It was a day of celebration for UConn’s Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) as it held a Community Celebration at UConn Storrs on July 19. The event brought together approximately 600 college and high school students, in addition to faculty and staff, all representing the different facets of the program.

The mission of CAPS is the advancing of educational equity by increasing access to higher education and transformative experiences that support retention and graduation for students who are first-generation to college, from low-income households, and from other underserved populations.

“The idea for this event was to bring all our programs together to build community and show CAPS pride,” says Kimberly Gorman, the associate director of CAPS and Director of Student Support Services.

All five of UConn’s campuses were represented, reflecting a growing CAPS presence on the regional campuses.

The event also celebrated the 60^th anniversary of the Federal Government’s TRIO program, which is designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.  The CAPS programs of Upward Bound, McNair Scholars, and Student Support Services are part of TRIO.

Participants in the event began the day with speakers and presentations in Gampel Pavilion, followed by group photo opportunities, and then a lunch with food trucks, a carnival, and other fun activities.

“It’s nice for everyone to come together, especially those in high school,” says Zaria Jarvis ’26 (CLAS), a McNair Scholar through the CAPS program who is currently performing a summer research program in preparation for graduate studies. “Each CAPS program has different opportunities and the high school students can see what we are all working on.”

Jarvis, a physiology and neurobiology major who was raised in Bloomfield, is interested in attending medical school.

Komla Amezouwoe ’26 (CLAS) was born in Togo, but raised in East Hartford, and appreciates what the CAPS program has meant for him.

“I am a first-generation student, and there were a lot of things I was nervous about when I first came to college,” says Amezouwoe, who is currently serving as a leader in the CAPS Summer Bridge Program and took part in the CAPS College/SSS. “They have been here for me for whatever I needed and have given me great support.”

Amezouwoe is a communication major, and wants to pursue a career in sports management. He has already studied abroad in Ghana and the Czech Republic.

“You need to take advantage of the opportunities that CAPS gives,” says Amezouwoe. “You have to take risks and bet on yourself. There are a lot of things to do on campus and you can’t be scared of getting out of your zone and chasing something.”

The high school students who attended the event got a chance to see the campus up close and look at what their future might hold.

“I’ve been taking college classes the past two summers and so I have already experienced the workload,” says Fernando Flores, who will be a junior at the Norwich Free Academy (NFA) this fall. Flores is part of the Upward Bound/Conn CAP program at UConn Avery Point.

Flores has taken classes in human rights and physics during his CAP experience.

“I will be the first in my family to go to college, so that is my number one goal,” says Flores, who was born in Puerto Rico.

Lourdie Tilus will be a first-year student at UConn this fall after graduating from NFA and took part in the Upward Bound/ConnCAP program and is currently part of the Summer Bridge Program. She will be majoring in psychology.

“The CAPS programs are fantastic and a lot of work,” says Tilus. “They make you feel better about yourself and help you build connections with other people.”