Devin Thomas Gaines (July 16, 1984 – July 10, 2007) was a college student at the

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from Hart ...

who attracted media attention by earning five

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

s simultaneously on May 6, 2007. Months later, he died in a drowning accident.

Early life

Gaines, from Stamford, Connecticut, was raised in childhood by his single mother in public housing after his father died of a heart attack when Gaines was nine years old. He attended both King Low Heywood Thomas School and Stamford High School, graduating from the latter. After high school graduation, Gaines was accepted at the University of Connecticut, where he was the recipient of a University of Connecticut leadership scholarship, and a scholarship from the

Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line ...

Foundation.

Life at the University of Connecticut

Gaines then matriculated at the University of Connecticut in 2002, graduating five years later in May 2007 with five Bachelor's Degrees. During his time at Connecticut, Gaines completed 276 credits, earning Bachelor's degrees in

Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...

, Cognitive Science,

Theater Studies Theatre studies (sometimes referred to as theatrology or dramatics) is the study of theatrical performance in relation to its literary, physical, psychobiological, sociological, and historical contexts. It is an interdisciplinary field which also e ...

Linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

, and an individualized degree in

Cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Cinematography, the art of motion-picture photography * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of a moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking * ...

, Culture and Cognition. While at Connecticut, Gaines was inducted as a member of the

Psi Chi Psi Chi () is a college student honor society in psychology with international outreach founded in 1929 at the University of Kansas in the United States. Psi Chi is one of the largest honor societies in the United States, with more than 1,150 cha ...

and

Upsilon Pi Epsilon Upsilon Pi Epsilon (): International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines, is the first honor society dedicated to the discipline of the computing and information disciplines. Informally known as UPE, Upsilon Pi Epsilon was ...

Honor Societies, and had been accepted for a Master's degree in Educational Communication and Technology at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

. At the time of his death, Gaines was working his summer after graduation as an information technology associate for Pension Associates, a tax consulting firm.

Death and memorials

On July 10, 2007, Gaines, aged 22, drowned in

Deep River, Connecticut Deep River is a New England town, town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, Middlesex County, Connecticut. The population was 4,415 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The Deep River Center, Connecticut, town center is designated by the U. ...

, in Blakeslee Pond, a gravel pit quarry on private property, while swimming with friends in an area marked "No Trespassing" which was known to be hazardous to swimmers. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. According to quotes from his sister, Gaines was not a swimmer. After his death, the University of Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program established a scholarship program in Gaines's memory, and the University's Stamford Campus renamed its student activities center the Devin T. Gaines Student Involvement and Activities Center in his honor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Devin 1984 births 2007 deaths University of Connecticut alumni Accidental deaths in Connecticut Deaths by drowning in the United States Stamford High School (Stamford, Connecticut) alumni