Trinity Giving Day 2023

Almost 20 years ago, Paul Assaiante, head coach of men's squash, reached out to me (Sahil) at home in Mumbai, India. Coach wanted to speak with me about Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut—a world away. That conversation led, in time, to both me and my brother enrolling at Trinity. 

Joining the Trinity community gave us many gifts: great education, lifelong friendships, and an extraordinary global experience. In particular, earning a spot on the world-class men's squash team was a transformative experience. Teamwork, sportsmanship, preparation, determination, and work ethic…all that we practiced and learned as part of Coach's team has informed our post-Trinity lives as entrepreneurs.

A decade ago, we launched SILA Group, a real estate platform with interest across services, development, and asset management. Today, we have operations in 100 cities across India and the SILA family employs over 17,000 people. Our success is attributable, in large part, to the habits we developed at Trinity, learning from Paul Assaiante, and the relationships we forged there. It is clear to us now that our time on campus as students was only the beginning of our relationship with Trinity.

For us, Trinity is as relevant in our lives today as it was when we were students. And we have sought to give back, by hosting Trinity gatherings in Mumbai, keeping up Bantam relationships, and giving. With all of this in mind, we write to encourage you to join us in supporting our alma mater this Giving Day on April 4. 

Coach Assaiante, who has opened doors for so many of us, recently announced that he will retire after 30 years as head men’s squash coach, but we know he will forever be a part of the Trinity family.

Spring at Trinity College is full of potential. Winter is beginning to loosen its grip on campus and the Admissions Office has admitted the next class of Bantams, who will join our community of leaders, thinkers, and doers. Trinity’s Giving Day on April 4 falls during this season of opportunity and this year, we celebrate the ways in which the College opens doors for students and helps them turn dreams into reality.

For students like Anahit Avagyan ’24, the first step is financial aid. Growing up in Armenia, Anahit was interested in studying computer science. Her parents encouraged her and the Davis UWC Scholars Program enabled her to study at Trinity, her dream college.

Once enrolled at Trinity, Professors Peter Yoon and Ewa Syta inspired Anahit and fostered her love of computer science. She went on to serve as Syta’s teaching assistant and was recommended by her for two internships, opportunities she likely would not have had if she wasn’t a Bantam. Anahit shared, “I think seeing female professors in STEM fields like Professor Syta and President Berger-Sweeney … you understand that if they can do it as women, and they have this courage, they have this strength—then you can do it as well.”

Supported by family, friends, and the Trinity community, Anahit is pursuing her dreams. Read more about Anahit and others who have benefitted from financial aid opening the door in the Winter 2023 Reporter.