2010 New Britain High School Grad Succeeding at UConn
By Kathryn M. Roy | New Britain School District at September 16, 2023 | 8:00 am | Print
Celinez Coons, a 2010 New Britain High School graduate, is looking ahead to the future. Coons, beginning her junior year at the University of Connecticut as a Diagnostic Genetic Science major with a concentration in Molecular Diagnostics, is one of New Britain High School’s recent Latino success stories.
Coons was a member of Class Counsel all four years of high school, and served as its president her sophomore, junior and senior years. As president she led the group in fundraising for class activities, and organized junior and senior prom, and a trip to Boston. A Cane-ette in the marching band, Coons was appointed co-captain her senior year. In addition, Coons played violin in the orchestra, where she was first chair her sophomore through senior year, and danced in all school musicals.
Coons’ favorite subjects at the high school were anything math or science-based. She said the high school prepared her well for her college experience.
“New Britain High School offered a lot of Advanced Placement classes, which was very useful in preparing for college,” she said. “I took A.P. U.S. History, World History, Chemistry, Psychology and English Language and Composition. I was able to get UConn college credit for the English class through the Early College Experience program.”
Coons also recent finished a six-week, high performance EMT course with the New Britain EMS Academy.
“The course was amazing,” she said. “I like to say the class is like a ‘mini med-school.’ Since I want to pursue a career in the health industry, this course was extremely helpful in giving me a little idea of what my future is going to be like.”
After starting her college career as a Molecular and Cellular Biology major, Coons switched to Diagnostic Genetic Science because genetics is something that has always interested her.
“My career goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, preferably in orthopedics,” Coons said. “I want to stay in the central Connecticut area, and if I am able to get hired in New Britain, that would be even better.”
Coons plans to get a jump start on her career. She will begin apply to PA schools this school year, so she can transition into graduate school upon graduation from UConn. She said she plans on applying to Quinnipiac University, Yale University, the University of Bridgeport and Springfield College. She is also interested in being an EMT for New Britain EMS.
(The New Britain City Journal will publish an occasional series on Latino success stories from New Britain High School.)
