University High is Top Performing School in Hartford

The University High School of Science and Engineering was the top performing school in the Hartford school district, according to preliminary results from the 2009 Connecticut Mastery Test and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test released on July 27 by the state Department of Education. Overall, Hartford students' performance on the standardized tests increased for the second straight year and this news was covered by most of the state's media outlets. The NBC 30 report specifically highlighted the University High School results; click here to read the report

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Hartford-Schools-Are-Making-the-Grade.html
To read the Hartford Courant story, go to
http://www.courant.com/news/education/hc-hartford-cmt-0728.artjul28,0,2824016.story
To hear the WNPR story, go to
http://www.cpbn.org/article/hartford-test-scores-again

Steve Perry, a 2008 graduate of the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions' Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, and his work at Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford was one of the featured stories on CNN's "Black in America 2" series, which ran on July 22 and 23. Perry is the founding principal of the school. To read the story or view the video from the series, go to
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/07/22/bia.education.success/index.html#cnnSTCText
Hartford Courant columnist Tom Condon also highlighted Perry's work in his July 26 "Commentary" section article that talked about finding ways to close the achievement gap between students in urban and suburban schools. To read Condon's column, go to  
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-plc-condon-steve-perry.artjul26,0,5007543.column

Warren Goldstein, chair of the history department in the University's College of Arts and Sciences, did a commentary for Minnesota Public Radio on July 28 about the recent incident of Harvard University scholar Henry Louis Gates in which he was arrested after a verbal altercation with a police officer, who thought Gates was breaking into his own home. In his commentary, Goldstein said, "My hope is that lots of white folks will finally get what our African-American brothers and sisters have been trying to get through our thick skulls for about half a century now. It's different being black."
To read the full article, go to
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/27/goldstein/

University President Walter Harrison was named one of the "50 Most Influential People in Hartford" by Hartford Magazine in its August 2009 issue. The magazine highlighted the growth of the University, its role in the community (including the opening of the new Handel Performing Arts Center), and its role in local education, having two public magnet schools on its campus.

Hartford Art School student Stass Shpanin, a 19 year old prodigy from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, was featured in a July 23 Hartford Courant story in conjunction with an exhibition of his work at the Mandell Jewish Community Center in West Hartford. The show, which runs through Aug. 9, features the works of former Soviet natives. Shpanin, who has had one-man shows in Italy, Moscow, Jerusalem, France, and London was named by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002 as the "Youngest Professional Artist in the World." To read more, go to
http://www.courant.com/community/west-hartford/hc-west-hartford-art0723.artjul23,0,1515586.story

A dress rehearsal by students The International Summer Ballet Academy of The Hartt School Community Division, held on July 24 prior to the program's final performance on July 25, was the subject of a photo gallery on the Hartford Courant's web site. The academy consists of 45 students, ages 12-21, from the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan. To see photos, go to 
http://www.courant.com/news/local/photo/hc-balletacademy-pictures,0,773140.photogallery

The MBA program at the University's Barney School of Business was cited as the largest MBA program in Connecticut, based on 2007-2008 enrollment, according to the Hartford Business Journal. The listing noted that the program had 546 enrolled students in 2007-2008 and conferred 133 degrees in 2008. To view the list, go to
http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/lists.php?djoPage=view_html&djoPid=8479&djoPY=%40pj1p0AZjBDsI