Brittney Cava Named CSU Henry Barnard Scholar

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Brittany Cava

WILLIMANTIC, CT (06/04/2012)(readMedia)-- Eastern Connecticut State University student  Brittney Cava, a political science major from Torrington, was honored at the 24th Annual Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award Dinner on April 23 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

Cava was two of 12 state university students to win the award; each was nominated by their respective universities. The award is named for the first U.S. Commissioner of Education, Henry Barnard, a distinguished Connecticut educator who was the state's first superintendent of schools and principal of what later became Central Connecticut State University. A $500 award comes with the honor.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy delivered the keynote address. Malloy applauded the accomplishments of the 12 Barnard winners, calling them "exceptional people" who he said he hopes will stay in Connecticut and "contribute mightily to the economic growth and development of the state. Your own personal success guarantees you unlimited potential to affect the lives of many people around you. I implore you to find a job that makes you happy, and use your brainpower to invest in other people's success to move your community forward."

"Brittney was very engaged on campus in multiple clubs, including People Helping People," said Eastern President Elsa Nunez. "She played a key role in conducting research with Dr. Nicole Krassas that deconstructed race and gender in the 2008 primaries, and was very dedicated to improving the Eastern and Willimantic community."

Cava completed the majority of her academic studies in just three years, while maintaining an impressive 3.85 GPA. While finishing up her last remaining degree requirements this year, she is working full time as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Eastern's Center for Community Engagement (CCE). In her position with the CCE, Cava has coordinated more than 200 Eastern volunteers each semester who contribute more than 2,000 hours of service at 20 different locations in and around Willimantic.

According to Kim Silcox, CCE director, the VISTA position has only been offered in the past to college graduates. However, because of Cava's demonstrated commitment to the community and her tireless advocacy for social justice, an exception was made to offer her the post. "Brittney has been a creative, inspirational leader who listens carefully to the needs of the community as well as the interests of the students and carefully constructs meaningful relationships to address the challenges," said Silcox.

William Salka, chairperson of the Political Science Department, agreed. "Brittney is thoughtful, kind, well-organized and uniquely committed to public service. Her classroom achievements, in many ways, speak for themselves. While taking a competitive course load, Brittney has displayed commitment, reliability and productivity...which can be traced back to her first semester here."

Cava spent a summer in Washington, D.C., at Georgetown University's prestigious Institute on Philanthropy and Volunteerism, where she took three courses; interned full-time at the Student Conservation Association in Arlington, VA; and participated in numerous site visits and professional development workshops. In addition, she was chosen by Political Science Professor Nicole Krassas to participate on a research project about the roles that race and gender played in the media during the 2008 presidential primaries. A preliminary draft of the paper was presented by Cava and Krassas at the New England Political Science Association meeting this past year.

Cava plans to continue her commitment to community service in graduate school at the University of Vermont this fall, where she will pursue a master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, with the ultimate goal of landing a job as a community engagement director at a university.