UConn’s ScHOLA2RS House is a Learning Community program dedicated to support the scholastic efforts of male students who identify as African American/Black. At its end of year ceremonies, three bright students were awarded the Cato T. Laurencin Award, which are given to those graduating with the highest GPAs. Funded by the Helen I. Moorehead-Laurencin Family Foundation, the award is presented by UConn Foundation and is endowed through generous gifts from faculty and staff at UConn. The award-winning students this year were Isaiah Harvey, Samuel Agyei, and Jakobi Samuels.
The intent of SCHOLA2RS House is to increase the success and persistence of African American/Black male students using educational and social experiences aimed at enhancing their careers at UConn and beyond. Opportunities include access to research and professional development.
Laurencin, who the award is named after, is notable for pioneering the field of regenerative engineering. He is the first surgeon to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Engineering. He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama. He received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP where he was declared the foremost engineer-physician-scientist in the world.
As a mentor, Laurencin has the distinction of receiving the Beckman Award for Mentoring, the American Association for the Advancement of Science Mentor Award, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentor from the White House. At UConn, he created the UConn NSF Research Experience and Mentoring Program, the Young Innovative Investigator (YIIP) Program, the M-1 Mentoring Program, the UConn Pre-K Faculty Development Program, the M.S. Program in Regenerative Engineering, and the NIH Regenerative Engineering T32 Graduate Training Program.
“Dr. Laurencin helped support the founding of ScHOLA2RS House. He is an inspiration to our students and serves to be a great mentor,” says Josh Brown, who is the faculty director of the House.
Brown, who has a background in education and engineering from Howard University, helped establish T.R.U.S.T, which is a society for men in STEM. As a new faculty director, he has already rejuvenated the ScHOLA2RS House and has strengthened bonds between students.
