The University of Connecticut is proud to present its 2019 Legacy Students. Individually and collectively, they represent a rich diversity of leadership experiences, personal accomplishments, and academic excellence. Through their actions, these Legacy Students have personified character, integrity, maturity, and the potential that lies in every University of Connecticut student.
Alyssa Addesso
Area of Study: Molecular and Cell Biology
Hometown: Cheshire, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Sarah Knutie, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Alumni Mentor: Brooke Zelesnick (‘98), UBS AG
Alyssa, a Molecular and Cell Biology major, has been heavily involved with Honors Across State Borders where she has participated in multiple alternative spring breaks. She also spent the summer working in an ecology and evolutionary biology lab studying host-parasite interactions. On campus, Alyssa is also a part of the UConn Club Running team and the Honors Book Club. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in forensic science and work in a crime lab focusing on DNA analysis.
Natalie Calletano
Area of Study: Communication and Cognitive Science
Hometown: West Haven, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Amelinda Vazquez, Center for Career Development
Alumni Mentor: Steven Hoffler (’95), Southern Connecticut State University
A double major in Communication and Cognitive Science, Natalie works as a Career Intern for the Center for Career Development. She is also involved on campus with Campus Curlz, the National Honor Society Alpha Lambda Delta, the Learning Community Executive Council, and as both a floor mentor and an SSS mentor. Additionally, through Jumpstart she has served over 270 hours of community service. Natalie hopes to work for a technology company on a communications team.
Damayanti Castrodad
Area of Study: Elementary Education
Hometown: Mystic, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Dorothea Anagnastopolous, NEAG School of Education
Alumni Mentor: Jen Ryley-Welsh (’90), Mitchell College
As an Elementary Education major, Damayanti is the President of the Teacher Education Student Association and President of UConn Future Educators. She has been involved on campus as an FYE mentor, with the Husky-for-a-Day program, Special Olympics, and America Reads. In the future, Damayanti hopes to be an elementary school teacher in a public, urban school and work towards advocating for equitable and high-quality education for all.
Samantha Dion
Area of Study: Physiology & Neurobiology
Hometown: Southbury, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Kristen Govoni, Animal Science
Alumni Mentor: Sean O’Connell (’83, ’92), Tower Health
Samantha, a Physiology and Neurobiology major, is involved on campus in the WiMSE Learning Community, in the Learning Community Executive Council, as a Research Assistant for the Korey Stringer Institute, with the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, and with the Pre-Med Society. Additionally, she has volunteered as a RISE facilitator through ODI and has gone on multiple alternative break trips. After graduation Samantha hopes to attend medical school and become a primary care physician.
Walter Dodson
Area of Study: Political Science and Philosophy
Hometown: Maplecrest, NY
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Virginia Hettinger, Political Science
Alumni Mentor: Jeff Ment (’89), The Ment Law Group
A double major in Political Science and Philosophy, Walter has been steadily involved in UConn PIRG, leading initiatives involving registering voters at UConn and successfully lobbying in support of a federal bill that allocated $5 million to an open education initiative creating free online alternatives to high cost textbooks. He has also been involved with Model UN and the Vice President for Student Affairs Student Leadership Council. In the future, he hopes to work for Let America Vote and eventually run for office.
Sebastien Kerr
Area of Study: Sport Management
Hometown: Wesley Chapel, FL
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Erik Hines, Educational Psychology
Alumni Mentor: Rich Twilley (’96, ’04), Athorus, PLLC
Sebastien, a Sport Management major, currently works as a Resident Assistant for the ScHOLA2RS House on campus and has also served as a floor mentor. As the Vice President for the Sport Business Association, Sebastien helped found and run the annual UConn Sport Business Conference beginning in 2016. He has also interned for CT Sport Management Group and as a Manager for UConn Men’s Basketball and he hopes to works as a sport agent in the future.
Felicita Kuperwasser
Area of Study: PNB and Latino & Latin American Studies
Hometown: Newton, MA
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Anne Gebelein, El Instituto
Alumni Mentor: Jen Ryley-Welsh (’90), Mitchell College
A double major in in PNB and Latino & Latin American Studies, Felicita has worked as a research assistant in the obstetrics and gynecology department at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and spent a summer in the Harvard Summer Program for neonatology. She is involved on campus with Hearts Over Latin America (HOLA), Kids and UConn Bridging Education (KUBE), Mentoring, Education, and Training for Academic Success (METAS) through PRLACC, and as a Teaching Assistant. Felicita hopes to be an OB/GYN specializing in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancy cases.
Sophie MacDonald
Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Bantam, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jonathan Mellor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Alumni Mentor: Steve Rogers (’73, ’78), Subway Development Corporation
Sophie is a Mechanical Engineering Major interning with the UConn Office of Environmental Policy, where she acts as a lead intern on key initiatives including the annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory, the Green Office Certification Program, and the trail-blazing of UConn’s Hillside Environmental Education Park. She is also involved with Engineering Without Borders and as an undergraduate researcher for solar energy research. She hopes to have a career in the renewable energy sector of engineering.
Chloe Murphy
Area of Study: Africana Studies
Hometown: New London, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Fiona Vernal, History
Alumni Mentor: Steven Hoffler (’95), Southern Connecticut State University
Chloe, an Africana Studies major, has interned for UConn Health Disparities Institute and for Dr. Fiona Vernal’s research project examining black migratory patterns into Connecticut’s greater Hartford area. She is involved on campus with the Black Students Association, the Half Asian’s People’s Association, the National Black Law Students Association and Poetic Release. In the future she hopes to be an advocator and educator for urban youth.
Himaja Nagireddy
Area of Study: Physiology and Neurobiology and Sociology
Hometown: Acton, MA
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Kaitlin Heenehan, Honors Program
Alumni Mentor: Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis (‘06), Classes 4 Classes
A double major in PNB and Sociology, Himaja serves as a STEM Scholar in the Honors Program. She interned for Global Health Leadership Institute and was a summer researcher in both the Neurology Department at Yale Medical School and in the Psychology/PNB Department at UConn. She serves as a National Council Member to UNA-USA, a Peer Ally Relations Coordinator for PATH, and was a co-chair of curation for TEDxUConn. Himaja hopes to attend medical school and become an aerospace flight surgeon.
Omaniel Ortiz
Area of Study: Exercise Science
Hometown: Hartford, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jennifer Morenus, PRLACC
Alumni Mentor: Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis (‘06), Classes 4 Classes
Omaniel, an Exercise Science major, is President of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. On campus, he is involved with the Peruvian Student Association, the Puerto Rican Student Association, BAILE (Brining Awareness Into Latino Ethnicities), CAMINO (Creating a Male Initiative to Navigate Ourselves), and METAS. He also studied abroad in London this past summer. In the future, he hopes to work as a pediatric physical therapist.
Victoria Reichelderfer
Area of Study: Material Science and Engineering
Hometown: Macungie, PA
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Thomas Abbott, Molecular Cell & Biology
Alumni Mentor: Rich Twilley (’96, ’04), Athorus, PLLC
As a Material Science and Engineering major, Victoria has interned for Air Force Research labs in Albuquerque, NM focused on thermal control techniques for satellites and terrestrial applications. She is involved on campus with UConn Material Advantage, Student Mail Services, Second Chance Educational Alliance and as a mentor. In the future she plans to attend medical school, become a surgeon for the US Navy.
Nicholas Sturgis
Area of Study: Nursing
Hometown: Tolland, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jaci VanHeest, NEAG School of Education
Alumni Mentor: Annette Lombardi (’76), Retired
Nicholas, a Nursing major, works on campus as an RA for the Public Health Learning Community and as support staff for Student Health Services. He recently completed a clinical rotation at Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. Nicholas is also involved with the UConn Pre-Medical Society and served as trip leader for UConn Bridge to Guanin Alternative Break in La Piedra, Dominican Republic. He hopes to become an APRN and serve populations with limited access to primary care and quality healthcare.
Caesar Valentin
Area of Study: Political Science and Philosophy
Hometown: Manchester, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Lynne Tirrell, Philosophy
Alumni Mentor: Nick Roy (’06), Somnio Financial Group, LLC
A double major in Political Science and Philosophy, Caesar is actively involved with the Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center and a member of METAS, the mentoring program offered through PRLACC. He is also a member of Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity Inc, CAMINO (Creating a Male Initiative to Navigate Ourselves), and a member of the Latinx Student Leadership Council. He hopes to eventually gain a PhD in Philosophy and become a Philosophy professor.