Written by WCSU
Western Connecticut State University senior Bakhtawar Izzat and recent graduate Isaac Jean-Pierre have been named recipients of this year’s Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award for outstanding academic achievement and engagement in service and other activities in the university, regional and global communities.
Izzat, of Bethel, is a candidate this May to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration, maintaining a GPA in a range of 3.92 to 4.0. Jean-Pierre, of Norwalk, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in December, graduating magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.87.
Izzat, a Kathwari Honors student at WCSU, has demonstrated a diversity of interests ranging from academic research and peer mentoring to community service, women’s health, social justice and international diplomacy. Jean-Pierre has taken an uncommon path as a veteran of the Stamford Police force whose injuries on duty led him to return to WCSU after an extended hiatus to complete his bachelor’s program with distinction, with aims of continuing his education to pursue a master’s degree. Their extraordinary accomplishments earned them recognition from the Barnard Award program, established to recognize student excellence at the four universities of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.