Twelve outstanding college seniors from across Connecticut who attend the Connecticut State University System -- Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut state universities -- will be honored on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 by the CSU System Foundation during the 20th annual Henry Barnard Awards Banquet.
To be considered for a Barnard Award, a student must have at least a 3.75 GPA and a record of significant community service. The students are nominated by their respective universities and presidents.The award is named for the first U.S. commissioner of education, Henry Barnard, a distinguished Connecticut educator who was the state’s first superintendent of schools and principal of what later became Central Connecticut State University. This year's Keynote speaker is Rex Adams, Chairman and CEO of AT&T East.
For more information on this year's event, please contact the foundation at 860-493-0099.
The 2008 Barnard Award Recipients
Katelynn Marie Ferranti Katelyn Marie Ferranti of Manchester is a biomolecular sciences and mathematics major at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) with a 3.90 GPA. A tutor at The Learning Center at CCSU, Ferranti tutors students in pre-algebra through Calculus 3. As a student teacher and project manager in CCSU’s “Partners in Science” and “Great Explorations” outreach programs, and a math and science tutor at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Ferranti reaches out to middle and high school students, helping expose them to the wonders of science. She has also conducted cardiac fibroblast and cardiac myocyte research at CCSU and made a poster presentation at the 61st Annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference at the College of Mount St. Vincent. Ferranti also serves as president of the Biology Club.
Allison Godbout Allison Godbout of Bristol will graduate from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in May as an elementary education major with a concentration in mathematics. She currently has a 3.87 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List each semester. She is treasurer of both Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Upsilon Alpha, a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and has been active with the Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. She has taught K-5 and special education in Avon, Bristol, Hartford, and New Britain. She spearheaded an effort for New Britain Social Services to raise money to purchase school supplies for children.
Lara Jane Kaplan Lara Jane Kaplan of Madison is a psychology major and sociology minor at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) with a 3.78 GPA. Her many accomplishments include earning the Honorary Undergraduate Scholar Award from the New England Psychological Association, the CCSU Department of Psychology Outstanding Research Award and the CCSU Department of Psychology Academic Excellence Award. She has also served as a member of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, the Golden Key International Honour Society, National Honors Society and CCSU Honors Program. Kaplan has been a member of Best Buddies, working with adults with mental disabilities and mentored New Britain students through Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Ryne Nutt Ryne Nutt, originally from Ohio, now lives in New Britain. He is an accounting major and criminal justice minor at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) where he will graduate in May. He currently has a 3.97 GPA and was on the Dean’s List each semester. He has been honored as ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-American, named to the CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District Football Team, received College Sporting News Mid-Major All-American honors and named to the All New England Football Team. He also earned theprestigious 62nd Annual Nils V. “Swede” Nelson Award by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. In addition, he has earned the Accounting Department Outstanding Senior Award and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship. Nutt is a member of Delta Mu Delta, the CCSU Accounting Society, and was co-captain of the CCSU Football team.
Kevin Douglas Kevin Douglas, a social work major who lives in Willimantic, will graduate from Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) in May. He currently has a 3.95 GPA, serves as member of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, is a vice president of Amnesty International and vice president of the International Students Association.His many accomplishments include being named the National Association of Social Workers (CT) B.S.W. Student of the Year, recipient of the Martin Luther King Community Service Award and earning a Connecticut General Assembly Citation for Academic Excellence.He has been recognized in the “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.” He was also chosen for a General Mills sponsored Habitat for Humanity trip to rebuild homes in Slidell, Louisiana. Jenna Germain Jenna Germain of Berlin is a health and physical education major at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU). She currently has a 3.90 GPA and is an active member of the Alpha Upsilon Chi International Honor Society for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She has earned Eastern’s Academic Excellence Award, ECSU Foundation Inc.’s competitive Scholarship Award and Dean’s Award. She has also been named one of two outstanding Future Professionals in Connecticut and in “Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.” She has been a student teacher at schools in Mansfield, East Lyme and Colchester. Brittany Galla Brittany Galla of Wading River, New York, is a journalism major at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) with a 3.73 GPA. Her many accomplishments include serving as president of the SCSU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, managing editor of Southern News, recording secretary and vice president of Student Government and treasurer of the Newman Club. She has been awarded the Charles & Eugenia M. Whitney Endowed Journalism Scholarship in 2006 and 2007, the 2007 Robin Marshall Glassman Scholarship, the 2007 Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship, the Samuel E. Brownell Memorial Scholarship and Sophomore Dean’s Award.She has also interned at the New Haven Register,Seventeen Magazine, US Weekly, and is a freelance reporter for New Haven magazine. Jennifer Gleason Jennifer Gleason of Bristol, a chemistry major and mathematics minor at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), will graduate in May and currently has a 3.73 GPA. Gleason served as president of the Chemistry Club during the 2006–07 academic year and was previously the club’s treasurer. She has worked as a resident advisor, is a member of the Honors College and was selected to the “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.” She is the recipient of the 2006 Francis A. O’Connell Memorial Endowed Scholarship, the 2007 Harry O. Haakonsen Award and the 2007 Carbone Memorial Scholarship. She made a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting and was given a rating of “excellent” for its form and content. She is employed as a laboratory technician at Analytical Consulting Technology, Inc. of Waterbury. Samantha Pouncey Samantha Pouncey of Hamden is a sociology major at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). She currently has a 3.81 GPA, is president of the Southern chapter of Amnesty International, an active member of the university chapter of the NAACP and the Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society. She has earned the 2006 Hillhouse Scholars/Teacher Prep Scholarship, the 2008 Connecticut Minority Teacher Incentive Grant and New Haven Scholarship. She is also a SAT prep/Saturday tutor at Hillhouse High School in New Haven and youth coordinator for the West Haven Church of Christ. Laura Taylor Laura Taylor of Woodbridge, a psychology major at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), will graduate in May and currently has a 3.83 GPA. She has participated in many research projects and internships, including stints as a research assistant for the Yale University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and for SCSU psychology faculty. Taylor has written an entry for Sage Publications’ Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, is president of the Psychology Club, a member of the Honors College and Zeta Delta Epsilon Honors Society. She is a recipient of the Presidential Merit Scholarship (2005–08) and was inducted into the Psi-Chi Honor Society in 2007. She has volunteered as a group facilitator for The Village of Power, a drop-in clinic for women suffering from HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. Taylor has been accepted into the Scripps College Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate. Brittany Serke Brittany Serkeof Southbury, a chemistry, biochemistry and Spanish major at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), will graduate in May. She currently has a 3.92 GPA and her academic achievements have earned her the Capital Scholarship, WCSU Foundation Award, Carey Foundation Award Scholarship, Isabelle Farrington Scholarship and the Ellen and Jason Hancock Scholarship. Serke—the General Chemistry Student of the Year for 2003–04—is an American Chemical Society affiliate and member of the Sigma Delta Pi National Honor Society. She has served as president and vice president of Sigma Delta Pi, secretary and president of the Chemistry Club and mentored WCSU students with disabilities. While studying abroad in Guatamala and Puerto Rico, Serke helped gather school supplies for children and donated funds for the installation of plumbing and access to the public water system. She has also sponsored clothing and food drives at WCSU to donate to areas of Guatemala devastated by mudslides. Kathryn Kupchik Kathryn Kupchik of Cromwell, a music performance major at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), will graduate in May and currently has a 3.73 GPA. She earned lead roles in this season’s WCSU operas Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica and last year’s Pirates of Penzance. She has placed second in the College II division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition; and served as a member of the WCSU Chamber Singers, WCSU’s Concert Choir and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She was also among seven WCSU music students selected to participate in a cultural exchange with SIAS University in China. She has earned scholarships from the Connecticut Choral Society, the James Sommers Opera and the Alumni Association. She was also team manager of the WCSU men’s hockey club and tri-captain of the WCSU volleyball team, earning “Rookie of the Year” in 2004.
Henry Barnard
Henry Barnard
Henry Barnard was born in Hartford on January 24, 1811, to a wealthy family and never lacked a comfortable income. He became a lawyer after graduating from Yale in 1836 but found little interest in the practice of law. In 1837 he was elected to the General Assembly where he introduced legislation to help the blind, the deaf and the insane. He also participated in debates over the funding of public education, and henceforth became almost obsessed with improving Connecticut’s school system. For Barnard, public education was the means of ensuring that the American people remained capable of self-government, and he subsequently spent much of his personal fortune to publish journals advocating educational reform.
In 1838 he became secretary of the Board of Commissioners of the Common Schools and began to issue a series of reports detailing the problems he hoped to solve. At that time, elementary education was the responsibility of school districts in which the primary concern was cutting costs. Above all, the school districts were loath to spend money on teachers’ salaries or on educational material. Barnard’s solution was to invoke the authority of the state government to force each district to meet certain standards for buildings, teachers, attendance and textbooks.
Barnard’s program was resisted, and he even lost his position for a time as a result of politics. Gradually, however, his concept of what a school should be became the accepted norm. In 1850 Barnard became the state’s superintendent of schools and principal of the New Britain Normal School (now Central Connecticut State University). In 1867 he was named the first United States commissioner of education. These appointments indicate the acceptance of his ideas on the state and national levels.
Barnard died in Hartford on July 5, 1900, at the age of eighty-nine.
Source: James P. Walsh, The Connecticut Humanities Council, 2007
