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Clinton Scholar And Fencing Star Pursues Microbiology Ph.D.
Kozak earned Connecticut's top academic honor last year while mentoring peers, researching viruses and leading campus clubs at Eastern.
In 2024, Clinton’s own Billi Kozak was named one of 12 recipients of the prestigious Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award, the highest academic honor given by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Foundation. The Eastern Connecticut State University graduate earned a 3.92 GPA as a biology major and was recognized not only for academic excellence, but also for campus leadership and community service.
Kozak served as a peer mentor for the NSF-funded Success Scholars program, guiding fellow STEM students from underrepresented backgrounds. Their research focused on virus-host interactions in butterfly populations, with projects conducted at both Eastern and Tufts University. Kozak presented their work as part of their senior honors thesis.
Outside of the lab, Kozak revitalized the Fencing Club at Eastern, building it into a thriving community of student athletes. They also served as secretary of the Pride Alliance and Doughy Delights Club, and were inducted into the TriBeta Biology Honor Society.
Kozak is now pursuing a Ph.D. in microbiology at UMass Amherst, bringing their curiosity, leadership and inclusive spirit to the next chapter of their academic journey.
The future is certainly looking bright in Clinton! If you know another Star Student making an impact, nominate them today to be featured on Patch!
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