{"id":236580,"date":"2025-10-15T07:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T11:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=236580"},"modified":"2025-10-14T16:05:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T20:05:49","slug":"neag-schools-annual-scholarship-celebration-spotlights-students-and-donors-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2025\/10\/neag-schools-annual-scholarship-celebration-spotlights-students-and-donors-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Neag School\u2019s Annual Scholarship Celebration Spotlights Students and Donors"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Oct. 5, UConn\u2019s Neag School of Education held its annual Scholarship Celebration to recognize students\u2019 academic achievements and the generosity of donors who have financially contributed to furthering their education.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of us, regardless of the path our life has led, were positively influenced by a teacher, a coach, or the educational institution we attended,\u201d said Dean Jason G. Irizarry, who opened the celebration. \u201cJust think where we\u2019d be if that teacher or coach or professor never became who they are. The ripple effect of supporting Neag School students cannot be understated.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Neag School supported 374 students with more than $543,000 in scholarships. This aid would not be possible without the generosity of donors, many of whom were in attendance.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo simply say thank you to all our donors is not enough,\u201d Irizarry said. \u201cOur gratitude \u2013 and the gratitude of our students \u2013 is endless. We hope this event makes you feel even an ounce of that gratitude. We do not take you for granted and feel incredibly lucky that you support us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Musharraf
“This investment in my education means more than I can put into words,\u201d Musharraf Atik \u201927 (ED), \u201928 MA said about receiving the Fuller Scholarship for Social Justice in Education. (Defining Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following the dean\u2019s remarks, a video<\/a> was shown featuring scholarship recipients Sarah Sportini \u201925 (ED), \u201926 MA; Cianna Tangishaka \u201926 (ED); and Grace Wright-Goodison \u201927 (ED), \u201928 MA, who shared their thoughts about their scholarships. Immediately after, student Musharraf Atik \u201927 (ED), \u201928 MA spoke about receiving the Fuller Scholarship for Social Justice in Education and what it meant to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis investment in my education means more than I can put into words,\u201d Atik said. \u00a0\u201cFor me, the importance of this scholarship has a much deeper meaning than just financial support, because it represents recognition of the work I\u2019ve done, and the work my peers and colleagues in the Neag program are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Atik, a junior majoring in secondary English education, acknowledged his parents and the importance of literacy in his journey. The family emigrated from Bangladesh, hoping their son would attend college and have better opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, I often remember my peers being able to afford supplemental readings, books, and resources that I simply couldn\u2019t get my hands on,\u201d he said. \u201cAs an educator, I want to be able to provide all these resources to my students, no matter the circumstance, no matter where they\u2019re from, no matter how much they have. Everyone should have the same opportunity, because literacy is a way for students to feel empowered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

For me, the importance of this scholarship has a much deeper meaning than just financial support, because it represents recognition of the work I\u2019ve done, and the work my peers and colleagues in the Neag program are doing. — Musharraf Atik \u201927 (ED), \u201928 MA<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

After lunch, students and donors heard from philanthropist Katie Fuller. A former educator from New York, Fuller is not a UConn alumna but knew she wanted to contribute to the field of education in some capacity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to Connecticut and spent the day at the Neag School, and I got to meet some students and professors, and I was blown away,\u201d she said. \u201cI still am. I see Neag as a school committed to its mission and its values in making sure that education and equity are available to all students in Connecticut.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2014, she established the Fuller Scholarship for Social Justice in Education, which has supported 25 students over 10 years. Additionally, Fuller previously served on the Dean\u2019s Board of Advocates.<\/p>\n

\"Katie
“Every year, I get to meet the students, and I\u2019m just so inspired by their passion and commitment to teaching Connecticut students, and I really can\u2019t think of a more necessary profession,\u201d Katie Fuller said. (Defining Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cEvery year, I get to meet the students, and I\u2019m just so inspired by their passion and commitment to teaching Connecticut students, and I really can\u2019t think of a more necessary profession,\u201d Fuller said.<\/p>\n

All scholarship recipients were then acknowledged through a slideshow presentation<\/a>, for which they provided testimonials about what their scholarship means to them. This was followed by a musical performance video<\/a> of \u201cLe Festin\u201d by Neag School students Pio Castellano \u201925 (ED), \u201926 MA and Caroline Shadman \u201925 (ED), \u201926 MA.<\/p>\n

Many attendees reflected on the vital role scholarships play in shaping students\u2019 futures. They emphasized that such support helps students access education and reach their potential.<\/p>\n

As a donor and president of the Neag School Alumni Board, Shay Lewis \u201920 6th Year advocates for supporting students through giving, helping to expand the opportunities available to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think scholarships and donating to scholarships are important because they help students today get a leg up,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cWithout scholarships, they may have had to put themselves through school part time, which would have taken longer. It\u2019s important that they can have a fair chance to start their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crisanne Colgan \u201972 (CLAS), \u201981 6th Year, \u201984 Ph.D., a member of the Dean\u2019s Board of Advocates, expressed the importance of supporting students, a commitment she holds close as a proud three-time UConn graduate.<\/p>\n

\n

There is no better investment than in students, because they are the future of the world. — Crisanne Colgan \u201972 (CLAS), \u201981 6th Year, \u201984 Ph.D<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThere is no better investment than in students, because they are the future of the world,\u201d Colgan said. \u201cWhether it be financial support or encouragement, I think there are so many ways to support students. And indeed, financial support is one of the most important ways to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patricia Jepson \u201981 MA, \u201906 Ph.D., has uniquely bridged UConn\u2019s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and Neag School of Education in her efforts to advance agricultural education.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgriculture education is a field that many people don\u2019t know about, so visibility is really important,\u201d Jepson said. \u201cBut agriculture is important to all of us, and it\u2019s such a broad range – from food science to environmental science – that we want to make sure people are aware of how important it is, and part of that is supporting the students and getting the word out there that it exists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scott Brown, UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology, emphasized how important UConn is to him after working at the Neag School for 39 years and having seen his three children graduate from the University.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event gives you an opportunity to see how your contributions are impacting an individual, a real person sitting next to you at the table,\u201d he said. \u201cI had a very nice conversation with Jacqueline Schmitt and some other students in the Neag School who were also awarded. You can\u2019t make a better investment than in education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Access\u00a0a recording of the event<\/em><\/a>, view<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>photos from the event<\/em><\/a>, view a <\/em>slideshow of student testimonials<\/a>, or view<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>a video of student scholarship recipients<\/em><\/a>. To learn more about supporting the Neag School of Education, visit<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>education.uconn.edu\/giving-to-neag<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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