Achievement

Director of Academic Support & Assistant Director of First Year Programs, Academic Achievement Center & Learning Communities Leo Lachut has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. The organization is dedicated to setting a standard of excellence for supporting student transitions and facilitating educational success for a diversity of students in the 21st century.

Dr. Cato Laurencin, University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, is the recipient of the Paul Terasaki Innovation Award, created in memory of renowned organ transplant innovator Dr. Paul Terasaki. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of biomedical innovation through research, education, industry, translation, or clinical practice. Recipients also demonstrate exemplary efforts to transform their inventions to real-world solutions.

In Memoriam

George Brierley, 92, a former biology instructor at UConn Hartford, on Feb. 16.

Joseph Crisco, 90, of Woodbridge, Conn., a former member of the Board of Trustees and a Connecticut state senator, on Feb. 14.

Judy Perugini, 81, of Middlebury, Conn., a former administrative assistant at UConn Waterbury, on Feb. 14.

Dr. Sundaram Ramanan, 91, of West Hartford, Conn., a faculty member at UConn Health since 1976, who retired at age 90, on Feb. 15.

Howard Sprout, 77, of Bloomfield, Conn., a former music instructor in the Adult Learning Program, on Feb. 6.

Ellie Tuck, 84, of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass, a former employee in the 1960s, on Jan. 30.