her two-piece series entitled “TOO MUCH, never enough” explores her experience living with hidden disability including ADHD and a learning disability. She writes, “The two pieces demonstrate at two points in time, what it feels like trying to achieve value, inclusion, and acceptance in an impatient world that values linearity.”

Other artists represented in the show are Noel Vernon Bernard from Bridgeport, Valerie Garlick from New Haven and Sarah Schneiderman from Glastonbury. Exhibition #3 is available to view virtually or in person. The Diversity 365 Gallery is open during regular library hours at Three Rivers, Monday-Thursday, 8:30 am-8 pm and Friday 8:30 am-3 pm. Hours can change for holidays and semester breaks, so please call before your visit to confirm that the library/gallery is open, 860-215-9051. For questions about the show, please contact Laura Vasselle, LVasselle@trcc.commnet.edu.

Fall 2022 Dean’s List Announced

Three Rivers Community College is pleased to release the Fall 2022 Dean’s List for publication. Students earn their place on the Dean’s List by receiving a 3.4 or higher grade point average based on a minimum of 12 credit hours.

The list of names is listed below in order by last name.

Name	City	State
Hailey Abate	Bozrah	CT
Peyton Adams	Canterbury	CT
Willow Alexander-Mackin	Griswold	CT
Marian Alvarez	Groton	CT
Eric Anderson	Groton	CT
Alexandrea Andrews	Mystic	CT
Caitlyn Anton	East Lyme	CT
Gabriel Arevalo	Quaker Hill	CT
Maria Arizaga	New London	CT
Shannon Armstead	Mystic	CT
James Arnold	Jewett City	CT
Zhane Ashford	East Lyme	CT
Thomas Ashton	Oakdale	CT
Zunera Asif	Old Lyme	CT
Dominique Aviles	Norwich	CT
Patricia Monique Avisan	Norwich	CT
Emma Ayala	East Lyme	CT
Gwendolyn Badillo	Uncasville	CT
Joshua Baird	Jewett City	CT
Davina Banks	Groton	CT
April Beckwith	Lebanon	CT
Eric Belske	Putnam	CT
Tiffany Bemis	Mystic	CT
Matthew Benda	Preston	CT
Brooke Benedict	Hampton	CT
Kyle Benito	Hampton	CT
Yulianie Berrios Saez	New London	CT
Olivia Bessette	Oneco	CT
Jesse Bisunia	Groton	CT
Nevaeh Blakes	New London	CT
Jacinta Blanchette	Lisbon	CT
Patrick Bogan JR	Groton	CT
Tamara Boisvert	Columbia	CT
Noelle Boles	Groton	CT
Christopher Boling	Griswold	CT
Justin Bonosconi	East Lyme	CT
Chriselle Booc	Groton	CT
Chloe Boucher	Preston	CT
Briana Brady	Plymouth	CT
Julia Breen	Norwich	CT
Emily Brennan	Commack	NY
Gavin Bridgham	Voluntown	CT
Rebecca Brock	Pawcatuck	CT
Victoria Broughton	Waterford	CT
Jamaal Bruzual	Norwich	CT
Stephanie Bryan	Norwich	CT
Michael John Bucoy	Waterford	CT
Grace Bufmack	Mystic	CT
Chandra Burton	Chester	CT
Skyleen Busanet	Willimantic	CT
Lourdes Caguana	Norwich	CT
Angelina Caminati	Colchester	CT
Corbin Capone	Colchester	CT
Ashlynn Carroll	Groton	CT
Nyila Carter	Norwich	CT
Lily Cartier	Mystic	CT
Melanie Cento	Groton	CT
Faith Cervera	Waterford	CT
Sophie Chamberlain	Lisbon	CT
Aubrey Chambers	New London	CT
Matthew Chant	Waterford	CT
Simon Chapple	Waterford	CT
Sandy Chen-Ruan	Norwich	CT
Philip Chopak	Yonkers	NY
Jack Ciaglo	Colchester	CT
Keagan Cicardo	Yantic	CT
Megan Civitello	Norwich	CT
Allison Clark	Willington	CT
Andrew Clark	Quaker Hill	CT
Zachary Clark	North Franklin	CT
Amy Clarke	Norwich	CT
Jacob Cohoon	Griswold	CT
Emma Cote	Norwich	CT
Heather Craven	Norwich	CT
Kerrie Craven	Preston	CT
MinaBella Crouch	Baltic	CT
Gabriela Cruz Velasquez	Groton	CT
Sarah Cruz Velasquez	Oakdale	CT
Corri Cummings	Columbia	CT
Samuel Curcuro	Ledyard	CT
Kyle Cutler	Mystic	CT
Lexi Cwynar	Norwich	CT
Mallory Cyr	Canterbury	CT
Andrea Da Dalt	Mystic	CT
Rebecca Danila	Woodstock	CT
Avery Dauplaise	Norwich	CT
Ada Davila-Rosario	Waterford	CT
Christopher Day	Gales Ferry	CT
Antonio DeCosta	Groton	CT
Minely Dejesus	Norwich	CT
Ashley Delaney	Colchester	CT
Kathleen Delaney	Peabody	MA
Darielys Delgado Rivera	Willimantic	CT
Derek Denis	North Franklin	CT
Gloria Depasquale	Ledyard	CT
Corey Detscher	Groton	CT
Gracie Deveny	Chaplin	CT
Cris Dias	Norwich	CT
Riley Dickson	Deep River	CT
Savannah Dickson	Southington	CT
Stephen Dodson	Norwich	CT
Victoria Domkowski	Middletown	CT
Tsering Dorjee	Uncasville	CT
Olivia Doyle	Griswold	CT
Kayla Draddy	Mystic	CT
Anslie Dybala	Groton	CT
Benjamin England	Groton	CT
Tessa Fadden	Bozrah	CT
Dina Fares	Groton	CT
Hannah Farquhar	Groton	CT
Emily Farrington	Colchester	CT
Marisa Field	Groton	CT
Jonathan Fitzpatrick	Plainfield	CT
Cristian Flores	Norwich	CT
Karissa Fontaine	Norwich	CT
Lillyana Fort-Liss	Uncasville	CT
Jacob Fox	Chaplin	CT
Zachary Fox	Chaplin	CT
Justine France	Lebanon	CT
Garvin Francois	New London	CT
Cooper Frank	Mystic	CT
Mary Frank	Mystic	CT
Valerie Fredell	Groton	CT
Brieanna Fuentes	Norwich	CT
Tenisha Gagne	Norwich	CT
Baylee Gagnier	Oakdale	CT
Joshua Gannotti	North Stonington	CT
Mellisa Gardner	East Lyme	CT
Gabrielle Garvin Corey	Groton	CT
Arianna Gauthier	Preston	CT
Serenity Gerhart	Ivoryton	CT
Natalie Gill	Norwich	CT
William Girard	Colchester	CT
Barbara Glinka	Stamford	CT
Shelby Lyn Gomes	Voluntown	CT
Josiah Gonzalez	Hampton	CT
Kimberly Gonzalez	Willimantic	CT
Benjamin Gordon	Ledyard	CT
Jessica Goulart	Oneco	CT
Brianna Graham	Voluntown	CT
Moniece Grandy	Norwich	CT
Benjamin Grant	Niantic	CT
Devin Greene	Westerly	RI
Benjamin Grottole	Colchester	CT
Mykayla Guimond	Preston	CT
Kevin Guinan	Colchester	CT
Fadi Hage Jr.	Waterford	CT
Danielle Haggan	Gales Ferry	CT
Kevin Harrell	Norwich	CT
Ethan Hasson	North Franklin	CT
Linya He	Uncasville	CT
Anna Hebert	Norwich	CT
Mariana Hensell	Norwich	CT
Qing Hensley	North Stonington	CT
Ryan Hewett	Andover	CT
Christopher Hinson	Groton	CT
Niurka Hiraldo-Rivera	Norwich	CT
John Hoult	Waterford	CT
Trevor Howard	Colchester	CT
Tammy Howe	Willimantic	CT
Pedro Huaman	Norwich	CT
Mia Hughley	Uncasville	CT
Eugene Im	Groton	CT
Erika Isabel-Cruz	Norwich	CT
Meghann Isbell	Gales Ferry	CT
Sheenkai Jabary	North Windham	CT
Aubree Jay	Groton	CT
Kayci Johnson	Montville	CT
Lauren Johnson	Willimantic	CT
Kathrine Jones	Ledyard	CT
Safi Kachmar	Norwich	CT
Bridget Keller	Norwich	CT
Michael Kelly	Waterford	CT
Mohammad Khan	Niantic	CT
Jae Seung Kim	Uncasville	CT
Nathaniel Kimpan	Mystic	CT
Brianna King	Windham	CT
Gabbriella King	Windham	CT
Benjamin Kinnie	Griswold	CT
Austin Kliphon	Gales Ferry	CT
Carla Koeser	White Plains	NY
Shawn Kornichuk	New London	CT
Benjamin Korytkowski	Canterbury	CT
Connor Kuenneke	Mystic	CT
Andrew Kunze	Clinton	CT
Lisa Kutneski	Plainfield	CT
Hunter Lacerte	North Stonington	CT
Lisha Lachney	Norwich	CT
Bethany Lacy-Lebiszczak	Colchester	CT
Harry Lai	Uncasville	CT
Coen Laibrandt	Lebanon	CT
Rachel Lake	Groton	CT
Tara Laliberte	Plainfield	CT
Jennifer Lavoie	Voluntown	CT
Julia Lebitz	Griswold	CT
Heather LeClair	Norwich	CT
Jonathan Ley	Plainfield	CT
Yanli Li	Norwich	CT
Zhao Heng Li	Norwich	CT
Emmyline Lind	New London	CT
Taylin Littlefield	Jewett City	CT
Dana Lively	Norwich	CT
Emma Longton	Norwich	CT
Katie Lozier	Ledyard	CT
Heather Lussier	Norwich	CT
Rebecca Lussier	Canterbury	CT
Coty Maccracken	Jewett City	CT
Katie MacLean	Lebanon	CT
Sara Magnuson	Columbia	CT
Stephanie Maiolo	Groton	CT
Daniel Manter	Niantic	CT
Julia Maranzano	Gales Ferry	CT
Christina Marotti	Wallingford	CT
Julie Marr	Groton	CT
Tracy Marr	Groton	CT
Rebecca Marsh	Griswold	CT
Bonnie Martin	Gales Ferry	CT
David Martinez	Canterbury	CT
Dominic Martinez	Gales Ferry	CT
Paige Matherne	Niantic	CT
Tyler Mathiasen	East Haddam	CT
Franklin May	Jewett City	CT
James Mayo	Vernon Rockville	CT
Jessica Mazerolle	Niantic	CT
Pinky Mazibuko	New London	CT
Sunitta McCarthy	Colchester	CT
Meghan McCoy	Niantic	CT
Kayli McMahon	Waterford	CT
Donald Mellon	Waterford	CT
Brianna Mendez	Uncasville	CT
Hyrum Merkley	Waterford	CT
Jarred Michon	Oakdale	CT
Luke Michon	Oakdale	CT
Ethan Miller	Norwich	CT
Jackson Miller	Norwich	CT
Vicki Miller	Colchester	CT
Daylen Miner	Baltic	CT
Zackary Mingo	Bozrah	CT
Korrin Minter	Preston	CT
Zachary Moore	Moosup	CT
Anthony Moreshead	Waterford	CT
Thomas Moriarty	Norwich	CT
Samantha Morrissey	Quaker Hill	CT
DeeAnn Morton	Uncasville	CT
Lily Morton	Griswold	CT
Owen Muche	Mystic	CT
Julian Muntimuri	Ledyard	CT
Jillian Murallo	Uncasville	CT
Ghulam Mustafa	Pawcatuck	CT
Elyce Nadeau	Norwich	CT
Sophia Naragon	Preston	CT
Beludji Narcisse	Norwich	CT
Patrick Nazim	Chicopee	MA
Fabiana Negron	Willimantic	CT
Stephanie Nehme	Niantic	CT
Shonda Northup	Ledyard	CT
Michael O Gara	North Stonington	CT
Thomas O’Connor	Preston	CT
Hope O’Lari	Voluntown	CT
Hannah Olesen	Taftville	CT
Kerian Ortiz Velazquez	North Windham	CT
Russell Pajor	Colchester	CT
Madison Pallas	Andover	CT
Nicole Palmer	Norwich	CT
Jason Palomino	Ledyard	CT
Ryleigh Pappas	Preston	CT
Dustin Paquette	Colchester	CT
Cassandra Parma	East Lyme	CT
Nikhil Patel	Mystic	CT
Emma Paulhus	Columbia	CT
Delaney Peabody	Salem	CT
Cierra Peaslee	Wauregan	CT
Allison Peloquin	Griswold	CT
Autumn Pepin	Jewett City	CT
Marieliz Perez	Norwich	CT
Austin Perkett	North Grosvenordale	CT
Lucia Perry	Norwich	CT
Charles Persi	Waterford	CT
Jonnathan Pesantez	Pawcatuck	CT
Nicholas Piciw	Shelton	CT
Dante Pimental	Groton	CT
Felicia Pinkham	New London	CT
Andrew Pires	Columbia	CT
Danesha Pontes	Willimantic	CT
Ashley Price	Salem	CT
Sarah Price	Plainfield	CT
Victoria Puapuaga	Willimantic	CT
Janel Putz	Colchester	CT
Karol Puyo	New London	CT
Sencere Rabel	Norwich	CT
Tyler Radford	Uncasville	CT
Robert Randall	Norwich	CT
Nicole Rapp	Groton	CT
Joseph Reilly	Naugatuck	CT
Katie Reinhart	Pawcatuck	CT
Jayvin Repil	Oakdale	CT
Rodolfo Reyes	Oakdale	CT
Calvin Reynoso	Waterford	CT
Brianna Rich	New London	CT
Max Richardson	Groton	CT
Keiry Rivas	Norwich	CT
Keishla Rodriguez	Norwich	CT
Amy Rood	North Windham	CT
Ariana Rosado	Waterford	CT
Ashley Roselund	Waterford	CT
Samantha Round	North Stonington	CT
Jared Rouse	Norwich	CT
Arianna Rudko	Colchester	CT
Andrew Ruffo	Norwich	CT
Jackie Salter	Voluntown	CT
Keaton Sanborn	Pawcatuck	CT
Sarah Sauceda	San Diego	CA
Jacob Sawicki	Middle Haddam	CT
Alexander Sawyer	Griswold	CT
Emma Schafer	Norwich	CT
Jacob Schlauder	Stonington	CT
Rhiannon Schmidt	Canterbury	CT
Adam Schumacher	Norwich	CT
Rachael Scovish	Oakdale	CT
Samantha Seddon	Oakdale	CT
Madison Selander	Groton	CT
Mikayla Senkewitcz	Waterford	CT
Rylee Sfakios	North Windham	CT
Michelle Shaw	North Stonington	CT
Jake Shumbo	Colchester	CT
Sherily Sierra	Norwich	CT
Samuel Sims	East Lyme	CT
Ryder Singer-Johnson	Niantic	CT
Bailey Slocum	Stonington	CT
Aryssa Smith	Jewett City	CT
Caleb Smith	Salem	CT
Chloe Smith	Oakdale	CT
Jennifer Snyder	Colchester	CT
Vanessa Sotelo	Gales Ferry	CT
Cameron Sousa	Groton	CT
Promise Spada	Mystic	CT
Meghan Speers	Old Lyme	CT
Rebecca Spera	Pawcatuck	CT
Albert Speziali II	East Lyme	CT
Samrin Akhter Sristy	Norwich	CT
Asher St George-Crouch	Ledyard	CT
Sandra St Germain	Baltic	CT
Jaizier St Hilaire	New London	CT
Amanda Stanberry	Mystic	CT
Nicole Stands	Uncasville	CT
Melanie Stanley	Norwich	CT
Caroline Stanton	Colchester	CT
Matthew Stevens	Westbrook	CT
Carly Straub	Mystic	CT
Esther Stuart	Oakdale	CT
Kendra Studer	Pawcatuck	CT
Natalia Suiarkova	Barkhamsted	CT
Timothy Sullivan	Waterford	CT
Logan Swan	Norwich	CT
Shellyse Swift-Sammy	New London	CT
Kane Taber	Plainville	CT
Jackson Tassoni	Canterbury	CT
Lacey Tatro	Voluntown	CT
Alli Teti	Groton	CT
Leah Thomas	Mystic	CT
Jennifer Timmons	Colchester	CT
Ankush Tolani	Jewett City	CT
Abigail Toof	Voluntown	CT
Herminia Torre	North Stonington	CT
Brianna Torres	New London	CT
Yvette Torvisco	Norwich	CT
Sierra Tylaska	Preston	CT
Marisa Vacca	Pawcatuck	CT
Destiny Valeza-Velez	Norwich	CT
Nicholas Vanasse	East Lyme	CT
Hannah VanDevander	Pawcatuck	CT
Elena Vasquez	New London	CT
Ernest Kyle Victorino	Mystic	CT
Robert Vose	Waterford	CT
Kylee Waite	New London	CT
Natalie Wallace	East Lyme	CT
Liam Ward	Waterford	CT
Meagan Warner	New London	CT
Cayden Washko	Storrs	CT
Brianna Waters	Colchester	CT
Marissa Waters	Norwich	CT
Kayleigh Watson	Oakdale	CT
James Weitlauf	Mystic	CT
Elysse Wenc	Waterford	CT
Gabrielle Wheeler	Ledyard	CT
Jason Whitford	Groton	CT
Mariel Willbanks	Old Saybrook	CT
Caroline Willis	Gales Ferry	CT
Cody Woodcock	Colchester	CT
Robin Wright	Preston	CT
David Wrinn	Colchester	CT
Evan Zach	Danielson	CT
Alisson Zelaya	New London	CT

In the News | SAVING OUR PLANET FROM OURSELVES

Norwich, CT (The Day, January 19, 2023) — Professor Diba Khan-Bureau of Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, a renowned environmental engineer, has spent her professional years both in the classroom and in the field, striving to preserve the health and dignity of the natural world, which our own species has so earnestly been despoiling at an alarming rate. And though our species has labored at the deplorable practice of self-serving gains – at the price of other lifeforms on Planet Earth – dedicated activists like this tireless professional stay the course for a better world.

TRCC students work with first graders from Salem School, who are seen inspecting a river simulator last year.

A onetime environmental engineer for Electric Boat in Groton (mid 1990s), Dr. Khan-Bureau sought to make more of a significant impact in the critical areas of hazardous waste removal, air compliance and, above all, the ever-looming menace of climate change, which she feels must be taken far more seriously.

“While at EB and managing hazardous waste, I dealt with harmful constituents that are commonly found in industrial manufacturing,” she explained. “Certain states, including Connecticut, have strict regulations for this process.”

Professor Khan-Bureau makes it clear that many of us are unaware of harmful products we are exposed to daily, such as plastics, which she states are, “showing up everywhere.” And as necessary and important the work this energetic and still young professional was doing for Electric Boat, Diba Khan-Bureau felt she could make more of an impact as a scientist functioning out in the actual field.

“I fear we are systematically impacting our environment negatively and we need to do something about that now. Herbicides and pesticides are destroying insect species. This sort of behavior must be addressed if we are to keep our world healthy. But it’s extremely difficult to change people’s thinking when you consider there are many countries (80%) that actually include insects as a part of their daily diets.”

The gravity of the rising crisis of our kind’s habitually destructive activities impelled the young professor into becoming a more practicing activist in the field of environmental engineering—leading not only into groundbreaking scientific discoveries of her own, but also into the ultra-important area of education and enlisting eager students into the field as well.

“I was credited with the discovery of a new species of diatoms: the Didymosphenia Hullii.” (For those of us not entirely tuned into scientific jargon, a diatom is a photosynthetic single cell organism … of which there are millions!) And Khan-Bureau is among those knowledgeable enough, active enough, and keen enough in her profession to have made such a discovery.

She not only continues with her invaluable contributions in studying and helping protect the natural world — to which she has devoted a lifetime — she has now also encouraged and mobilized a corps of climate and field warriors, forming a veritable student army of environmental science majors at Three Rivers Community College.

“I’m teaching them about the science involved and the regulations that are crucial both nationwide and worldwide regarding the concerns of today,” Khan-Bureau said. “That includes biodiversity decline, water and air pollution, and the peril of invasive species to name only some of the studies involved. My students and I also vibracore (technique for collecting core samples from riverbeds) into the earth to determine how long these species of nuisance diatoms have been in the Farmington River in Connecticut.”

In essence, this particular professor has transcended the classroom by mustering together and leading a team of budding young students that now share her longtime commitments and convictions.

“Everyone needs to take more seriously our responsibilities to this planet,” she explained with an iron passion that runs deep and sincere. “I don’t think everyday people are deliberately trying to ruin the environment, but the public needs to be better educated about our ecosystem and the services it provides for us, while large corporations must be more mindful of consequences.”

Undeterred by the vitriol spewing out from crass radio and television talk show hosts — and from shortsighted legislators who treat the climate change crisis like the punchline of a crude joke, Khan-Bureau forges ahead with her rapidly rising army of staunch science activists committed to the rescue of our natural world . . . and our future.

“I believe in humanity and in the people who are truly concerned. The beautiful thing about education is that it opens the door to knowledge and opportunity. We’ll find a way,” she added with a smile of quiet confidence.

Our planet has a potent player in this woman—and those who are now following the path that led her to a life of purposeful passion. Doctor Diba Khan-Bureau is training them to care enough about what’s happening to our planet and encouraging them to enter an arena where they might assist in turning it around on behalf of a world in dire need of help.

“Well find a way,” this sincere crusader for our environment assures us.

By: Nicholas Checker

The original article can be found here: Saving Our Planet From Ourselves

Extended Hours

Can’t make it during the day? Tuesday, Jan. 10, and Wednesday, Jan. 11, Three Rivers is offering full extended hours from 8:30 am – 6:30 pm. Talk to a cashier, see an advisor, and more. Spring semester starts on January 20, so now’s the time to register for your classes!

Full Scholarships Available for Nuclear Engineering Technology Program

Three Rivers Community College, the College Foundation, and Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut/Millstone Power Station are again offering 16 full scholarships for the Three Rivers Community College Nuclear Engineering Technology Degree program. The only program of its kind in New England, it is considered the best in the nation. Through classroom, laboratory, and simulator instruction, this program educates students in the theories underlying the safe operation of nuclear power generating stations. Scholarships are limited – apply NOW for students interested in beginning the program in the Fall of 2023.

The scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, books, and fees for a two-year associate degree program, starting with the Fall 2023 semester. Additionally, students receive a guaranteed $150 per month stipend during the nine-month academic year and have a twelve-week paid internship experience at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station during the summer between their first and second academic year. This gives the students the opportunity to see nuclear utility operations first hand and develop significant practical work experience.

Those opting to enter the workplace as technicians have found their education and experience in strong demand by Connecticut business and industry. Other scholarship recipients, upon completion of the program, have successfully transferred to nuclear engineering and health physics baccalaureate degree programs in the Northeast and nationally.

To learn more about the scholarship and the Nuclear Engineering Technology program curriculum, call Professor James Sherrard, Nuclear Program Chairman, at 860-215-9472. Or, visit www.threerivers.edu/nuclear to read more and complete the online application.

60th Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 45 Nursing Student Graduates

nursing class gathers for picture

On Friday, December 16, Three Rivers Community College held its sixtieth Nursing Pinning Ceremony. Hundreds of friends and family gathered to watch their loved ones take the final step in becoming nurses, a select few in the same room and others in nearby classrooms where the ceremony was broadcast live. During the ceremony, 45 nursing students of the Class of Fall 2022 received their nursing pin, marking the completion of their nursing degree and serving as a symbol of their readiness to be compassionate professional caregivers.

The students have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing. Upon completion of a licensing examination, the graduates will have earned the credential of Registered Nurse (RN).

Three Rivers graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are consistently above the national average, with a three-year average of over 95%. Graduates also report a 98% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.

List of Nursing Graduates with their towns

Kelsey Allen-McQuade, Baltic

Jullye Amero, Waterford

Abbygayle Anderson, Chaplin

Bobbi-Jo Andrews, Storrs Mansfield

Stacey Annis, Niantic

Gregory Aurelien, New London

Soumaya Bahi, Old Lyme

Jordan Bennett, Brooklyn

Opumbir Bhinder, Waterford

Mikaela Boone, Norwich

Hannah Brewer, Dayville

Anna Cavalieri, Waterford

Patience Danso-Dapaah, Ellington

Kaylee DeFelice, Norwich

Danielle DeLay, North Grosvenordale

Devin Echle, Pawcatuck

Oneida Ewers, Old Lyme

Lauren Fiasconaro, Chaplin

Brianna Hogan, Griswold

Madison Holdmeyer, Oakdale

Benjamin Jackson, Old Lyme

Anjeza Kami, East Lyme

Lauren Kane, Westbrook

Michelle Keane-Taylor, Stafford Springs

Monique Lorenzo, Oakdale

Michaela Marshall, Danielson

Pinky Mazibuko, New London

Leah McNeir, Mystic

Lenka Minar, Pawcatuck

Korrin Minter, Preston

Vanessa Moffitt, Windham

Victoria Mott, Willington

Natalie Muller, Colchester

Vanessa Nunez, New London

Bethany Oliver, Danielson

Taylor O’Neill, Pawcatuck

Kathryn Pierre, Jewett City

Bianca Rodriguez, Willimantic

Yulia Ryder, New London

Karyn Stamper, Central Village

Rhiannon Suarez, Oakdale

Kristina Torrente, Danielson

Brittany Turner, Groton

Morgan Vanflatern, Pomfret Center

Robert Vose, Waterford

CT Community College Artists Explore Diversity in Three Rivers “Exhibition 2”

The community is invited to “Exhibition 2,” a selection of works by artists from Connecticut’s community colleges exploring themes of diversity, equity and inclusion in Three Rivers Community College’s new Diversity 365 Gallery through Dec. 12. A closing reception will be held Dec. 13 from 6-8 p.m. to meet the artists.

A visual depiction of a song.

The exhibition features two-dimensional works in a variety of media by staff and a student from Gateway, Housatonic, Manchester, Naugatuck Valley, Three Rivers and Tunxis Community Colleges.

Included in “Exhibition 2” are reduction relief prints by Naugatuck Valley Community College’s Madeeha Sheikh, created through a complex process in which sections of printing block are carved away before each new color is layered over the others. Sheikh used this process to create a five-color nonrepresentational self-portrait, “In My Room,” and her wedding image, “Shaad.” Her artist statement explains that her work explores LGBTQ+ South Asian Muslim personhood and how her self-portrait “relates to the way each person can be perceived by others as many different people, and the boundaries that exist between these identities.”

Patrick Keller, a staff member at both Three Rivers and Quinebaug Valley Community Colleges, digitally created “Colors” by visually

Sheikh’s nonrepresentational self-portrait reduction print “In My Room.”

interpreting a section from the Black Pumas’ song by the same name. Each colored rectangle represents a single musical note on the scale. The vertical length of a colored rectangle corresponds to the note’s frequency, while wider rectangles correspond to longer notes in the passage. Added to this visual interpretation, Keller repeats the pattern four times, filtering the assigned colors to represent four differences in color vision as defined by the ophthalmologic terms: trichromacy, or normal color vision; deuteranopia, a reduced sensitivity to greens; tritanopia, an inability to distinguish blues from greens; and achromatopsia, a condition which causes the color spectrum to be perceived in tones of white, gray and black. “Thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion, it’s important to remember that we don’t all see the same way,” Keller wrote. “There is beauty in exploring these differences, and in recognizing that we are all much more than meets the eye. The song ‘Colors’ itself is an ode to how the diversity in the world around us is a source of joy.”.

In addition to the work of Sheikh and Keller, “Exhibition 2” includes pieces from the following artists: Elisa Eaton, Manchester Community College; Elizabeth Efenecy, Gateway Community College; David C. Jackson, Tunxis Community College; Kristin Lund, Housatonic Community College; and Ashley Thompson, Three Rivers Community College.

The Diversity 365 Gallery is located in the Three Rivers Donald R. Welter Library and is open Monday – Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., and Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. when the college is open. Pieces can also be viewed in a virtual gallery available at www.threerivers.edu/diversity365.

Exhibition #3” is scheduled for the spring 2023 semester and will be an open call to artists from the CSCU community as well as to residents of Connecticut. Announcements on submission deadlines and procedures will be posted to the Diversity 365 Gallery’s webpage in December 2022.

The college is in the process of creating a permanent collection for the Diversity 365 Gallery. The selection committee will choose art for the permanent collection from exhibits one through three in spring 2023 semester. The college’s purchase of the permanent collection will be funded by Three Rivers College Foundation.

ALERT: It’s not too late to file your 2021 taxes. Don’t miss out on new CT Child Tax Rebate!

EVEN THOUGH THE TRADITIONAL TAX DEADLINE HAS PASSED, YOU CAN STILL CLAIM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAX REBATES!

Connecticut enacted a new Connecticut Child Tax Rebate for income eligible families for 2022. Families can apply starting on June 1, through July 31, 2022 to receive the rebate of up to $250 per child for a maximum of three children. Visit the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services website for more details on the rebate and how to apply, if eligible.

Nearly 50,000 families in Connecticut have not received federal Child Tax Rebate or Stimulus payments. Since most ALICE families are eligible for the full Child Tax Rebate amount ($3,000 per child aged 6–17 and $3,600 per child aged 5 and under), more than $147 million in rebates can still be accessed by families in Connecticut.

The NEW Connecticut Child Tax Rebate provides $250 per-child tax rebate, for up to three children, for lower and middle earning families. Qualifying households include single tax filers with children with income less than $100,000 and couples filing jointly with children with income less than $200,000. The state will use 2021 tax filings to deliver payments to qualifying families this fall.

Download and share the Connecticut Child Tax Rebate flyer.

HOW TO CLAIM TAX REBATES AND PAYMENTS

In as little as 15 minutes, you can file for your federal Child Tax Rebate and stimulus payments.
If you aren’t required to file a tax return (typically you earn less than $12,500 as an individual or $25,000 if married) you can claim your Child Tax Rebate and stimulus payments for FREE at GetYourRefund Espanol.

For assistance applying for the CT Child Tax Rebate:

On the 2-1-1 website, the link below will list agencies that are assisting with applying for the rebate for those individuals who have limited access to internet and/or technology.

CT Child Tax Rebate Application Assistance Sites

File a full tax return for FREE to receive your maximum refund.
Filing a full refund allows eligible households to claim the Child Tax Rebate, stimulus payments, Earned Income Tax Credit, and the new CT Child Tax Rebate.

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We look forward to working with you to schedule appointments for FREE tax preparation for the next tax season in 2023.

Nuclear Scholarship Deadline Extended to MARCH 4

TRCC Nuclear Scholarship Deadline Extended Apply today — the full Nuclear Scholarship Deadline has been extended to March 4! Complete the online application at www.threerivers.edu/dominion.

The scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, books, and fees for a two-year associate degree program at Three Rivers Community College, starting with the Fall 2022 semester . Additionally, students receive a $150 per month stipend during the nine-month academic year and have a twelve-week paid internship experience at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station during the summer between their first and second academic year. This gives the students the opportunity to see nuclear utility operations first hand and develop significant practical work experience.

Through classroom, laboratory, and simulator instruction, this program educates students in the theories underlying the safe operation of nuclear power generating stations. Those opting to enter the workplace as technicians have found their education and experience in strong demand by Connecticut business and industry. Other scholarship recipients, upon completion of the program, have successfully transferred to nuclear engineering and health physics baccalaureate degree programs in state and nationally.