Eastern History Professor Barbara Tucker Receives ECSU Foundation Donor Award

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Professor Barbara Tucker (center) receives the Faculty Donor Award from Eastern President Elsa Nunez and Tim Coppage of the ECSU Foundation

WILLIMANTIC, CT (12/13/2011)(readMedia)-- Eastern Connecticut State University History Professor Barbara Tucker has received the ECSU Foundation Distinguished Faculty Donor Award. The award was presented at Eastern's annual President's Leadership Luncheon on Nov. 4, with more than 100 alumni and friends in attendance.

Other awardees included the Savings Institute Bank and Trust Co. of Willimantic, CT, which received the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors Distinguished Donor Award; Professor Emeritus Ralph Yulo, who received the Eastern Alumni Association's Hermann Beckert "Friend of the University" Award; Distinguished Service Award recipients Arthur Vertefeuille '60 and Thomas J. Serra '70; and Jeff Benedict '91, recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Tucker, a leading expert on Connecticut history, has taught at Eastern for 25 years and written several books on the history of Connecticut industry. In addition to supporting Eastern students by establishing a scholarship fund in honor of her parents in 2000, Tucker has graciously donated to the J. Eugene Smith Library to support Connecticut Studies. "It's been an honor to work at Eastern," said Tucker. "Our students work hard and sacrifice much to prepare for their careers." Tucker, who does not have children of her own, said the greatest compliment she has ever received was when a co-worker told her, "You have more children than anyone I know," referring, of course, to her students.

Eastern President Elsa Nunez acknowledged the leadership and contributions to the University of the six award recipients and said their efforts were part of the reason that Eastern has been ranked in the top 30 public regional universities in the North by U.S. News and World Report the past two years in a row.

Kenneth DeLisa, vice president for institutional advancement, applauded the donors present for their commitment to assisting students in paying for their educations. "We had a record 3,100 donors this past year, including 1,700 alumni donors," said DeLisa. "Many of our students would not be here today without your support."