By Dwight Bachman, Public Relations Officer, Eastern Connecticut State University
Aiyanna Ward, a Biology major from Waterbury who graduated in May from Eastern Connecticut State University, is headed to the University of Miami to pursue a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences.
Ward, daughter of Derek and Danay Ward, was an outstanding scholar-athlete in high school and college and who can play basketball like Allen Iverson and lacrosse like the great Jim Brown. She left an indelible print on the Eastern campus. She is generous, gracious and kind, and most important, full of humility. She blew me away with this email message to me in April:
Good morning Mr. Bachman, My name is Aiyana Ward. I am a senior Biology Major and will be graduating this Spring with honors and numerous other recognitions. I also have plans to attend Graduate School in Miami. I am reaching out to you to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I’m sure you don’t remember this but when I was a Sophomore, I had a brief conversation with you outside of Constitution Hall. During this, conversation you shared your son’s story with me and told me to keep pushing to accomplish my goals and obtain my degree in Biology. As a student of color, it is very rare to encounter a faculty member of color, especially one who takes time out of their day to speak. Little did you know, that conversation inspired me to keep going and continues to inspire me even throughout my final days as an undergraduate. I knew our paths crossing must have been a sign from God that I could not ignore.
It really meant a lot to me for you to believe in me the way you did without even knowing me. Your kind words provided me with a sense of comfort that I didn’t even know I needed and would continue to need. Because of this, I attribute much of my success to you and I tell people this whenever I get the chance.
I say all of this to say, please don’t stop being you. You never know how a small interaction can have such a lasting impact. I thank you deeply, and I hope our paths cross again someday.
Aiyana Ward – Eastern Connecticut State University Honors Program”
How much more humble can one be! No ego at all from this super-star! It was overwhelming. What a wonderful expression of gratitude! Our young people need encouragement at every turn. It’s amazing at what a little kindness can do. I will keep on being me, lifting people when I can.
Ward’s academic accomplishments include Dean’s List; Tri-Beta Biological Honors Society (Biology), ECSU Honors Program; LEC (Little East Conference) All-Academic Team (Basketball and Lacrosse); Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Academic Team and the Inclusive Excellence Award.
At Eastern, Ward did her Honors Thesis on “Biofilm Disruption of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Chromobacterium Violaceum, Using Fungal Tinctures.” She was worked in Waterbury’s Health Department, conducting Metaanalytic research in support of infectious disease projects. She also has worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Medical Research Foundation in Cambridge MA, where she has learned about genome sequencing, using agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA/RNA in-situ hybridization, PCR methodology and much more.
Her athletic accomplishments include Dual-Sport Team Captain; NCAA Leadership Conference and Defensive Player of the Week (Lacrosse).
“I have been in awe of Aiyanna’s maturity and leadership both on the field and off,” said Lacrosse Coach Kristin Ventresca. “Aiyana has accomplished so much at ECSU while handling two varsity sports, the honors program, a campus job and multiple community service projects. Her presence (and personality) are going to missed. She is representative of what many strive to be.”
Aiyanna’s former boss, Shafer Hall Housing Director Emmanuel Augustin, agreed: “Aiyana has displayed the intangible skills that make her a great worker or pivotal piece to a team. Her energy, passion, organizational skills and commitment to excellence shines through in everything she does. Aiyana is an appreciated member of our team whom we have learned we can rely on, regardless of the complexity of the task at hand or the novelty of the challenge. She has a deep-rooted spirit of helpfulness and has been ever willing to work with members of our staff to share her knowledge and proficiency.”
