Hometown Eastern Senior Completes Extraordinary Journey With CSCU Top Honor

WILLIMANTIC, CT — Eastern Connecticut State University recently announced that Julianna Concepcion, of Willimantic, is a graduating senior who received a 2026 Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award.

The award is the highest academic honor presented within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, and is presented annually to 12 students from across the four state universities.

Eastern's recipients are Conception, an English major, and Abby Heidorn, a biology major from Middletown. They have distinguished themselves through "outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to personal growth throughout their time at Eastern."

Named for renowned Connecticut educator Henry Barnard, the award honors students who exemplify academic excellence and dedication to learning. Barnard served as the first United States commissioner of education, Connecticut's first superintendent of schools, and principal of what is now Central Connecticut State University.

Julianna Concepcion

In her personal essay, Concepcion, a Willimantic native, reflected on growing up in a supportive but financially struggling Puerto Rican family. Stories she heard growing up, from the racial violence her grandmother faced to her mother's financial constraints, instilled in her a belief that education was an obstacle toward making ends meet rather than a vehicle for success.

Shortly after graduating from Windham High School with a modest 2.3 GPA, Concepcion participated in Eastern's Summer Transition at Eastern Program/Contract Admissions Program (or STEP/CAP), which she finished with straight A grades.

Though she was reluctant to pursue higher education, she now declares, "My time at Eastern ended up being the best time of my life."

An inductee of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society and Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students, Concepcion has served as a member of the Dean's Student Council under Dean of Arts and Sciences Emily Todd since fall 2024, helping to ensure outreach on and off campus with current and prospective students.

"Julianna is everywhere," said English Professor Christopher Torockio, who served as a faculty mentor for Concepcion. "She's a phenomenal fiction writer; she's an amazing scholar of literature; she's a journalist."

Concepcion has sharpened her supervisory skills as editor-in-chief of the Campus Lantern Newspaper, mentoring a group of students to ensure high-quality content. She also served as opinion editor for the newspaper, a further outlet for her passion for writing.

Concepcion has also teamed up with several English faculty members for pursuits on and off campus to strengthen the English program. She served as a writing tutor under English Professor Susan DeRosa at the Writing Center, with an emphasis on "fostering a productive and encouraging learning environment."

Concepcion has also collaborated with English Professor Allison Speicher to give back to the community she was raised in as well as the department. As an "ambassador" for the University's English program, "I have worked with English teachers at Windham High School to raise awareness and crush stereotypes about English majors with the hopes of encouraging literacy rates and education pursual in my hometown," she wrote.

While her upbringing presented her with adversity, the perspective Concepcion now carries toward her pursuit of a master's degree and Ph.D. is an asset. "This award is a direct artifact of the new person I have become and what lies ahead," she wrote.

Abby Heidorn

An inductee of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Heidorn credits her high level of involvement across campus for supporting her academic growth. "My leadership roles and community involvement have driven my academic success," she wrote.

Heidorn served as president of the University's Biology Club, cultivating relationships with like-minded peers. "These connections have been a crucial support system for not only sharing new ideas but also (for motivation)," she wrote.

Heidorn gained a broader knowledge and understanding of learning styles through her service as a peer science tutor and teaching assistant in various classes.

"I have learned that caring about my peers' struggles to help them succeed reinforces my own academic goals," she wrote. "These roles have taught me that collaboration is a key part of science and personal growth."

Heidorn has also cultivated meaningful relationships within the Willimantic community as a volunteer for the Center for Community Engagement. She volunteered in the oncology and pre-admissions testing units at Windham Hospital and the Covenant Soup Kitchen, helping to foster the well-being of community residents.

Heidorn, who hopes to become a genomics scientist, has also utilized this collaborative approach in her studies during her time at Eastern. "The most rewarding part of my experience at Eastern has been learning to channel my drive for success into meaningful contributions to both science and my community," she wrote.

"Abby's rare combination of accomplished, rigorous scientific inquiry, leadership, and compassionate community service directly aligns with the legacy of Henry Barnard,"said biology Professor Barbara Murdoch Heidorn's research supervisor.