In the News | U.S. Secretary of Education Visits Groton to highlight career technical education

Groton, CT (The Day, January 14, 2022) —

Ella T. Grasso Technical High School junior Tyler White, wearing a helmet and protective gear in his welding shop, told U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Friday that the past three years of his life have been absolutely phenomenal and he’s learned so much.

“I’m just so thankful every day,” White said.

When Cardona asked White if he was developing needed skills, White said he feels more than qualified to go out and get a job. He then did a demonstration of the welding skills he is learning at Grasso Tech.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, invited Cardona to Groton on Friday to put the spotlight on a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon school, Thames River Magnet School, and then to talk at Grasso Tech about an issue critical to the region and the country: how to give kids the skills they need for the 21st century.

“It’s really inspiring to hear from students directly how much they love school, how much they love their programming, and, for so many of these students, they know they have jobs lined up when they leave,” Cardona told reporters near the end of his visit at Grasso.

He said this is an example of what the federal government wants to see across the country: beautiful facilities with not only opportunities for K-12 students, but also programs at technical schools for adults who are looking to reskill and get jobs. 

In addition to housing programs for its high school students, the Grasso Tech building is home to the Three Rivers Community College Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center, which has classes for adult students. High school students participating in the Youth Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative also take an evaluation at the center, according to the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board website.

“Career technical education is a priority for this administration. It’s a priority for me,” Cardona said.

“We need to provide our students in Connecticut and across the country options for success, and I believe Connecticut has a pathway to do that,” he added.

He said he really feels Connecticut can lead the nation in some of this work. He said it’s important to have the career technical education curriculum in comprehensive high schools, as well as technical high schools, so kids have choices when they graduate.  

During a panel discussion at Grasso Tech — in the expanded school building that opened in 2019 — students told Cardona and Courtney about all they are learning and their plans for the future.

Senior Juliana Walker, who is in the Bio-science and Environmental Technology Trade and wants to be a doctor, said she loves how she is learning so many different things, from regenerative farming to wastewater treatment, and realizing how many possibilities there are.

She said she feels very prepared, and her teachers are trying to impress upon students to be the best that they can be and then they will have all these options in front of them.

“That’s the key thing, options, right?” Cardona said. “I went to a technical high school but I ended up going to college for teaching — but I had options.”

Courtney told the students that their interests connect with where the country is going. For example, the infrastructure bill that just passed relates to automotive technology with investments in electrical vehicles, building technology and climate change, among other fields.

Thames River Magnet School

Earlier in the day, Cardona and Courtney visited Thames River Magnet School, a new elementary school that opened at the beginning of the school year along with Mystic River Magnet School. The Groton school district has five themed magnet elementary schools.

Groton Superintendent Susan Austin welcomed Cardona to the Blue Ribbon School.

“Beautiful school,” Cardona said. “Congratulations.”

He and Courtney met with Groton school officials, including Austin, Assistant Superintendent Philip Piazza, Board of Education Chairwoman Kim Shepardson Watson, Principal Jamie Giordano and Assistant Principal Ada Allen, and toured the school.

In a first grade classroom in the environmental and marine sciences magnet school, Cardona asked the students sitting in a circle on a brightly colored rug what made their class so special.

The students volunteered answers: they’re good at math, do hard work, fix their mistakes, never give up, and they’re good at reading.

“Keep up the great work!” Cardona told the class near the end of the visit.

He then visited a second grade classroom during the morning social check-in time and asked teacher Collin Powers how important it is to have that time.

Powers said it gives him a chance to gauge how the students are doing, and it gives the students a chance to build on relationships and share about topics, such as their favorite food.

Expanding opportunities

The school district is working to increase career and technical opportunities.

Among the initiatives, the school district recently was awarded a Department of Defense Education Activity grant that “will provide students with opportunities to pursue more career pathways in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and Health Sciences,” according to information provided by the district.

Ella T. Grasso Technical High School Principal Patricia Feeney said Grasso Tech and Fitch High School will partner for a “Career Academy,” in which Fitch juniors and seniors will have the chance, starting this fall, to go to Grasso Tech after school to learn a trade and receive credit.  

Austin also is seeking more collaboration between Fitch and Grasso Tech. Already, the Fitch Falcon’s Robotic team includes students from Fitch, Grasso Tech, and the Marine Science Magnet School.

 

By Kimberly Drelich, Day Staff Writer

The original article can be found here: “U.S. Secretary of Education visits Groton to highlight career technical education“

 

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In the News Three Rivers art students showcased at Norwich Arts Center

Norwich (January 6, 2022) — Norwich Arts Center’s Gallery One exhibit in January is dedicated to five star art students at Three Rivers Community College.

“The artists were chosen because they have been doing outstanding work,” said Sandra Jeknavorian, visual fine arts coordinator and art professor at Three Rivers. “Their work represents the kind of assignments we do at the college. Some are beginners, some at the end of their degree program, and one who is an ‘lifelong learner’ senior citizen who is taking the classes for personal enrichment. The exhibit is a great reflection of the diversity of students studying at Three Rivers.”

The five students — Marc Bryan, Robert Lattanzio, Kelsey Ng, Bellana Parungao and Aurora Vennari — will be hanging over 30 works in NAC’s Gallery One, which offers a new exhibit each month. Their artwork includes landscapes, portraits, illustrations and abstracts.

Jeknavorian said she hopes the exhibit helps raise awareness of the arts program at Three Rivers. Students of any skill level, from beginner to accomplished, are welcome to enroll. Many of the classes are conducted online, some at the college. Courses are available individually or as part of an associate’s degree program. The program offers free tuition for individuals who do not have a college degree or are 62 years old or older. More information is available at threerivers.edu.

“There is a misconception that you have to be born with natural talent, which isn’t true,” Jeknavorian said. “All it takes is an interest, a desire to do it, a little encouragement, and learning the fundamentals from an instructor.”

The student exhibit will be officially opened at a reception on Friday, Jan. 7 during Norwich’s downtown First Friday events, 6 to 8 p.m., though the exhibit is available starting the day before, Jan. 6. Most or all of the artists will be present to talk about their work.

The original article can be found here: “Three Rivers art students showcased at Norwich Arts Center.“

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Fall 2021 Dean’s List Announced

Three Rivers Community College is pleased to release the Fall 2021 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. 

Full Name	City	State
Daliah R. Abu Farha	Norwich	CT
Denise S. Acon Morales	Stonington	CT
Samari Adan-Cabanas	Norwich	CT
Lenora Alcee	Uncasville	CT
Kenith Alicea Agosto	Griswold	CT
Jonathan Allen	Mystic	CT
Joy M. Amarante	Dayville	CT
Fabiola F. Amy	New London	CT
Eric G. Anderson	Groton	CT
Joseph R. Andrews	Uncasville	CT
Gavin Archibald	Oakdale	CT
Hannah Ardner	Fayetteville	NC
Gabriel Arevalo	Quaker Hill	CT
Maria Arizaga	New London	CT
James S. Arnold	Jewett City	CT
Zhane D. Ashford	East Lyme	CT
Thomas F. Ashton	Groton	CT
Caber Kent Aslayan	Gales Ferry	CT
Sierra Atchley	North Stonington	CT
Emma V. Ayala	East Lyme	CT
Ariel B. Babbitt	Gales Ferry	CT
Frederick A. Bacamante	Groton	CT
Cherie Baldoz	Mystic	CT
Lyndsay Baldwin	Sterling	CT
Jake Ballestrini	Ledyard	CT
Davina Banks	Groton	CT
Walery Bartoszewicz	New London	CT
Bo Beckmann	Preston	CT
Kami Bedingfield	Waterford	CT
Mustapha S. Bello	Uncasville	CT
Eric P. Belske	Putnam	CT
Matthew R. Benda	Preston	CT
Brooke E. Benedict	Hampton	CT
Brendan D. Bernier	Uncasville	CT
Olivia M. Bessette	Oneco	CT
Cassie T. Bingham	Plainfield	CT
Christopher Boling	Griswold	CT
Ivanelisse Bonet	Waterford	CT
Erin L. Borsari	Colchester	CT
Casey P. Boudah	Old Saybrook	CT
Laurie A. Bowers	Griswold	CT
Kayla E. Brackett	Waterford	CT
Briana L. Brady	Plymouth	CT
Amanda J. Brehler	Griswold	CT
Alexander M. Britt	Lebanon	CT
Rebecca Brock	Pawcatuck	CT
Victoria Broughton	Waterford	CT
Bonnie Brown	Groton	CT
Jamaal Bruzual	Norwich	CT
Stephanie J. Bryan	Norwich	CT
Tahlia F. Bryant	Canterbury	CT
Lilia Burdo	Norwich	CT
Kiera V. Burlingame McCord	Norwich	CT
Philip A. Burns	Gales Ferry	CT
Faith M. Burt	East Hampton	CT
Mahrukh Butt	Norwich	CT
Theodore J. Caliendo	Griswold	CT
Elva Callata Luque	New London	CT
Kelsey Camacho	Plainfield	CT
Torie R. Campbell	Groton	CT
Lisa Caplet	Bozrah	CT
Ayla Capozzoli	Niantic	CT
August L. Carignan	Danielson	CT
Grace Carter	Ledyard	CT
Nyila S. Carter	Norwich	CT
Noah S. Carver	Uncasville	CT
Haley Cassidy	Mystic	CT
Faith A. Cervera	Waterford	CT
Sophie J. Chamberlain	Lisbon	CT
Hannah M. Chapman	Preston	CT
Claire L. Charbonneau	Columbia	CT
Kaitlyn Chasse	Colchester	CT
Jason Chen	Norwich	CT
Alexander J. Chernack	Vernon Rockville	CT
Gabriella J. Chinigo	Preston	CT
Lakisha C. Chinn	Norwich	CT
Joseph J. Cirrito IV	Bozrah	CT
Zachary L. Clark	North Franklin	CT
Nathaniel S. Colby	Norwich	CT
Sarah Collins	Shelton	CT
Jamie M. Connors	Groton	CT
Kaitlin H. Contreras	Norwich	CT
Cory L. Converse	Preston	CT
Adia D. Cordova	Colchester	CT
Erin Cormier	Niantic	CT
Jennifer Cortes-Sanchez	Taftville	CT
Emma Cote	Norwich	CT
Lily Cotto	Groton	CT
Catherine B. Courtney	Norwich	CT
Julie Craig	Gales Ferry	CT
Andrew J. Craven	Preston	CT
Heather R. Craven	Norwich	CT
Kyle D. Cutler	Mystic	CT
Jennie M. Czelusniak	Canterbury	CT
Hope J. DAmico	Salem	CT
Natalie E. D’Amico	Niantic	CT
Ada Y. Davila-Rosario	New London	CT
Amber De Souza	East Lyme	CT
Derek Denis	North Franklin	CT
Gloria Depasquale	Ledyard	CT
Corey M. Detscher	Groton	CT
Jeremie DeWitt	Groton	CT
Savannah K. Dickson	Norwich	CT
Janie G. Dollard	Groton	CT
David M. Donnelly	Branford	CT
Sophia G. Dooley	New London	CT
Jessica Dorelus	Norwich	CT
Saphira Dorelus	Norwich	CT
Olivia M. Doyle	Griswold	CT
Jennifer Dragon	Bozrah	CT
LeMour Dufort	Norwich	CT
Kristopher Durham	Groton	CT
Deana L. Eager	Ledyard	CT
Jessica R. Eaton	Canterbury	CT
Cara A. Edwards	Oakdale	CT
Austin F. Egger	Pawcatuck	CT
Autumn Ehman	Waterford	CT
Savannah Eldridge	Preston	CT
Madelyn R. Ellis	Mystic	CT
Adam R. Ensley	Lisbon	CT
Kevin M. Evinger	Groton	CT
Rida Fatima	Norwich	CT
Kimberly A. Feliciano	Ledyard	CT
Marcos U. Fernandez Flores	Norwich	CT
Jonathan Fitzpatrick	Plainfield	CT
Sean Fitzpatrick	Waterford	CT
Alicia N. Fleming	Colchester	CT
Timothy W. Flynn	Ledyard	CT
Lillyana J. Fort	Uncasville	CT
Catherine Fox	Amherst	MA
Jacob Fox	Chaplin	CT
Zachary Fox	Chaplin	CT
Hunter S. Frank	Mystic	CT
Katherine E. Freeman	Pawcatuck	CT
Jessica French	New London	CT
Christopher J. Gabianelli	Groton	CT
Brian J. Gaffney	Stonington	CT
Logan T. Gagne	Oakdale	CT
Tenisha Gagne	Norwich	CT
Kaylee S. Gagnon	Griswold	CT
Joshua N. Gannotti	North Stonington	CT
Lauren A. Garrett	Taftville	CT
Oscar Garza	Sterling	CT
Garrett Gasparino	Jewett City	CT
Arianna N. Gauthier	Preston	CT
Jason Glenn	East Lyme	CT
Vanessa A. Golden	Oakdale	CT
Alicia J. Goldstein Rosales	Hartford	CT
Alyssa Gomes-Normil	Willimantic	CT
Josiah A. Gonzalez	Hampton	CT
Mykayla K. Guimond	Preston	CT
Caitlin M. Hall	Norwich	CT
Payton E. Hall	Gales Ferry	CT
Ahshon Harkness	New London	CT
Nadia A. Helme	Ledyard	CT
Osvaldo Hernandez	Windham	CT
Megan L. Hessling	Waterford	CT
Jessica L. Hewitt	Preston	CT
Jessica Hill	Groton	CT
Christopher Hinson	Groton	CT
Tami L. Howard	Norwich	CT
Tammy R. Howe	Willimantic	CT
Mia J. Hughley	Uncasville	CT
Andraya Jacangelo	Mystic	CT
Jacqueline Jackson	New London	CT
Kim Jankee	Norwich	CT
Sarah A. Jarry	Ledyard	CT
Hunter Jencks	Baltic	CT
Moriah Jensen	New London	CT
Madeline C. Johanson	Ledyard	CT
Caitlyn Johnson	Niantic	CT
Gere Johnson	New London	CT
Conor T. Jones	Norwich	CT
Samantha L. Jones	Groton	CT
Dimitri A. Joseph	New London	CT
McKenna June	Niantic	CT
Aykurt J. Kalican	Quaker Hill	CT
Kelly A. Kamienski	Voluntown	CT
Theodore M. Kapinos	Bozrah	CT
Kaley Kasacek	Canterbury	CT
Kelly Ann Kessler	Colchester	CT
Jae Seung Kim	Uncasville	CT
Juliet A. Kimble	Oakdale	CT
Brianna M. King	Windham	CT
Gabbriella V. King	Windham	CT
Benjamin Kinnie	Griswold	CT
Andrius S. Kirvelevicius	East Lyme	CT
Joseph Knapp	Niantic	CT
Natalie G. Kohrs-Monroe	Gales Ferry	CT
Madisyn Kondratowicz	Norwich	CT
Madelyn A. Kulman	Lebanon	CT
Sawyer G. Kury	Oakdale	CT
Jeniffer E. Ladino	Waterford	CT
Samantha A. Lajoie	Gales Ferry	CT
Rachel M. Lake	Groton	CT
Sophia M. Lamphere	Groton	CT
Aaron J. Lanati	Salem	CT
Katey Lanphear	Jewett City	CT
Danielle C. LaSalle	Taftville	CT
David P. Lassan	Sterling	CT
Pearl Lasser	Lyme	CT
Jodie Lattanzi	East Lyme	CT
Shahan Leach	Niantic	CT
Jesse Leckie	Gales Ferry	CT
Heather LeClair	Norwich	CT
Marcela Lee	Norwich	CT
Jordan E. Leroy	New London	CT
Emmyline A. Lind	New London	CT
Jianyi Liu	Norwich	CT
Dana Lively	Norwich	CT
Kayla A. Lopez	Groton	CT
Brianna N. Lord	Monroe	CT
Heather A. Lussier	Norwich	CT
Kiera S. MacCracken	Oakdale	CT
Taylor E. Mahan	Ledyard	CT
Kevon Maignan	Norwich	CT
Stephanie M. Maiolo	Groton	CT
Beverly J. Manzi-Greco	Warwick	RI
Julie L. Marr	Groton	CT
Shannon Martel	Colchester	CT
Olivia Martin	Waterford	CT
Michelle Mauro	Quaker Hill	CT
Craig Mayer	Groton	CT
Katherine J. McNeil	Pawcatuck	CT
Daisy I. Melendez	North Haven	CT
Jack D. Mello	Ledyard	CT
Donald E. Mellon	Waterford	CT
Erick I. Mendez-Hernandez	Windham	CT
Hyrum Merkley	Waterford	CT
Lee Metzger	Mystic	CT
Malachi A. Meuse	Niantic	CT
Hannah M. Michaelson	Baltic	CT
Ethan G. Miller	Norwich	CT
Jackson I. Miller	Norwich	CT
Vicki A. Miller	Colchester	CT
Jenna V. Milukas	Quaker Hill	CT
Aaron M. Mims	Colchester	CT
Korrin L. Minter	Preston	CT
Justine Monnett	Mystic	CT
Bernard W. Moore	Taftville	CT
Kayla M. Morey	Plainfield	CT
Ermir Morina	Deep River	CT
Jillien E. Morrone	North Stonington	CT
Clothilde Mukawera	Niantic	CT
Julian Muntimuri	Ledyard	CT
Beludji Narcisse	Norwich	CT
Aviana Nash	Groton	CT
Cecilia U. Ndukwu	Taftville	CT
Robert Nee	New London	CT
Arianna C. Netter	Quaker Hill	CT
Nicholas S. Niedojadlo	Quaker Hill	CT
Thomas T. O’Connor	Preston	CT
Benjamin C. Orefice	Niantic	CT
Kerian Y. Ortiz Velazquez	North Windham	CT
Makayla G. O’Sullivan	Suffield	CT
Ruth Otuo Serebour	Oakdale	CT
Russell Pajor	Colchester	CT
Rosa A. Palacios	Old Saybrook	CT
Heather Palardy	Groton	CT
Jason Palomino	Ledyard	CT
Erica M. Pangelinan	Uncasville	CT
Jay Patel	Norwich	CT
Kesha N. Patel	Jewett City	CT
Krishna R. Patel	Norwich	CT
Emma Paulhus	Lebanon	CT
Kevin M. Payne	Colchester	CT
Arielle M. Pearson	Pawcatuck	CT
Nataly C. Pena	Quaker Hill	CT
Autumn J. Pepin	Jewett City	CT
Joseph R. Pepin	Groton	CT
Jason Pere	Jewett City	CT
Mariah A. Perez	Willimantic	CT
Marieliz A. Perez	Norwich	CT
Jonnathan P. Pesantez	Pawcatuck	CT
Michael Pettini	Stonington	CT
Dinh T. Pham	Westerly	RI
Michael Phoumindr	Norwich	CT
Monn T. Pierre	Norwich	CT
Andrew Pires	Columbia	CT
Heather Poole	Oakdale	CT
Narda A. Portalas	New London	CT
Ashley S. Price	Salem	CT
Demitri Price	Griswold	CT
Sarah Price	Plainfield	CT
Joelle R. Puckett	Quaker Hill	CT
Chanel P. Puetz	Baltic	CT
Tyler Qualley	Waterford	CT
Sencere Rabel	Norwich	CT
Nazia Rajput	Groton	CT
Joshua Ranciato	North Branford	CT
Joseph Reilly	Naugatuck	CT
Katie A. Reinhart	Pawcatuck	CT
Jacqueline Reyes-Cruz	Willimantic	CT
Alex R. Reynolds	Waterford	CT
Luke Reynolds	Colchester	CT
MariAnne Rice	Groton	CT
Stacey A. Rivard	New London	CT
Derilian M. Rivera Bocachica	Norwich	CT
Daphne L. Roberts	Groton	CT
Celena Robinson	Ledyard	CT
Melissa Robinson	Groton	CT
Addyson C. Rodonis-Ainger	Groton	CT
Ashley M. Rodriguez	Springfield	MA
Nicole E. Rodriguez-Rivera	Colchester	CT
Ariana I. Rosado	Waterford	CT
Howard C. Rosas	Waterford	CT
Ashley Roselund	Waterford	CT
Jacob Roy	Waterford	CT
Rebecca L. Rulo	Groton	CT
Sophia K. Rutherford	Norwich	CT
Saniya Sabitova	Lebanon	CT
Colby R. Sadowski	North Stonington	CT
Anthony R. Salazar	Mystic	CT
Samantha Saliter	Cornwall Bridge	CT
Abigail Sanchez	Taftville	CT
Sean Sanderson	Norwich	CT
Alexander Sawyer	Griswold	CT
Devin Sawyer	Jewett City	CT
Jacob M. Schlauder	Stonington	CT
Matthew D. Schreiter	Lebanon	CT
Nicholas Schultz	Gales Ferry	CT
Christina M. Siguencia	Lisbon	CT
Christine C. Simmons	Gales Ferry	CT
Samuel Sims	East Lyme	CT
Naoko S. Sinrich	Oakdale	CT
Bobbi M. Sirois	Uncasville	CT
Pauline N. Smith	Jewett City	CT
Shawn W. Smith	Groton	CT
Stacey L. Smith	Taftville	CT
Kaylee R. Sneddon	Uncasville	CT
Jennifer L. Snyder	Colchester	CT
Vanessa M. Sotelo	Gales Ferry	CT
Ashley Sparkman	Uncasville	CT
Brooke C. Speller	Waterford	CT
Rebecca R. Spera	Pawcatuck	CT
Jessica Sponheimer	East Lyme	CT
Samrin Akhter Sristy	Norwich	CT
Sandra J. St Germain	Baltic	CT
Nicole R. Stands	Uncasville	CT
Melanie Stanley	Norwich	CT
Eli StGermain	Old Lyme	CT
Kathleen Stirlen	Colchester	CT
Zachary StJean	Plainfield	CT
Angela R. Strafaci	Niantic	CT
Jingqi Sui	East Lyme	CT
Natalia I. Suiarkova	Barkhamsted	CT
Lauren A. Susi	Gales Ferry	CT
Darren S. Swiatlowski	Canterbury	CT
Emily Swift	Waterford	CT
Jaime Tatro	Brooklyn	CT
Brooke Taylor	East Lyme	CT
Andrew J. Thevenet	Voluntown	CT
Michelle D. Thibeault	New London	CT
Leslie E. Thibodeau	Griswold	CT
Ashley Thompson	Uncasville	CT
Jacob L. Todd	New London	CT
Alexis Tolan	Groton	CT
Abigail R. Toof	Voluntown	CT
Jenna Topalis	Ledyard	CT
Fiona Elizabeth H. Torre	Groton	CT
Alisha I. Towpasz	Pawcatuck	CT
Katarzyna Tylicka	Plantsville	CT
Sabrina Tyree	New London	CT
Marisa Vacca	Pawcatuck	CT
Vanessa M. Valentin	Willimantic	CT
Destiny J. Valeza-Velez	Norwich	CT
Sarah Van Valkenburg	Old Lyme	CT
Hannah VanDevander	Pawcatuck	CT
Hannah G. Vega	Norwich	CT
Jacob Viteritto	North Stonington	CT
Robert T. Vose	Waterford	CT
Rye W. Walencewicz	Windham	CT
Thomas S. Walsh	Norwich	CT
Charlotte A. Ward	Brooklyn	CT
Meagan C. Warner	New London	CT
Brianna L. Waters	Colchester	CT
Kayla R. Waters	Colchester	CT
Nikki Weaver	Essex	CT
Gregory C. Wetzel	Salem	CT
Abigail M. Whewell	Niantic	CT
Alden V. White	New London	CT
Jason Whitford	New London	CT
Thomas S. Whitman III	Niantic	CT
Mariel K. Willbanks	Old Saybrook	CT
Sarah L. Williams	Canterbury	CT
Caroline Willis	Groton	CT
Nia R. Wilson	Groton	CT
Rhiannon M. Wing	Colchester	CT

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In The News | Young Democrats of Connecticut expand into New London County

New London (November 30, 2021) — A young Democrats group is forming in New London County.

Engineered by New London Board of Education member Danni Cruz, the group is meant as a place for 18- to 35-year-olds to organize politically.

Cruz, who is 18 and attends UConn Avery Point, says he’s the youngest elected representative in the city by a lot. He said this backs up his belief that young people aren’t heard proportionally in politics.

“We can get a lot more young people to turn out and vote with this group and show people that their voice matters as much as an older person in our community,” Cruz said.

Cruz said it will be important for the group to build connections with local mayors, first selectmen, state representatives and state senators.

“We have our upcoming race for senator, and I want a lot of people to volunteer and sign up for these campaigns, then we can put a bug in their ear and say, ‘Here’s what we’re looking for,’” Cruz said. “I’ll use Daryl Finizio, who’s running for state Senate, as an example. If we have a pressing issue or concern, we can go to Daryl, we can go to [State Rep. Anthony] Nolan, and say, ‘Here’s what’s going on, can you help us with this or can you represent us in this way?’”

In October, Cruz approached the statewide Young Democrats Vice President Bella Langlois, President Gabriela Koc, as well as Grace Carlos, a 21-year-old Democratic candidate and student at Three Rivers Community College who was at the time running for Montville Board of Education. Cruz said the day after this year’s election, he and Carlos began recruiting members. Thus far, they’ve come up with more than 10 people and expect that number to increase.

Both Carlos and Cruz made it clear that this is a New London County chapter, not strictly New London, partly because some towns in the county are too small to have functioning chapters. Apart from New London and Montville, young Democrats from Groton and Waterford have reached out. There is no Republican counterpart in New London to the growing Democratic group.

“There is a Young Republicans of Connecticut, but there’s no Young Republicans of New London,” Cruz said. “If they see us doing it, they may do it, and that’s OK. If young people want to get involved, no matter what party, they should get involved.”

While there’s still paperwork involved before becoming an official chapter, the Young Democrats of Connecticut have given New London County’s young Democrats its blessing to organize. The regional group is currently working on writing its bylaws.

Carlos said Cruz is looking for “a huge membership number, as many as we can get.”

“So many people have been reaching out, wanting to be involved,” Carlos said. “One of our long-term goals is to have our own space, our own offices. With the election coming up, we’re planning on endorsing candidates, helping out with campaigns, organizing events.”

Langlois, a UConn student from Ledyard, said there’s not a lot of Young Democrats chapters in the region.

“One of my big things when I joined Young Dems was getting more people from eastern and southeastern Connecticut involved because right now it’s mostly central and western Connecticut,” Langlois said. “I’m from Ledyard, so it was really important for me to have an organizational structure there. The president and I just finished up an official chapter guide, so we’re trying to get these regional chapters started. As long as you have decent support and willingness to put together constitution, bylaws, code of ethics, etc. … it’s really not that hard.”

Langlois noted that some local chapters do stay confined to one town or city, such as the chapter getting started in Stamford, and there are other regional chapters, such as in Naugatuck Valley.

“The Young Democrats are a legit arm of the Connecticut Democratic Party, so we have communication there,” she said. “They have their regional chapters, which report to us, and we have our statewide meetings. There wasn’t huge youth involvement in southeastern Connecticut, there wasn’t a structure to take part in it, so I’m really happy they’re taking the initiative to start this chapter and be that structure for people to reach out to and get involved in different social justice issues and electoral politics.”

Langlois acknowledged that there are already youth social justice groups in New London, but said the Young Democrats are filling a political gap in the area.

 

— By Sten Spinella, Day staff writer

The original article can be found here: “Young Democrats of Connecticut expand into New London County”

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In The News | Professor Diba Khan-Bureau Receives Rockfall Foundation Award

The Rockfall Foundation Announces Recipients of 2021 Environmental Champion Awards.

From The Rockfall Foundation

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In The News | Governor Lamont, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and Google Announce Google Career Certificates Are Now Available Across the Entire CSCU System

Connecticut Is the First State in the U.S. to Offer the Full Suite of Google Career Certificates to Their Entire Community College and State University System

(MIDDLETOWN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) President Terrence Cheng, and Alphabet’s Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat today announced that Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to offer the full suite of Google Career Certificates across its state colleges and universities system, and that the program is now available to all community colleges and career and technical education (CTE) high schools across the nation to onboard.

Part of the Grow with Google economic opportunity initiative, the certificates are available on the online learning platform Coursera. The program equips people with skills for in-demand jobs within three to six months – with no degree or experience required – at a time when employers in information technology related sectors have reported a skills gap in the U.S. workforce.

“This is exactly what workforce development is all about,” Governor Lamont said. “We have employers that are looking to hire individuals with these digital skills, and our community college system responded quickly by entering into a partnership with Google to ensure our colleges are ready to start equipping students with these skills so they can enter these in-demand careers that pay over $60,000.”

Following an agreement between Google, the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy, and CSCU, Google and Coursera will provide a diverse population of Connecticut residents with the training to fill positions in data analytics, IT support, project management, and UX design fields that are projected to grow in the next ten years, with an average starting salary of $69,000. After completing the program, graduates can share their resume with an employer consortium of more than 150 companies – including Infosys, Verizon, Walmart, Wayfair, and Google. Infosys has already pledged to hire 250 program graduates at its Hartford location.

“We are excited about this expansion of our Grow with Google Certificates program and the opportunity to partner with academic institutions across the U.S., including community colleges, which are critical to workforce development and economic mobility,” Porat said. “We believe that to have sustainable economic growth, we must have inclusive growth, and we are committed to continuing to help people develop the digital skills they need to participate in this economy.”

“Starting in early 2022, community colleges in all corners of Connecticut will offer Google’s IT Support Certificate, with other certificates rolling out throughout the spring and summer,” CSCU President Terrence Cheng said. “Our public colleges and universities offer the highest quality education and cutting-edge training opportunities. We are thrilled to be the first in the nation to offer all Google Career Certificates on a statewide basis – it is a testament to Governor Lamont’s laser focus on workforce development.”

Building on Google’s initiative with Jobs for the Future to offer its first certificate in IT support to more than 100 community colleges, the company’s new partnerships aim to help individuals bridge the skills gap by gaining the skills needed to take advantage of job openings. These institutions play an essential role in workforce training with 44% of all U.S. undergraduates attending community colleges, and 7.5 million high school students enrolled in CTE programs.

Through the College of Technology, all Connecticut community colleges will offer credit courses that will include Google Career Certificate courses beginning in spring 2022. Non-credit courses will also be offered regionally using the community colleges’ workforce development offices, with the roll out of the Google IT Support certificate in spring 2022. CSCU will partner with the Office of Workforce Strategy to help initially subsidize these programs for students and job seekers.

The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) was recruited by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies to be one of five states administering up to 100 Grow with Google scholarships for veterans and their spouses. The scholarships will be distributed through the American Job Center by CTDOL’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program specialists who work directly with veterans to meet their employment training needs.

“The Connecticut Department of Labor is proud to be one of only five states with Grow with Google scholarships for veterans and their spouses,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “With certificate programs in technology, analytics, and project management, we can prepare the workforce of the future and help Connecticut’s veterans by providing free access to certifications that will help them prepare for, find, and retain good-paying jobs in growing industries.”

The Google Career Certificates have a track record of helping people rapidly skill and obtain in-demand jobs. Fifty-three percent of graduates identify as Black, Latino, female, or veteran, and eighty-two percent of graduates report a positive career impact within six months of completion, such as a raise, promotion, or new job.

 

— By The Office of Governor Ned Lamont

The original article can be found here: “Governor Lamont, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and Google Announce Google Career Certificates Are Now Available Across the Entire CSCU System”

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In The News | Montville Board of Education candidates talk masks and transparency

Montville (The Day, October 21, 2021) — Candidates for the Board of Education answered questions on mask and vaccine mandates, school programs and issues of transparency with the public.

Democrat Tara Crossley, 40, is a real estate agent who lost when she ran for the board four years ago and wants to give it another go as a mother of two children in the school system. She said the school board already does a “pretty good job,” but believes there could be better advertising of board meetings to ensure more parents have an opportunity to provide input.

In regards to masks and vaccine mandates, Crossley said she is comfortable with whatever the government wants although she understands others may see it differently.

Running for a spot on the Board of Education for the first time, Democrat Timothy Shanahan, 58, has served on the town’s youth advisory board and volunteered at local fire departments for a long time. He is the treasurer of the Chesterfield Fire Co.

He said he would like to improve the yearly budget and see more transparency within the district, “making sure things aren’t swept under the rug.”

Currently filling a vacancy on the board, Republican Wills Pike, 63, also is running for Town Council.

Pike said he would push to upgrade the district’s computer and information technology systems, developing a plan to invest half a million dollars to make sure students have adequate resources.

Pike said the schools should continue to follow state mandates on masks or else face liability should there be any consequences of not doing so.

The current chairman of the board, Democrat Sandra Berardy, 79, is a retired advanced practice nurse and had two kids who grew up and were educated in Montville. She said she is interested in the continution of safety programs and the introduction of new programs that improve technology and internet broadband.

Berardy said she does not think the board has issues of transparency with the public, adding that the members are at the meetings to take public comments into discussion.

Newcomer Tina Grove, 66, a Republican, is a former Navy official and professor at Goodwin University in East Hartford. Grove said in July she hopes to use her background and doctorate in education to keep Montville at “the forefront of education.”

Democrat Grace Carlos, 21, graduated Montville High School in 2018. She is studying political science at Three Rivers Community College, has interned in the lieutenant governor’s office and hosts a podcast with the town’s youth services in which she interviews local and state leaders on youth-related topics.

Carlos said she is “excited” about the start of state-required Black and Latino studies at the high school and added that there is always room for improvement when it comes to transparency.

“I feel working on new ways to share information in timely and effective manner will strengthen the communication and relationship our board has with our community,” she said.

Democrat John Desjardins, 54, has been on the Planning and Zoning Commission since 2008. He said it was a good start but he wants to be more active in the community. Havine spent 26 years in the military, he said he has a “holistic” philosophy in regards to education and feels strongly that students should have a well-rounded education.

Republican Florence Turner, 50, could not be reached for this article. According to the Republican Town Committee website, she has resided in Montville for the past 36 years and has worked at the town’s transfer station for the past 19 years. She has a child and a grandchild in the school system.

She “believes that educating our children is an enormous responsibility and two-thirds of the town budget,” the site reads.

Running for Board of Assessment Appeals are Democrat Gary Murphy and Republican Richard Cenami. For the Zoning Board of Appeals, the candidates are John MacNeil, a Democrat and chairman of the board, and Republicans Alfred J. Mandler and Vincent Atwater-Young.

Mandler, who also is running for Town Council, said if elected to the ZBA, he would “make informed decisions based on what the town has and needs.”

Editor’s Note: John MacNeil, who is running for a position on the Zoning Board of Appeals, is not a newcomer. He is chairman of the board.

 

— By Johana Vazquez , Day Staff Writer

The original article can be found here: “Montville Board of Education candidates talk masks and transparency”

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In The News | CT launches Amazon-connected partnership to provide technical skills training to 2,000+ residents

New Haven (Stamford Advocate, October 18, 2021) — A partnership between the state, its community college system and a subsidiary of e-commerce giant Amazon will establish non-credit certificate program classes offering training in a variety of computer and information technology skills, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.

Amazon Web Services, which provides on-demand cloud computing platforms to individuals, companies and governments, will provide the curriculum for the courses, which will be offered through Connecticut’s community college system. The courses will cost $795 and will be taken over a five- to seven-week period, according to state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe.

“We will help with the cost of the course for people who it is an issue for,” Geballe said. The partnership does not involve any money changing hands between the state and AWS, he said; the money a student pays for the course goes to the community college the individual attends.

Lamont announced the partnership during a press conference at Gateway Community College.

“We have tens of thousands of these jobs that are being advertised every year and now we want to match the training with the need,” he said.

The initial goal of the program is to train more than 2,000 Connecticut residents by 2024, said Terrence Cheng, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, which oversees the state’s 12 community colleges. Cheng said 20 faculty members across the community college system are being trained to teach the classes.

“We have tens of thousands of these jobs that are being advertised every year and now we want to match the training with the need,” he said.

The initial goal of the program is to train more than 2,000 Connecticut residents by 2024, said Terrence Cheng, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, which oversees the state’s 12 community colleges. Cheng said 20 faculty members across the community college system are being trained to teach the classes.

Geballe said more than 40,000 jobs were advertised last year alone that sought individuals with skills relate to cloud computing and information technology. The median salary for cloud computing jobs is $180,00, he said.

“These are great jobs,” Geballle said.

An inability to fill those positions can slow down a technology company’s productivity or force Connecticut-based companies to look to hire out-of-state residents with the necessary skills, he said.

“We want to keep those jobs here,” Geballle said. “Amazon is a leader in cloud computing. Here in Connecticut, we can choose to be stuck in the past or we can modernize the way the state operates.”

The CSCU has created a dedicated web page for interested students to get more information and sign up for the training. For more information, visit www.ct.edu/aws.

 

— By Luther Turmelle, Hearst Media Staff Writer

The original article can be found here: “CT launches Amazon-connected partnership to provide technical skills training to 2,000+ residents”

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In The News | First Toni Morrison bench in state honors Prudence Crandall and Black students

Canterbury (The Bulletin, September 20, 2021) — Poets, activists and community leaders gathered outside the Prudence Crandall Museum Sunday afternoon under the bright, late summer sunshine to unveil the first Toni Morrison Society bench in the state. 

The 6-foot steel Toni Morrison “Bench by the Road” sitting area was dedicated to the memory of Prudence Crandall, an educator and 19th century local civil rights icon, and her Black students, a group whose story traces a direct line to the modern civil rights era and beyond.

The bench, fronted by a black plaque inscripted with gold lettering, was brought to Canterbury through a fundraising effort spearheaded by Windham Judicial District State’s Attorney Anne Mahoney with the help of the Sustainable CT group and local donators.

“My hope is the next generation can find inspiration here and seek out the works of (Morrison) and become more morally enhanced,” Mahoney said.

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Todd Parcinski Named Program Coordinator at TRCC MAC

Norwich, Conn. — Three Rivers Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Todd Parcinski as the new Program Coordinator at the Three Rivers Community College Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center (TRCC MAC). The TRCC MAC offers manufacturing training programs for adults and high school student, along with the Manufacturing Pipeline programs, in our state-of-the-art facility in Groton.

Parcinski will be the program administrator and public face of the TRCC MAC, tasked with keeping it in the forefront of addressing the massive need for skilled trade workers and understanding local and national manufacturing trends. He will work closely with Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), Eastern Advance Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA), and Electric Boat to update current courses and develop new ones to serve their workforce needs.  As the administrator for manufacturing workforce training, he will also oversee course development and program evaluation, and keep the community informed about the TRCC MAC.

Explaining his interest in the position, Parcinski said, “I was inspired to work for TRCC by my friend and colleague Mark Vesligaj. I am excited to be working here and will continue his legacy and what he and the team have built.”

“We are so grateful to have Todd on board and are excited by his big picture ideas that will guide our manufacturing program now and into the future,” said Acting Director of Non-Credit Programs Erin Sullivan.

Parcinski most recently worked at Pratt & Whitney as a Military Validation Assembly Engineer for their F119 and F135 engine programs in Middletown where he oversaw the teardown, rebuild, and instrumentation of development engines. Before Pratt & Whitney, he worked at BRG Radiator as a Design Engineer of cooling systems for diesel, natural gas-, and gas-powered engines that are used for onsite back-up power generation. He lives in Danielson, Connecticut with his wife Jen and their cat and dachshund.

For more information about the TRCC Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center, please visit www.threerivers.edu/mac.

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