President Lugo Joins Hartford Promise Discussion about Pathways to Student Success

Trinity College President Dan Lugo recently joined a discussion hosted by Hartford Promise about the future of higher education, workforce development, and creating pathways to success for the next generation of college students. Hartford Promise is a large-scale college scholarship and college success program for Hartford public school students.

“The Power of Promise: Reimagining the American Dream” luncheon brought together Hartford Promise scholars, alumni, educators, employers, donors, and community leaders at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Hartford on September 23. The event explored how bold leadership, community partnerships, and investment in young people can expand opportunity, drive economic mobility, and help students realize their full potential.

Hartford Promise President Sivan Hines said that by helping Hartford students attend and complete college, “Together, we are making the American Dream more than just a promise.” Hines recognized the more than 500 college graduates and more than 450 current college students who have been part of Hartford Promise.

Illustrating the program’s successful outcomes were videos featuring several Hartford Promise alumni, many of whom were in attendance at the luncheon and shared their personal stories.

The afternoon featured Lugo in conversation with Hines, as they addressed access, prosperity, and higher education’s role in shaping the future of Hartford and communities across the country. Lugo spoke about his experience as a first-generation college graduate from his family and how important it is to have mentors and advisors who can help coach first-generation students through what can be a confusing and complicated experience.

“What college did for me was truly open up the world, opportunities, and a whole set of choices, which I think is how I would define the future of the American dream—having a life of choice,” Lugo said.

Providing access to those choices starts with financial stability, Lugo said, “which is why we were so excited to announce our Hometown Hartford initiative… If you graduate, and you are from Hartford, and you get admitted and enroll at Trinity, we will cover your tuition, your room and board with a comprehensive scholarship.”

Regarding the question, “Is a college degree worth it?”, Lugo said that higher education remains the most reliable way to impact and transform a life. “It offers the opportunity to grow, to learn to learn, to [prepare to] change careers a number of times,” he said.

Lugo framed the support for Hartford students as a way to ensure the future security of the workforce of Connecticut. “The talent is here—for insurance, finance, the talent is here,” he said. “So definitely continue doing what the Promise does to make a high school graduate in Hartford have a clear choice for educating themselves in one of the many institutions that your graduates go to, and that they graduate from at a high rate. But we need you also to do more—open a door, become a mentor, offer internships, and really invest in these students so they can truly take on their responsibility to be the future of our community and our economy.”

During the program, Hartford Promise honored Walter Harrison ’68, H’18, president emeritus of the University of Hartford, with its inaugural Lifetime Educational Impact Award. Harrison is an alumnus and former trustee of Trinity College and has served on many boards for organizations in the Hartford area.

In his remarks, Harrison said that in addition to preparing you for a career, higher education should teach you something about yourself. “You also should learn something about the world,” he said. Harrison shared his love for Hartford Promise, the Hartford community, and the power of education. “It helps you become a citizen in your democracy, and I don’t think there has ever been a time when we needed more citizens in our democracy,” he said.

Learn more about Hartford Promise here. See more photos below.