Capital Community College, marking its 50th anniversary as an associate degree granting institution in 2017-2018,  recognized distinguished alumna and marked the 10th anniversary of a nationally recognized insurance career partnership at the 12th Changing Lives Gala held on campus October 19th at  Centinel Hill Hall auditorium.

Recognized in the field of nursing was Vicie Brooks RN BSN whose career at Hartford Hospital has spanned 47 years. Vicie currently is Community Liaison Nurse at Hartford Hospital. She is a founding member of the Northern Connecticut Black Nurse Association (NCBNA) where she has served as Treasurer for past 5 years. The mission of NCBNA is to “provide a forum to facilitate the collective action by Black nurses to advocate for, and educate about the health care needs of under-represented populations, and to implement strategies that reduce health disparities and inequities.”

Vicie Brooks of Hartford Hospital receives alumna award at Changing Lives Gala. From left President Wilfredo Nieves, Foundation Chair David Seder, Vicie Brooks and State Rep. Peter Tercyak, a nursing alumnus of Capital. (Tony Bacewicz photo)

Rocio Chang-Angulo,  Psy.D., MA, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Medical School in Farmington, received Changing Lives’ recognition for her work on childhood and mental health trauma.  Dr. Chang-Angulo, a native of Peru, began college in the then newly established English As A Second Language (ESL) program at Capital Community College in the 1980s. Her associate degree in liberal arts degree led to the baccalaureate in neuroscience at Trinity College and a Master of Arts and Psy.D degrees from the University of Hartford.  She was Capital’s 2016 Commencement speaker.

Dr. Rocio Chang-Angulo received alumna award as part of the Changing Lives Gala recognition program on October 19th. (Tony Bacewicz photo)

Travelers has provided grants targeting academic and career success over the last decade to Capital and other colleges and universities through EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment). Of the 12 EDGE Scholars in 2008 enrolled at Capital eight have moved on to careers at Travelers after completing their higher education degrees.  Capital alums Jose Diaz and Jessica Ugbo, accepted the Changing Lives partnership award for Travelers.

Jose Diaz and Jessica Ugbo of Travelers accept community partnership award at Changing Lives Gala. Diaz and  Ugbo became Travelers EDGE scholars as part of the Crossroads to Careers program. (Tony Bacewicz photo)

New support for scholarships was also recognized from the Widows Society for scholarships for women, the Barnabas Guild for Nursing at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford and the creation of a two-year scholarship for a graduate of Hartford Public High School established by Brendan and Mimi Lynch.

Gala committee and nursing faculty at the Changing Lives Gala. (Tony Bacewicz photo)

Proceeds from the Changing Lives Gala will benefit the Foundation’s annual scholarships in 2018.  Campus sponsorship support came from Travelers and a benefactor sponsorship by Hartford Hospital. Additional sponsors included Webster Private Bank, Community Renewal Team, the Harry E. Goldfarb Family Foundation, the Zachs Family Foundation and President Wilfredo Nieves.

President Nieves welcomes former CCC President Ira Rubenzahl. Changing Lives Galas began under Rubenzahl’s leadership in 2004. (Tony Bacewicz photo)

President Nieves welcomed SGT Jessica Roman and SGT Andre Mack from the Connecticut Army National Guard. (Tony Bacewicz Photo).

Hartford Hospital colleagues attended the Changing Lives Gala helping to recognize Alumna Vicie Brooks (Tony Bacewicz photo)

Pat Rehmer of Hartford Health Care congratulated Vicie Brooks with State Rep. Peter Tercyak (Tony Bacewicz photo)

Capital Student News students from communication media covered the Gala and interviewed honorees. (Tony Bacewicz photo)