Charlene Perez Wins UCEA Outstanding Student Award

UConn Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) student Charlene Perez was named 2008 Outstanding Continuing Education Student for New England by the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA). Perez, a vivacious young woman with a infectious smile, earned her BGS degree in May 2008. She is now pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at the UConn graduate school.

Perez is the second UConn BGS student in the past two years to earn the prestigious award. Roberto Cruz, who also took classes at the Greater Hartford Campus, won the 2007 award. Both credit academic advisor Susan Graham-Handley for their success in the BGS program and for receiving the award. “She is an amazing advisor,” said Perez. “From the very first day I met her, I knew that she would help me along the way.”

The UCEA award is based on numerous factors: academic excellence; student activities; university involvement; community contributions; employment; and personal and career goals. Perez met and exceeded those criteria. She graduated with a 3.74 GPA and was one of only four students at the Greater Hartford campus inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. Perez is a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, an academic sorority that focuses on scholarly excellence, empowerment of Latinas, and community activism.

“It was always my goal to be an educated, Latina woman; the first in my family to graduate from college,” said Perez. “I was inspired by my sorority sisters.”

Perez’s community involvement extends into her work at the Village for Families and Children in Hartford. “I volunteered as often as possible to stress the importance of college to the young people in my community,” she said. “I wanted to be a role model for the students I worked with, and be able to say, “If I can do it, so can you”.

It has been a long road since Perez earned her Associates Degree at the University of Hartford in 1997. But she never lost faith she was on the right path.

“I live by the saying ‘everything happens for a reason,’” she said. “The same year that I was unable to continue with my education, I was offered a full-time position at Village for Families and Children. I coordinated programs and services for children and youth within schools.”

Perez enjoyed working with families and children, but her career seemed to be at a standstill. “I was ready and willing to pursue management duties and responsibilities, but I did not qualify due to my lack of a degree,” she said. “My frustration was evident every time I would miss an opportunity for advancement, although I was often praised for my hard work.” 

In 2006, Perez discovered the Bachelor of General Studies program. She immediately knew it was the right program for her because it was geared towards the non-traditional student.

“At the time, their slogan was ‘finish what you started,’” she recalled. “That is exactly what I intended to do and I was very determined. I set an ambitious goal of finishing the program within two years. My advisor guided me every step of the way and helped me choose the courses I would most benefit from.”

Initially nervous about returning to school, Perez began by taking two or three courses a semester. To balance work, school, family and sorority commitments, she enrolled in afternoon, evening, weekend and online courses. She ultimately took on a full course load while working full-time. Perez met her goal of graduating within two years, and was promoted to Community School Director at the Village for Families and Children one month after earning her degree. Receiving the UCEA award was icing on the cake.

“The Outstanding Student Award is very meaningful because it recognizes the challenges and acknowledges the achievements of non-traditional students,” added Perez. “What a wonderful way to culminate my undergraduate career!”