By Dwight Bachman, Public Relations Officer
Eastern Connecticut State University
Two African American women—Bobbi Brown, a Communication major from Hartford, and Aiyanna Ward, a Biology major from Waterbury—were among the more than 950 Eastern Connecticut State University students who graduated on May 18 at the XL Center. Both have left an indelible print on the university.
Brown, is a high-tech and proficient, humble yet vibrant super star news writer skilled in numerous website software and has been on Eastern’s Dean’s List. Brown, a rare treat as a human being who wears a soft, beautiful, perpetual smile on her face, is mature beyond her age. In the past three years, she served an exceptional public relations professional in the Office of University Relations, writing hundreds of press releases and numerous feature stories for commercial press and the University’s campus wide, electronic newsletter on Eastern’s main web page, all telling the Eastern story.
Among her notable achievements was the superb feature story she wrote on the famous ballerina Misty Copeland, who filled the grand ballroom of the Downtown Marriott Hotel, motivating more than 1,000 young girls at a Black Girls Rock event. Brown demonstrated her energy, maturity in research, leadership, intellectual ability and organization skills to swiftly and efficiently produce one of the finest feature stories ever. Public Relations Guru Anita Ford Saunders, APR wrote Eastern President Elsa Nunez about how well Brown used initiative, creativity and analytical skills to put the Misty Copeland story together.
Brown is focused. She works hard and smart. She often goes beyond the call of duty. Communication/Public RelationsProfessor Dr. Christopher Ayeni said Brown accepts criticism with grace, pursues excellence with passion in her work and finishes each task with high distinction. Brown also is a leader who cares about service to others. She served as president of the West Indian Society on campus, organizing and spearheading numerous fundraisers, creating fun events and activities to raise public awareness of a variety of Caribbean cultures for the entire campus.
This past Spring, Brown was tremendously excited to be accepted at Morgan State University’s graduate program in Communications in Baltimore. However, her love for her family, her little brother and sister, and of course, Mom, compelled her to recently decide to attend Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, where she was also accepted. She will be closer to family, something that is special to her. Brown will no doubt continue to excel in scholastic endeavors at the graduate level and one day proudly represent us all in the near future.
Like the super star news writer Brown, Ward, daughter of Derek and Danay Ward, is an outstanding scholar-athlete who can play basketball like Allen Iverson and lacrosse like the great Jim Brown. She is generous, gracious and kind, and most important, full of humility.
