Goodwin College Receives East Hartford Community Pride Award

The Town of East Hartford recently recognized Goodwin College for its continuing contributions to the beautification of the local community. Patricia Ann Sirois, Chair of the East Hartford Beautification Commission, honored Goodwin at the July 15 Town Council meeting with the Community Pride Award for the beautiful landscaping of its Riverside Drive campus and other properties around town.

“We would like to congratulate you and your staff for the strong effort that has made the landscaping at all of the buildings of Goodwin College a pleasure to look at,” Sirois wrote in a congratulatory letter to the College.

Dan Larson, Assistant Vice President for Facilities at Goodwin, accepted the honor along with President Mark Scheinberg; Brian Beechinor, Director of Campus Realty and Grounds; Jerry Jarvis, Supervisor of Grounds; Conner Martin, Lead Groundskeeper; Groundskeepers Eric Todte and Brandon Boudreau; and landscape architect Christine Randazzo, designer for all of Goodwin’s properties.

“Part of the mission of the College has been to enrich our local communities and to become an integral participant,” Larson said. “This is part of that commitment.” Between 2013 and projects for 2014, Goodwin College has donated a total of $24,806 in landscaping design services and plant material for beautifying East Hartford. In 2013, the College provided $13,206 to projects at Alumni Park, Brewer House, Hockanum Elementary School, Mayberry Elementary School, and Wickham Library. This year, Goodwin has approved projects totaling $11,600 in design and plants for the Wickham Library, Raymond Public Library, East Hartford Public Golf Course, the Town Hall building front, and the Town Hall parking lot.

“I have been blessed that at this stage in my life I am able to work with a leadership team that recognizes the impact that a beautiful, clean, welcoming facility has on the environment in which students choose to learn,” Larson said. “The end result is a beautiful campus with access to the river that is a proud asset to both the College and the Town of East Hartford community. We are most appreciative of this recognition.”