// NEWS

WILLIMANTIC, CT – As the fall semester begins, the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation (NCEF) is proud to share news of two NCEF-supported programs that successfully concluded in August of 2026. This includes the end of the fourth annual ESOL Summer Bridge program, as well as the pinning ceremony for the first cohort of Licensed Practical Nursing students in mid-August. Both programs were hosted at CT State Quinebaug Valley’s Willimantic campus. Thanks to a generous grant from the Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts (SFFEA), the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Summer Bridge Program has been offered for four consecutive summers as a free 10-week program for high school graduates and adult learners enrolled at CT State Quinebaug Valley. The program enables students to bridge academic transitions from spring to fall and minimizes the summer regression in English acquisition and proficiency, through a combination of coursework as well as academic and cultural field trips. The students, along with Quinebaug Valley faculty and staff gathered at the Willimantic Center on August 6th to mark the end of the 2026 program, celebrating with a shared meal. CT State Quinebaug Valley Director of Institutional Advancement Monique Wolanin noted the impact this program has on students, “Over the four years of this program, we have seen so much growth with our students. In addition to building confidence and communication skills, many ESOL students have continued to pursue additional programs and career paths at the college. We are proud of their achievements and dedication to learning.” In summer 2025, CT State Quinebaug Valley launched the state’s first public Practical Nursing program. The certificate program, hosted at the Quinebaug Valley campus in Willimantic, includes courses in fundamentals, medical-surgical, maternal-child, well-child and mental health nursing and is designed as a four-semester-aligned nursing curriculum (summer, fall, spring, summer). Thanks to support from Steven ‘23 and Marjolaine ’87, ‘88 Townsend, the first cohort of students was given $25,500 in scholarship funds, which covered tuition for the summer 2025 session and provided funds for additional educational expenses. On Friday, August 14th, this first group of Licensed Practical Nursing students received their pins in a ceremony with QV administration, staff, and loved ones in attendance. “This is a truly exciting moment for our students, our college, and the communities we serve,” said Anne Lamondy, CT State Interim Academic Division Director of Nursing and Allied Health. “As we celebrate the first class of Practical Nursing students to reach this important milestone, we are also celebrating the beginning of their careers and the meaningful contributions they will make to the local health care workforce. Our region continues to need dedicated, compassionate nurses, and we are incredibly proud that these graduates are prepared to step forward and meet that need. Their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to caring for others are an inspiration, and we look forward to seeing the difference they will make in the lives of their patients, families, and communities.” The mission of the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation is to provide scholarships and other financial support to residents of Northeast Connecticut who want to pursue higher education. To learn more about the NCEF, visit www.necteducationfoundation.org. For more information on how to support local students at CT State Quinebaug Valley, please contact Director of Institutional Advancement Monique C.K. Wolanin at (860) 932-4174 or [email protected].

Photo (Center): Interim Academic Division Director of Nursing for CT State Community College Anne Lamondy poses with President of CT State Quinebaug Valley and Three Rivers Mary Ellen Jukoski, and CT State Quinebaug Valley Director of Institutional Advancement Monique Wolanin. The Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation (NCEF) proudly announces its support of students enrolled in two medical programs at CT State Community College Quinebaug Valley. Thanks to a generous $30,000 grant from the Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts (SFFEA), the NCEF will divide the funds equally to cover costs for both the Quinebaug Valley Allied Health and Practical Nursing programs, addressing unmet needs that can present financial barriers for students to complete their studies. The funds applied to the Allied Health program will be used to support Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) and Medical Assistant (MA) students. Many of these students work full-time while enrolled as part-time students. The funds will assist returning students by covering costs for mandatory items, such as background checks, licensure exams, and textbook costs. These costs are not covered by Financial Aid and can prevent students from graduating and securing a full-time job with benefits. Starting salaries for MLT positions typically range between $58K-$63K per year, with the MA starting salary ranging between $41K-$46K. This can be life changing for these students in their continuing healthcare education journey. Now entering its second year, the Practical Nursing certificate at CT State Quinebaug Valley is an intensive four semester (14-month) in-person program. The SFFEA funds will support both students who need books at the start of the program and those who will successfully complete their course work in August 2027 but do not have the funds to register for licensure exams. Students who successfully complete the program and become Licensed Practical Nurses can start working at approximately $63K per year. The salary differential from part-time minimum wage to full-time salary with benefits is one part of a transformative difference this program can achieve. The mission of the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation is to provide scholarships and other financial support to residents of Northeast Connecticut who want to pursue higher education. To learn more about the NCEF, visit www.necteducationfoundation.org. For more information on how to support local students at CT State Quinebaug Valley, please contact Director of Institutional Advancement Monique C.K. Wolanin at (860) 932-4174 or [email protected].

PUTNAM, CT – Spring 2026 was a busy season for the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation (NCEF). In addition to awarding over $201,000 in scholarship funds to college students in May, NCEF also proudly sponsored cultural enrichment activities for students attending CT State Community College Quinebaug Valley. Support like this is made possible thanks to donors who continue to invest in education for NE CT residents. Thanks to the Eris G. Langhammer Museum Trip Fund, endowed with the NCEF, 88 Quinebaug Valley students visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on April 10. For some students, this was a first-time chance to visit an art museum in a major city and offered an important cultural experience. Jessica Porzuczek, CT State Quinebaug Valley Visual Arts Professor and Program Coordinator, noted how important this experience is for students, “Supporting student experiences like museum visits is essential to their development and growth. Art and culture cannot be fully understood secondhand; it must be encountered in its physical presence.” Later in April, the NCEF provided $1,000 in prize money for the 19th Annual Julius Sokenu Poetry Awards, an event honoring the best student poetry in English and Spanish at CT State Quinebaug Valley. The 2026 Awards were hosted at the Quinebaug Valley Willimantic campus and featured 2025 National Youth Poet Laureate Stephanie Pacheco. Jon Andersen, CT State Quinebaug Valley English Department Chair, shared the impact these awards have on students, “Community college is like poetry itself, I think: a place where you can discover what you have to say, a place to say it, and a place to be heard. On the Sokenu Awards night we celebrate our many differences and all we share. The Foundation makes this possible, year after year.” As an important reminder of the ways businesses and individuals can make a lasting impact in students’ lives, Charlie Pious, President of the Protective Packaging Division of UNICORR/Nutmeg Container, made a $6,500 donation in support of the NCEF as part of UNICORR’s annual day of giving. Pious is a former Foundation member and long-time supporter of Quinebaug Valley. His generosity has supported the Dr. Robert E. Miller Education Advancement Fund and the Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center (AMTC). During the check presentation on April 27, Pious and CT State Quinebaug Valley Director of Institutional Advancement Monique Wolanin were joined by Tyson Winchell and DJ Bledsoe, two UNICORR employees who are graduates of the AMTC. As residents who successfully transitioned from the college into their roles at a leading area manufacturing facility, both Winchell and Bledsoe exemplify how supporting local students helps strengthen community. The mission of the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation is to provide scholarships and other financial support to residents of Northeast Connecticut who want to pursue higher education. To learn more about the NCEF, visit www.necteducationfoundation.org. For more information on how to support local students at CT State Quinebaug Valley, please contact Director of Institutional Advancement Monique C.K. Wolanin at (860) 932-4174 or [email protected].

PUTNAM, CT – On Thursday, June 4 from 6:00 – 9:00 am, volunteers with the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation (NCEF) held its annual Donuts for Donations event, which brought in over $5,500 in donations. Proceeds support students in Windham County pursuing higher education. Established in 2014, the 2026 event continued the tradition of Foundation members setting up at the WINY Radio parking lot, passing out Baker’s Dozen coffee and donuts in exchange for donations to the NCEF. This community event truly represents the best of what this region is all about…individuals and businesses coming together to help others. Ken Cardinal, who founded Baker’s Dozen in 1980, shared his belief in giving back, “This community has been great to our company, and it is very gratifying for us to give to local organizations like NCEF. Many of our Baker’s Dozen employees go on to college, and it is a great feeling to support education for local students.” As the final fundraiser of the NCEF’s fiscal year, Donuts for Donations is a fun, community-focused event with many current and former scholarship recipients as well as countless friends and supporters stopping by to say hello and contribute to the Foundation. Special thanks to Ken & Trevor Cardinal at Baker’s Dozen for supplying donuts and coffee, and to Gary & Karen Osbrey with WINY Radion for their long support of this event and the NCEF. For those who could not attend the event in person, donations can be made online at the NCEF’s website: www.necteducationfoundation.org/donate/.  

DAYVILLE, CT – On Wednesday, May 6th, The Northeast CT Education Foundation (NCEF) held its second annual Scholarship Night at Killingly High School in Dayville. The ceremony celebrated Windham County residents pursuing higher education. In total, over $201,000 was awarded to 107 local students, many of which are new or continuing students at CT State Community College Quinebaug Valley. NCEF scholarships support direct educational expenses including tuition, books, fees, technology, and other course requirements. During the ceremony, NCEF Scholarship Chair Eddie Graff shared his personal story with 2026 recipients, “Fourteen years ago, when I was a Quinebaug Valley Community College student, Foundation scholarships changed my life and provided opportunities I could never have imagined. It gives me such pride to now serve as a board member of the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation and as chair of the scholarship committee. I truly hope that our 2026 recipients will be inspired to one day help others achieve their educational dreams.” The Foundation extends sincere appreciation to all who assisted with making the annual Scholarship Night a success, including the scholarship committee members, volunteers Maureen Brodeur, Kathy Borner, Martin Charette, Lynne Comtois, Dan Donahue, Susan Harrod, and Bruce Wolanin, as well as Killingly High School administration and staff for providing their auditorium. The mission of the Northeast Connecticut Education Foundation is to provide scholarships and other financial support to residents of Northeast Connecticut who want to pursue higher education. To learn more about the NCEF, visit www.necteducationfoundation.org. For more information on how to support local students at CT State Quinebaug Valley, please contact Director of Institutional Advancement Monique C.K. Wolanin at (860) 932-4174 or [email protected]. Click here for a full list of 2026 NCEF Scholarship Recipients Click here for the 2026 NCEF Scholarship Night Photo Gallery