This year’s honorees:
Carol Underwood
Application Architect
Enterprise Systems
“We asked for Membership Engagement. I’ve asked for support and help. Sometimes it is just a show of members at the capital. Carol has answered our ask. She is on the Union Rep Assembly, she is on the Negotiating team, she is on the Steward Committee. When I asked for help at a rally in Hartford for Community Health Services, she showed up to walk a picket line. When I asked for support when I was going to be speaking at the Capitol, she was there. Thank You for being there when I asked!”
—Bill Garrity, UHP President
Cory Brunson
Postdoctoral Fellow
Center for Quantitative Medicine
“Cory has made a point not only to attend the rep meetings regularly, but also to update the postdocs with monthly email updates and put in the time and effort to get postdocs to sign membership cards. Cory also stands out as a member who makes the time to attend activist functions like public hearings at the Capitol and regional legislative meetings. He reliably posts newsletters and flyers in his building, 195 Farmington Ave. All this without a printer, phone, or car—that’s dedication!”
—Ray Bennettson, VP Tier I Employees
Chris DeFrancesco
Communications Specialist
Marketing & Multimedia Services
“Chris continually amazes me with the manner in which he handles his cases. He remains calm and maintains a professionalism becoming of a member of a professional union. However, behind the scenes he is delving into any and all means in order to win his cases. I admire his never-ceasing inquisitive nature.”
—Lucille Miller, Chief Steward
Marsha Murray
Research Assistant
Community Medicine & Health Care
“Outside of our work lives, we continue to represent UHP as union members within those communities. Marsha is not only a member of the social committee and scholarship committee, she also is a union rep. She also holds the position as founder of Northern Belle, LLC, an organization formed to target volunteerism, community engagement and women’s empowerment. She was also recently named and awarded as one of the 2017 ‘100 Women of Color’ for being a positive role model and displaying long-term commitment to the betterment of her community.”
—Shawn Brown, VP Membership Activities
This year UHP renamed one of its awards the Jean Morningstar Presidential Scholarship, in honor of longtime UHP President Jean Morningstar, who is now AFT Connecticut First Vice President.
The Jean Morningstar Presidential Scholarship ($1,000 each)
- Caralyn Cianciolo (Parent is Dominic Cianciolo)
- Nathan Koziol (Parent is Hanna Koziol)
- Ryan Koziol (Parent is Hanna Koziol)
- Anna Paquette (Parent is Barbara Paquette)
- Rebecca Schwartz (Parent is Ray Bennettson)
Bonnie Bordwell Beatie Scholarship ($1,000 each)
- Elise Abrue (Parent is Chris Abrue)
- Isayah Henry (Parent is Dorothy Henry)
- Michael Mack (Parent is Kristine Mack)
- Muhammad Ridhwan Abdulsalan (Parent is Abdul Yusoff)
- Nathan Simard (Parent is Janique Simard)
Constitutional Amendments
Of the 17 proposed constitutional amendments this year, one was withdrawn and the rest were passed as recommended by the Executive Committee.
