Congratulations to the recipients of the Neag School of Education Alumni Board Scholarship for 2025:

• Emmanuel Dwamena – a doctoral student in curriculum and instruction;
• Caroline Shadman ’25 (ED) – a master’s student in curriculum and instruction; and
• Claudia Ventura – a doctoral student in research methods, measurement, and evaluation

The Alumni Board Scholarship provides a $1,500 annual award to students enrolled in a Neag School master’s, doctorate, or sixth-year program who have proven academic excellence or demonstrated financial need.

Scholarship Fuels Scholar’s Mission to Uplift Rural STEM Education

For Emmanuel Dwamena, the Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship represents more than financial support — it’s validation of a life’s purpose.

“Receiving the Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship feels like finally being handed the golden ticket after years of knocking on doors, chasing leads, and surviving on caffeine, curiosity, and a stubborn belief that education could be my way forward,” Dwamena says.

A first-generation student from a rural community in Ghana, Dwamena recalls the challenges of shifting from a private school to a rural public school due to economic hardship during his childhood. That experience sparked a deep empathy and commitment to equity in education.

“This moment is more than academic recognition; it’s a bridge between where I come from and where I’m going,” Dwamena says. “This scholarship is a powerful vote of confidence in my mission to support rural STEM teachers through my scholarly work.”

Now entering his second year of a Ph.D. program in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in science education at the Neag School, Dwamena’s research focuses on STEM teacher sustainability, equitable integration of artificial intelligence, and pathways to economic mobility for underserved students.

“The scholarship will allow me to attend key conferences, present my research, and build a network of scholars committed to equity,” Dwamena says. “Being recognized by alumni who’ve walked this path reminds me that I’m part of a larger community committed to meaningful, lasting change.”

Dwamena chose the Neag School because of its emphasis on equity, justice, and innovation.

“Neag’s interdisciplinary approach provides the ideal environment to advance my work,” Dwamena says, crediting Neag School faculty mentors Dorothea Anagnostopoulos, Todd Campbell, Sakeena Everett, Diandra Prescod, and John Settlage (primary advisor) for their guidance.

“To the Alumni Board: Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Dwamena says. “Your support is not just a gift — it’s a responsibility I carry with care and purpose.”

Preparing to Inspire the Next Generation Through Music Education

For Caroline Shadman ’25 (ED), pursuing higher education has always been about more than earning a degree — it’s a way to share her passion for learning and creativity with future students.

“I’ve always pictured myself in a helping profession, and in middle school, I began considering a career as a teacher,” Shadman says. “I loved learning and collaborating with others, and I wanted to share those values with my future students.”

Now in her master’s year of the Neag School’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s (IB/M) teacher education program, Shadman is completing her year-long internship with the goal of becoming a middle or high school band director.

“Music education is not about creating future musicians — it’s about helping students become creative, well-rounded individuals,” she says. “As a future music educator, I see myself helping others discover their voices through the power of music.”

A leader in and out of the classroom, Shadman has served as trombone section leader in the UConn Symphonic Wind Ensemble and baritone section leader in the UConn Marching Band. She has also completed an Honors thesis, which explores how gender influences music educators’ pedagogical decisions.

Receiving the Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship, she says, is both an honor and a major relief.

“This generous contribution will not only help offset the cost of tuition, but it also eases the overall financial burden that comes with continuing my education,” Shadman says. “With this support, I can focus on coursework and my teaching internship, rather than worrying about financial constraints.”

To the Alumni Board, she says, “Thank you for investing in my education and professional journey. I’m looking forward to interning in a high school band next year and continuing to grow as an educator.”

From First-Generation Student to Champion of Equity in Education

For Claudia Ventura, a fourth-year Ph.D. student at the Neag School, education is not just a personal goal — it’s a mission to uplift others.

“As a Dominican-born Hispanic woman, an immigrant with an accent, and a first-generation college student from a low-income background, I have faced systemic racist obstacles that made academic success feel unattainable,” Ventura says. “But these challenges have fueled my determination to break the cycle in my family, and to pave the way for others like me.”

Ventura’s passion for educational equity began early. A transformative summer program at Columbia University gave her the confidence to pursue college, but the path wasn’t easy.

“When I arrived in college, I found myself in classrooms where few students looked like me,” she says. “White students didn’t want to collaborate with me. That isolation deepened my self-doubt.”

Her journey faced another challenge when she became a single mother while still in college.

“I feared becoming another statistic,” she says. “But instead of giving up, I came back stronger.”

She graduated with honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology, and would go on to earn two master’s degrees: one in experimental psychology and the other in educational psychology. Currently a doctoral student focused on research and data-driven solutions in education, Ventura is dedicated to creating inclusive academic spaces for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Receiving the Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship, she says, is deeply meaningful.

“This scholarship provides not only financial support but also a sense of empowerment,” she says. “It reminds me that the true power lies in community — none of us achieves success alone. This recognition lightens the load, allowing me to move forward with greater strength and purpose.”

To the Alumni Board, Ventura offers heartfelt thanks: “Your support is a recognition of my commitment to breaking cycles and building pathways. I promise to use it to uplift others, just as you’ve uplifted me.”

Alumni Board Scholarship recipients Emmanuel Dwamena, Caroline Shadman, and Claudia Ventura will be formally recognized at the 2026 Neag School Alumni Awards Celebration, scheduled to take place in spring 2026. For more information about supporting Neag School students, visit education.uconn.edu/giving-to-neag.