Connecticut State Universities Honor Mancherster Student With Top Award

MANCHESTER, CT — Logan Moore of Manchester is among 12 students from Connecticut’s four state universities who received the 2026 Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award, the highest academic honor awarded by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Foundation.

The students attend Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State Universities and were recognized for academic achievement, on-campus involvement and dedication to community service.

According to the announcement, each recipient was selected by their university and maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.70. The award also recognizes a record of substantial voluntary service to both the students’ universities and their communities. This marks the 38th year the CSCU Foundation has presented the Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award.

"This year’s Barnard Award recipients exemplify the highest standards of academic excellence, leadership, and service across CSCU," Board of Regents Chair Marty Guay said. "Their accomplishments, both in the classroom and beyond, reflect the meaningful impact our students have on our universities and communities, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate their success."

The award is named for Henry Barnard, identified in the announcement as the first U.S. Commissioner of Education, Connecticut’s first superintendent of schools and principal of what later became Central Connecticut State University. The CSCU Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports education and research within the four state universities.

The 2026 recipients from Central Connecticut State University are Aaliyah Brown of West Hartford, Gabriel Garcia of Naugatuck, Logan Moore of Manchester and Rumman Shahzad of Plantsville. Eastern Connecticut State University recipients are Julianna Concepción of Willimantic and Abby Heidorn of Middletown.

From Southern Connecticut State University, the honorees are Stephanie Allis of North Branford, Hannah Ashiru of Waterbury, Paul Concordia of Norwalk and Heather Gaydowen of Wallingford. Western Connecticut State University recipients are Hannah Alexander of Oxford and Gianna Fanelli of Danbury.

The announcement also listed each student’s course of study. The recipients represent programs including criminology, physics, philosophy, biology, computer science, English, social work, chemistry, psychology, music performance, justice and law administration, financial management and psychology.