12 CSCU Students Selected for the Barnard Award, the System’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 their 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 exemplify the highest standards of academic excellence, leadership, and service across CSCU," said Board of Regents Chair Marty Guay. "Their accomplishments, both in the classroom and beyond, reflect the meaningful impact our students have on our universities and communities, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate their success."

This is the 38th 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 2026 Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award recipients are:

Central Connecticut State University

• Aaliyah Brown of West Hartford, B.A. Criminology, with a minor in Spanish
• Gabriel Garcia of Naugatuck, B.A. Physics & Philosophy, with minors in Astronomy and Mathematics
• Logan Moore of Manchester, B.S. Biology (Secondary Education)
• Rumman Shahzad of Plantsville, B.S. Computer Science, with minors in Mathematics and Arabic

Eastern Connecticut State University

• Julianna Concepción of Willimantic, B.A. English
• Abby Heidorn of Middletown, B.A. Biology, with a minor in Genetic Counseling

Southern Connecticut State University

• Stephanie Allis of North Branford, B.S. Social Work and Sociology, with a concentration in Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Hannah Ashiru of Waterbury, B.S. Chemistry, with a concentration in Biochemistry
• Paul Concordia of Norwalk, B.S. in Social Work, with a minor in Sociology
• Heather Gaydowen of Wallingford, B.S. Psychology, with minors in Film Studies and Honors Transdisciplinary Studies

Western Connecticut State University

• Hannah Alexander of Oxford, Bachelor of Music in Performance-Cello, and B.S. Justice and Law Administration - Legal Studies
• Gianna Fanelli of Danbury, Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Management, and B.A. Psychology