Naugatuck Valley Community College welcomed dozens of new students attending the school’s second orientation at its Danbury campus at 190 Main Street on Monday, January 14. Danbury Dean Antonio Santiago, and Assistant Director of Admissions Scott Farrell welcomed students and congratulated them on taking the first step towards their future. Representatives from the school’s library, Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), Center for Academic Planning & Student Success (CAPSS), and offices of Student Activities including officers of the Student Government Association (SGA) gave mini-presentations on the many resources available to help students succeed in their studies.
On NVCC’s Waterbury campus, orientation took place on Tuesday, January 15 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. “This is the evening of the first day of the rest of your life,” NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. told students. “It takes a lot to get here sometimes,” she added and encouraged students in the audience to “stay curious.”
Every day that we are here, we are learning and it makes our job exciting,” said Christopher Rempfer, Assistant Professor of English in his welcoming remarks that he made on behalf of NVCC’s faculty. Rempfer noted the power of a community college education citing that both U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative for Connecticut's 5th congressional district Jahana Hayes(D-Conn.) got their start at community colleges, with Hayes graduating from NVCC in 2002 and now representing the state as its first African-American woman in Congress.
On NVCC’s Waterbury campus, orientation took place on Tuesday, January 15 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. Orientation events included a parent boot camp, giveaways from the Student Government Association, break-out sessions for students and parents, and a trade-show-like set up featuring information tables on the myriad of resources available to students. Speakers at Waterbury included Sarah Gager, Dean of Student Services; President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.; Dr. Lisa Dresdner, Dean of Academic Affairs; Christopher Rempfer, Assistant Professor of English, Public Safety Lieutenant Jeff D’Alusio; Bonnie Goulet, Director of Counseling and Advising and Student Success and Robert Sheftel, Director of the Academic Center for Excellence and Jaime Hammond, Director of Library Services. The College held events in Café East and West, the Prism Lounge, and the Cistulli Student Center. More than 100 students were welcomed at the Waterbury new student orientation.