ECSU Graduates 5 From Bethel

From Eastern Connecticut State University: More than 1,250 Eastern Connecticut State University students received their diplomas in the 2018-19 academic year. Eastern's commencement ceremony occured May 21 at the XL Center in Hartford.

Among the graduates were:
Evalin Brautigam of Bethel. Brautigam graduated in Fall 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport & Leisure Management.
Kyle Heibeck of Bethel. Heibeck graduated in Spring 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.
Kevin Thoung of Bethel. Thoung graduated in Spring 2019 with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Business Administration.
Viana Van of Bethel. Van graduated in Spring 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.
Nigel Wasti of Bethel. Wasti graduated in Spring 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

More than 40 percent of the graduates were the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree. As Connecticut's only public liberal arts university, Eastern draws students from 160 of 169 towns in the state, with approximately 85 percent of graduates staying in Connecticut to launch their careers, contribute to their communities and raise their families.

Marilynn "Lynn" Malerba, chief of the Mohegan Tribe, was the commencement speaker at the ceremony. She congratulated students on their achievements and gave them words of encouragement. "Allow yourself the faith to 'dream ahead' as you embrace the next chapter in your journey," she said. "Your education has just begun, as you have 'birthed' a career that will only grow and mature over time."

Other speakers at commencement included Eastern President Elsa Nunez; Merle Harris, vice-chair of the Board of Regents for Higher Education; and Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System.

President Nunez also gave the graduates some words of wisdom. "The most important lesson I hope you have learned at Eastern is the knowledge that our great American democracy is only great because of the involvement and participation of our citizens," said Nunez. "Being a citizen means debating the issues with your friends and in public forums - wherever you get a chance to voice your opinion. Most importantly, be willing to say no to whatever doesn't feel right."

Senior Class President Michael Theriault presented the Senior Class Gift to President Nunez, an annual Class of 2019 scholarship and thanked his classmates' families, friends and faculty for supporting the senior class in its journey.

Theriault added when looking at the arena floor that was a sea of graduation caps, "While we may look the same from the outside, the reality is that we all will be wearing different hats. Some of us will go on to be future educators and make differences in the lives of students. Others will become journalists, historians, psychologists, broadcasters and so much more. No matter what hat you will wear, we will all be Eastern Warriors now and forever."

This press release was produced by Eastern Connecticut State University. The views expressed here are the author's own.