There is lots of activity on campus once again, and I couldn’t be happier. Youth participating in programs and camps at the University have been walking around and bonding with new friends and mentors all week.
Our Horizons at SHU summer program kicked off on Monday. This is the fifth summer for the program that prevents children from falling into the achievement gap. For the next several weeks, students form the Bridgeport area will come to Sacred Heart to participate in a number of educational and enrichment activities including karate and swimming lessons.
This week also marked our first-ever SHU Journey program, a Lilly Endowment summer theological institute for high school students. SHU mentors and 34 high school students—mostly from around the state—came to Sacred Heart for a week dedicated to learning about the Catholic intellectual tradition. Participants took part in instruction, group discussion and music ministry. They heard from guest speakers and were involved in community service activities at a variety of nonprofits. It was an inspiring week for the young participants.
Our Alumni Association has been offering a variety of events for our alumni. Last week we held a movie night on the quad. Families brought blankets, chairs and enjoyed complimentary popcorn and ice cream before a showing of The Jungle Book. Also last week the association’s Summer Series continued at Bobby Valentine’s restaurant, Bobby V’s Original Sports Bar, in Stamford. What a great showing! Thanks to everyone who came out.
For the second consecutive year our student-athletes have combined to capture the Northeast Conference (NEC) Institutional Academic Award. SHU becomes the first school since the inception of the award to win it the same year as winning the Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup. The Pioneers’ 22 NEC teams combined for a league-record 3.331 GPA during the 2015-16 school year. Congrats, Pioneers! You continue to make us proud.
Tuvana Rua, assistant professor of management, accepted the Outstanding New Partner of the Year Award from Junior Achievement (JA) on behalf of Sacred Heart University. JA hosted its business challenge at SHU earlier this year, and Tuvana helped organize it. As adviser of the University’s management club, Tuvana started the club’s partnership with JA. She is also actively involved with JA throughout the year, providing interns for the organization and education programs such as networking and negotiation workshops. Tuvana created a JA for-credit course that enables SHU to deliver JA content to the high schools in western Connecticut. She has also been appointed to the JA’s board of directors, a role that goes into effect today. Congrats, Tuvana!
From left are Adam Dworkin, vice president of the Board of Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut (JAWCT) and executive director of Griffin Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., Professor Tuvana Rua and Bernadine Venditto, president of JAWCT.
Five students enrolled in Sacred Heart University’s master’s in digital marketing program passed the Google Analytics certification exam and now hold a valid license. Google Analytics is a service that tracks and reports website traffic. This certification means students are proficient in Google Analytics and can effectively use their newly acquired skills in their careers. Congrats to the following students: Cortney Mears, Megan Golembiewski, Meghan Corvington, Shannon Muscara and Vina Goberdhan.
A guest speaker, who would like to remain anonymous, visited Professor Ingrid Ellinger-Doviak’s “Role of the Teacher” master’s degree course this summer. The speaker talked about the importance of supporting teachers and gave all 32 students a gift card for $100 to the website DonorsChoose.org. The site supports teachers across the country. Teachers post what they need for their classrooms and programs, and donors meet their needs. What a great way to reinforce the importance of philanthropy as well as prepare students for the challenges they may face as teachers. The students were able to support a number of teaching initiatives. This is what SHU is all about—helping others.
Faculty and staff came out to support the CT Challenge Thursday on 63’s patio. The CT Challenge is a bike ride that supports cancer research and programs. A group from the University, Team SHU, will be participating in the ride at the end of July. All of the proceeds raised on Thursday went towards Team SHU and the Christopher Cook Scholarship Fund.
The latest issue of SHU’s online magazine is now available. Read about this year’s commencement exercises, the barrage of NEC awards garnered by our student-athletes, faculty research and much more!
Happy Independence Day! Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!