Sandy Chase and Latanya Farrell of West Hartford Among UHart Alumni Association Award Winners

The recipients of the 2016 University of Hartford Anchor Awards, the most prestigious award presented by the University of Hartford Alumni Association, have been announced. They are Sandra “Sandy” Chase ’12, M’84, of West Hartford, Conn.; Anthony Cymerys ’64), of Windsor, Conn.; Latanya Farrell M’97, M’98 (ENHP) of West Hartford, Conn.; Hyun Soon Lillehoj ’74 of Ellicott, MD.; and Edward “Ted” Myles ’93 of North Easton, Mass. The five will be honored at a dinner on Friday evening, Oct. 14 as part of Hawktober Weekend.

The awards were established to recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves by achieving the highest level of professional and community accomplishments and who possess absolute standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the University.

Sandra “Sandy” Chase ’12, M’84

Sandy Chase is an involved community member and noted philanthropist, serving the University of Hartford and a variety of other organizations throughout Greater Hartford.

Chase is the executive vice president/director of the Sandra and Arnold Chase Family Foundation. She is also a board member of the West Hartford Art League and an honorary corporator with the Oak Hill Foundation. Chase’s past affiliations have included service as a board member with YWCA of Greater Hartford and the Jewish Studies Board, a trustee at Kingswood-Oxford School, honorary director of the Hartford Stage and a supporter of the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls in Greater Hartford.

At UHart, Chase is a member of the Hartford Art School Board of Corporators. She has previously been on the Greenberg Center Board of Visitors and the ENHP Advisory Board. The Chase Family Arena, home to UHart’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, was named in honor of the outstanding history of gifts and contributions by the Chase family to the University.

Chase holds a bachelor’s degree from the Hartford Art School and a master’s degree from the College of Education Nursing and Health Professions. She and her husband, Arnold, who is executive vice president and treasurer of David T. Chase Enterprises and a Greenberg Center Friend, live in West Hartford and have four children.

Latanya Farrell M’97, M’98

Latanya Farrell is an award-winning teacher, performer, and songwriter who has dedicated her life to inspiring young people, and spreading positivity through her gift of music.

“By day,” Latanya is a dynamic educator in the Bristol, CT public school system where she has taught for more than 20 years. She has won several teaching honors, most notably in 2003 when Western CT State University named her Educator of the Decade for the 1990s. Over the years, Latanya has taught a range of subjects at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. She is currently teaching Social Studies and the AVID post-secondary preparation program at Bristol Central High School.

As a performer, Latanya has taken the stage at the Bushnell, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, and live on television, and has also performed with notable artists such as UHart alumnus, singer Javier Colon, jazz greats Winton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, and the hit group Air Supply. As a recording artist, Latanya released her debut album, “Feelin’ Alright” in 2008 and, most recently, appeared on UHart alumnus Jimmy Greene’s ’97 twice-nominated Grammy album, “Beautiful Life.”

Farrell and her husband/manager Jason, a 2014 UHart alumnus and current staff member, live in West Hartford, CT, with their two children. To see Latanya live at one of her performances, visit www.Latanya.net.