Campus Notes - College Students from the Granbys

GRANBY-EAST GRANBY, CT — Here are some recent notable achievements for college students from the Granbys, as reported by readMedia Newswire.

Assumption College, Worcester MA

• Jenna Snyder, of Granby, was one of 90 students selected to present an original academic research project at Assumption College's 23rd Annual Undergraduate Symposium, held April 24-25 on the College's Worcester Campus. The undergraduate symposium serves to highlight the research and scholarly achievements of Assumption students working in collaboration with dedicated faculty mentors. These collaborations represent a model for integrating teaching, original research, and the beneficial effects of peer review in promoting intellectual development and professional growth. The symposium provides the campus community with the opportunity to gain a greater appreciation of and applaud the individual and collective accomplishments of the College's faculty and students. Snyder, a member of the Class of 2018, presented "Worcester Women's Oral History Project: Marissa Pyatt". In collaboration with the Worcester Women's Oral History Project, this group of three interviewed Marissa Pyatt, a member of the staff at Abby's House, a multi-service organization assisting homeless and battered women in Worcester, Massachusetts. One aspect of the interview that stood out to the group was Pyatt's statement about privilege, oppression, and social justice: "I think people don't understand their privilege, and we as a group, not just Worcester, not just women, but as citizens, as humans, need to be able to understand our privilege and how it intersects with oppression."
• The Assumption College Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies (HSRS) has announced that Jenna Snyder, of Granby, has become a member of the Human Services National Honor Society, Tau Upsilon Alpha. "The purpose of Tau Upsilon Alpha is to honor academic excellence, to foster lifelong learning, leadership, and development; and to promote excellence in service to humanity, and our students exemplify this in the classroom and the community," said Susan M. Scully-Hill, Ph.D., advisor of the honor society and associate professor of human services and rehabilitation studies. Tau Upsilon Alpha is active with a variety of service events and awareness-raising events to benefit people living with disabilities and other challenging life situations. In order to qualify, students must be an HSRS major or minor and have a 3.25 overall grade point average.

Becker College, Worcester MA

• Griffin Barrows, of Granby, was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society at Becker College. Barrows is pursuing a degree in Interactive Media Design-Game Design. Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that honors academic excellence during a student's first year in college. Once a member of this prestigious honor society, the student will have the opportunity to build positive relationships with peers and faculty, give back to the community through volunteerism and service, and have access to numerous scholarship opportunities.

Colby College, Waterville ME

• Lainey N. Battiston, a member of Colby's Class of 2017, was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa this spring. Membership in the society is one of the highest academic honors an undergraduate student can achieve. Battiston, who is majoring in history, was one of 49 students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Colby. A graduate of Ethel Walker School, she is the daughter of Jeff Battiston of Granby and Kathleen Bernard of Freeport, Maine. The Phi Beta Kappa society, founded in 1776, restricts its chapters to leading colleges and universities. The Beta Chapter of Maine was organized at Colby in 1895.

Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic CT

• A group of Eastern Connecticut State University students was inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), the national honor society for the computing and information disciplines, this April. At its 2017 ceremony, Eastern inducted 21 students who major in computer science and business information systems. Among the inductees was Jonathan Blejewski of Granby, who majors in Accounting and Business Information Systems. The mission of UPE is to recognize academic excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the computing and information disciplines. UPE is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). UPE was first organized at Texas A&M University in 1967. The international organization now consists of chapters in various colleges and universities in North America and overseas. UPE is the first and only international honor society in the computing and information disciplines.
• Eastern Connecticut State University's Jazz Ensemble recently presented their annual spring concert in the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC) Concert Hall. Nicholas Sharp of Granby played the drum set in the concert. Sharp's major is Business Administration. The Eastern Jazz Ensemble is composed of students who play traditional jazz instruments, including saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and drums. The ensemble performs works from the standard and modern big band repertoire.
• The Percussion Ensemble and Percussion Group at Eastern Connecticut State University presented their annual spring concert on April 29 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC) Concert Hall. Nicholas Sharp of Granby was one of the musicians who performed. Sharp majors in Business Administration. The ensemble presented a collection of large ensemble works and chamber repertoire, including pieces by Michael Culligan, Josh Gottry, Vittorio Monti, Ivan Trevino, Shane Shanahan and Jim Casella. Four singers contributed vocals to "Catching Shadows" by Trevino.

Elmira College, Elmira NY

• Samantha Berger of East Granby was awarded the Helen Hitchcock Bjorvand Drawing Prize at the Elmira College Academic Honors and Student Recognition Celebration, held Thursday, March 30, in Gibson Theatre. The Prize was endowed in recognition of an extraordinary member of the art faculty, and is presented annually to the full-time Elmira College student submitting the best portfolio of drawings.
• Samantha Berger of East Granby has been named to the Elmira College Dean's List for the winter 2017 term. Full-time students who achieve a grade point average of 3.600 or higher at the end of any Term I or Term II are placed on the Dean's List at the college.

Emmanuel College, Boston MA

• Erin Walsh of Granby, a student at Emmanuel College, was inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, one of the nation's most prestigious education honor societies. Established in 1910, Pi Lambda Theta serves to recognize outstanding students who intend to pursue careers in education. With more than 185,000 individuals who have been inducted across the nation, membership signifies a commitment to academic excellence and the teaching profession. ideas among historians.

Siena College, Loudonville NY

• Catherine Sullivan, a Mathematics major from Granby, was recognized for her outstanding academic achievement with The Computer Science Major Field Award.

Photo credits: Elmira College, Eastern Connecticut State University