DANBURY, CONN. — David Strout could have found many reasons to give up on his quest for a college education at WestConn, from his academic difficulties in high school to his family’s financial problems, his mother’s illness and his need to find work to pay the bills.

But Strout, of New Milford, is no quitter — and this year the university has recognized the WestConn senior for his determination, tenacity and perfect academic record as the recipient of the WCSU President’s Award. In May 2009, he expects to cap his journey at WestConn when he graduates with a bachelor’s degree in professional writing, with a creative writing option.

Strout’s remarkable path to the President’s Award has an improbable beginning, when, after struggling in high school for a variety of reasons, he quit school in his junior year and found a full-time job in construction. A short time later, Strout took a General Educational Development (GED) test and passed with a nearly perfect score.

Then he thought about WestConn, where he filled out an application and handed in letters of recommendation. In light of his less-than-perfect academic career, Strout was offered a probationary semester, which didn’t offer financial aid.

“Since I couldn’t get financial aid, that meant going to school was no longer on the table,” Strout said. Rather than give up, Strout persisted to tell university officials that he would make an ideal student and was given a chance in the fall of 2005 as a full-time student. He earned a 4.0 grade-point average in his first semester.

But the struggles for Strout weren’t over. His mother suffered a series of layoffs from her professional jobs and then was diagnosed with cancer. Strout worked several jobs while attending classes to help her pay bills. In early 2006 his mom — his biggest supporter — became more ill and was in and out of the hospital a lot. She died that April.

Strout said he had two weeks to move out of the apartment he shared with his mother. He wound up sleeping on friends’ sofas and moving around a lot. He once again thought about quitting school to find a full-time job.

Then he thought about his mom. “She would have been so unhappy to know that,” he said. “If I could do anything for her, it would be to not let that go, to stay in school.”

After a brief extension on his final exams, Strout finished the spring semester before the fall semester started. Since then he has received full scholarships to attend school.

“I couldn’t be here without financial aid,” Strout said. He said the President’s Award was the crowning glory. “I look at the President’s Award as ‘You made it with flying colors.’ At the beginning of this I aimed high and was unqualified. I got everything I aimed for and a 4.0. The capstone on all that has been the President’s Award.”

Strout said his experience at WestConn has changed his life. He’s become a better writer and more informed about what’s going on in the world from Iraq to the rain forests of South America. And he’s met dedicated people who are “fun to be around and value the college experience.”

“That academic atmosphere is one of my favorite places to be,” said Strout. He said the professors at WestConn helped him to become who he is today. “You’ll get back everything you put into it. The professors are there for the students and really care about teaching. You have so much leeway to make the most out of your experience here.”

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.