Celebrating the 2022 Goldstone Faculty Enrichment Fund “Dream Grant”

Recipients: Zach Brusko and Janet Jochem

Each year, faculty members are invited to apply for the “Dream Grant”, made possible by the Goldstone Family Enrichment “Dream Grant” Endowed Fund. This monetary award provides faculty the opportunity to pursue a personal project or journey that will enrich their lives.

Nearly 30 years ago, Janet married the love of her life and honeymooned in the beautiful country of Ireland. Over the years, they dreamed of returning to County Cork, where their love story began. Thanks to the Dream Grant, Janet and her husband re-lived their love story with a trip to Ireland, in belated celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary. There, they enjoyed the sites of Dublin, sang karaoke, danced to country-western music, and drank Guinness on draught.

Zach has always loved aquarium fish. From a 5-gallon tank in his childhood home to 50-, 55-, and 75-gallon aquariums in his first apartment (with red-bellied piranhas and African cichlid), Zach’s fish were his pride and joy and helped him connect with others interested in aquariums. A previous move required Zach to give up his fish, but he dreamed of rebuilding his tanks. Now that Connecticut is his permanent home, Zach used the Dream Grant to have a 125-gallon aquarium professionally installed in his home, complete with new African cichlids.