The Charger Blog

Newest Graduates Celebrate Time as Chargers and Look to the Future

At the culminating ceremony as part of its 2024 Commencement, the University recognized the accomplishments of its newest associate and bachelor杏吧原版檚 degree recipients, commemorating all they杏吧原版檝e done as Chargers as well as the bright futures ahead of them.

May 20, 2024

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

The University杏吧原版檚 newest alumni celebrate at Commencement.
The University杏吧原版檚 newest alumni celebrate at Commencement.

Whether she was in the laboratory or on the soccer field, Sophie Eskenas 杏吧原版24, 杏吧原版25 M.S. was committed to getting the most out of her time as an undergraduate student at the University of New Haven. She excelled as a student-athlete, gaining hands-on experience outside of the classroom and dedicating herself to service.

A member of the , Eskenas majored in forensic science with a concentration in chemistry, and she was named a John D. Hatfield Scholar for the 2022-2023 academic year. Whether she was serving as a teaching assistant, a learning assistant in the University杏吧原版檚 Center for Learning Resources (CLR), or as a member of the University杏吧原版檚 , she enjoyed sharing her passion for her field with her fellow Chargers.

Sophie Eskenas 杏吧原版24, 杏吧原版25 M.S.
Sophie Eskenas 杏吧原版24, 杏吧原版25 M.S.

Eskenas was also passionate about service throughout her time as a Charger. She and her teammates braved the frigid waters of Long Island Sound every winter, taking a 杏吧原版減olar plunge杏吧原版 as part of fundraising efforts that supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of kids with critical illnesses.

Eskenas accepted her bachelor杏吧原版檚 degree as part of the Saturday morning ceremony that was the culminating event of the University杏吧原版檚 three-day 2024 Commencement. She杏吧原版檚 excited to return to campus in the fall to begin pursuing her master杏吧原版檚 degree in chemistry as part of the University杏吧原版檚 4+1 dual degree program. Her goal is to become a forensic scientist in the field of forensic toxicology and/or forensic drug analysis.

杏吧原版淭he University of New Haven has helped prepare me for success by providing me with the best forensic science education in the country,杏吧原版 said Eskenas. 杏吧原版淭he forensic science program has allowed me to experience many different aspects of the field, helping me to figure out my primary interests and pursue a successful and enjoyable career.杏吧原版

杏吧原版楲et us show the world our passion and our purpose杏吧原版

The University conferred 3,500 degrees during the four ceremonies, including nearly 1,300 associate and bachelor杏吧原版檚 degrees during the Saturday morning ceremony.

Honorary doctorates were presented to:

  • Ann Nyberg 杏吧原版24 Hon., a legendary broadcast journalist and the longest-serving anchor/reporter in WTNH-TV history, who is a published author, owner of a popular boutique shop in Madison, and the founder of the Toy Closet Program at Yale New Haven Hospital.
  • Indra K. Nooyi, a successful business executive and former chair and CEO of PepsiCo who has been ranked among the world杏吧原版檚 杏吧原版100 Most Powerful Women杏吧原版 by Forbes Magazine. She was the chief architect of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCo杏吧原版檚 pledge to do what杏吧原版檚 right for business by being responsive to the needs of the world around it. During her tenure, PepsiCo grew its net revenue by more than 80 percent and outperformed the S&P 500 in terms of shareholder returns.

In presenting Nyberg for an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, Shaily Menon, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, presented a citation that read in part, 杏吧原版淭he face of Connecticut news for more than four decades, you have interviewed Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, and Julie Andrews; reported from Cuba before restrictions were lifted; and traveled to the Vatican to cover Pope John Paul II. You杏吧原版檝e made, perhaps, the biggest impact through the Toy Closet Program at Yale New Haven Hospital, which has distributed hundreds of thousands of toys since you founded it more than 30 years ago.

New graduates celebrated as they crossed the stage.
New graduates celebrated as they crossed the stage.

Brian Kench, Ph.D., dean of the Pompea College of Business, presented Nooyi for an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree. 杏吧原版淣amed one of the world杏吧原版檚 most powerful women multiple times by Forbes Magazine, you led with grace and determination, personifying the mindset that, as you said: 杏吧原版楾he internal culture you create around leadership matters,杏吧原版櫺影稍鏉 the citation read, in part. 杏吧原版淏old and forward looking, you serve as an exemplary role model by exemplifying empathy, embracing change, and embodying courage in your convictions.杏吧原版

Nyberg delivered the keynote address as part of the ceremony, urging sharing her passion for storytelling and urging Chargers to 杏吧原版渇ind your passion and go after it.杏吧原版

Aiyannah Lewis 杏吧原版24 addresses the Class of 2024.
Aiyannah Lewis 杏吧原版24 addresses the Class of 2024.
杏吧原版榃hat a Charger is all about杏吧原版

Aiyannah Lewis 杏吧原版24, who also addressed the Class of 2024, urged her few graduates to acknowledge how the difficult times they杏吧原版檝e faced 杏吧原版 namely, the pandemic 杏吧原版 have made them resilient. She also encouraged her fellow Chargers to recognize the support of those around them 杏吧原版 their 杏吧原版渉erds杏吧原版 杏吧原版 and to reflect on how that support helped them to reach this milestone.

杏吧原版淟et us go out into the world and show them that we are pioneers, change agents, and disruptors helping to shape our communities and the fields we are part of,杏吧原版 said Lewis, who earned her bachelor杏吧原版檚 degree in psychology. 杏吧原版淟et us show the world our passion and our purpose 杏吧原版 and what a Charger is all about!杏吧原版

New graduates ring the Alumni Bell.
New graduates ring the Alumni Bell.

In presiding over his first Commencement as President, Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., quoted Spider-Man and Chaucer while encouraging the Class of 2024 to 杏吧原版淒ream big, challenge yourself, and share your resilience, courage, and can-do spirit with the world.

杏吧原版淚n my short time here 杏吧原版 I have encountered students with unlimited promise and an infectious can-do spirit. This is a university community with no ceiling, and the world needs Chargers 杏吧原版 like you 杏吧原版 like never before,杏吧原版 President Frederiksen continued. 杏吧原版淟ean on the experiences you have gained, the networks you have built, the lessons you have learned, the friendships you have forged, and the university that today becomes your alma mater.杏吧原版

杏吧原版極pportunities to learn and grow杏吧原版

For Gabrielle Pic贸n 杏吧原版24, a new business management grad with a minor in finance, being a Charger meant being an active member of the University community. A member of the who also served as president, she enjoyed hosting events that fostered leadership and professional development. Pic贸n, who was also a learning assistant for the CLR, helped create an engaging classroom environment for her fellow finance students, developing her public speaking and organizational skills.

Gabrielle Pic贸n 杏吧原版24.
Gabrielle Pic贸n 杏吧原版24.

A member of the University杏吧原版檚 Honors program, Pic贸n collaborated with interns across the country as a sales intern for CDW Corporation in Shelton, Conn., an international multi-brand provider of information technology solutions and a Fortune 500 company. She also served as a wealth management intern for TrinityPoint Wealth in Milford, Conn. She now has her sights set on the consulting world, as she杏吧原版檒l soon begin an internship with RSM in Stamford, Conn., as a member of the Audit & Assurance Team.

杏吧原版淭he University of New Haven has granted me many opportunities to learn and grow inside and outside of the classroom,杏吧原版 said Pic贸n, who was also a member of the University杏吧原版檚 John D. Hatfield Scholars program. 杏吧原版淭he Pompea College of Business is an incredibly diverse place where undergraduate and graduate students can learn from professors in a variety of functional areas.杏吧原版

Making an impact through research

For Kaylind Novick 杏吧原版24, 杏吧原版25 M.S., being a Charger meant making an impact, which she has endeavored to do through her research. A member of the Honors program, Novick focused her thesis on combining forensic science and criminal justice 杏吧原版 her major and minor, respectively.

Kaylind Novick 杏吧原版24, 杏吧原版25 M.S.
Kaylind Novick 杏吧原版24, 杏吧原版25 M.S.

Novick endeavored to raise awareness of femicide in Mexico 杏吧原版 specifically, in Ciudad Ju谩rez. Positing that there would likely be a transfer of DNA between an attacker and a victim in a violent struggle, she collected DNA samples from female-identifying Chargers at the University to examine how much male DNA could be recovered. She found that this DNA recovery is possible, even though the amount of male DNA would be very small and subject to being 杏吧原版渄rowned out杏吧原版 by the female DNA. She also discussed ways in which victims could be identified using skeletal remains and databases, since many of the victims in Ju谩rez are deceased.

杏吧原版淥verall, my goal is to show that these cases have the potential to have a perpetrator identified,杏吧原版 said Novick, who will continue her education at the University this fall, beginning her master杏吧原版檚 degree in cellular and molecular biology as part of the 4+1 dual degree program. 杏吧原版淚 hope it at least can reunite families. At the University, I have gotten the opportunity to participate in different types of labs and courses that relate to my interests, my major, and even courses related to the graduate program I am in.杏吧原版