Stratford Native and HCC Student Receives National Recognition

Stratford native and Housatonic Community College student Brandon T. Bisceglia has received national distinction, being named a Coca-Cola New Century Scholar in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition.

Bisceglia, a journalism major and former editor-in-chief of the Housatonic Community College newspaper Horizons, received the award in April in a ceremony in New Orleans. He was one of 50 college students from throughout the country to receive the $2,000 award.

“I was both surprised and flattered when I learned I received the award,” he said. “It was certainly an honor.”

“Now I have to live up to it,” he chuckled.

Bisceglia’s achievement was recognized in the April 11 edition of U.S.A Today, which co-sponsored the competition along with the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Bisceglia, who was nominated for the award by HCC President Anita T. Gliniecki, was one of 1,600 students nominated from across the country. He was the only student from Connecticut to receive one of the 220 awards.

A student in HCC’s Honors Program, Bisceglia is president of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, and treasurer of the Friends of the Environment Club. He also worked as a journalism intern in the college’s public relations office.

The 29-year-old Bisceglia, a 2000 graduate of Stratford High School, plans to move on to a four-year college when he graduates from HCC in May. He lives in Fairfield with his wife, Valeria.