Becky Men

Bethel resident Becky Men has her extended family to thank for her enrollment at Western Connecticut State University, where she will be a senior in fall 2024. “It was first on my list, the top option,” Men said. “A lot of my family, nieces and nephews, went to WCSU to study everything from nursing to accounting to computer science — and they all have done really well. My parents pointed to their successes, and it checked off all of my boxes in terms of affordability, opportunity, scholarships and resources for First Generation students,” Men added.

In high school, Men said, she had thought she wanted to study to become a nurse, but when the pandemic arrived during her junior year, it forced her to reevaluate her future. “Covid made me reflect on my strengths and weaknesses,” she said, “And I decided to pursue a degree in Finance instead.”

Responding thoughtfully to the reality she encounters has caused Men to make other decisions that have worked out for her as well. As a college sophomore, Men noticed that while the university had a number of diversity clubs, there wasn’t one specifically for Asian students. She felt it was important to share her Cambodian culture with her peers, and also to provide a place for students from other Asian cultures to connect. So, WCSU’s Asian Student Union was created — a step that not only fulfilled Men’s objectives, but also earned her the Student Leadership Recognition Banquet award for Outstanding Student Program.

“I am so thankful that our Lunar New Year Feast received recognition as it was my goal to help highlight Asian culture to students and celebrate it here at Western Connecticut State University,” Men said. “More than 100 students attended our Lunar Feast, and around 20 have attended our movie nights. Our club membership is growing.”

In addition to her dedication to creating and nurturing a new campus club, Men also has served as a Student Government Association Senator and Director of Finance, where she oversees and manages the use of the Student Activity Fee to help fund   club events and academic travel in partnership with the WCSU Foundation. Despite the time involved with these obligations, Men has managed to be on the Dean’s List every semester, even after adding a minor in Accounting to her Finance major.

That was another smart choice, because the addition of Accounting to her Finance studies made Men eligible for a tax internship at KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms. The full-time internship will take place during the winter of her senior year, requiring her to take night classes to continue on track for her spring 2025 graduation. That’s of no concern to Men, who has held jobs on campus since her freshman year at the IT Help Desk, as an accounting assistant in the Fiscal Affairs Office, as a Peer Tutor in the Ancell Commons, and as an Orientation Leader for the Center for Student Involvement.

It would seem implausible that Men would have time for additional extra-curricular activities, but she also took advantage of the opportunity offered by the International Student Exchange Program to study abroad at South Korea’s Yonsei University.

“WCSU has definitely made all my dreams come true,” Men said. “It’s a small community that allows you to advance yourself and be better recognized. You’ll meet your best friends in college, and financially it gives you such peace of mind that you’re going to an affordable school. Don’t take the stigma of being the ‘local’ school to heart: WCSU is a great school with great people. You’re not worried about money, so you can focus on more important things and improve yourself.”

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.