{"id":128934,"date":"2017-08-28T10:53:45","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T14:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=128934"},"modified":"2023-06-27T13:07:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T17:07:12","slug":"becoming-part-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2017\/08\/becoming-part-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming Part of a Community"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wonderplugingallery-container\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-container-98\" style=\"max-width:630px;margin:0 auto;\"><div class=\"wonderplugingallery\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-98\" data-galleryid=\"98\" data-width=\"630\" data-height=\"420\" data-skin=\"light\" data-random=\"false\" data-autoslide=\"false\" data-autoplayvideo=\"false\" data-schemamarkup=\"false\" data-stopallplaying=\"false\" data-hidetitlewhenvideoisplaying=\"false\" data-disablehovereventontouch=\"false\" data-autoslideandplayafterfirstplayed=\"false\" data-html5player=\"true\" data-responsive=\"true\" data-fullwidth=\"false\" data-showtitle=\"true\" data-showdescription=\"true\" data-showplaybutton=\"true\" data-showfullscreenbutton=\"true\" data-showtimer=\"true\" data-showcarousel=\"true\" data-galleryshadow=\"false\" data-slideshadow=\"true\" data-thumbshowtitle=\"false\" data-thumbshadow=\"true\" data-lightboxshowtitle=\"false\" data-lightboxshowdescription=\"true\" data-specifyid=\"true\" data-donotinit=\"false\" data-addinitscript=\"false\" data-triggerresize=\"false\" data-thumbcolumnsresponsive=\"false\" data-showimgtitle=\"false\" data-titlesmallscreen=\"false\" data-initsocial=\"true\" data-showsocial=\"false\" data-showemail=\"false\" data-showfacebook=\"true\" data-showtwitter=\"true\" data-showpinterest=\"true\" data-socialrotateeffect=\"true\" data-doshortcodeontext=\"false\" data-duration=\"1500\" data-slideduration=\"1000\" data-slideshowinterval=\"6000\" data-googleanalyticsaccount=\"\" data-resizemode=\"fit\" data-imagetoolboxmode=\"mouseover\" data-effect=\"fade\" data-padding=\"12\" data-bgcolor=\"\" data-bgimage=\"\" data-thumbwidth=\"48\" data-thumbheight=\"48\" data-thumbgap=\"8\" data-thumbrowgap=\"16\" data-lightboxtextheight=\"72\" data-lightboxtitlecss=\"{color:#333333; font:bold 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:18px;}\" data-lightboxdescriptioncss=\"{color:#333333; font:normal 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:14px;}\" data-titlecss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:14px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; text-align:left; padding:10px 0px 10px 10px;  background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6); display:none;}\" data-descriptioncss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:12px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; text-align:left; padding:10px;  background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6);}\" data-titleheight=\"72\" data-titlesmallscreenwidth=\"640\" data-titleheightsmallscreen=\"148\" data-socialmode=\"mouseover\" data-socialposition=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialpositionlightbox=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialdirection=\"horizontal\" data-socialbuttonsize=\"32\" data-socialbuttonfontsize=\"18\" data-triggerresizedelay=\"100\" data-thumbmediumsize=\"800\" data-thumbsmallsize=\"480\" data-thumbmediumwidth=\"64\" data-thumbmediumheight=\"64\" data-thumbsmallwidth=\"48\" data-thumbsmallheight=\"48\" data-imgtitle=\"title\" data-jsfolder=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/plugins\/wonderplugin-library\/engine\/\" style=\"display:none;\" ><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_33.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_33-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_33\" data-description=\"First Year Experience (FYE) teaching assistant Isabella Horan and her FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_33<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">First Year Experience (FYE) teaching assistant Isabella Horan and her FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_24.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_24-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_24\" data-description=\"FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_24<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_18.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_18-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_18\" data-description=\"FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_18<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_16.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_16-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_16\" data-description=\"FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_16<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_13.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_13-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_13\" data-description=\"FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_13<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_35.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_35-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_35\" data-description=\"FYE TA Aziz Sandhu and her FYE mentors during the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_35<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE TA Aziz Sandhu and her FYE mentors during the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_02.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_02-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_02\" data-description=\"FYE Peer Leaders (from left) Aziz Sandhu, Deepinder Singh, and Jimmy Huynh at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_02<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE Peer Leaders (from left) Aziz Sandhu, Deepinder Singh, and Jimmy Huynh at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_31.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_31-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_31\" data-description=\"FYE mentors spell out FYE at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_31<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE mentors spell out FYE at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_30.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_30-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_30\" data-description=\"FYE TA Danielle Caefer and her mentor group at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_30<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE TA Danielle Caefer and her mentor group at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_29.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_29-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_29\" data-description=\"FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_29<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE mentors at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_28.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_28-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_28\" data-description=\"FYE TA Jessica Mathieu and her mentor group at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_28<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE TA Jessica Mathieu and her mentor group at the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_25.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_25-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_25\" data-description=\"FYE and Academic Achievement Center (AAC) Peer Leaders outside Next Gen Hall during the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">FYE_LC_AAC_Training_high_res_25<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">FYE and Academic Achievement Center (AAC) Peer Leaders outside Next Gen Hall during the First Year Experience\/Learning Community Training, Aug. 23-24, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_13.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_13-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_13\" data-description=\"On stage and energizing the crowd at the Learning Community Kickoff event is Justis Lopez &#39;14 (CLAS), &#39;15 MA, now a social studies teacher in NYC.  (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_13<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">On stage and energizing the crowd at the Learning Community Kickoff event is Justis Lopez &#039;14 (CLAS), &#039;15 MA, now a social studies teacher in NYC.  (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_10.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_10-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_10\" data-description=\"WiMSE (Women in Math, Science, &amp; Engineering) House students meet Jonathan XIV at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017.  (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_10<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">WiMSE (Women in Math, Science, &amp; Engineering) House students meet Jonathan XIV at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017.  (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_06.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_06-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_06\" data-description=\"Justis Lopez &#39;14 (CLAS), &#39;15 MA leads students in line dances during the Learning Community Kickoff event at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Lopez is a social studies teacher, and also owns his own business, Justis League Entertainment. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_06<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Justis Lopez &#039;14 (CLAS), &#039;15 MA leads students in line dances during the Learning Community Kickoff event at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Lopez is a social studies teacher, and also owns his own business, Justis League Entertainment. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_03.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_03-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_03\" data-description=\"First-year WiMSE (Women in Math, Science, &amp; Engineering) House students pose for photos following the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_03<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">First-year WiMSE (Women in Math, Science, &amp; Engineering) House students pose for photos following the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_01.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_01-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_01\" data-description=\"Sophomore Public Health House students at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_01<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Sophomore Public Health House students at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_51.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_51-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_51\" data-description=\"Students pose for a photo with the Husky mascot at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_51<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Students pose for a photo with the Husky mascot at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_47.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_47-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_47\" data-description=\"WiMSE House students participate in a dance-off for prizes at the Learning Community Kickoff Kickoff event at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_47<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">WiMSE House students participate in a dance-off for prizes at the Learning Community Kickoff Kickoff event at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_43.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_43-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_43\" data-description=\"Stephen Sam, a junior majoring in computer science and a member of ScHOLA2RS House, encourages new students to start building their legacy now, be humble in their approach, and understand that a UConn education is not an overnight operation, but rather a process. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_43<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Stephen Sam, a junior majoring in computer science and a member of ScHOLA2RS House, encourages new students to start building their legacy now, be humble in their approach, and understand that a UConn education is not an overnight operation, but rather a process. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_29.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_29-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_29\" data-description=\"Justis Lopez &#39;14 (CLAS), &#39;15 MA engages the Husky mascot at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_29<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Justis Lopez &#039;14 (CLAS), &#039;15 MA engages the Husky mascot at the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_20.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_20-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_20\" data-description=\"David Ouimette, executive director of First Year Programs, Learning Communities, and the Academic Achievement Center, welcomes this year\u2019s Learning Community students at the kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017.  (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_20<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">David Ouimette, executive director of First Year Programs, Learning Communities, and the Academic Achievement Center, welcomes this year\u2019s Learning Community students at the kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017.  (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_52.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_52-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_52\" data-description=\"More than 1,400 students, faculty, and staff attended the 9th Annual Learning Community Kickoff event at Jorgensen, setting the tone for a great year.  (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_52<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">More than 1,400 students, faculty, and staff attended the 9th Annual Learning Community Kickoff event at Jorgensen, setting the tone for a great year.  (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_56.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_56-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_56\" data-description=\"Members of La Comunidad Intelectual gather with their faculty directors, Diana Rios, associate professor of communication and El Instituto, and Graciela Quinones-Rodriguez, psychiatric social worker in Counseling and Mental Health Services, after the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017.  (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_56<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">Members of La Comunidad Intelectual gather with their faculty directors, Diana Rios, associate professor of communication and El Instituto, and Graciela Quinones-Rodriguez, psychiatric social worker in Counseling and Mental Health Services, after the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017.  (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_54.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/LC_Kickoff_54-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"LC_Kickoff_54\" data-description=\"EcoHouse students pose for a photo in front of Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts after the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">LC_Kickoff_54<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-description\">EcoHouse students pose for a photo in front of Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts after the Learning Community Kickoff event on Aug. 27, 2017. (Defining Studios for UConn)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>More than 1,400 students got an introduction to UConn&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/lc.uconn.edu\/\">Learning Communities<\/a> at a kickoff event at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Aug. 27. Just days before, student mentors for <a href=\"http:\/\/fyp.uconn.edu\/\">First Year Programs &amp; Learning Communities<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/achieve.uconn.edu\/\">Academic Achievement Center<\/a> participated in training on Aug. 23 and 24.<\/p>\n<p>UConn&#8217;s residential Living and Learning Communities help groups of students united by their areas of interest navigate campus and its resources with their peers, and quickly feel at home. More than 40 percent of the incoming class participate in a learning community, as well as hundreds of students beyond the first year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UConn&#8217;s residential Living and Learning Communities help groups of students united by their areas of interest quickly feel at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":128921,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69,2225,2234],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[117],"class_list":["post-128934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gallery","category-uconn-storrs","category-university-life","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-26 00:16:48","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128934"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":128950,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128934\/revisions\/128950"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/128921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128934"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=128934"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=128934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}