MAGAZINE UCONNSUMMER 2019 The Next Wave Thomas Katsouleas, UConn’s 16th President SUMMER 2019 SNAP! sign, post. Inspired by the “LAX” sign at Los Angeles International Airport, UConn’s newest waypost sits along Route 195 in Storrs on the north end of campus. The 8-foot-high, 2-foot-deep letters were installed just in time for the Class of 2019’s memorialization and merriment. UCONN MAGAZINE | MAGAZINE.UCONN.EDU SUMMER 2019 CONTENTS | SUMMER 2019 VOL. 20 NO. 2 SUMMER 2019 | CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR WEB EXTRAS magazine.uconn.edu HOT DIGGITY DOG See Oscar Mayer Wienermobile driver Gabriella Medvick ’18 (SFA) driving in New York City and hear her sing the song. s.uconn.edu/wiener AND THE WINNER IS... Tune into the UConn 360 pod- cast to hear Grammy-winning 1618 22 32 36 composer Kenneth Fuchs. s.uconn.edu/fuchs FEATURES SECTIONS SPEAKING OF WINNERS See video of the message Team THE NEXT WAVE 1 16 Impact’s Daniela recorded for NOW PLAYING: ELSA NOCTON Meet Thomas Katsouleas, UConn’s 16th president, UCONN NOW Geno from the hospital and who takes the helm on Aug. 1. By Stephanie Reitz Catching up with Sen. Elsa Nocton has not quite hit teenagerdom and yet she has headlined the Hard Rock more from these heroic kids. Chris Murphy, a law Café in New York City and is a member of the UConn Women’s Volleyball Team. s.uconn.edu/teamimpact 22 SHOW RUNNER school alum; the rising Typical of girls her age, Elsa talks a mile a minute. Her pile of homework is spread The executive producer of “NBC Nightly News with senior who was named out on the couch where she never sits. Instead she bounces in front of me, spreading U-C-O-N-N Lester Holt,” Jenn Suozzo ’99 (CLAS) says she directs both a Truman and a and twirling her arms for emphasis — whenever they aren’t busy scooping up and A new sign = a new selfie op. each episode as if it were a ballet. By Julia M. Klein Udall scholar; a rising dangling one of her four cats. She’s telling me about singing at the Hard Rock Café s.uconn.edu/sign junior who practices with for a fundraiser in which she helped garner more than a million dollars for the Hole THE FORTUNATE ONES 28 the UConn Women’s Bas- in the Wall Gang Camp, a summer camp in Ashford, Connecticut, for seriously ill The horseshoe crab has not evolved in 450 million SURF’S UP ketball team; baby swing children and their families. years. A team at UConn is mapping its DNA to find Behind the scenes on our trees; the Senior Scoop; Elsa has a neuromuscular disease that causes chronic pain and fatigue. She can’t out why and to save a consummate survivor that’s gnarly cover shoot. lots of books; and more. recall a day in her 12 years without pain. “There’s some everyday stuff that’s super suddenly threatened. By Kim Krieger s.uconn.edu/surf simple for other kids I can’t do,” she says, “like putting up my hair. I have a lot of trouble even like brushing my teeth or making my lunch, opening things.” MASTER CLASS 32 44 BABY HORSESHOE CRABS She says she tries hard to stay positive: “I know so many camp kids who have it Grammy-winning composer Kenneth Fuchs shares Watch them flip and fold. UCONN NATION harder.” But getting through her school day with a good attitude means, “I’ll come with his students the lessons he’s learned from s.uconn.edu/crabs industry giants — and from his beloved high school Backstage at the Oscars; home and I’m super, super, super cranky.” Her mother nods and laughs while filling a band director. By Kenneth Best spreading Husky love bowl with food for their rescue pit bull mix. from NYC; recruiting for Cover and Snap!: photos by Peter It was the kids at Hole in the Wall who told Elsa about Team Impact, an organiza- 36 TEAM IMPACT: A WINNING WAY TO HEAL the St. Louis Cardinals; Morenus Table of contents: Katsouleas tion that pairs kids who have chronic or serious illnesses with college athletic teams. and Suozzo photos by Peter Morenus; UConn has the most pairings in the country (see page 36). This program recruits children facing serious illnesses practicing law at 100 years Fuchs photo by Benjamin Ealovega; onto college athletic teams. With the most pairings in old; driving the Wiener- Maddox photo by Stephen Slade ’89 “One of the best things in my life is being part of that team,” says Elsa. “Even the U.S., UConn’s athletes and kids agree the benefits mobile; plus Class Notes, (SFA); illustration by Katie Carey though the kids at my school are super nice, they don’t really understand. These are life-changing. By Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu Tom’s Trivia, and more. girls are like 18, so they’re much more understanding and know how to deal with it. The University of Connecticut complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, equal They’re basically like my second family. Like my big group of sisters.” opportunity and affirmative action and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, Elsa joined the team last year and because she lives in Storrs, she not only goes to age or other legally protected characteristics in all programs Vice President for Communications Tysen Kendig Associate Vice President for Brand Strategy Patricia Fazio ’90 (CLAS), ’92 MA Editor Lisa Stiepock and activities and supports all state and federal laws that team games and practices, and texts and FaceTimes with the players but, she says, promote equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination, Art Director Christa (Tubach) Yung Photographer Peter Morenus Editorial Assistant Camila Vallejo ’19 (CLAS) Contributors Julie (Stagis) Bartucca ’10 including the provision of reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. To request an accommodation sashaying from side to side, “We go out to the Dairy Bar a lot.” (BUS, CLAS), Kenneth Best, Tom Breen ’00 (CLAS), Christine Buckley, Kristen Cole, Steve Criss, Stefanie Dion Jones, Michael Enright ’88 (CLAS), Benjamin or for questions related to the University’s non-discrimi- nation policies, please contact: Title IX Coordinator, Office The players say Elsa inspires them and helps them feel less homesick, too. When Gleisser, Elaina Hancock ’09 MS, Julia M. Klein, Kim Krieger, Grace Merritt, Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu, Stephanie Reitz, Jaclyn Severance, Susan Twiss, Loretta of Institutional Equity; 241 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 4175; Storrs, CT 06269; Phone: (860) 486-2943; equity@uconn. Anna Petrova ’21 (ACES), whose sisters are far away with mom and dad in Vorone- Waldman Contributing Photographer Sean Flynn Copy Editors Sheila Foran ’83 (BGS), ’96 Ph.D., Gregory Lauzon Web Designers Christine Ballestrini ’03 (SFA), edu (non-discrimination policies); ADA Case Manager, Department of Human Resources; 9 Walters Ave., Unit 5075; zh, Russia, was given a class assignment on her favorite athlete, she wrote about Elsa. Yesenia Carrero. Storrs, CT 06269; Phone: (860) 486-3034; [email protected] (accommodation requests). Says Elsa: “It’s just so different when I’m with them, I can just relax. I don’t have to UConn Magazine is produced three times a year (Spring, Summer, and Fall) by University Communications, University of Connecticut. Email: uconnmagazine@ cover it up with a smile.” uconn.edu. Letters to the editor and other comments are welcome. Send address changes to The University of Connecticut Foundation, Records Department, Unit 3206, 2390 Alumni Drive, Storrs, CT 06269. 2 UCONN MAGAZINE | MAGAZINE.UCONN.EDU Photo by Stephen Slade ’89 (SFA) SUMMER 2019 3 UCONN NOW UPDATE BABY SWING TREES LETTERS UConn’s beloved “swing tree” near Mirror Lake that graced the cover of our Spring 2018 magazine is now reaching the twilight of its natural life. However, it will live on through Scores of you wrote in to tell us about bobcat sightings in your backyards. We heard, too, from dozens of healthy seedlings that UConn horticulture professor Mark Brand has nurtured grateful patients of our cover subject Dr. Alessi, enthusiastic clubbers lauding their favorites, and in a campus greenhouse since last fall. more. Find a sampling below. The swing tree has been undergoing special treatment since last year when horticultural- Get in touch! Email me at [email protected] or post something on our website ists noticed signs that indicated health problems, particularly when the upper portion of its at magazine.uconn.edu. crown failed to leaf out in springtime. Estimated at nearly 70 years old, it’s already relatively old for that type of tree — a Dahurian birch, also called Asian black birch. The tree had been The Knockout Doctor teaching others how they can do the in 1967. The curfews, locked doors, and home to two wooden swings since about 2010, and had become a popular meeting spot for ➼ The best neurologist. He helped me same in their yards. I would love to house mothers were a reality. Robert J. friends and place for people to write in the journal that makes its home in a nearby mailbox. get back on the field in 1994! Never have you come visit sometime. Keep Jamback ’71 (SFA), Dunbarton, N.H., via Sadly, the tree’s crown again did not leaf out this spring, so while UConn will continue to care forgot his care and safety! Thanks, Dr. up the good work. Barbara Rodgers, 35- our website for and monitor it, the swings won’t return to that particular tree.