A Look Back at 2024

Trinity College marks the end of 2024 by reflecting upon moments from the past year.

After President Joanne Berger-Sweeney announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2024–25 academic year, the College community began celebrating her tenure and achievements. As part of her legacy, Berger-Sweeney created the President’s Medal for Science and Innovation, which was presented in the spring to Eric Fossum ’79, H’14, and in the fall to Kaja LeWinn ’98.

In early December, Trinity announced that its next president will be Daniel G. Lugo, currently president of Queens University of Charlotte. He will assume his new role on July 1, 2025.

Before transitioning to the new calendar year, Trinity capped off a year of events honoring the College’s 200th anniversary. The Bicentennial Gala raised funds for scholarships for students from Hartford and served as the launch of the Anthony J. and Carole Foley Bisaccia Scholarship, to support first-generation students from the Greater Hartford area.

A year at Trinity always includes key academic and social events that connect the entire community. The Trinity International Hip Hop Festival and Samba Fest brought music and movement to campus in the spring. Honors Day recognized the achievements of students across class years and disciplines, while Commencement celebrated the Class of 2024.

Reunion Weekend welcomed alumni back to Hartford in the summer, and the President’s Convocation and Matriculation Ceremony welcomed new students in the Class of 2028 to begin the fall semester. Alumni and families gathered for a picture-perfect Fall Weekend, and the inaugural Faculty Excellence Awards commended the outstanding contributions of faculty members. No year at Trinity would be complete without the winter holiday tradition of the Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols.

Take a glimpse back at some of the moments that made this year at Trinity College so memorable.

January:

Trinity Students Team Up with Artificial Intelligence in New J-Term Course

To explore just how intelligent the latest “artificial intelligence” chatbots really are, a Trinity faculty member challenged students in a new January Term course to craft essays using only synthetically generated text.

 

Trinity College Artist Invited to Exhibit at Renowned Venice Biennale

An art installation by Pablo Delano, Charles A. Dana Professor of Fine Arts, was among works by international artists included in the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. A video from Venice gave an inside look at Delano’s exhibit.

February:

Trinity College Recognized as a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students

Trinity College was named a top producing institution, with five recent graduates awarded grants. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.

 

Spring Bicentennial Symposium: A Day for Reflection

The daylong event brought the community together to discuss the liberal arts experience, and to celebrate alumnus Eric Fossum ’79, H’14, who represents the “ideal of empowering humanity through the sciences.”

March:

Drew Galbraith Named Athletic Director of the Year for Division III

Trinity College Director of Athletics Drew Galbraith was recognized by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. In 2024, the women’s squash team won the College Squash Association national title, men’s ice hockey reached the NCAA Frozen Four and championship game, and men’s basketball made the NCAA Final Four with a NESCAC title and a 30–2 season.

Trinity College in Photos: March 2024

March marked the launch of Trinity’s monthly photo galleries, which include images and information about College events held throughout the previous four weeks. The new feature was created to help showcase the dynamic activities of the Trinity community.

April:

Eclipse Brings Out a Crowd

Hundreds gathered on the Main Quad on April 8 to view an eclipse with their own eyes—protected, of course, by special eyewear. Trinity faculty members offered observation tips and a primer on the physics of a solar eclipse.

 

Trinity College in Photos: April 2024

The April gallery includes “All In Day,” the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival, Samba Fest, the International Show, the Venture program’s 10-year anniversary gala, Greenfest, the Day of Digital Scholarship, student dance performances, spring scenes around campus, and more.

May:

Core of Trinity College’s Campus Named to the National Register of Historic Places

The National Park Service designated an 11.4-acre rectangular area anchored by the Long Walk and Chapel as the Trinity College Long Walk Historic District with national importance, providing a fitting coda to a bicentennial year that celebrated Trinity’s history.

Trinity College in Photos: May 2024

A very busy month of May on campus included student protests, the Trinity Film Festival, Honors Day, the Bicentennial Gala, Charter Day, senior week, and Commencement.

June:

Alumni Student-Athletes and Former Coaches Named to Athletics Hall of Fame

Seven alumni student-athletes and former coaches make up Trinity College’s Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The group was officially inducted during Fall Weekend.

 

Trinity College in Photos: June 2024

The June photo gallery features images from Reunion Weekend, the Employee Service Recognition Awards luncheon, a restocking of the Food N Stuff food pantry, construction at Ferris Athletic Center, plants thriving at Trinfo’s Community Garden, some hot days on campus, and more.

July:

Alumnus Earns Coveted Spot at the Olympics

Just like superstar gymnast Simone Biles, Trinity alumnus Robert Herbst ’80 marked a third trip to the Olympics at the 2024 Paris games. But you couldn’t see Herbst in competition; his role was supervising drug testing for gymnastics and basketball.

 

Trinity College in Photos: July 2024

The July photo gallery includes highlights from Dream Camp—a summer camp and year-round academic mentoring program—campus tours, scenes from the summer at Peter B’s Espresso, and hidden gems in the library.

August:

Summer Internships ‘Open Many Doors’ for Trinity Students

Whether in Connecticut, California, or Kenya, Trinity students spent the summer of 2024 exploring their passions and potential career paths at impactful internships.

 

 

Trinity College in Photos: August 2024

August marked the return of students to campus for P.R.I.D.E. Welcome Weekend, Summit-to-Success, New Student Orientation, the first-year student candle-lighting ceremony, wellness programs, Convocation, the signing of the Matriculation Book, a class photo, and more.

September:

Trinity College Joins Elite Research Collaboration to Explore the Cosmos

Trinity was accepted to the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) worldwide scientific collaboration. In another notable partnership, Trinity announced Tuck Business Bridge, a new January Term program associated with Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

 

Campus Organizations Encourage Student Voter Engagement at Trinity

Before the 2024 presidential election, voter engagement initiatives including IGNITE and TrinVotes! helped Trinity students to register to vote and make their voices heard.

 

Trinity College in Photos: September 2024

Events at Trinity during the month of September included the opening of an exhibit at the Widener Gallery, community volunteer projects as part of “Do It Day,” the Student Engagement Fair, a “Bodies Becoming” dance performance, and much more.

October:

Trinity College Recognized for its Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

For the second consecutive year, Trinity received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

 

Trinity College in Photos: October 2024

During the memorable month of October, the Trinity campus witnessed a pair of rare sights in the sky, welcomed visitors to an eventful Fall Weekend, and hosted theatrical performances, art exhibits, and even an international film crew.

November:

Watkinson Library Lands a Whale

Trinity’s Watkinson Library recently added a sought-after whale to its collection of fine press books. Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian Eric Johnson-DeBaufre introduced the Arion Press edition of Moby Dick, featuring detailed wood engravings signed by the illustrator.

 

Trinity College in Photos: November 2024

November’s gallery captured the Trinity community all over campus, including in the Watkinson Library, the Austin Arts Center, the Chapel, and the Washington Room for TASA’s annual fashion show.

 

December:

Trinity College Names New President

Daniel G. Lugo, currently president of Queens University of Charlotte, was named Trinity College’s 23rd president, a role he will assume on July 1, 2025. Lugo will succeed Joanne Berger-Sweeney, who has led the institution for 11 years. Lugo was introduced to the Trinity community at a reception on December 4. View a video greeting from Lugo, and watch remarks from the reception.

Trinity College in Photos: December 2024

The Trinity community concluded the year by welcoming a new president, hosting alumni gatherings, honoring the Trinity Club of Hartford’s Person of the Year, recognizing years of dedication by faculty and staff, and celebrating the holidays with Lessons and Carols.