2 top Quinnipiac students are from Ansonia, Seymour

HAMDEN - Two students from the Valley are among those who will graduate at the top of their class on Sunday when Quinnipiac University holds its 82^nd undergraduate commencement exercises during two outdoor ceremonies on the Mount Carmel Campus, 275 Mount Carmel Ave.

Ikechukwu E. Umeugo of Ansonia, will receive both the President’s Scholarship Award for being one of four students to have the highest grade point average in the graduating class.
He also will receive the Alumni Association’s Academic Achievement Award for having the highest grade point average in the School of Business. 
Umeugo will be among the 734 students who will graduate at the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony for students in the School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences. Jessica Jackley, the founder and former chief marketing officer of KIVA, a microlending site, will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree.  
James McGlothlin, chairman and CEO of The United Co., also will receive an honorary degree.

Samantha L. Barracca of Seymour, will receive the Alumni Association’s Academic Achievement Award for having the highest grade point average in the School of Communications. She will be among the 776 students who will graduate at the 3 p.m. commencement ceremony for students in the School of Communications, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing.  
Josh Elliott of “Good Morning America” will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree.
 

        Quinnipiac enrolls 6,200 full-time undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students in 58 undergraduate and more than 20 graduate programs of study in its School of Business and Engineering, School of Communications, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, School of Nursing and College of Arts and Sciences. 

Quinnipiac consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the North in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue. 

For information, visit www.quinnipiac.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook at www.facebook.com/quinnipiacuniversity and follow Quinnipiac on Twitter @QuinnipiacU.



This post is taken from a press release.

Derby hospital teaches fitness through fun

Instructor Maureen Helgren blows bubbles at the beginning of Friday’s Healthy Steps class at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Patricia Villers/Register

By Patricia Villers
pvillers@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrvalley


DERBY— The only requirement to be part of a females-only exercise class at Griffin Hospital is a willingness to have fun.

At least that’s what it felt like Friday morning when I stepped into the conference room at the hospital’s Center for Cancer Care.

Instructor Maureen Helgren was busy blowing up beach balls and chatting as women walked in for the once a week Healthy Steps class.

I was one of 10 women who took part in the program that featured slow and almost meditative exercises. It was not what I had imagined.
We followed Helgren as she moved in a way that reminded me of my aerobics classes from decades past, only slower.

The atmosphere was relaxing and pressure free.

I was urged to go by two women in a strength-training class I attend Tuesday nights as part of a survivorship program launched late last year at Griffin Hospital.

The class is led by Dan Root, a personal trainer who specializes in working with cancer survivors. I daresay I enjoy going to it for exercise and a bit of socializing.

Helgren is an associate professor of physical therapy at Quinnipiac University and chairman of the physical therapy department. She said she has been leading the class for four years.

After she inflated the beach balls Helgren started by blowing bubbles, and having us do the same. The activity was not only fun but relaxing. In the background James Taylor was singing “Up on the Roof.”
That was one of several songs Helgren played for us as we went through a variety of slow stretches and routines.

“Grace is not needed in this class,” she said. “Everything we do is really slow on purpose.”

Helgren said the slowness is “because it’s morning and also because going slow is better for our muscles.”

Helgren follows the Lebed method of exercise, which is defined on Griffn Hospital’s website as “a movement and dance program that integrates physical therapy and psychosocial support.”

“Beneficial for women who have been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness. Particularly helpful for women during the post-op recovery phase after having breast cancer surgery,” the website states.

Surprisingly, some of the women I spoke with said they don’t have cancer but were there to enjoy the exercise with a friend who has had breast cancer.

Seymour resident Mary Jezierny, who has not had breast cancer, said, “When Mo (Helgren) was away we did it ourselves. We took turns being the leader.”

Now that’s dedication.

Shelton resident Terri Biasi called the class “our Friday let-it-all-out” time.

She added, “It’s a nice group. We share and support each other.”

PCRC clinician resigns to take post at Quinnipiac

Laura Mutrie, Director of Clinical Services at Parent Child Resource Center in Derby, has resigned to take a position at Quinnipiac University.
In a release colleagues said her expertise, vision, passion, and demand for high quality services has helped improve lives of countless children and families in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and surrounding communities.

Laura Mutrie

During Mutrie's career with PCRC she has helped the organization launch the Early Childhood Consultation Partnership, Prevention Through Early Intervention, Therapeutic Mentoring, Intensive Outpatient Program and Triple P Positive Parenting Program, the release said.

At PCRC she has helped institute evidence based practices, particularly practices focused on the identification and treatment of trauma in children. She oversees the PCRC Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for Children, licensed by the State of Connecticut which for 10 years has exceeded national averages in client reported measures for access, appropriateness and outcomes.

Mutrie has been an ambassador for PCRC in the community, working with the Department of Children and Families, local schools, police departments, child care centers and numerous health and human service organizations in the Valley.
She is the co-chair of the Derby School Readiness Council and a member of the Executive Committee of the Early Childhood Task Force, which operates as the community collaborative for early care and education for Ansonia, Derby, Seymour and Shelton.

Mutrie helped PCRC develop one of the most vital and sought after behavioral health internship training programs in the State of Connecticut, hosting student interns from a number of prestigious Universities in Connecticut and New York State.

PCRC’s CEO Michael Wynne stated, “We will remember Laura as a dedicated supervisor, educator, clinician, mentor, colleague and friend. We will greatly miss her, and also wish her the best in her new position as Director of Field Instruction in the Master’s Degree Program in Social Work at Quinnipiac University.”

A farewell luncheon will be held Feb. 12 at Grassy Hill Lodge in Derby. For reservations contact Jackie Paolella, 203-954 0543 ext. 116.


The Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center has been serving families in the towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton and the surrounding area since 1975. It is the leading provider of behavioral health services to children and families in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The mission of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center is: Saving Lives by passionately caring for children, families, and the community.

The above information is taken from a release from the Parent Child Resource Center.