College students earn distinction

The Country School

MADISON — The Country School recently graduated 22 students who will be heading all over Connecticut, as well as to New York and Pennsylvania to attend secondary schools. These middle school students have earned either Honor Roll, Effort Roll or both.

The Effort List requires a minimum of four effort grades of 4 or better, two of which must come from the traditional disciplines of English, math, history, science, and foreign language, with nothing below a 3.

Academic Honors List inclusion requires a minimum of four grades of A or better with no grade below a B. Two of the four grades of A or better must come from the traditional disciplines of English, math, history, science and foreign language.

Students recognized for both:

Eighth grader Kameron Borden of Clinton

Sixth grader Meghan Brown of Higganum

Seventh grader Annabella Dattilo of Higganum

Sixth grader Katelin Hornyak of Killingworth

Eighth grader Willa Wurzbach of Killingworth

Seventh grader Alexander Bartholomew of Old Saybrook

Sixth grader Cooper Burke of Westbrook

Seventh grader Caleb Butler of Westbrook

Seventh grader Sanne Zwikker of Westbrook

Honor Roll students:

Eighth grader Ian Marshall of Killingworth

Eighth grader Christina Mullen of Killingworth

Sixth grader Joseph Salafia of Killingworth

Eighth grader Macklin Baldassaro of Old Saybrook

Eighth grader Philip Warren of Old Saybrook

Sixth grader Maxx Miller of Westbrook

Effort Honor Roll students:

Eighth grader Margaux Selfors of Old Saybrook

Wofford College

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — East Haddam resident and Wofford College student Austin D’addario recently studied abroad in Costa Rica as part of the school’s interim program.

Interim is a time for exploration and experiential learning outside of the traditional classroom. Students may choose from a variety of oncampus courses, professional internships and research projects, study abroad opportunities or their own independent study project, approved and guided by a faculty adviser. More than 250 students chose to study abroad during Interim 2019.

U.S. Air Force

MASSACHUSETTS — Michael B. Jacobs has been promoted to the rank of master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Jacobs is serving as enlisted accessions active duty recruiter with 319th Recruiting Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts. He has served in the military for 15 years.

Jacobs is the son of Donna L. Jacobs and Paul R. Jacobs, both of Pensacola, Fla., brother of Daniel P. Jacobs of San Diego, Calif., and Kimberly D. Jacobs of Pensacola, Fla., husband of Angela M. Jacobs and father of Emma J., Thomas O. and Brian M. Jacobs, all of Middletown.

He is a 2002 graduate of Escambia High School, Pensacola, Fla.

Simmons University

BOSTON — The following local students were named to the 2018 fall semester dean’s list at Simmons University: Emily Frese, Essex; Celine Breton, Killingworth; Mary Coletti, Killingworth; and Meghan St. Amand, Rockfall

To qualify, undergraduate students must obtain a gradepoint average of 3.5 or higher, based on 12 or more credit hours of work in classes using the letter grade system.

Lasell College

NEWTON, Mass — Brianna Adams, a international business major from Chester, participated in a mock trial as part of the Lasell College Fall Connected Learning Symposium.

Adams served on the defendant’s team and delivered the opening statement. In preparation, students learned the order in which a trial is conducted, courtroom etiquette, and techniques of cross and direct examination. Adams and the team conducted the trial in front of a panel of mock jurors — members of the faculty and staff — and a judge, Professor Linda Bucci.

The Connected Learning Symposium at Lasell College occurs twice a year to showcase student work tied to realworld clients and applications outside of the classroom. The event has run since 2002, though this fall’s was the first to take on a theme — diversity, equity, and inclusion — as seen in more than half of the day’s presentations.

In other news, Lasell takes a “causefirst” approach alternate break programs. Each trip location is a mystery to students who sign up. Rather than select the city they’ll be serving in, they optin based on a list of causes selected by peer leaders and guided by the College’s Center for CommunityBased Learning.

The Lasell Alternative Break program took students to Boise, Idaho; Houston, Texas; and Blairsville, Georgia. In their small community groups, students connected with important social issues: homelessness, trail conservation, and disaster relief.

Isabella Raffone of Westbrook was one of 13 students to travel to Houston to assist with disaster recovery efforts in partnership with TX Volunteer SBP and West Street Recovery.

Lily Anderson of Essex was one of two peer leaders who planned all communal and service aspects of the trip to Boise, Idaho. The group volunteered at Boise Rescue Mission Ministries’ River of Life Men’s Shelter, the Idaho Foodbank, Idaho Youth Ranch, and Interfaith Sanctuary to better understand issues of homelessness in that community. Trip leaders are selected nearly a year in advance and are required to attend a professional development conference through Break Away, a national nonprofit focused on these types of service programs.

SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. — Caitlin Malczon of Cromwell was a member of the cast and crew of the SUNY New Paltz spring 2019 production of “Life’s Only Valuable Emotion.”

The Praxis Series production of “Life’s Only Valuable Emotion,” presented by the Department of Theatre Arts and New Paltz Players, was a studentwritten, produced, performed and directed play about the struggle for love and connection.

Eastern CT State University

WILLIMANTIC — The Center for Community Engagement at Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its annual Service Expo and Awards recently. The event recognized the many service projects and students who have made a commitment to volunteerism in the Windham area, Eastern’s home community.

Among those honored were:

Adrianna Arocho, ‘20, of Middletown, who majors in preearly childhood education and Spanish. Arocho has been a regular volunteer with the Beauty Ambassadors program.

Jack Irvine, ‘21, of Cromwell, who majors in preelementary education and liberal studies. Irvine has been a regular volunteer with the Barrows STEM Academy afterschool program and the Windham Tech tutoring program.

Southern New Hampshire University

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Samantha Chapps of Old Saybrook was named to Southern New Hampshire University’s winter dean’s list. Eligibility requires a student accumulate an academic gradepoint average of 3.5 to 3.699 and earn 12 credits for the semester.

The following students were named to the winter president’s list.

Eligibility requires a student accumulate an academic gradepoint average of 3.7 to 4.0 and earn 12 credits for the semester.

Megan Decker of Durham, Gyanna Russell of East Hampton, Grace Kucharski of East Haddam, Erika Cantarella of Cromwell and Samantha Glance of Deep River were noted.

Curry College

MILTON, Mass — Curry College announces Paulina Adams of Chester received the Social Justice Award and the Excellence in Women’s and Gender Studies at the 50th annual Awards Recognition Ceremony. This special event honors students who have achieved excellence in academics, student life, the arts, and athletics, as well as recognizes staff and faculty for their efforts.

Roger Williams University

BRISTOL, R.I. —Eleanor Phetteplace of East Haddam is one of 15 Roger Williams University students who received the 2019 President's Core Values Medallion, awarded to graduating seniors who best exemplify the core values of the university.

These students have embraced love of learning as an intrinsic value, preparation for careers and future study, collaboration of students and faculty in research, commitment to community through service and sustainability, appreciation of global perspectives and promotion of civil discourse.

Cedarville University

CEDARVILLE, Ohio — Nathanael Knowlton, an industrial and innovative design major from Killingworth, was named to the dean's honor list at Cedarville University recently. This recognition required Knowlton to maintain a 3.75 minimum gradepoint average while carrying at least 12 credit hours during the spring semester.