Meet your 2022 WOW Captains!
Kavya Sajeev
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Allied Health with a concentration in Public Health
I became a WOW leader because I wanted to ease freshmen’s transition to college! I know it can be especially difficult to make new friends on campus during the pandemic, and wanted to do what I could to help.
Maria Menoutis
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering
I chose to be a WOW Captain because I have been a WOW Leader for two years and have had such a great experience working with WOW these past two years, and I want to give the first-year students the same great UConn welcome that I received on my first WOW Weekend.
Kara Christensen
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
I was a WOW Leader for the past two years and enjoyed every minute of it. I am looking forward to welcoming another incoming class to the University of Connecticut.
Cameron Cable
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Management and Engineering for Manufacturing
I chose to be a WOW captain because I want to continue my involvement with giving the first-year students the best first weekend at UConn.
Nayeli Contreras
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Psychology and Human rights
Why did you choose to be a WOW captain: I became a WOW captain as I wanted to have a larger role in WOW. I found that WOW helped me my first year of college, especially being a first-generation student, transitioning from high school to college became easier with the help of WOW and the connections I made. I have met great people through this program and wanted to continue meeting more first year students.
Colleen Pokorney
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Psychology and Human Rights
I wanted to be a WOW captain because the program completely shaped my first year at UConn and introduced me to so many different opportunities around campus. Without this program I would not be as involved or had the same experiences as I have and I want to be able to provide that support to future first year students!
Mikayla Williams
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Earth Science
I really enjoyed my experience as a WOW Leader, helping incoming first-year students get adjusted to the UConn community, and I wanted to become more involved.
Rhea D'Costa
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Economics and Political Science
Participating as a leader last year was such a positive experience! Not only was I able to help first year students with their transition to campus but I also made so many amazing friends through WOW. I became a captain so I could help leaders facilitate those connections with their first years and with others in the WOW program!
Rebecca Villanueva
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
I chose to be a WOW Captain because I love the WOW program and I wanted to help out even more this year since I've been a WOW leader in the past and it's my last year as an undergrad at UConn. It's a great way to start off the academic year and I'm looking forward to WOW 2022!
Alexa Schwartz
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class:Senior
Major:Special Education
Why did you choose to be a WOW captain?: I first was inspired to join the WOW program because of how amazing my experience was with my WOW leader as a first year. After being a WOW leader, I fell in love and wanted to be more involved with leadership and growth within the WOW program. I have been a WOW captain for the past two years and I am forever grateful for the connections I have made and the impact this program has made on future WOW students and captains!
Leah LePage
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Economics and Political Science
Being a part of WOW has made my college experience so much more fulfilling. It is my favorite time of the year and I can't wait to work with the other WOW Captains and Leaders! 🙂
Soribel Torres-Jimenez
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Bilingual Elementary Education
I chose to become a WOW Captain because I want to provide incoming students the best experience as they enter this new exciting chapter in their lives! I've made so many lifelong friends and memories at UConn and it'll all begin with WOW Weekend. I hope to be someone incoming students can rely on and feel welcomed at UConn 🙂
Tessa Malesky
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Biochemistry
I wanted to be a WOW captain because it's so much fun to be a part of a memorable and exciting weekend on campus impacting so many students. With such an encouraging and supportive atmosphere, I love being involved in WOW and appreciate the value in all of the amazing experiences it provides!
Michael Katz
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering
I joined Wow because the Buckship community was extremely impactful my freshman year and it all started at WOW.
Tatiana Sihpol
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Earth Science and Political Science
I want to help make everyone feel comfortable at UConn as early as possible and foster a sense of community for FYS!
Eli Cruz
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Junior
Major: Sports Management
I chose to be a Wow Captain because I wanted to make as big an impact to the first year students as WOW had on me the moment I first arrived at UConn. It’s important that this first weekend is a blast for the first years because it could create relationships and new opportunities for so many of them throughout their UConn Journey.
TULSI PATEL
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Nursing
I became a WOW leader because I wanted to help incoming students feel like they belong at UConn and make their transition to this new environment as smooth and easy as possible.
Melissa (Missy) Lyder
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering-Computational Biology
I chose to be a WOW Captain because I appreciate, from both my experience as a WOW Leader and as a First Year Student, the importance of WOW Weekend. The first weekend of college can be daunting for many. I am grateful to be able to provide as much guidance and encouragement as I can to new students in order to improve their initial experiences at UConn.
Meet your 2022 WOW Leaders!
Aadil Malik
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Sophomore
Major: Finance
The opportunity to be involved with other students and organizations in UConn.
Aaron Abrina
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Junior
Major: Allied Health Science
I want to be a positive influence on other people’s lives.
Abby Bernstein
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Natural Resources and the Environment
My favorite part about WOW is that it makes a campus so large seem small and less overwhelming.
Abby Gardiner
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Chemistry
I want to help facilitate lasting friendships and help people feel welcome.
Adrianna Empaynado
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Marketing
My favorite part of WOW is being a guide to incoming first year students and setting their foundations for their experience at UConn!
Aidan Galish
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Sophomore
Major: Psychology/Physiology and Neurobiology
I became a WOW leader because I wanted to make a difference to the lives of incoming freshmen to show them how awesome UConn really is.
Ajay Chhita
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Actuarial Science/Finance
I became a WOW leader to help incoming students navigate entering college and the troubles they may have. Coming in as an out of state student, I remember being a little overwhelmed with everything, so I wanted to join WOW to help students feel more comfortable and find activities and resources that help students find themselves at UConn.
Akshatha Nair
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
To help students experience a warm welcome to UConn and help ease their transition into college.
Alanna Oller
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Political Science
My favorite part is setting up events for the incoming freshmen and making sure they are having a good time.
Alesia Ballij
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Political Science and Economics
My favorite part about WOW is the help it provides to incoming freshmen who are new to campus. I like how WOW is welcoming, fun, and inclusive and how it helps new students to acclimate to on-campus life.
Alexis Johnson
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Chemistry/American Sign Language
I loved my WOW experience and met some of my best friends to this day during WOW so I want to pass that along to other people.
Lexi Smolenski
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Math Education
I was a Dancer Representative for Huskython! I loved being able to recruit new dancers for Huskython, and being able to welcome the miracle children on night-of. I know how important Huskython is for Connecticut Children's, and how much it means to the miracle families, so I felt so lucky to be able to have a leadership position in Huskython.
Alina Vigdorchik
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Actuarial Science
Bringing excitement about UConn to the incoming students!!
Amanda McCarthy
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Allied Health
I had an amazing WOW leader my freshman year who really helped me adjust during my first weekend and inspired me to become a WOW leader myself. I want to make the weekend as fun and as helpful as possible to help my group get acclimated to UConn and see what the university has to offer!
Anandita Punnamaraju
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Management Information Systems
Looking forward to introducing the next generation of change makers to the UConn campus and community!
Andrew Bogatz
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Senior
Major: Psychology and History
The camaraderie of being with and working with so many other awesome WOW leaders who want to make positive experiences for first year students. Working with a team of kind, motivated, and passionate individuals is a privilege which I don't take for granted.
Ashley Harris
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Psychology
I became a WOW leader because I loved WOW weekend as a freshman and wanted to participate in it from the other side. I also love opportunities where I can meet new people and work on my leadership skills!
Bre'Ella Parker
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Psychology and Sociology
I was unable to experience it myself due to the pandemic, so I saw this as an opportunity to do so while also helping our newest huskies. Not only that but I hope to get into HR and PR and I felt that this would be some great experience.
Brianna Bradley
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Economics and Mathematics
I am a facilitator for the leadership certificate series workshops. I became a facilitator because I wanted to help people with their leadership skills, while also improving upon my own skills. I enjoy facilitating because I get to meet a ton of new people and feel more connected on campus.
Brittney Juarez
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Allied Health Sciences
I am a part of La Comunidad Intelectual Learning Community. I am a part of this LC because I want to be in a loving, welcoming community where I can also learn more about my culture and the under-representations of minorities being Latinx students in such a large predominantly white institute. I enjoy being in this LC because we all understand, we have the same questions, same difficulties, many of us are First Generation Students. We have many of the same experiences, therefore, there is no judgment in this LC. We can all get along and truly feel at home.
Caileigh Ellsworth
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Elementary Education
I wanted to take part in helping the class of 2026 get used to campus and feel less homesick during their first week on campus. I want to help them make new friends and connections to campus organizations so that they do not feel alone.
Calista Prem
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Management Information Systems
I am super involved on campus and I have taken up many roles within the clubs and organizations I am a part of. For example, I am the Vice President of the Information Management Association at UConn. I love being able to help others as an executive of the club, and organizing meetings and events with my friends is lots of fun and very rewarding.
Cami Connolly
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Chemistry
Having the opportunity to not only meet new first year students, but other WOW leaders!
Cara Donelan
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Nursing
To create a welcoming environment for nervous students!
Caroline Cassol
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Pharmacy
I am involved in the greek organization Alpha Omicron Pi which has allowed me to meet so many amazing people. I love getting involved in various leadership positions within the organization and volunteering for events.
Chloe Lafosse
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Psychology/Pre-med
To make a difference in students’ transition to college.
Christian Mohr
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Junior
Major: Biological Sciences
I am involved in both the club ice hockey team and the pre-medical society. I enjoy being involved in the club hockey team because I have played hockey my whole life and love being part of a team and I really enjoy spending time with my teammates on and off the ice.
Colby Hoffman
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Management and Engineering for Manufacturing
Being able to kick off the year with some good fun!
Courtney Balerna
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Nursing
I was very involved in HuskyTHON this past school year, and will be continuing this involvement throughout the rest of my years here. I'm involved in this organization because as a nursing major who also loves babysitting and working with children, being able to support Connecticut Children's seemed like a great opportunity. I enjoy being able to fundraise and make a huge difference in the lives of so many kids. The HuskyTHON community is full of such a large group of people all working towards the same goal.
David Celatka
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Graduate student
Major: Science Education
Interacting with first year students and hearing their perspectives on life/school/being at college for the first time!
Delia Lin
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
I have always enjoyed expression through the arts and became involved in Paint Club to continue this interest. Paint Club offers a relaxing space away from classes and has allowed me to meet others who share the same interest.
Dieter Werner
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Senior
Major: Civil engineering
I am the event coordinator for the club running team on campus and I organize events for team bonding!
Liz Carrizzo
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering
I became a WOW leader because I love helping the new students get introduced to their new home on campus!
Emma Davies
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology (PNB)
I rushed the co-ed, academic frat (more like a club) Sigma Theta Alpha (STA) and I love being a member of this organization! Everyone in the club is on an undergraduate track leading into the medical world, including pre-med, pre-PA, pre-dent and all types of majors in biology, physics, psychology, chemistry, allied health, and more. I love that the frat connects me to a range of students from all different disciplines and different pathways, yet we all have the common goal of working to help people in our professional careers.
Emma Griffin
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Dual degree in mathematics/statistics and sport management
I wanted to become a WOW leader because I love meeting new people and encouraging positivity among everyone. My WOW weekend was an amazing experience for me, and I can’t wait to help incoming freshmen get the same experience and forge those friendships.
Erik Choi
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology/Economics
I work as a Writing Center tutor on campus. The staff are amazing and the environment is incredibly conducive to writing. I enjoy sharing my passion for reading and writing by working one-on-one with students. I love seeing how satisfied students become by witnessing the improvement in their own writing!
Evan Wood
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Junior
Major: Double Majoring in Communication and Political Science
I am a part of the student staff at Major Events and Programs!
Gianna Teh
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biology
I became a WOW leader because of the influence WOW weekend had on my freshmen experience. I met all my friends and became comfortable on campus, and I want to be a part of that experience for the incoming freshmen as well.
Fejiro Akhuetie-oni
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
One student organization/club, I truly enjoyed is UCONN SIS, sisters inspiring sisters . It provided a very positive environment especially POC women to discuss topics and simply just having women around you that can understand the things you deal with on a daily basis or have similar interests. I went to these meetings in order to immerse myself in a supportive environment.
Gulnaz Bhura
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Molecular & Cell Biology
I love how WOW allows the first-year students to meet other first-year students and the students are able to participate in different activities.
Hannah Montesi
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
To help students have a great introduction to UConn, just as I had when I was a freshman.
Hannah Spinner
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Pre-teaching
One organization I am a part of is America Reads. I am involved in the group because I am an aspiring elementary education teacher, and I love reading, and through this I am able to inspire the same love in them. I enjoyed the chance to practice my future skills as a teacher and connect with students.
Hayden Kowalski
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
My favorite part about WOW is the relationships that are formed from it and the experiences that people have. For me, my friend group is all the people that I met through WOW, it's the people who live in the same hall as me and honestly I'm really glad that I met these people. Some of my best experiences were not just from WOW but also from the friends that I made with WOW. The memories that I make with my friends, who I met through WOW.
Horacio Honoret
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Junior
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
I became a wow leader to help incoming freshmen learn about campus and help them make connections with their fellow peers that could last them a lifetime.
Ishika Soni
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology/ Minor in Astrophysics; Pre-Med
I dance for UCTR (Uconn ThundeRaas) and it’s something I look forward to every day. I joined this group to be a part of a community and make friends. With UCTR, I have made lifelong friends and I am so grateful for it. I also am involved in this to continue my love for dance and my culture. I’m so grateful to be a part of a school where my culture is appreciated and there’s opportunities to show it and share it! I enjoy being able to travel and go to places with UCTR and perform dances my team and I have worked hard on to showcase our love for our culture and style of dance!
Jack Kaszas
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Senior
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
My WOW leader freshman year did a fantastic job and I want to give other students that same good experience.
Jackie Swanson
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Allied Health Sciences
My favorite part about WOW is getting to experience all of the different traditions we have here at UConn. Getting to attend events like Convocation and sports games and having campus tours really helped me feel more comfortable with living on campus.
Jeremy Garskof
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Junior
Major: Finance with a Minor in Math
To help first years become comfortable and excited for their UConn experience.
Jill Derjue
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Pathobiology/Animal Science
I love being the Webmaster of Pre-Vet club because I get to help organize ways for the club to help others prepare for vet school. I originally joined because I wanted to prepare my own application for vet school, but it has also allowed me to explore my interest in graphic/web design.
Jordan Buslewicz
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Business Management
My favorite part about WOW is getting to know the people on your floor. Its one of the best ways to make friends as a freshman and it starts during WOW weekend.
Jordan Zarabet
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Psychology
I am a part of UConn's Dramatic PAWS, a student-led theater organization on campus that puts on shows in the fall and spring semesters. I did theater in high school and loved it, and wanted to continue in college! This group is made up of a bunch of nice people and I enjoyed working together toward the show!
Josh DeVera
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Nursing
I wanted to become a WOW leader as I did not realize the importance in the program until it was too late/ I realized later that this program helps FYS get accustomed to campus and create new social support systems by helping them get comfortable in their new life.
Juliana Wiseman
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Business Undecided (interested in Marketing)
My favorite part about WOW is getting to meet lots of new people and to know the other students on your floor. I loved all of the events they had for the first year students and being able to make friends that have stuck with me throughout my entire first year.
Kaitlyn Loura
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Allied Health Sciences (Pre-Med)
I'm on the women's club soccer team! I've played soccer since I was 5 years old so I knew I wanted to join this team when I came to UConn. I'm so happy that I joined because my teammates have become some of my best friends at UConn and I get to play the sport that I've loved all of my life at a competitive level.
Kamara Nyahuma
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Double Major History(declared) and Sociology(undeclared)
My favorite part about WOW is how it can create a positive impact for first-year students because it’s a fun, and helpful, way to spend their first few days at college. WOW groups are a great opportunity to make new friends and meet people you live with. Some of the people I met at WOW weekend events are still my friends today. WOW makes students feel more comfortable with the campus in many ways from the campus tour to tips on how to balance classes from their leader.
Katie Lapkin
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: History
I am part of Gift of Life UConn where I am a Campus Ambassador. I help students join the registry, as well as educate people about the work Gift of Life does. I want to give back to my community, and 5 minutes to save a life is pretty easy. I got my first match a few weeks ago and was thrilled that my work was helping someone in need!
Kazi Begum
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: English
My favorite part about WOW is how fun and welcoming it is! There are so many amazing activities planned and so many amazing WOW leaders who coordinate the weekend to ensure everyone involved feels at home and starts their journey at UConn off on the right foot.
Kennedy Evans
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Digital Media and Design
I am a part of the SUBOG concert committee. This committee organizes all of UCONN's concerts. I enjoy being a part of the Concert committee because I love music, planning events, and meeting new people. This committee is very welcoming and being a part of it has helped me meet a lot of new people who I see and talk to here and there on campus.
Keshav Desibhatla
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Sophomore
Major: Pathobiology
I became a WOW leader because I want to help first-years transform college into another home, where they feel comfortable and excited about what lies ahead.
Khushi Patel
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Psychological Sciences and Speech Language and Hearing Sciences
My favorite part about WOW is being able to form those connections and friendships with other students.
Kiara Ballij
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Political Science & Economics
I became a WOW leader because I was a transfer student last fall and I never had received an orientation. I know the feeling of anxiety that comes with being alone on such a big campus and I would like to alleviate this for incoming first year students.
Yaya Colon Rosario
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Major: Psychology and Minor: HDFS
Being able to be a bridge between the past and the future. Having the chance to interact with new "huskies" and help them with the transition in a way that I didn't receive.
Krupal Patel
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biology
I am a research assistant for a psychology lab called Mind-body health. I enjoy it because along with doing research, I learn new things that can be incorporated into my daily life.
Lakshaanya Saravanan
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Finance
ISA (Indian Students Association) - I am on the Executive board of this organization and love being a part of a community that hosts large scale cultural events which invites the entire student body to celebrate Indian traditions and holidays.
Lauren Tougas
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Accounting
My favorite part is being able to represent UConn and impact students’ experiences here.
Leah Gichuru
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
When participating in WOW, I enjoyed creating friendships and going to the events around campus.
Vivian Li
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Econ
A Warm group of people to introduce the campus to new students…
Linnea Primeau
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
My favorite part about WOW is the welcoming feeling that it gives to the incoming freshmen. This program helps to get freshmen acclimated to the campus and meet new people on their floors. Then, they are not starting the year without knowing anyone.
Maddie Brunnock
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Marketing
I am in Marketing Society so I can learn about different careers and opportunities within marketing.
Mahitha Juttu
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology/ Anthropology
I’m involved in the CLAS Student Leadership Board which is a group of students on campus that act as the voice of the student body and work to improve and foster the community in the college of liberal arts and sciences.
Manav Surti
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Coming onto campus as a freshman, the whole college scene was very overwhelming. The position of a WOW leader allows me to help incoming freshmen who may be struggling with what I struggled with. I love having the opportunity to help freshmen make connections and bond with each other. I want to make the transition to college life as seamless as I can for the next generation of students attending UConn.
Mei Xue
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: MCB
Being the first impression the incoming freshmen have.
Matt Correia
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Seeing first year students come out of their shell and get comfortable on campus!
Maya Anam
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
I want to help incoming students feel more comfortable and excited about being at UConn.
Maya Acker
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Actuarial Science
I was a UNIV 1784 facilitator for the past two years where I taught a course for Honors freshmen. I wanted to help them adjust to college life and make them feel less anxious or stressed about the transition and the next four years they'll spend here. I love watching my students open up, feel more comfortable, and make friends with their peers as the semester progresses.
Megha Rana
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
I am currently a part of the Maternity and Women's Health club. I love this organization because it has given me a way to find like-minded people that love learning about and/or sharing knowledge about women's health. Given that women's health is a field I would like to pursue my career in, this organization has given me many opportunities to meet people that motivate me to chase my dreams, to meet professionals that I aspire to be like, and to help me pave my path for the future.
Michelle Bernetski
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Allied Health Sciences
Revolution against Rape is a club I am a part of on campus. I am involved in this group to help spread awareness about the issue and how we can take part to prevent it from happening. There is a sense of community, and I really enjoy feeling like I am a part of a whole.
Michelle Huang
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
I became a WOW leader because I loved my WOW experience so much and I would love to help incoming students feel comfortable when they first arrive on campus. I know how difficult and intimidating it can be coming to UConn, and I want to be able to help new students transition smoothly.
Mimi Marella
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Undecided (Pre-Nursing)
I want to help mentor the incoming students and make the transition as easy as possible.
Moksha Chimbili
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
I wanted to foster a sense of home and a positive community for the incoming first years as it is a difficult time for many. This position allows me to make this transition to college a little smoother and a shoulder to lean on for anyone!
Nick Barga
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Senior
Major: Computer Science
Aside from WOW, I am in the Filipino American Student Association because I am able to connect with people who share a similar background to me as I was previously unable to in high school.
Nicole Eugenio
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biological Sciences
I think my favorite part about WOW is that it’s unexpected. I never thought that in one quick weekend I would find my future best friends and meet so many people. It’s definitely an experience like no other, not to sound cliché.
Nishi Kapoor
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Double Major in Human Rights and Political Science
I am a part of the club, Sweeter Than Fiction. Sweeter Than Fiction is a book club at UConn. I love being a part of Sweeter Than Fiction because I get to connect to other people who also enjoy reading but I also learn about other types of books from other people. I love to see other people be so passionate about books and we definitely have interesting conversations.
Nour Al Zouabi
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Individualized Major: Rights, Health and Refugees; Molecular and Cell Biology
My favorite part about WOW is meeting new students and helping them with their transition.
Zach Zeller
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Actuarial Science
Water polo, I love staying active and having fun with my teammates!
Olivia Salazar
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Psychological Sciences
I am involved in Protect Our Pack. I am a part of this group because I think it is very important for students to take an active role in protecting and looking out for their fellow peers. I have enjoyed learning about some of UConn's policies and statistics while being involved in Protect Our Pack. I think it's really important to be self-aware and knowledgeable about the environment you are in, and being a Pack Leader offers that opportunity.
Prasanth Ganeshbabu
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biomedical Engineering
I became a WOW leader because I wanted to make sure that first-year students start on the right foot and make their first weekend here at UConn as fun as possible!
Rachel Kaihara
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Animal Science (Pre-vet)
Being able to meet new people that you probably wouldn't have met within your first weekend.
Rahul Bhawani
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
My favorite part about WOW is meeting incoming students!
Raquel Montelindo
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Secondary Social Studies and History Education
I didn't get to experience WOW as a freshman because of COVID and I want every student to get the experience I didn't because it allows them to feel welcome and integrated on campus.
Reece Salinas
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biological Sciences
I look forward to meeting lots of new people!
Roshni (Ro)
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Finance
I’m involved in the radio station! I’m involved because I love music and being able to just talk on a show and be around fun people.
Shamik Soni
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Senior
Major: Business Data Analytics
Introducing new students to campus and the traditions that are a part of UConn culture.
Shayna Martin
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Communications & American Sign Language
PATH, University Events and Conference Services, Confetti for Kids, UC Goal Patrol, ASL Club. I love the diversity of jobs and clubs I can be apart of and especially in working for UECS and Goal Patrol it’s amazing to get to see the professional work side of keeping the university and all its events running.
Shiv Patel
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
I am the Vice President of External Affairs of my sorority, Kappa Phi Gamma. I love being involved in KPhiG because as a cultural South Asian interest, but not exclusive sorority, I am able to not only embrace my own culture but learn about the diverse others in our chapter and council. In addition, our philanthropy is cancer awareness and the amount of philanthropic events / projects we do every semester is extremely rewarding and makes me very proud to rep my letters.
Shreya Sagi
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Sophomore
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
How welcoming it is for the freshmen and that it allows them to feel more comfortable on campus.
Shyam Viswanathan
Pronouns: He/him/his
Class: Sophomore
Major: Economics
I love how first year students are brought into a comfortable environment with no expectations.
Sway Tadepalli
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Senior
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology/ Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
I became a WOW leader because I want to make the transition that FYS have to college life as smooth as possible.
Gracelynn Green
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: ACES
My favorite part of WOW is creating a fun place for incoming students to feel comfortable while getting familiar with being a student at UConn.
Sydney Collins
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Environmental Science
I look forward to making connections with the incoming students and hopefully making them more comfortable on campus. I want to tap into their interests/passions and provide resources that allow them to explore those avenues on campus.
Sydney Provencher
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Nursing
I am a member of the healthcare academic fraternity Sigma Theta Alpha! I love being a part of this fraternity as it allows me to have opportunities and make connections with other future healthcare workers. I joined because I wanted to meet other people who had the same values as me, and I believe the best way to succeed in the healthcare field is to be open to other people's ideas and ways to go about patient care.
Tori Tolisano
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Allied Health Sciences
I became a WOW Leader because I wanted to make an impact on the incoming freshman and serve as a guide as they become comfortable on campus. I also want to make sure that the freshmen are making sense of the campus, meeting new people and have a good understanding of the husky community.
Uma Tam
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Junior
Major: Psychological Science
Jumpstart - I volunteered with Jumpstart because I wanted to work with kids and it was a great opportunity to help them in their education and give them resources to succeed after preschool.
Uthara Sunderesh
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Junior
Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
Facilitating new connections and relationships!
Varsha Irvathraya
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Class: Senior
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
My favorite part about WOW was meeting new people!
Victor Nanovsky
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Sophomore
Major: Finance
Deca, finance society, ski and snowboard club. I love being involved in the ski club because of the many trips we go on, and the new people I meet.
Yana Tartakovskiy
Pronouns: She/hers
Class: Sophomore
Major: Healthcare Manu
I am the Vice President of Marketing at UConn Hillel. I am Jewish, so being a part of UConn Hillel and going to their events makes me feel included in the Jewish community. I decided to take on a leadership role because I wanted to welcome new students to Hillel, just like Hillel board members welcomed me. I love collaborating with board members on exciting events and seeing a good number of turnouts for these events.
Carlos Lopez Rosas
Pronouns: He/him
Class: Junior
Major: Psychological Sciences
I chose to be a WOW leader so that I can share my pride and love for UConn while being able to be a helping hand to all new huskies adjusting to collegiate life. As well as being the first friendly face many new huskies could rely on during the start of their new journey and even beyond.