Waterbury, Conn. - While Sunday’s Open House at Naugatuck Valley was the College’s first in decades, attendees certainly couldn’t have judged it by the turnout. More than 400 students and their parents gathered in the Ruth Ann Leever Atrium between 1 and 4 pm on April 28, 2013 to meet with professors and student services staff, tour the campus and learn about Naugatuck Valley’s 100+ degree programs and certificates.

“The event was excellent,” said Linda Stango, director of admissions. “The survey responses were overwhelmingly positive and the numbers absolutely exceeded our expectations. It was really refreshing to see families attending together, making it a supportive, shared experience for their soon-to-be college students.”

Liz Mendillo (c), a senior at Waterbury Arts Magnet School, and her mother Celeste Alberto register to win free prizes at Sunday's Open House.

Celeste Alberto and her daughter Liz Mendillo, a senior at Waterbury Arts Magnet School, were both happy for the opportunity to explore the College as a very real possibility for next year. While Celeste is excited by the prospect of having her daughter start off with low debt and stay closer to home, Liz is eager to learn more about NV’s dance program, which is the only two-year dance degree offered in the state.

“It’s exciting to find a college where I can continue to dance and focus on my academics,” she said.

Whether interested in dance, liberal arts, allied health or one of the College’s other specialized programs, students and their parents were very outspoken about the College’s growing reputation and affordable price tag.

“I was accepted to Berkley and the College of Saint Rose for music but I decided to come to NV for my first two years because of the affordability and the ability for me to improve my grades,” said Michael Garcia, a senior at Bristol High School.

L to R: Mayra Clay, her daughter Jacey Clay and her son Daesean Clay, a junior at Danbury High School.

Mayra Clay said that her son, Daesean, a junior at Danbury High School, is just starting to look at colleges.

“I like the fact that Naugatuck Valley offers the physical therapy assistant program, which Daesean is interested in, and that there is a Danbury campus, which is closer to home,” she said. “Financially, NV makes sense for us.”

Kaitlen Jacques, a senior at Wolcott High School is mostly interested in the College’s nursing program.

“I know it’s a really good and competitive program,” she said. “I like the fact that it is closer to home and affordable.”

“This whole facility is so much nicer than many other more expensive universities,” added her mother, Tanya Jacques. “My other daughter attends a private Connecticut college and it doesn’t even compare to this college.”

Since 2008, the College has added several teaching gardens, an Academic Center for Excellence, a new greenhouse, automotive technology lab, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, hospitality kitchen and dining room and nursing simulation lab. Campus tours departed every half hour throughout the event to show off these and other facilities and four workshops were held on topics including the financial aid process, applying to NV and student/academic life. One workshop was held exclusively in Spanish.

“The comments I’ve heard reinforce some of the goals we set out to achieve in our 2010-13 Strategic Plan – to help students achieve their goals; to truly make a difference at the college, in the community, in our fields of study and in the lives of our students; and for our programs to meet and beat industry standards,” said President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. “To hear those goals echoed in the words of our prospective students and their parents affirms that the good work of our administration, faculty and staff is reaching beyond our walls and being recognized within the community. This is a very proud day for me – for all of us.”

NV thanks its sponsors Dunkin Donuts 1249 West Main Street and Kiss 95.7 for their generous support of Sunday’s event, which featured free donuts, coffee and concert ticket giveaways. To learn more about the event or to be a part of next year’s Open House, contact Linda Stango at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..