A group of freshman from the University of Hartford spent part of their orientation getting acquainted with West Hartford Center’s ethnically-diverse restaurants.

University of Hartford freshmen visit West Hartford as part of the freshman orientation Lift Off program. Submitted photo

By Ronni Newton

Many freshmen from the University of Hartford’s class of 2019 got a unique look at West Hartford Center’s variety of international eateries through a restaurant crawl on Sunday that included the opportunity to dine followed by a session with the chefs or owners.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase our community. After sampling fare, the students were able to spend some time speaking with the chefs or owners about the customs or cultures of those countries,” said Carson. “The new students were able to get to know each other, and see what the restaurants are like while they learned about one of our communities.”

The University of Hartford has a West Hartford address, and about 20 percent of the campus, including the entrance, is located in West Hartford, Senior Advisor for External Relations John Carson said. Nearly 80 percent of the rest of the campus is in Hartford, with about 150 undeveloped acres in Bloomfield, he said.

As part of freshman orientation, students participate in “Lift Off,” a bonding experience that helps them get to know the area. One of this year’s options – “Amongst the Regions Top Ethnic Restaurants” – was a chance to visit a variety of eateries in the West Hartford Center area.

A total of 120 students, traveling in groups of 20, chose to attend one of two different ethnic restaurant tours in West Hartford. The Afghanistan/Japan/France selection included stops at Shish Kabob House of Afghanistan, Ichiro Hibachi and Sushi, and La Petite France. The other option was Peru/Thailand/Mexico with visits to Los Imperios, Blue Elephant Trail, and Besito.

“We’re citizens of West Hartford in many ways, and we want to show our commitment to the community,” said Carson. University of Hartford students have also engaged with West Hartford in the past through volunteering with the town’s youth and high school sports programs.

Other Lift Off options offered to University of Hartford freshmen included visits to the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford Stage, Mark Twain House, and Heublein Tower.

Carson said this year’s freshman class of 1,650 is the largest since 2009, and also the most selective. The University is pleased to have increased enrollment despite the recession, and credits marketing and branding with the successful effort.

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