12 Students from the Connecticut State Universities Receive Henry Barnard Awards

Twelve outstanding students from the four Connecticut State Universities were honored by the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) Foundation with the prestigious Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award.

The 12 students — from Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Connecticut State universities — were honored for academic excellence and community service at the 28th annual Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Awards banquet on April 6, 2016, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.

“These students represent the very best our state has to offer, and their success is our success,” said Mark Ojakian, President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.

“Richard Balducci, member of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and CSUS Foundation board, said these 12 students were “representative of the extremely hard-working students who attend our four universities. Their commitment to academics, to community service and to their own future career goals is to be commended.”

The event’s keynote speaker was John J. Patrick, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Farmington Bank. In praising their accomplishments, he said, “You are going to be called upon to be leaders, so make an impact and always strive for the best,” he said.

The 2016 Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award winners are:

Central Connecticut State University

Linnai-Anne Camacho, New Britain, Networking Information Technology Major, 3.80 GPA

Brittany Ernst, Mendon, Mass., Psychological Science Major and Business Minor, 3.90 GPA

Marisa Nicole Quesnel, Litchfield, Exercise Major, 3.85 GPA

Mohammed Rabah, Middletown, Biomolecular Science Major and Chemistry Minor, 3.81 GPA

Eastern Connecticut State University

Sabreena Croteau, North Kingstown, RI, Political Science and History Major and Sociology Minor, 3.93 GPA

Quanece Williams, Bridgeport, History and Political Science Major, 3.90 GPA

Southern Connecticut State University

Kristen Dearborn, Wallingford, English Major, 3.71 GPA

Kelly Gunneson, Cheshire, Secondary Education Major in Mathematics, 3.91 GPA

Caitlin Hansen, Hamden, Physics Major and Mathematics Minor, 3.97 GPA

Megan Mancinelli, Weston, Psychology Major and Creative Writing Minor, 3.91 GPA

Western Connecticut State University

Alexis Koukos, Danbury, Accounting Major and Professional Writing and Finance Minor, 4.0 GPA

Colleen Mair, Milford, dual major in justice and law administration and psychology, 3.94 GPA

To be considered for a Barnard Award, a student must have at least a 3.75 GPA, a record of significant community service, and be nominated by their respective universities and presidents.  The CSUS Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports education and research within the four state universities.

The award is named for Henry Barnard, Connecticut’s first superintendent of schools and principal of what later became Central Connecticut State University. Barnard was also the first U.S. Commissioner of Education.