Eleven UHSSE Graduates to Join UHart’s Class of 2017

These ten students will be attending the University of Hartford this fall as members of the Class of 2017. They are: (standing, from left to right) Omar Sewell, Wendell Rhoe, Tyler Cloud, David Springman, and Roy Brijmohan, and (seated, from left to right) Valerie Cintron, Mary Nguyen, Josh Elloon, Bajon Williams, and Erjana Radomi. (Not pictured, but planning to attend the University of Hartford, is Tochukwu Iwuchukwu.)

University High School of Science and Engineering Principal Martin Folan announced that the Class of 2013 will receive more than $2 million in scholarships and grants to attend college.

Members of the University High School's Class of 2013 toss their caps in the air and get ready to celebrate after the conclusion of their graduation ceremony.

“Tonight we are saying farewell to the Class of 2013, but we are also saying hello to the Class of 2017,” said University High School of Science and Engineering Principal Martin Folan at the school’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 12, in the University of Hartford’s Lincoln Theater. He was referencing the fact that every one of the school's 94 graduating seniors is going on to a two- or four-year college or university (except for one senior, who will be joining the Marines).

Other notable facts about the University High School of Science and Engineering’s (UHSSE) Class of 2013 (known as the Hawks Class):

• its 94 members make it the largest graduating class in the school’s nine-year history;

• the Class of 2013 will be receiving about $2 million in scholarships for higher education;

• some of the colleges and universities that have accepted members of the UHSSE Class of 2013 for enrollment this fall are Northeastern University, University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts, Hampton University, Trinity College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and 11 members of the Class of 2013 will be attending the University of Hartford this fall.

Joining the University of Hartford as freshmen this fall will be Roy Brijmohan, Valerie Cintron, Tyler Cloud, Josh Elloon, Tochukwu Iwuchukwu, Mary Nguyen, Erjana Radomi, Wendell Rhoe, Omar Sewell, David Springman, and Bajon Williams.

University President Walter Harrison told the UHSSE graduates that, during the past month, he has had the opportunity to congratulate former UHSSE students who graduated from the University of Hartford on May 19, to welcome incoming freshmen from UHSSE at Orientation May 30-June 3, and to talk to one of the student Orientation leaders, who is a UHSSE graduate. “So I know that you have had a great four years in high school and you’re going to have an even greater four years in college, and success beyond that,” he said. “We congratulate you and we look forward to watching your careers. Like hawks, we expect you to fly.”

The members of the Class of 2013 who spoke at the graduation ceremony also expect that they and their fellow classmates will fly high in the years ahead. Student Vajid Pathan, who was selected as the Hawks speaker, told the audience that “over the past four years, we have been taught so many wonderful skills that it has become incumbent upon us to help others out. We were helped, so now it is our turn to go out and help others.” He added, “Mark my words, we will make a difference. We will help the helpless and we will prevail over you who doubt us.”

Class President J’Vaughn Joseph reminded his fellow graduates that “we’ve had good times and great experiences, but now our future awaits us. Look at everything in a new light. Be an optimist,” he said. “Let go of the past. For now it is the present and the future that will move us forward.”

Also speaking to the packed house, full of enthusiastic family and friends of the graduates, were UHSSE social studies teacher John Bevans, who delivered the keynote address; and senior Bartomiej Szaro, who delivered the class poem.

Click here to see a gallery of photos of the graduation ceremony and celebration afterward.

Since its founding in 2004, University High School has received several prestigious national awards, including being named a Magnet School of Excellence in 2008, 2012, and 2013; being named one of the Best High Schools in America in 2010 and 2011 by U.S. News & World Report; and winning a Sir Isaac Newton Award for Achievements in Science in 2011.

The University High School of Science and Engineering is a partnership between the University of Hartford and the Hartford Public Schools. Its curriculum is based on the “Early College” model, in which qualified students can take college courses and earn credits for college while still in high school. UHSSE graduating classes have consistently had an acceptance rate to colleges and universities of 95 percent or better.