Local Residents Graduate From Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State University's 122nd Commencement took place at the XL Center in Hartford on May 15. In all, 1,230 undergraduates and 88 graduate students earned their degrees.

Samantha Army, of Somers, graduated cum laude with a degree in English 

Kristafer Bachiochi, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Visual Arts 

David Bedford, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Computer Science 

Rachel Betz, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Communication 

Garrett Campbell, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Sociology and Applied Social Relations 

Steven Curtis, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Business Administration

Amy Dias, of Ellington, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in History 

Amy Dias, of Ellington, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Elementary Education 

Molly Driscoll, of Somers, graduated with a degree in English 

Jennifer Dufraine, of Somers, graduated with a degree in Biology 

Ian Hills, of Somers, graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration 

Christopher LeSure, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Biochemistry

James Lucey, of Somers, graduated with a degree in Business Administration 

Monica Malaver, of Ellington, graduated with dean's distinction with a degree in Spanish 

Donna Ostrout, of Ellington, graduated with dean's distinction with a degree in Management 

Courtney Pare, of Somers, graduated with a degree in Psychology

Courtney Phelps, of Ellington, graduated with dean's distinction with a degree in Business Administration 

Meagan Roberge, of Somers, graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology

Jennifer Schaller, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Communication 

Chelsea Socha, of Somers, graduated with a degree in Communication 

Jenna Thomas, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Psychology 

Colleen Toohey, of Somers, graduated cum laude with a degree in English and Elementary Education

Nicholas Vitterito, of Ellington, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Mathematics 

Alex Voukounas, of Ellington, graduated with a degree in Sport and Leisure Management 

Amber Wassmuth, of Somers, graduated with a degree in Sociology 

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Michael S. Roth, president of Wesleyan University, delivered the Commencement address. He told the graduates he hoped they had learned three things at Eastern: "What you love to do, how to get better at it and how to share that with others...I hope that at Eastern you have found something that stirs your soul, that draws what is best from you." Roth also told the Class of 2012, "The habits of mind developed in liberal arts environments like Eastern's...will empower you to see opportunity where others see only obstacles." Roth concluded that universities "must continue to strive to be places where young people discover and cultivate their independence and must themselves resist the trends of inequality that are tearing at the fabric of our country."

Eastern President Elsa M. Núñez told the graduates not to sit on the sidelines. "The challenges we face today as a nation and international community are ours to face and ours to solve...there is no other country in the world that places its future so firmly in the hands of the people. You are now the next generation of citizen leaders in our state and in our nation. Together, you can be the force of change that can keep our country strong. It is your time. You are the leaders of the future, and the future starts now!"

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university. Eastern serves approximately 5,600 students each year on its Willimantic campus and satellite locations.