Campus Highlights For Ellington, Somers College Students: Spring 2023

ELLINGTON-SOMERS, CT — Here are some recent notable accomplishments by local college students, as provided by readMedia Newswire. More great feats will be noted in the coming weeks.

Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic CT

• Three Eastern Connecticut State University students have won Equity and Social Justice Awards for their work promoting civil rights, resources for undocumented students and mental health services on campus. The awards were presented on April 24 in a ceremony organized by the Arthur Johnson Unity Wing, Eastern's home for the Intercultural Center, the Pride Center and the Women's Center. Among the award reciepients was Kalagena Sullivan of Ellington, a junior majoring in social work. Sullivan received the Ella T. Grasso award for her pursuit of systemic change in destigmatizing mental health issues and treatment. Sullivan, who is studying social work, worked with the Women's Center to design and host a campus event last fall, "Steps for a Mighty Mind," raising awareness of mental health, reducing stigma and advocating for changing mental health policies on campus. She is developing a suicide prevention training program for student leaders and plans to attend law school to specialize in human rights. Last year she volunteered at Windham's branch of the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery. She also is a competitive dance instructor with the Dance Kraze dance studio. She graduated from Ellington High School.

University of Rhode Island, Kingston RI

• James Sternat of Ellington was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Sternat is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

University of Scranton, Scranton PA

• Erin Meaney of Ellington was among the 38 University of Scranton students inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing. For induction into the honor society, students must have completed one half of the nursing curriculum, demonstrated ability in nursing, have a grade point average of 3.0 and rank in the upper one-third of the class. The honor society was founded in 1922. Meaney is a graduate student pursuing a nursing degree at the Jesuit university.

Western New England University, Springfield MA

• Ellington resident Owen Feindel performed in Spring Musical Little Shop of Horrors at Western New England University on March 31 and April 1-2. In his fifth production with Stageless Players and his first time acting in a musical with them, Feindel delivered an astonishing performance as Skip Snip. In high school, he chaired the sets crew for multiple years and acted in shows such as "The Sound of Music," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Xanadu," and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." He also co-wrote and directed a comedy called "Agents of the White House Who Stop Leaks." He was also Louie in "Play On!" last semester. He is working toward a BSE in Civil Engineering.