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Elaine Nadal Hometown: Waterbury, Conn. Major: Spanish and Education WCSU Degree: B.S. Secondary Education - Spanish Honors and Awards: 4.O GPA; Dean’s List every semester; President-to-President Scholarship recipient, fall 2004; Isabelle T. Farrington Scholarship, spring 2006; Stephen K. Lovett Education Award, spring 2006 |
Internships: Completed the classroom observations that are part of the education program, studied abroad in Puerto Rico, organized a staff development meeting with peers, conducted classroom observations, completed a multimedia project on education and bilingualism
Activities: Global Academy in Puerto Rico participant; wrote journals for the Danbury News-Times Web site about study-abroad experience, summer 2006; Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society, president, fall 2006 – present; Pi Lambda Theta member, fall 2005 – present; Church of God translator, youth mentor, 2006 – present
For Elaine Nadal, being at the right place at the right time — and doing well — has made a big difference in her future. Nadal started her education at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury, where she earned an associate degree in music in 2004. Upon her graduation, Nadal was selected to receive the second annual President-to-President Scholarship, which grants full tuition for two years to the student selected based on academic achievement by NVCC President Dr. Richard Sanders to attend WestConn to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
At the time her scholarship was announced, Nadal said she couldn’t wait to come to WestConn to pursue a degree in education. As she prepares for her impending graduation, Nadal is even more certain of her career choice.
“I love teaching! It is a strong passion,” she says. “I truly feel that adolescents need role models. I have had excellent experiences with my teachers. I remember my third grade instructor who took time out of her schedule to teach me English. She changed my life. I want to do the same for others.”
Nadal says she has had many mentors while she has been a student. “From WestConn, I definitely have to say Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. S. Alba Skar. She taught me to love my multi-cultural identity! She is a great asset to this university and has been very helpful to me. I also have had many supporters, such as Assistant Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova, Professor of Education Dr. Darla Shaw, Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Jan Volpe, and Professor of Education Dr. Leah Stambler. Outside the campus, I relied on my family and my wonderful fiancé Isaias Diaz.
Asked what she will remember most about her WestConn experience, Nadal says, “I will never forget my trip to Puerto Rico in the study-abroad program. It was my first time there and I fell in love with my roots. I plan to continue my study-abroad experiences in Spain this summer.”
After graduation, Nadal plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s in Spanish and a doctorate in education administration. “I want to become a principal, write books and translate texts,” she says.
Nadal’s advice to new students entering WCSU is: “Keep your faith and do not give up. There will be bumps along the way; jump them! Everything is possible if one is determined. Have a good relationship with the faculty and advisers. Do not settle for anything less than your best. Do not limit yourself. Anyone is capable to change the world.”
