UHart Hosts Hartford Promise Scholars Event

The University of Hartford gave local students an early glimpse of college life as the host of a scholarship celebration that included workshops and visits to popular places on campus. 

Local nonprofit Hartford Promise held its annual Promise Scholars Day Wednesday at UHart for nearly 100 soon-to-be college first-years, who earned praise from the organization’s leaders, as well as from University President Stephen Mulready, Governor Ned Lamont, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Hartford Chief Operating Officer Thea Montañez, and House Speaker Matt Ritter.  

NBC CT, Fox 61, and News 8 featured news stories on the event, and interviewed two students who will be attending UHart this academic year.

Mulready noted that 17 students in the program will be attending UHart, bringing Promise Scholars at the University to 35. 

“Congratulations on all of your success, and I wish you the best of your college experience, wherever that may take you,” he told the entire scholars group gathered in the Gengras Student Union Wednesday morning. 

All Hartford Public Schools students are eligible to be a Hartford Promise Scholar if they maintain a 93 percent attendance rate, attend a Hartford public high school for all four years of their high school career and lived in the city, and earn at least a 3.0 GPA. They receive scholarships of up to $5,000 for all four years of their undergraduate college years, no matter what college or university they attend. 

“It bridges the gap for students to be involved in higher education,” says Nanette Garcia ’27, an incoming UHart student. “I’m very grateful to be able to do that.”

Lamont encouraged the students to consider working in Connecticut after graduation. Some past Hartford Promise Scholars are now working in City Hall and in Blumenthal’s office. 

“I’m seeing folks who have sat where you are, and they go on to do great things. We’re depending on you to help in so many different ways where we need your skills and talents,” Blumenthal added.

Richard Sugarman, president of Hartford Promise, reminded students that they belong at the schools they will soon be attending, even if they have moments of doubt. Workshops later that day in financial aid, time management, and the overall transition were intended to boost confidence and give students an idea of what to expect. An ”Amazing Race” scavenger hunt also took them across campus as they found solutions to various college scenarios.