The Charger Blog
'Once a Charger; Always a Charger:' Graduate Commencement Speaker Shares Message of Love, Community, and Legacy
Nearly 2,000 students were awarded degrees during the 2026 Graduate and Doctoral Commencement Ceremony.
The Charger Blog
Family Day Unites Students, Families, and University Community
For Danielle Leahey ’23, a biology major, Family Day was a fun and memorable way to introduce her family to the University community, to show her Charger Pride, and to make lasting memories.
September 26, 2019
Family Day is a memorable event that every undergraduate student should participate in. I loved having the opportunity to show my parents around campus and to attend special events with them.
The first event that I wanted to participate in with my family was "Stuff-A-Bear," but I’m almost positive that was everyone’s idea. There were plush giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, elephants, and lions available to stuff. My family and I picked a zebra, made him with love, dressed him in a University of New Haven shirt, and gave him a name. We ended up picking "Stripes" – not a very original name, but it’s a name we all agreed on.
"Playing Connect 4 and Cornhole really brought my family together, and we had some good laughs." Danielle Leahey ’23
After stuffing our zebra, we went to go paint some inspirational rocks. We all came up with some interesting designs. The designs and quotes we came up with are going to be a great inspiration for people after the rocks are distributed across campus.
After painting our rocks, I was excited to head over to the animal exhibit. This was a great event for people of all ages because there were so many different types of animals. The animal exhibit had snakes, frogs, kunekune (a type of pig), a crocodile, and much more. We even got the chance to pet some of them!
The lawn games were fun as well. Playing Connect 4 and Cornhole really brought my family together, and we had some good laughs. Family Day is also a great day to get some University of New Haven swag, because my family got the chance to buy college apparel together.
Family Day had many fun events to participate in, and I wish I could have done them all. My favorite parts of the day were the animal exhibit and Stuff-A-Bear, since picking an animal and giving it a name was something special. Overall, it was a great day to be with my family and my University of New Haven family.
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University News
Beloved Professor Encourages University of New Haven’s Class of 2026 to ‘Be Grateful, Bold, and Generous’
Longtime professor, campus minister, and alumnus Martin J. O’Connor ’76, Hon. ’26 inspired the University of New Haven’s newest graduates with a heartfelt Commencement address centered on gratitude, courage, and service. The University also celebrated Prof. O’Connor’s decades of impact on the Charger community with the presentation of an honorary doctorate and the announcement of a new endowed scholarship in his name.
The Charger Blog
Nashville Study Away Program Hosts 'How Nashville Became Music City' as Part of its 10th Anniversary Celebration
To conclude the 10th Anniversary celebration of the University’s Nashville Study Away Program, Abigail Martin ’27, ’28 MBA reflects on a networking opportunity she had a celebration event and how the experience helped commemorate her time in Music City.