Scholar & Family Testimonials

"I attended other magnet schools before, but CTRA was different. I truly felt at home here."

CAESAR, CTRA GRADUATE

"I liked the school; it felt like home. They see the potential in everyone at this school; if you have a goal, they'll do whatever it takes to help you reach that goal."

CECILA, CTRA GRADUATE

"CTRA has an inclusive, creative environment, and they understand this generation."

TONIKO, CTRA PARENT

"At our hometown school, our son was getting lost in the crowd. At CTRA, the teachers provided our son with individua-lized attention and encouragement. They really got to know him."

KRISTINE, CTRA PARENT

Sheff Matters with Elizabeth Horton Sheff

In Season 2 of Sheff Matters, Elizabeth Horton Sheff sits down with Connecticut River Academy (CTRA) alumni to learn where they are now and reflect on their experiences at CTRA. From film-making to teaching, from welding to social work, these graduates shed light on how their CTRA education, as well as the support they received from CTRA faculty and staff both in and out of the classroom, uniquely prepared them for success in their educational, professional, and personal pursuits. Tune in to the episodes below to learn how CTRA and its academic community can launch your student into a successful professional and/or educational career!

The Graduates Tell All

Are you asking yourself, is CTRA the right choice for my child? We sure think so! But don't just take our word for it. Read below to discover the real difference CTRA makes in the lives of our graduates. Learn about their lives before CTRA, what made their experience here memorable, and see just how they turned their passionate dreams into their professional destiny.

Timothy

Meet Timothy!

CTRA Graduation Year:
2016

Hometown:
Lebanon, Connecticut

Undergraduate School:
University of Connecticut (B.S., Molecular & Cell Biology)

Graduate School:
University of Connecticut School of Medicine (MD)

LIFE BEFORE CTRA

"I grew up in Eastern Connecticut. My hometown was a bit monochromatic, and, when looking for schools, I wanted something different than what my high school had to offer.

I found CTRA through a magnet high school fair. After talking to everyone, seeing how engaged the teachers were, and witnessing that CTRA was a diverse place, I knew it would be a good fit."

LIFE AT CTRA

“My initial interest in Biology stemmed from CTRA. I took a medical topics elective during my sophomore year, and that class got me curious about the field of medicine. By my senior year, my Capstone project was on emergency medicine and the life of first responders. CTRA was also a launch point; the early college model set me ahead and prepared me when college came around. I earned 26 credits at Goodwin that transferred toward my degree.

While a scholar, I was an active participant in student government, and my interactions with teachers and friends made it feel like home.

The diversity was awesome, too, without a doubt. The variety in the student body was especially crucial in our social studies classes. We talked, had debates, good discussions, and shared different perspectives respectfully.

CTRA taught me discipline. The teachers instruct you to do your best and always try to push you a little bit more than your comfort zone; they bring you to your full potential. There was a level of mutual respect between the educators and the students. They didn’t see us as kids; they saw us as people who could do something different and change the world.”

LIFE AFTER CTRA

"Because of CTRA, once I got to UCONN, I didn't need to worry about the number of classes I had to take; I just needed to focus on the studies themselves — and I already had practice with college classes, so I knew what I wanted to do.

My friends and I always go back to CTRA to say 'hi' during school breaks; we've been doing it for the past four years now. Everyone at CTRA had a monumental role in shaping me into the person I am, and I appreciate everyone who helped me along the way."

Serena

Meet Serena!

Graduate standing outside Goodwin University for a photo

CTRA Graduation Year:
2018

Hometown:
Hartford, Connecticut

Undergraduate School:
Goodwin University

Professional Ambitions:
Travel blogger/ Educator of English as a Second Language (ESL) to children from foreign countries

LIFE BEFORE CTRA

“I immigrated to America from the South American country of Guyana at the age of four.

In my culture, young girls are expected to receive instruction in the home, studying domestic life just like the women before them — but my grandmother was determined that I break that cycle.

Before coming to Connecticut River Academy (CTRA), I attended one of Connecticut’s largest public school districts. The school I attended had a brick exterior, small windows, and chipped paint. There wasn’t a lot of light that came into the classrooms, and the class sizes were big, with a lot of students crammed inside. We were only learning out of textbooks, and there was nothing digital or online.

When I became a scholar at CTRA, I started a lifelong learning legacy for women in my family who didn’t get the privilege to carry on their education.”

LIFE AT CTRA

“When I started my freshman year, I was really shy and turtle-like. I didn’t want to get out of my shell, and I didn’t like to participate in class. I kept to myself and had a small group of friends.

While a scholar at CTRA, I joined the Environmental Activist Club and earned 30 college credits through the school’s early college model. I felt prepared, and more than anything, I was excited about college.

I loved CTRA’s small class sizes and the ways you got to form relationships with your teachers. The support network was so strong — everyone made sure the scholars were on the right track to graduate, and they genuinely cared about each and every student.”

LIFE AFTER CTRA

“I transferred my 30 college credits to Goodwin University, where I am currently in the conclusion of earning my bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

A huge thing that I never want to forget is how fortunate I am that I attended CTRA in America because there are so many people who do not have the opportunity to get an education. I had such a positive experience and received a quality education that now I feel like I can do whatever I want in the world.”

Taylor

Meet Taylor!

CTRA Graduation Year:
2018

Hometown:
Winsted, Connecticut

Undergraduate School:
Tufts University

Professional Ambitions:
Study Veterinary Sciences to Become a Licensed Veterinarian

LIFE BEFORE CTRA

"Before joining Connecticut River Academy, I was always bored in class, and I would finish my work quickly without being challenged. Before becoming a CTRA scholar, every day at school felt the same, and I didn't feel like I was learning or reaching my potential. I also struggled to make friends and was often bullied by my peers for my academic ability and interest in animals and wildlife. When the bullying escalated, I knew I had to do something different with my life— to get out of my hometown and expand my horizons."

LIFE AT CTRA

"High school is such an important time to discover who you are, and CTRA made me more confident. As a scholar, I was on the volleyball team and participated in musical theatre for all four years. I was also a high achiever academically and was involved in student government and the National Honor Society. Through the high school's early college model and Capstone project, I earned free college credits and got to mentor under a local veterinarian — I even scrubbed in on surgeries!

At CTRA, I was not only academically challenged, but also had my ideals challenged. The school’s diversity was the most significant impact on my life. Through learning about social justice and interacting with peers from backgrounds different than my own, my education has shaped how I think and interact with the world around me today."

LIFE AFTER CTRA

"I am currently a student attending Tufts University as a biology major in the pre-veterinary science track. I use many of the skills and thought processes that CTRA instilled upon me throughout my college life. I always try to approach problems from multiple perspectives and seek out diverse friendships and relationships. I also use my confidence and leadership abilities to co-captain the Tufts Cheerleading team."

Bibi

Meet Bibi!

Graduate at CTRA graduation smiling proud

CTRA Graduation Year:
2014

Hometown:
Hartford, Connecticut

Undergraduate School:
University of Connecticut (B.S.)

Graduate School:
University of Connecticut (M.A.)

Professional Ambitions:
Education or Community Organizing

LIFE BEFORE CTRA

“I grew up in Hartford and bounced around between there and New Britain. I went to elementary and middle school with a predominantly Hispanic/Latino student population. Teachers weren’t exactly warm, the infrastructure was crumbling, and I was told that I wouldn't make it past high school by many people. No one in my family had finished high school or gone to university, but in looking for high schools, my mother was determined to find the best opportunity for me, and she did with CTRA.”

LIFE AT CTRA

“CTRA was a safe haven for me, and that feeling of belonging, of a tightknit family, was always present. The safety and security I felt there was amazing, and the teachers encouraged me to push myself and achieve my goals. Most of all, access to opportunity was immeasurable in changing my life.

I was fortunate to go onboard the historic Half Moon ship that operated on the Connecticut River. Goodwin College Beacon Magazine published my poems, and I attended a Harvard University Summer School program. I even took seven transferable Goodwin College classes during my time in high school. At CTRA, I felt loved, listened to, and accepted. I felt heard, but most of all, I felt prepared.”

LIFE AFTER CTRA

“With the strength that CTRA gave me, I went off to UCONN, where I earned my Bachelor’s in Special Education and a Minor in English, and then my Master’s in Educational Psychology with a certificate of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

While attending UCONN, I studied abroad in South Africa and was involved with many campus activities and organizations on UCONN’s campus. I was a mentor for a performance poetry class, program director for Campus Big Buddies, and a resident assistant and peer advisor for several UCONN first-generation students.

I am currently teaching English in Japan.

I had a lot of positive and transformative moments at CTRA. If I could bottle that feeling and carry it with me to every space I inhabit, I would live a very fulfilled life. I am forever grateful.”

Morgan

Meet Morgan!

CTRA Graduation Year:
2018

Hometown:
East Hartford, Connecticut

Undergraduate School:
Goodwin University (B.S. in Business Administration)

LIFE BEFORE CTRA

“I attended multiple magnet school open houses and was drawn to CTRA after hearing about the chance to take college classes for free while still in high school. The school’s community culture also appealed to me. When I went to visit, I noticed that the school’s glass building was bright, and so were the personalities inside. Everyone seemed to know each other, and in comparison, to other schools, the difference at CTRA was day and night.”

LIFE AT CTRA

“CTRA gave me the chance to build community with my classmates and give back to my hometown. While a scholar, I was a student worker for the music program — helping with acapella groups and chorus concerts. I also assisted with art classes, the Trash in Fashion show and volunteered for a local blood drive and a Connecticut River cleanup near campus.

While a scholar, I also took 11 college classes at Goodwin tuition-free. The opportunity to participate in the early college model changed my perspective on my future. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life when I was in high school, but because I was able to take classes at Goodwin, I found out what I liked, what I didn’t like, and the experience set me ahead on a career path I enjoy.”

LIFE AFTER CTRA

“After I graduated CTRA, I applied and ultimately enrolled in Goodwin University’s Business Administration program. Because I was a CTRA scholar, I was awarded a scholarship that took 50% off my tuition at Goodwin. I was also the recipient of a Business Administration scholarship which took an additional 30% off — totaling an 80% savings on my education.* My parents loved it!

CTRA changed my life for the better and attending Goodwin showed me what I value. During my Capstone project for my undergraduate degree, I got the chance to create a strategic plan for Riverside Magnet School at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience taught me that community is valuable. I think it’s important for students to have small class sizes and innovative curricula with professors that care about you.

After high school, I earned my degree in five semesters. I graduated from Goodwin with my Bachelor’s in Business Administration in just two years. Now, I am an Instructor for Riverside Magnet School and I am looking forward to providing my students that same sense of community inside my classroom."

*Grants and scholarships are subject to change.