Desiree Velez

Desiree Velez, of East Hartford, is a high-achieving first-generation student who not only had to contend with the difficulties caused by Covid-19 as an incoming freshman, but also the financial realities of paying her own way through college. Velez, who will receive a Western Connecticut State University Bachelor of Science in Music Education, not only rose above these challenges, but became a role model to the countless prospective high school students whom she encountered as a Music Department crew member who interacted with students and their families on audition days, as an Admissions tour guide and as a REP4 student ambassador.

With her countless achievements, including a 3.95 GPA, four years as a Kathwari Honors Scholar, Dean’s List every semester and her recent selection as a 2024 Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award winner, Velez would have every right to seek the spotlight, but instead prefers to highlight those she believes guided, helped or supported her during her journey toward becoming a music teacher and future school administrator.

“My intention of going into education is not only to provide quality education to all students, but also to change the inequities of our current education system,” Velez said. “I wish to create active change that provides opportunities to all students regardless of race, financial status, gender expression, or any other factor that may make a student feel excluded. With all of that being said, providing for my community is something that will always be important to me. It is my belief that all educators provide a deep and enriching service to their community. One that everyone who is part of that community can benefit from. I would not be able to provide for my community without the people who have helped me along the way.”

In addition to her studies, Velez has worked for four years as a crew member for the Music Department, for two years as the operations manager at the Westside Campus Center for the university’s Event and Conference Management Office, and as a tour guide for the Admissions Office during 2021-22. She has been recognized at the CHESLA Honors Scholarship Ceremony, with a Minority Teacher Incentive Program Grant, an Aspiring Educator Diversity Scholarship, the Kannengeiser Endowed Scholarship, the V.G. Cunningham Music Education Scholarship and the JUMY Scholarship.

At the same time, Velez has been vice president of the Music Education Club for the past two years, and was a student leader for the WCSU Honors Music Festival in 2022-23. Since her freshman year, she’s been active in the WCSU Spirit Band as a saxophone player, as a Brass Club member, an Audio Club member and an Ives Concert Flutist. She has volunteered at WCSU’s Professional Development Day for Arts Educators for three years, at the East Hartford High School Preseason for the past three summers, and at the SVPA Summer Arts Technology Workshops in 2024.

Velez recalled her trip to Idaho to be part of REP4’s Alliance-Wide Gathering that took place at Boise State University. “At this event I had the opportunity to share my story and be part of the conversation around furthering education for high school students who feel that college is not an opportunity meant for them. This experience greatened my passion for education and inspiring students who come from backgrounds like I did that they have the ability to do more than what their parents did.”

Velez said she’s extremely honored to receive the Barnard Award. “I find myself straying away from sharing my story too much because it can be very stereotypical: ‘A girl from a low-income district who faced her challenges and got a degree against all odds.’ Sometimes I feel it’s too cliché to talk about,” she said. “It’s through situations like this, winning such a meaningful award, that reminds me that my story may be cliché, but it’s the truth. I’m hoping that I can use recognitions like these to further demonstrate how limitless the possibilities are for all students regardless of where they come from.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.