FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
ANSON SMITH AT 203-332-5229
CONNECTICUT AUTHOR IS HCC COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER,
WILL ALSO APPEAR AT COLLEGE THURSDAY, APRIL 21
BRIDGEPORT - Bloomfield's Lucy Anne Hurston -- author, college
professor, biographer of her famous aunt Zora Neale Hurston, and HCC's
commencement speaker this year -- will speak at the College April 21.
Hurston, a professor
at Manchester Community College, will speak on the Harlem Renaissance, the
cultural movement in which Zora Hurston played a significant part, and how it
was influenced by Western European culture.
"We're
delighted to have someone of Lucy's stature appear at the college, not
once but twice in the space of more than a month," said HCC Dean of Students
Lisa Montgomery. "The mission of a college is to promote the broadening
of students' intellectual horizons and the appearance of speakers like
Lucy Anne Hurston certainly promotes this."
Zora Hurston, who
was one of the most important African-American women to emerge from the Harlem
Renaissance, authored the famous book Their Eyes Were Watching God, which
was turned into a move starring Halle Berry. In addition to this book, she
wrote more than 200 short stories and several other novels.
Lucy Hurston herself
is a sociologist and author. Among her works is Speak So You Can Speak
Again ,
a portrait of Zora Hurston that was published in October.
"To
us at Housatonic, Lucy Hurston is a noteworthy author whose words and works
are worthy or our attention," Montgomery said. "But she's much
more: she's a role model for our students, particularly female students
who comprise 66 percent of our student body."
Hurston, she noted,
began her college career at age 31, after having her children. (HCC's average
student is a 28-year-old female). She received an associate degree in general
studies from Manchester Community College, and then moved on to Central Connecticut
State University where she received a bachelor's degree in sociology. She
received her master's degree in sociology from Ohio State University.
"Lucy Hurston
stands as a shining example of what a non-traditional student can accomplish
with drive, determination, and commitment." Montgomery said. "She
demonstrates how far a non-traditional student can go educationally and the
professional heights to which they can aspire."
Hurston's address
will begin at 7 p.m. in the College Atrium. Visitors to the college that evening
will also have the opportunity to participate in the Third Thursday Cultural
Celebration, which focuses on Western European culture. That begins at 7 p.m.
in the Performing Arts Center.
Films highlighting
Zora Hurston will be shown every two hours at the Housatonic Museum of Art
through April 19. The films include: Against the Odds: the Artists of the
Harlem Renaissance (April 4-9), From These Roots (April 10-14),
and Zora
Is My Name ( April 13-19). For more information, contact the museum at
203-332-5052.
With an eight year old campus in the heart of Connecticut's
largest city, Housatonic is one of the country's fastest growing public
community colleges. Since it moved to the new downtown campus in 1997, Housatonic's
enrollment has increased 77 percent. According to the most recent statistics
released by the Washington D.C.- based American Association of Community Colleges,
Housatonic was the Northeast's second fastest-growing community college
and its fastest-growing in terms of full time students.
In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally
and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from
43 to 63 since moving to its new campus.
The college is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. (Exit 27 off I-95 and exit 1 off
Rte 8 South) in downtown Bridgeport, one block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.
