Canton Prof Wins Kudos From Successful Tunxis CC Student

Tunxis teamwork: Bristol’s Johna Yashenko (center) credits Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs) members and professors Colleen Richard of New Britain (left) and Sally Terrell of Canton (right) with providing the education and support she needed to choose a career path, a four-year college for continuing her education, and a job in the field.

CANTON, CT – When Tunxis Community College student Johna Yashenko of Bristol walked away from Commencement June 1, she had her human services degree, a career focus, and a job in the field.

Two Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs) members, professors Sally A. Terrell of Canton and Dr. Colleen Richard of New Britain played key supporting roles in her success. “It was their commitment to students that helped me get to where I am academically and professionally,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

When she first arrived at Tunxis in 2013, she had none of these. Thinking she would go into culinary arts, she spent her last two high school years studying the field at the Bristol Technical Education Center. “My dad was a cook and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” she said. “But once I tried working in a restaurant, I realized that, with its long hours and low pay, it wasn’t for me”

She then set her sights on Tunxis, but, with her technical school background, she wasn’t sure she would be admitted. When she was, she thought she’d give human services a try.

“My older sister suggested that I consider Tunxis,” she recalled. “I went to the website and began looking at courses. I kept coming back to human services offerings.”

“I always wanted to help people,” she said. “That’s how I wound up in human services. I would volunteer in community. For six years, I was a girl scout and would go to my mon’s work to do activities with elderly clients there.”

Knowing a victim of sexual assault put this subject in sharp focus for her. “The person was traumatized by this because of the physical and emotional injuries suffered and needed support,” she said. “I wanted to do my part to help this person and others as well.”

Thanks to Terrell's support, Yashenko grew both personally and academically. “She has a student-centered approach to education,” Yashenko said. “I tend to be quiet compared to other students. Prof. Terrell helped me change that."

"She made me feel comfortable from day one," Yashenko said. "She made me feel confident, encouraged me, and made sure that I understood everything that the class covered.”

Terrell went the extra mile for her “If I needed to meet with her, she was very accommodating. She would meet with me any time, not just during office hours.”

Terrell also helped her develop her writing skills, especially through critiquing and analyzing her work. “When I first took her courses, my phraseology was sometimes awkward. She provided direction that helped me develop my verbal precision,” she said.

Terrell supported her career goals by allowing her to write her final paper on a subject in her chosen field. “I did my final paper on domestic violence in upscale families,” she said. “This is a population you don’t hear much about, so I wanted to get a a fix on it.”

“Thanks to her I feel I’ve grown tremendously as both a person and a student,” Yashenko said.

Like Terrell, Dr. Richard, was instrumental in her academic development. “My years at Tunxis wouldn’t have been the same without Dr. Richard,” she said. “I took a lot of classes with her over the past three years. She’s the type of person who is a perfect fit for the field. She goes out of her way to accommodate her students.”

Richard’s help went far beyond the classroom. When it came time for Yashenko to look for an internship, Richard was there for her. When it came time to look for a four-year school to continue her education, Richard was there. When it came time to decide on a job offer, Richard was there.

“I did my internship at Safe Haven,” Yashenko said. “I had reached out to them on my own, and, when I was offered an internship, I wanted Dr. Richards’s thoughts before I accepted it. She met with me the week before classes began.’

“She supported me a hundred percent,” she said. “I conferred with her throughout my internship. In fact, I attribute getting the job to the support she gave me during my classes with her and during the internship."

Richard played an important role in Yashenko’s applying to and getting accepted at St. Joseph University in Hartford. “St. Joseph has a great connection with Tunxis,” she said, “and Dr. Richard knows a lot of the faculty.”

One other person who is impressed by the impact Richard and Terrell had on Yashenko is 4Cs President Bryan Bonina of Bristol, who is a graphics design specialist at Tunxis. “Hats off to Professors Richard and Terrell for the fine student-centered work they do at the college,” Bonina said. “They truly reflect the 4Cs culture of commitment that is evident throughout the community college system. Student success is their main focus and driving force.”