CT State Community College is a premier comprehensive statewide community college serving nearly 70,000 students annually and focused on building upon the history of Connecticut’s 12 legacy community colleges.
September 11, 2026
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Today marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001, attacks — a day that changed our nation and the lives of countless individuals and families. We remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives, the courage of the first responders and everyday citizens who acted without hesitation, and all those whose lives were forever changed by the events of that day and those that followed.
For some members of our community, September 11 remains a vivid, deeply personal memory. For many of our students — and even some employees — it is an event they know only from history and the stories of others. As the years pass, preserving those stories and understanding their significance becomes even more important.
That is among the essential purposes of education: to help each generation understand the experiences that shaped the world it inherited, engage thoughtfully with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and build a future grounded in knowledge, empathy, and our shared humanity.
Twenty-five years later, I invite you to join me in taking time to remember those we lost, reflect on the enduring impact of that day, and to honor the courage, compassion, and service shown in its aftermath. As I do, I will also reflect on our responsibility to carry that spirit of care into our own communities.
Sincerely,
Christina Royal, Ph.D.
Interim President
Phone: 860-612-7003
Email: CTState-President@ct.edu
or margaret.vancott@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-612-7003
Email: margaret.vancott@ctstate.edu
To request Interim President Royal’s event attendance or for a speaking request, contact Meg Van Cott.
Phone: 860-612-7025
Email: tom.yelich@ctstate.edu