President Nieves, second from left, welcomes Alumnus Orlando Lawrence, Student Shanielle Redmon and Mayor Segarra to the Changing Lives Celebration
Capital Community College’s Changing Lives Celebration, honoring alumni and students for their academic achievements for a sixth year, raised more than $62,000 at a November 3rd event held at the College’s Centinel Hill Hall on the downtown campus.
President Wilfredo Nieves welcomes attendees
Capital President Wilfredo Nieves welcomed more than 200 persons in attendance and noted remarks by President Barack Obama at a White House Summit on community colleges held in October. Obama called the two-year schools “the unsung heroes of American education” and said “they may not get the credit they deserve. They may not get the same resources as other schools. But they provide a gateway to millions of Americans to good jobs and a better life.” Nieves expressed thanks to guests at the Changing Lives Celebration for “their participation in support of one of the local ‘unsung heroes’ in American education.”
Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, a Capital graduate and founder of the college’s Latin American Student organization, was among alumni and students recognized. Segarra went on from Capital to earn degrees from the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Graduate School of Social Work and UCONN Law School. A former city corporation counsel and Council President, Segarra was sworn into office as the city’s 66thMayor last June. As a private attorney and public official, Segarra has frequently returned to the campus in support of LASA and his alma mater. In 2006 he was the College’s commencement speaker.
Alumnus and Mayor Segarra tells Changing Lives audience Capital is a key institution in the city's future.
Segarra was joined by Alumnus Orlando Lawrence, a 2006 graduate and an Information Technology Systems analyst for United Technologies. Lawrence graduated from Capital with dual degrees in accounting and business management. He went on to the University of Connecticut for a baccalaureate degree in business and technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a graduate degree in management innovation and technology. Student Shanielle Redmon, a 2010 scholarship recipient, also was recognized as part of the Changing Lives program and spoke to conclude the program. Foundation Chairman Tom Trumble and Vice Chairman Allan Polak led participants in a live auction. Attendees contributed and pledged more than$26,000 for scholarships.
Travelers Insurance was the event sponsor for the Changing Lives Celebration. Since 2007, the insurance company has partnered with the College to establish a Crossroads To Careers Program supported by Travelers EDGE: Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment initiative. The Crossroads program, a 2010 recipient of a New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Merit Award, was recognized at the event for the continuing academic and career success of students in the program.
Additional corporate sponsors included MetLife, BKM Total Office, Comcast, Community Renewal Team, ING Investments, Hartford Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center with additional support from AI Engineers and New Alliance Bank.
Herb Silver (left), a Foundation director, Judy Silver, LASA President Juan Alvarado (background) and CCC's Glaisma Perez Silva at Changing Lives reception.
Nursing students Camille Gilbert (left) and Kathleen Simon talk with CCC Foundation Chairman Tom Trumble at the Changing Lives reception
Payaya provided by Capital Catering's Carlos Rodriguez was a favorite at the Changing Lives Celebration.
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