At the end of March, students enrolled in UConn’s Early College Experience (ECE) geology program made their way to the University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs for an immersive visit that brought their coursework to life in vivid, hands-on fashion.
The group was welcomed by Dr. Robert “Thor” Thorson, the program’s faculty liaison, along with Dr. Tracy Frank, Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences, and additional representatives from both the geology faculty and ECE staff. Together, they guided students through a day that balanced academic discovery with the full experience of college life.
The academic portion of the visit began with a tour of historic Beach Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the UConn campus and home to the Earth Sciences department. Students explored the laboratories where faculty and graduate students conduct hands-on research, which gave them a rare window into the kind of scientific work they may one day pursue themselves.
From there, Dr. Thorson led the group to one of the campus’s most distinctive landmarks: the Stone Wall Pavilion, a hexagonal outdoor structure whose very shape is a nod to the geometry of quartz crystals. The Pavilion houses rocks collected from all 50 states and holds recognition as an internationally celebrated geoheritage site. It was a fitting stop for budding geologists.
After the academic highlights, students got a taste of everyday campus life with a tour of UConn’s sprawling grounds. The clear favorite was the Recreation Center, which boasts the tallest climbing wall in New England. The group also browsed the UConn Bookstore before gathering for lunch at the Student Union food court.
The day wrapped up with a visit to the world-famous UConn Dairy Bar, a beloved campus tradition and the perfect ending to a memorable outing.
According to Geology teacher Mrs. McGillicuddy, the trip was “a great day.” Plans are already underway to make this an annual event, giving future ECE geology students the same opportunity to connect with the university, its faculty, and the field they are just beginning to explore.
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UCONN ECE Geology Students at UCONN to meet with department leaders and tour campus.
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Students at the hexagonal Stone Pavilion.
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Science teachers Mrs. McGillicuddy and Mr. Dubois hamming it for the camera.
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Imagining their future selves? The students stop with for a photo op with central campus.
