2009 Legacy Students | Leadership Legacy Experience

Yoo Mi Thompson

Home: Avon, CT
Degrees at UConn: B.S. in Business Management with a Minor in International Studies
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Tom Deans
Alumni Mentor: John Driscoll ('81), Webster Financial Advisors
While at UConn: Taught mathematics in Belize City, Belize ~ Renovated classrooms in San Pedro, Belize ~ Representative for the Undergraduate Student Government ~ Tutor for the Writing Center ~ Member of the General Education Oversight Committee (University Senate) ~ Big Sister volunteer
Activity Update: Completed a summer abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea.
Favorite Legacy Memory: Guard Dogs with the Legacy family!!

Cait Partyka

Home: Mansfield, CT
Degrees at UConn: Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Science Degrees Elsewhere
Current Occupation: Expected Masters of Social Work in Social Innovation & Leadership, from Boston College, May 2013
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Dr. Marysol Asencio
Alumni Mentor: Steven Hoffler (‘95), Casey Family Services
While at UConn: Husky Nutrition Summer Intern ~ Participant in the Congress Bundestag Exchange program ~ Volunteered for Storrs Congregational Daycare, Jumpstart!, Language Partners, and Kinderklinik Bethel
UConn Memory: My work with Community Outreach was a tremendous growing and learning experience for me. I loved engaging with new and different communities and peers from UConn and seeing the impact we could have, as students, on the community and world around us.
Favorite Legacy Memory: Our white water rafting trip. It was a great adventure and a terrific bonding experience for our cohort.

Wenhui Sun

Home: Southbury, CT
Degrees at UConn: B.S. in Sociobiomedical Perspectives in Health
Current Occupation: Student
Faculty/Administrator Mentor: Joseph Crivello
Alumni Mentor: Annette Lombardi (‘76), Dept. of Social Services
While at UCONN: UConn’s Dental Hygiene Education program ~ Member of the Pre-Dental Society ~ Implemented a dental hygiene program for elementary schools ~ Served as a Husky Ambassador ~ Intern at the Northwestern Area Health Education Center
UConn Memory: Too many to count!
Favorite Legacy Memory: Falling out of the raft during our rafting trip.

Sarah Melchior

Hometown: Norwich, CT
Degrees at UConn: B.A. in English/Philosophy, magnum cum laude
Degrees Elsewhere: J.D. College of William and Mary, School of Law ’13, cum laude
Current Occupation: In September I will begin a post graduate fellowship in the Education section of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jonathan Hufstader
Alumni Mentor: Sean O'Connell ('83, '92 MBA) General Electric
While at UConn: Peer mentor in the Peer Leadership Instructor Program ~ Study Abroad program in London.
UConn Memory: Waking up at 5am to climb to the top of Horse Barn hill and watch the sunrise.
Favorite Legacy Memory: There are so many favorite to choose from, but the top two are meeting Nadine Strossen, former ACLU president and Shadowing my alumni mentor at GE for a day. Oh and White water rafting!
Legacy in your current career: Lessons about failure and embracing challenges were especially helpful during law school and bar study. It always helped to reflect and have a bit of perspective.

Chelsea Ambrozaitis

Hometown: Woodstock, CT
Degrees at UConn B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies
Occupation Greater Waterbury YMCA- Outdoor Center Program Director
Faculty/Administrator Mentor: Anita Garey
Alumni Mentor: Jennifer Ryley Welsh (‘90), Mitchell College
While at UConn: Husky Ambassador ~ Peer Allies Through Honors Mentor ~ Honors Freshmen Year Experience Facilitator ~ Alternative Breaks
UConn Memory: All of them! Constantly being surrounded by friends who were passionate about their studies, service work, and extracurriculars made for an amazing college experience!
Favorite Legacy Memory: Volunteering together for GUARD Dogs and the team building retreat.
Legacy in your current career: My LLE experiences come to mind constantly. Whether it's leading team building activities, supervising staff, or working with young people, I am reminded of what positive leadership means and very aware of the potential I have to be a role model to others. Sometimes it's even coming to terms with the fact that the less glamorous work I do as a part of my job (cleaning, mostly!) sets a positive example for others and counts as leadership! A big part of LLE was examining our expectations versus our realities, which has helped me a lot in my field.

Elisabeth Werling

Home: Avon, CT
Degrees at UConn: B.S. in Special Education
Current Occupation: University of Connecticut, Center for Students with Disabilities: Note taking Coordinator
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Donna Korbel
Alumni Mentor: Kathy White ('78, '87 Neag), Mansfield Middle School
While at UConn: Founder of UConn Gymnastics ~ Member of the Freshman Honor Society Alpha Lambda Delta ~ Intern at the University of Redlands as a NASPA Undergraduate Fellow ~ Volunteer for the UConn School of Law Clean-up Days ~ Named as a Babbidge Scholar
Favorite Legacy Memory: The experiences shared during our second outdoor experience! This experience allowed us to bond even more closely with each other as we had to test our own fears and help others through theirs.