The University of Connecticut

Summer Bridge Program

Recognition Reception & Certificates

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Graduate Business Learning

Center

Downtown, Hartford

Major Funding

Corporate Hosts or Visits:

University of Connecticut, School of Business

Office of Diversity Initiatives

WFSB News Channel 3

The School of Business Summer Bridge program is a 3 week day program for up to 25 high achieving college-bound students who are interested in pursuing careers in business; Marketing, Management, Information Systems, Finance, Health Care Management, Real Estate and Urban Economics, Insurance and Accounting. The program takes place at the UConn Storrs campus and students selected for the program must plan on participating for the full three weeks. The purpose of the summer bridge program is to enhance the academic skills and business career focus of college-bound high school students from Greater Hartford. The program will focus on careers in business through classroom exposure as well as field visits to various companies. In addition to SAT preparation courses in Mathematics, English and Writing, students will develop their analytical skills, study habits, writing and presentation skills. The program targets students from High School Inc., Pathways to Technology and Windham High Schools with a GPA of 3.0 or above. We also

target students participating in Career Beginnings and CPEP, our community-based organization partnerships.

Justin Liao – Rock Climbing at High Meadow Resort

Summer 2011 Student Participants

First Name Last Name Program Name of School Hibbah Ashraf* Career Beginnings Pathways to Technology Salma Bazlur Career Beginnings Bloomfield High School Delenn Cooper LOT Glastonbury High School Kymona Davis* High School Inc. High School Inc.

Dominique Denbow Unaffliated Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

Mary Doucette Career Beginnings Bloomfield High School Dairaliz Espinosa Career Beginnings Pathways to Technology

Samantha Figueroa* Career Beginnings Sport & Medical Sciences Academy

Julian Jackson Career Beginnings Bloomfield High School Justin Liao* Career Beginnings Pathways to Technology Manuel Martinez High School Inc. High School Inc. Rachel Menard Career Beginnings Pathways to Technology Brandon Murillo Career Beginnings Pathways to Technology Felicsha Osbourne Career Beginnings Bloomfield High School Brandon Parris High School Inc. High School Inc. Enmanuel Payan Unaffliated Bulkeley High School Nikole Prescott Career Beginnings Bloomfield High School Cacie Rosario LOT Glastonbury High School Kevin Sichanh Career Beginnings East Hartford High School Lisamarie Wright Career Beginnings Bloomfield High School

*2010 Participants

Staff & Instructors

Seanice Austin, Director Eugene Yeboah – Program Asst/SciencE

Mohamed Hussein, Faculty Director

Commencement / Reception Program

Refreshments Observation Deck

Welcome Seanice Austin, Director of Diversity

Student Remarks Open Mic

Certificate Presentation Eugene Yeboah

Closing Remarks Seanice Austin

Student Reflections

Lisamarie Wright

“Over the course of the Uconn Summer Bridge program I

learned a lot of information that can help me in High School as

well as prepare me for college. This program touched on every

aspect to insure me a great future in the career I choose. From

SAT Prep to local businesses given us tips on job interviews,

including what clothes to wear and how to answer questions

that we are asked. These speakers even gave us tips on how to

have a firm handshake and even though as teenagers we don’t

think it is important it makes a great first impression. We traveled to nearby businesses like

Deloitte a world-wide insurance company, a nonprofit farm and a News Broadcasting Center.

All of these places explained to us the business aspect of their company. For one I learned

about numerous jobs that never knew existed. We weren’t just told about the college life and

lectured about our future; we got to experience it firsthand. Monday through Thursday our SAT

Prep class we would be on the Uconn campus so we got the real feel for a college classroom.

We were exposed to the Student Union, Business Center and the school radio. Each tour was

very informational and fun. One of my favorite parts of the program was being able to talk with

some of Uconn’s student athletes. They gave us great insight on how to balance school and

sports. They explained to us that it is not easy and we need to have our priorities straight or we

would have a very difficult college career. It was great to learn that even they made mistakes

and had problems but they got their life together and made the best of what they have. Lastly,

we were told about the different programs such as Traveler’s EDGE that can help us pay for

college give us experience with the business world, even the possibility of having a Job straight

after graduation. This program is based on insuring young adults a bright future. I believe they

are fulfilling their mission.”

Travelers EDGE Fall Kick-off at Capital Community College

QUOTES FROM REFLECTION PAPERS

“We were able to expand our knowledge in math, English and Science” – Brandon Murrilo

“It was a really fun experience” – Brandon Murrilo

“This program is very beneficial to me. I’m learning a lot while having some fun & getting a

taste of the college life” – Brandon Parris

“I am very thankful to my guidance counselor for pushing me to sign up for the program. It has

been amazing so far…” – Brandon Parris

“Through this program, I have been able to meet different students as well as learning and

practicing skills for the SAT…” – Dairaliz Espinosa

“This company (Deloitte) made a big impact for me there, I felt this company was my dream

job” - Dairaliz Espinosa

“I am very thankful for being a student at The Summer Bridge Program at UCONN”- Dairaliz

Espinosa

”In the three times that I have taken the test (SAT), so far I feel that I have improved because

the test seemed easier” – Justin Liao

“This program touched on every aspect to insure me a great future in the career I choose” -

Lisamarie Wright

“We weren’t just told about the college life and lectured about our future; we got to experience

it firsthand”- Lisamarie Wright

“This program is based on insuring young adults a bright future. I believe they are fulfilling their

mission”- Lisamarie Wright

“I’ve never really considered business as the career path I want to choose but now I see there is

more to it than just people in cubicles. I like how this program has opened my eyes to that

aspect” - Mary Doucette

“All I wanted was something to do this summer that would be good to add to my resume. I’m

delighted to say I found it” - Mary Doucette

Deloitte, Hartford CT

The School of Business Summer Bridge program is taught by certified Kaplan

instructor, Conor Halsted who provide during with test taking tips and lessons in

Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing. Each week, students took a SAT type

exam for 4 hours. The beginning class average in each area was M=371, V=384

and W=386. By the end of the 3 weeks, the class average improved to M=478,

V=463 and W=466 which is outstanding! The overall average went from a 1142 to

1407!!

During the three week period, students also focused on developing their college

and career choices. Seanice met with each student to explain the SAT analysis

report and to discuss their academic future.

Brandon Frame, High School Inc.

The intensive day program ran from August 1st – 19th, with a student reception

at the School of Businesss, Graduate Business Learning Center. Students spent

each day, Monday through Friday, 9am to 3:30pm, with alternating academics

schedules. To gain career based knowledge, each week, students participated in a

field trip to the following locations and companies.

Special Thank You

David Daye, Travelers – Travelers EDGE

Jennifer Giacomini, Deloitte

Jennyfer Holmes, INROADS

Cristina Rodriguez, Prudential

Brandon Frame, High School Inc.

Travelers EDGE Scholars

(Armando Jimenez, Christina Headley, Venice Sterling)

Joy Erickson, Office of Diversity & Equity

Juantia Austin, UConn Student

Julio Rodriguez, UConn Student

Harris Agbor, UConn Football Player

Trevor Parris, Parent

Caron Rosario, Parent

Marshall Jackson, Parent

Career Beginnings

High School Inc.

UConn Science Lab

WFSB News Channel 3

Captial Community College

Central Connecticut State University

UConn remains #1 in New England

- US news & World Report