College students log achievements

Curry College

MILTON, Massachusetts — Curry College student Paulina Adams of Chester recently received the Human Rights Award at the 49th annual awards recognition ceremony. The event honors those who have achieved excellence in academics, student life, the arts and athletics.

Western New England University

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — Western New England University congratulates students who received their academic degrees.

John Abbott of Higganum graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in communication, media theory & production.

Kelly Bednarz of Middlefield graduated cum laude with a juris doctorate.

Andrew Campbell of Middletown graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration/finance.

Katherine Civitello of Killingworth graduated with a bachelor of social work.

Thomas Holman of East Hampton graduated with a juris doctorate.

Jessica Lewkowicz of Higganum graduated with a bachelor of science in neuroscience.

Selena Lopez of Middletown graduated cum laude with a bachelor of social work.

Cole Magee of Chester graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering/ mechatronics concentration.

Jonathan Metsack of Ivoryton graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in business administration/accounting.

Iestyn Norton of Deep River graduated with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Logan Pingree of Middletown graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration/ finance.

Marissa Puchalski of Middlefield graduated with a master of arts in English for teachers.

Alison Spadorcia of Middletown graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering.

Kevin Yawgel of Cromwell graduated with a bachelor of science in pharmacy studies.

Michael Zampano of Portland graduated with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Trinity College

HARTFORD —The following Middletown residents were awarded faculty honors for the spring semester at Trinity College. Each had a semester GPA of at least 3.667 on four graded courses, with no individual grade below B-, and no pending incomplete grades. They are: Skye A. Gasataya, Daniel M. Hawkins, Samantha S. Houle and Elizabeth B. Smith.

Mt. St. Mary College

NEWBURGH, New York — Claire Newman of Cromwell was recently honored by Mt. St. Mary College for making the spring dean’s list. The distinction is awarded each semester to students who have carried at least 12 graded credits with a minimum semester GPA of 3.5.

Bates College

LEWISTON, Maine — Bates College graduated these local residents:

Emily Bacon of Cromwell, biological chemistry major with a minor in mathematics, is the daughter of James Bacon of Middletown and 2014 graduate of Cromwell High School.

Shawn Strickland of Middletown, politics major, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Strickland of Middletown and 2014 graduate of Taft School.

Eastern Connecticut State University

WILLIMANTIC — In late May, Eastern Connecticut State University students traveled to Ghana, West Africa. The group was hosted by the Rural Health Project Africa, an NGO involved with enhancing the health of rural Ghanaians.

Leah Sopneski ‘19 of Deep River, who majors in health sciences, was one of 14 students on the trip.

Students arrived in Accra, Ghana, where they visited shrines, clinics, hospitals, schools, an orphanage and a water treatment plant to learn about health care and public health systems.

At Mampong Hospital in rural Agona, students participated in hospital rounds, observed in the operating theater, conducted well-baby clinics, participated in the Maternal and Child Health Clinic, conducted patient intakes, and experienced the emergency room.

The students also visited disease control units and compared health care in Ghana with health systems in the United States.

They also experienced the Ashanti culture by living in a compound in the rural African village of Assamang.

Weekends were spent visiting historical sites, including the Mole National game reserve at Kintampo Falls, where they saw an elephant and monkey preserves.

They also visited surrounding villages and markets, Kakum Rainforest, Cape Coast, the Elmina Slave Castle and a “prayer mountain,” a sacred place of worship in Ghana.