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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MIKE RUSSO AT 203-522-2448 FAMILY ATMOSPHERE BRINGS MONROE’S MIKE RUSSO TO HCCBRIDGEPORT – Five years ago, Monroe’s Mike Russo was in a quandary. A high school graduate, Russo was working in a factory – and unhappy. He knew that, if he were going to change this, he would have to continue his education. But, where? “I wanted a college that was affordable, with good professors and a nice campus,” he said. “I could have gone to any number of colleges, but, when I took a look at Housatonic, I knew that this was the place for me.” Russo liked the location, literally and figuratively. Literally, the college was located in a new campus at the site of an old mall less than 150 yards off I-95 and Rte. 8 in downtown Bridgeport. Figuratively, the college was located on the ground floor of a downtown Bridgeport undergoing revitalization, which, Russo said, “gives students the opportunity to get an education in a safe environment at a new state of the art campus.” “The college was moving in the right direction,” Russo said. The tuition was affordable and the financial aid policy was generous. Russo received a package that includes tuition, books, fees, and a part-time job at the college. HCC’s cosmopolitan atmosphere adds to the learning experience at the college, Russo said. “One appealing feature of the college is its diverse population, which includes more than 270 students from 58 countries,” he said. “I see the value of this almost daily in class discussions, projects and study groups: We all benefit from the knowledge and insight we bring to the table based on our background and experience.” At Housatonic, doors began to open for him. “Through the encouragement of journalism professor Steve Mark, I began writing for the student newspaper Horizons, he said.” That experience, he said, led to an internship writing for the 88,000-circulation Connecticut Post, where his work was awarded numerous bylines. Russo received his journalism degree and, after much reflection, decided to obtain degree in an entirely different field to give him flexibility in the job market. Always torn between writing and human services, he chose a degree program in the latter area: Occupational Therapy Assistant, where entry level jobs pay $39,000 per year. Once again, doors began to open that would help him in his career. During his second semester in the program, Russo was offered a part-time writing job in the public relations department. “Today, I am adding to my portfolio by writing news and feature articles for distribution to the media,” he said. “My work has been published, under my byline, in eight daily and weekly newspapers, including the Post and the 100,000-circulation New Haven Register,” he said. Overall, how does he feel about the college? “Housatonic has opened doors and presented opportunities for me that otherwise would not have been possible” Russo said. “When I graduate, I’ll be well positioned to survive in a rapidly changing workplace. I’ll have an occupational therapy assistant degree that can get me a lucrative position. And I’ll have a portfolio of articles I can use to enter the field of journalism.” “Without Housatonic,” he said, “this wouldn’t have been possible.” Anson C. Smith
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