Mindfulness in Bloom: WNE Honors Project Gains National Attention
January 26, 2026
WNE Honors Students Publish in National Honors Journal Highlighting Campus Meditation Garden
Western New England University is a private, coeducational institution founded in 1919, located on a 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts. Western New England serves 3,955 students, including 2,575 full-time undergraduate students. With the academic options of a university, and a focus on individualized attention, Western New England inspires students to achieve more than they ever imagined possible.
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WNE Honors Students Publish in National Honors Journal Highlighting Campus Meditation Garden
WNE senior Alexis “Lexi” Torres was named the 2025 recipient of the Breana Giordano Memorial Award. Torres has distinguished herself through scholarship, engagement, and professional drive, embodying many of the same qualities that defined Giordano during her time at WNE.
Law students Conor McCormick and Christopher Nasta placed third nationally at the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Tax Challenge, held January 16, 2026, in San Diego, California. The ABA Tax Challenge is considered one of the nation’s premier experiential competitions for aspiring tax attorneys.
The Board of Trustees of Western New England University today announced the appointment of Joseph C. Hartman, Ph.D., P.E., as the University’s seventh President. Hartman will assume the role on June 1, 2026.
The 11th annual Product Innovations Showcase gave the next generation of student innovators from business and engineering a platform to create diverse projects addressing real-world needs — from mobility and accessibility to home goods, environmental solutions, sports innovations, and industrial tools.
WNE's XR Lab is bringing immersive technology to the Spirit of Springfield’s Bright Nights at Forest Park in what marks the XR Lab’s first large-scale community partnership. Visitors to Santa’s Magical Forest will be able to step into an interactive augmented-reality (AR) experience designed and developed by WNE students.
WNE and Duggan Academy have been collaborating for nine years to provide high school students with valuable college-level experiences and unique opportunities to explore college life, engage in hands-on learning, and consider careers in education.
WNE and Bay Path University are partnering to create an academic pathway between genetic counseling and pharmacogenomics designed to support the significant regional workforce demand for professionals trained in precision medicine, genomic testing, and personalized therapeutics.
WNE once again played a meaningful role in one of the region’s most celebrated traditions—the 2025 Spirit of Springfield Bright Nights Ball. Twenty-nine WNE student ambassadors served as event volunteers representing the University with professionalism and Golden Bear pride.
WNE civil engineering students earned second place in a research poster competition presented during the 2025 American Society of Civil Engineers Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Connecticut Chapter Seminar.
Powered by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, new program equips the next generation of engineers and technicians to support the rapid expansion of hydrogen technologies.
CoPHS student Veronika Hicks, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, Class of 2027, recently represented the University at AMCP Nexus 2025, held in National Harbor, Maryland. The annual conference brings together pharmacy professionals, residents, fellows, and students from across the country to explore innovations and career pathways in managed care pharmacy.
The School of Law and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office have welcomed 50 inductees to the 2025–2026 class of the Future Lawyers of Springfield program, a collaborative initiative designed to inspire and mentor students interested in careers in law, criminal justice, and public service. WNE Law Student and Newly Elected City Councilor Gerry Martin embodies the program’s spirit of civic leadership.
WNE first-year student Joi-Lee Key-Washington has been recognized with the Outstanding Springfield Youth Award, which honors young individuals who make a meaningful difference in promoting safety, integrity, and positive influence in their neighborhoods.
WNE Law announces the launch of JD Access, a part-time evening online Juris Doctor program designed to expand access to legal education for working professionals, non-traditional students, and others whose life circumstances make traditional, on-campus attendance challenging.
Fifty students from the WNE School of Law joined law alumni, faculty, and members of the WNE Board of Trustees October 27 to hear Ketanji Brown Jackson address a sold-out crowd as part of the Springfield Public Forum’s Justice Talk: A Conversation on Democracy & the Courts.
WNE has been awarded nearly $1.3 million in state funding through three major grants designed to strengthen WNE’s leadership in workforce development, applied research, and industry partnerships in the fields of biopharmaceutical technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum hardware.
WNE FinTech has launched the NextGen Enterprise Academy, a new executive and professional education initiative designed to upskill the regional workforce through advanced technology training and certificates focused on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, FinTech, the Internet of Things (IoT), quantum computing, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR).
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences hosted its annual Young Alumni Awards to honor six graduates whose early career achievements are making a lasting impact in the field of pharmacy.
Western New England University (WNE) welcomed alumni, families, and friends back to campus for Golden Bear Weekend 2025, held October 3-5. With beautiful fall weather and more than 2,000 participants, the annual tradition once again celebrated the enduring spirit of the Golden Bear community.
Western New England University hosted its annual Leadership Donor Reception on September 24, 2025, at GreatHorse Country Club in Hampden, Mass., celebrating the generosity of donors whose philanthropy sustains and strengthens the University’s mission. The evening brought together members of WNE’s Benefactors’, Cupola, President’s, and Loyalty Societies for an event centered on gratitude, connection, and impact.
Four outstanding alumni inducted into the Downes Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony held Friday, October 3 as part of Golden Bear Weekend 2025.
Skookum Awards recognize 15 outstanding members of the Class of 2026 for their leadership, academic excellence, and dedication to serving the University community.
In a ceremony held at the WNE School of Law, 51 individuals from 31 different countries officially became U.S. citizens, taking the Oath of Allegiance before family, friends, and members of the campus community.
Dr. Anthony S. Caprio, WNE's fifth president, will be honored with the Delbridge Family Spirit of Philanthropy Award during the University’s annual Leadership Donor Reception on September 24.