|
|
 |
Andre (left) and Connor (right)
|
|
Alumni Awards RecipientsDuring the Seventh Annual Summer Clambake, we gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Andre Santiago ’19 and Connor Martin ’19. Alumni Awards recognize student legacies and achievements. These recipients have exceled in their education as they have both earned master's degrees in Organizational Leadership at Goodwin University. In addition, they are exceptional role models within their professional communities.
Andre received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award for his notable career accomplishments. He is currently the Vice President for Programs at Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH). Having joined the staff at LGH in 2007, he has risen through the ranks, serving as Program Director overseeing youth programs for ten years and then as Senior Program Director prior to his newest appointment. Andre is a member of the 2016 class of Hartford Business Journal's 40 under Forty, which recognizes outstanding young leaders in the region.
The Alumni Service Award was given to Connor for his commitment to community service and philanthropy to Goodwin University and the town of East Hartford. Connor is a perfect example of the results of hard work. He has an extensive list of volunteerism including being a member of the East Hartford Rotary Club. He served on the East Hartford Town Council and recently started a new position as Chief of Staff to Mayor Michael Walsh.
View photos from the event here
| |
 |
Matricia proudly receiving the Excellence in Field Work award
|
|
Alum Establishes Fulfilling Career Matricia Ford '19, '21
Like so many of Goodwin's graduates' Matricia Ford ‘19, ’21 had a winding journey to attaining her degrees. She started at the Burnside Avenue campus in 2002 and achieved her bachelor's in Human Services this year.
Matricia decided to put her education on hold to raise her two boys as a single mom, but she still had the passion to help others like her in Hartford, so she began a career at Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Hartford as a parent educator. The Human Services education that she received when coming back to campus in 2016 helped her serve her community to the best of her ability.
In 2021, Matricia received her bachelor’s degree, and thanks to her determination and positive attitude, she just accepted an offer for her dream job as a mental health counselor with the state. Congratulations, Matricia Ford, Class of 2021!
| |
Member of the Goodwin Writer’s Guild shares her work
Picking Up Pieces
Picking up pieces of my shattered life
No longer mourning who I used to be
I’m discovering so much beauty in me
As the smooth flowing fabric of my youth
Gave way under the stress and strain of years
Crumbling to bits stained with blood, sweat, and tears
I began to reconstruct
Stitching together those tattered pieces
With faith, courage, and persistence
Discerning purpose in those creases
A pretty girl became a woman of substance
Once smooth flowing fabric, now a patchwork quilt
Finely crafted by the Master himself
Filled with warmth, love, color and texture
The joy of living now my wealth
So many stories to be told
No longer afraid of growing old
| |
Braving the Storm and Seeking Success
In 2017, Hurricane Maria left Bianca's home island of Puerto Rico in devastation. Determined to create more opportunities for herself and her daughter, Bianca left everything behind, moved to the United States, and earned her graduate degree.
Now an alumna of Goodwin University's Master's in Public Health (MPH) program, Bianca shares stories about the storms she's weathered and explains precisely why graduating from a public health program during a global pandemic was worth it.
Read more about Bianca's story here
| |
Holiday NYC Bus Trip
Plan your own day in New York during the holiday season.
When: Saturday, December 11, 2021
Pick-up: 8:00 am at Goodwin University Main Campus (211 Riverside Drive)
Traveling to: Times Square - Broadway and 7th, Manhattan, New York
Leave time: 6:00 pm sharp
Cost: $38 per ticket
Note: There are many places in New York that require proof of vaccination such as restaurants, museums, and other tourist attractions. Please keep this in mind when planning your day.
| |
| Recent News in the Community
| |
|  |  |
Community Renewal Team (CRT) drop-off
| |
| | |
Fall Clothing Drive
The first annual fall clothing drive was a huge success. The drive itself was a month-long effort to collect as many donations as possible from alumni, staff, facutly, and friends of the University. In partnership with Brittany Wilborn '11, Ms. Full Figured USA At-Large (MSFFUSA), we collected over 50 bags of new and gently used clothes that were donated to Mercy House and Community Renewal Team (CRT) in Hartford. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this act of giving.
| |
Walk Against Hunger
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, the Goodwin Navigators' team raised over $1,000 for Connecticut Foodshare Walk Against Hunger and the Ann B. Clark Community Co-op. Thank you to everyone who supported this great cause.
| |
| Giving Tuesday - November 30
| |
Thanks to you, we raised $4,000!
On June 16, the Alumni Association led the way for the first-ever Goodwin Giving Day on the anniversary of Goodwin's founding to benefit the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Thanks to alumni and friends, $4,000 was raised and the Fund reached the endowment level of $50,000.
Support alumni coming back to Goodwin to get another degree on this upcoming #GivingTuesday, November 30. Give back to the Alumni Scholarship Fund:
| |
Class Notes Check out what your classmates and other Goodwin alumni are up to!
Don't forget, if you have news of your own, be sure to share it with us at: alumni@goodwin.edu
| |
Fall Family Photo Day
Another great event with perfect fall weather. This year, 18 families came out to update their family photos on Saturday, October 23. This tradition is one that families look forward to year after year. The photographer utilizes all of Goodwin's campus to capture stunning riverside photos while bringing a fun and personalized approach to each family. A special thank you to Rachele Adele Studios for your expertise and creating long-lasting memories.
| |
| Alumni Leadership Committee
| |
About Us
The mission of the Goodwin University Alumni Leadership Committee is to create a lifelong bond between Goodwin University and its alumni by engaging a diverse group of graduates through programs and services that address their needs and keep them connected.
Nothing speaks more highly for a University than alumni who enthusiastically serve and support it. The Alumni Leadership Committee recently established subcommittees for more alumni to get involved.
The subcommittees include:
- Communications
- Social Events
- Admissions Support
- Philanthropy and Community Service
Meet Chenille and Mark, our Social Events and Philanthropy and Community Service Subcommittee leaders. Chenille and her team plan and organize social events for alumni including happy hours, the Yard Goats and Wolf Pack games, and even a future class reunion. Mark and his team enthusiastically participate in community service events such as Rebuilding Together and Connecticut Foodshare Walks, and support the fundraising efforts of the Alumni Scholarship Fund.
| |
Want to get more involved? If you're interested in volunteering or joining a subcommittee, fill out the Alumni Volunteer Interest Form today!
Meet the full committee here.
| |
 |
Dr. Wisniewski and Dr. Kania at England's Oxford University, where they delivered a presentation about their research
|
|
Goodwin Professors Study Connecticut’s Polish-American CommunityDr. Lisa Wisniewski remembers the smell of the Polish food at New Britain’s annual Little Poland Festival. Dr. John Kania cherishes the tradition of coming together with family for a special meal before going to church on Christmas Eve. For both Goodwin University professors, these memories are closely connected to their strong sense of their Polish-American identity, a sense of kinship and tradition that informs research they have recently undertaken into the educational goals and outcomes among members of Connecticut’s thriving Polish-American community.
| |
|
|
|
|
