12 CSCU Students Selected for the Barnard Award, CSCU’s Highest Academic Honor

Twelve outstanding students from the four universities of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system were awarded CSCU’s highest academic honor, the Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Foundation.

The students — enrolled in Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities — received the prestigious award for their outstanding academic achievement, on-campus involvement, and dedication to community service. Each student was selected by his or her respective university and has maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.70 with a record of substantial voluntary service to their universities and communities.

“This year’s Barnard Award recipients have excelled in the classroom and played an integral role in their local and college communities. These 12 amazing students represent the very best of CSCU and show that with hard work and dedication any dream is achievable,” said CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng. “I want to thank the CSCU Foundation for recognizing these remarkable students. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!”

This is the 36th year the CSCU Foundation has annually awarded the Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award to exemplary students. The award is named for Henry Barnard, the first U.S. Commissioner of Education, Connecticut’s first superintendent of schools and principal of what later became Central Connecticut State University. The CSCU Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports education and research within the four state universities.

The 2024 Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award recipients are:

Central Connecticut State University

• Haneen Ali Alkabasi, of Avon, Political Science and Journalism major, 3.80 GPA
• Shealin Callahan, of Newington, International Studies and Philosophy major, Honors Program, 3.90 GPA
• Isabella Galdamez, of Newington, Exercise Science major, Dance minor, 3.96 GPA
• Emily Palmieri, of Middletown, Early Childhood Studies and Infant/Toddler Mental Health major, 3.93 GPA

Eastern Connecticut State University

• Billi Kozak, of Clinton, Biology, 3.92 GPA
• Kathryn Kubisek, of Southington, Spanish major and English minor, 4.0 GPA

Southern Connecticut State University

• Kyle Mashia-Thaxton, of Groton, History and Political Science major, Honors Program; and Business Administration and French minor, 3.99 GPA
• Jen Ng, of Fairfield, Philosophy major, Women’s Gender Studies and Psychology minor, 3.85 GPA
• Emily Rowland, of Milford, Social Work major and Psychology minor, 3.98 GPA
• Nadesha Shakes, of Hamden, Nursing and Public Health major, Wellness and Forensic Science minor, 3.70 GPA

Western Connecticut State University

• Ezaan Khan, of Brookfield, Biology major, Chemistry and Mathematics minor, 3.94 GPA
• Desiree Velez, of East Hartford, Music Education manor, 3.95 GPA