Orientation Leaders
Name: AJ Alves
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Bethel, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Get involved on campus whether it’s joining a club or just sitting in Berk (our popular relaxing spot on campus).
Name: Betsy Antedemenico
Major: Creative & Professional Writing
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Be active about joining clubs! Clubs related to your major can be great for networking and building friendships as well as connecting with others in your major who can give you advice. Feel free to join clubs outside of your major as well to connect with others who have similar interests.
Name: Will Brock
Major: Communications
Hometown: Newtown, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: College is a different lifestyle, and sometimes it can get stressful or busy, but never forget to put yourself first once in a while.
Name: Dylan Caldwell
Major: Social Work
Hometown: New Milford, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: It’s easy to feel like everyone has everything figured out, but everyone’s path is different. College is a personal journey so take it at your own pace.
Name: Ariel Cotton
Major: Theatre Arts
Hometown: East Haven, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: My advice would be it’s not a crime to be shy but don’t let it limit you. Get yourself out there even if it’s only a little bit.
Name: Kyra Cummins
Major: Communications
Hometown: Brookfield, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: My advice to incoming students would be to get involved on campus, even the commuters! Join a club or just hang out somewhere on campus and make friends! If you can’t join a club, go to the events hosted by all the wonderful organizers WCSU offers.
Name: Bazan Devallon
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice:
Name: Vanesa Dominguez
Major: Media Arts
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: Getting involved on campus is a great way to connect with others and make the most of your experience. Join clubs and attend events but remember to prioritize your needs and maintain a healthy balance – it’s okay to take a step back!
Name: Pablojesus Dominguez Solis
Major: Music Education
Hometown: Wallingford, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: My advice to any incoming freshman is to remember that having a few close friends who care, is better than many that pretend.
Name: Justin Farinango
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Bethel, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: You are what you make of your college experience! The ball is now in your court to go put yourself out there and make an impact at the university. If you’ve always wanted to play sports, join intramural sports. If you are interested in serving the university, join one of our 80+ clubs on campus. If you want to have a good time and meet new people, go to our various campus events such as sports games, musicals, bingos, and more! Put yourself out there, and you’ll find your place. Say hi to everyone you meet. You never know what a simple hi can lead to. We are a community here at WCSU!
Name: Sorreea Gagnebin
Major: Management
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Try to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. This is your time to discover the things you are good at and passionate about!
Name: Colby Gegney
Major: Exploratory Studies
Hometown: Barrington, NH
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: Go out and be open-minded to new things. Be willing to learn and take some healthy risks to see what’s out there and what healthy fun memories you can create.
Name: Owen Ibey
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Colchester, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: Get to know people. Be open to new experiences and take advantage of all the amazing clubs and organizations the school offers. The more people you know, the more connections and opportunities you will have.
Name: Kathrin Lippolis
Major: Secondary Education: English
Hometown: Hartsdale, NY
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: College is your opportunity to start fresh and be whoever you want to be! Everyone else is just as nervous as you are, so don’t be afraid to come out of your shell.
Name: Ainsley Mackenzie
Major: Management Information Systems
Hometown: New Fairfield, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Take advantage of all of the resources you have at your disposal. Our university offers a variety of help for the different challenges that you are going to face throughout your college career. Use the people and offices that are available to you.
Name: Madison McDougall
Major: Theatre Arts
Hometown: Newtown, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: Get involved, stay organized, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Join clubs, make new friends and enjoy every moment. Balancing your time between studies and fun is key. You’ve got this!
Name: Sophia Ochs
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Bethel, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Some advice that I have for incoming students is to branch out and try new things! College is such a great experience, and it is a wonderful way to make friends and make new connections! Another piece of advice I want to give is to make sure to have good time management to stay on top of your assignments and put time aside to study for upcoming quizzes and exams!
Name: Josiah Pizarro
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Waterbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: As an orientation leader, one piece of advice I’d offer to incoming freshmen is to focus on time management. There will be a ton of events and activities happening and while it’s tempting to join them all, it’s important to balance your time wisely. Events like PAC Bingo, the Clubs Carnival and West Fest are all great opportunities, but managing your schedule will help you make the most of your experience without feeling overwhelmed.
Name: Gianna Ruby-Dasilva
Major: Justice and Law Administration
Hometown: Woodbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: The best thing you can do is get involved on campus! Whether it’s a job or club it enriches your portfolio, social life, and experience. Don’t wait to start doing things outside of academics; the faster you get involved the more you can get out of your college years.
Name: Cienna Schlemmer
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: New Milford, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: My advice to new students is to take advantage of all the help offered to you, and don’t be scared to express your needs! Most importantly, don’t be afraid to reach out to new people and make new friends. Finding people who you can hang out with on and off campus, attend events with and even study with will be an amazing advantage during your first year here.
Name: Mackenzie Shook
Major: Nursing
Hometown: New Milford, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: I advise incoming students to be comfortable going out of their comfort zone. Every incoming student is going through the same thing, so don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people! Go to the events hosted by PAC and Recreation. Their events are really fun and have a range of activities, from Bingo to basketball. Not only are they fun, but they are also a great way to meet people with similar interests!
Name: Ycelsa Soriano Paulino
Major: Communications
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Prioritize your mental health, get in the habit of letting your professors know how it is going. They will help you!
Name: Gaby Torres
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! College is the perfect time to explore new interests, meet different people, and grow both personally and academically. Get involved on campus, ask questions, and take advantage of the resources available to you. Also, trust me, invest in a good umbrella!
Name: Nick Varbaro
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Mahopac, NY
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: Surround yourself with people who are positive and bring you up.
Name: Charlie Wimer
Major: History
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Resident or Commuter: Commuter
Advice: One piece of advice I have for incoming students is to prioritize your time, it can get easy to let things slip once you get to college.
Name: Sadie Winsley
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: New Milford, CT
Resident or Commuter: Resident
Advice: Go out of your way to try things outside of your comfort zone, make as many connections as you can, and master time management.