The Waterbury Times|CT Urban Watch|Published April 22, 2026
NEW HAVEN– Students, staff, and community partners gathered at Southern Connecticut State University to celebrate the life-changing impact of University Access Programs (UAP) — with a Waterbury Times special spotlight on a Waterbury Promise Scholars whose journeys reflect the mission of access, advocacy, and achievement.
The evening featured keynote speaker Marcus Stallworth, first generation graduate of SCSU, whose message centered on perseverance, mentorship, and the power of educational opportunity for first-generation and underrepresented students as he shared his own personal story of his navigation to college.
“It Does Take a Village for Everyone to make it to where you made it too”
A Program Built for Student Success
UAP is SCSU’s comprehensive support system designed to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation rates for students who face systemic barriers in higher education — including first-generation students, low-income students, foster care youth, and immigrant students. Through one-on-one advocacy, peer mentoring, and academic support, UAP helps students navigate both the classroom and the complexities of college life.
The program works closely with the Southern Educational Opportunity Program (SEOP) and serves as the home base for initiatives such as PACE Scholars, TheDream.US Scholars, and Owls Empowering Owls mentoring.
Leadership Behind the Mission
The event was led by Dawn Stanton, Program Director of UAP, who emphasized the importance of building a campus culture where students feel supported academically, socially, and emotionally.
“Tonight is about everything that has happened on your journey towards”
” This journey doesn’t happen alone….” “It takes a family and friends to get across the finish line
Waterbury Promise Scholars Take the Stage
A highlight of the evening was recognition of Waterbury resident whose academic paths were shaped by both the Waterbury Promise scholarship and the support structure inside UAP:
- Jailene Brito, another Waterbury Promise Scholar thriving with the guidance and advocacy provided through UAP.
Their presence underscored how local scholarship programs and university support offices work hand-in-hand to turn access into achievement.
Why This Matters for Waterbury
For Waterbury families, the pathway from local scholarship to university graduation is often unclear. Programs like UAP at SCSU make that pathway visible — and attainable. With dedicated advocates, mentoring networks, and academic resources, students are not left to figure college out alone.
As keynote speaker Marcus Stallworth reminded attendees, “Access is only the first step. Support is what turns opportunity into success.”
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