Alumni Connection Fall 2007
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ALUMNI CONNECTION FALL 2007 a university CALIBER education: How Our Alumni Got There From Here Bill's Bulletin The Alumni Connection is published two times ver its 60-year history, Holyoke per year by the Holyoke Community College Community College has developed a Alumni Office, Holyoke, Massachusetts, and is reputation for preparing students for distributed without charge to alumni and friends O of HCC. Third-class postage is paid at Springfield, transfer to an array of quality, four-year colleges Massachusetts. and universities. HCC graduates are recognized Editor: as having received a university caliber education, Kathleen E. Moore ‘98 and that high-quality education stands them in Consulting Editors: good stead as they transfer to the baccalaureate Anne B. Garber & Joanna Brown level. A vivid reminder of this legacy was Copy Writers: provided at the college’s recent 60th birthday Joanna Brown, Kathleen E. Moore ‘98 Design: party. More than 300 individuals, many of Peter Hutchins, Litmus Designs them alumni, crowded into the Bartley Center to celebrate the college’s birthday. On the lips Class Notes: News and photographs from alumni should of many were plaudits for the education they be addressed to the Alumni Office, Holyoke received at HCC, and for the way it transformed Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue, their lives. Those of us who work at the college Holyoke, MA 01040. HCC President William F. Messner were heartened to receive direct feedback from Letters: so many alums regarding the positive academic Readers are invited to submit letters and and social impact that the institution had had on them. As we plan for the future, a stories concerning HCC and its alumni. critical focus for us will be on maintaining the quality of education for which the college Contact the alumni director by phone (413) 552-2253 or email: [email protected]. is justifiably proud while providing access to our services to new populations who are edu (put “HCC Alumni Connection” in the playing an increasingly important role in the life of the region subject line). Class Notes/Change of Address: Please submit the reply form on page 10, or call —William F. Messner the Alumni Office (413) 552-2253. 2006-2007 Alumni Council: President Gloria G. Lomax ‘75 First Vice President Gertrude E. Monson ‘97 Second Vice President Stephen F. Bryda ‘03 Secretary Marsha Ryan ‘70 Alumni Council Members: Joanna Brown, ex officio Angela M. Belisle, R.N. ‘77 Laura L. Brennan ‘79 Carol Bright ‘75 Dawn R. Bryden ‘89 Carrie Buckner ‘77 Eddie Corbin ‘68 Judy A. Cote ‘86 Geraldo Cotton ‘06 Patsy J. Dailey ‘99 Margaret DeJesus '90 Elizabeth A. Murphy ‘74 Pamela Murray ‘95 James Sheehan '74 Rhonda Soto ‘97 Nancy Spagnoli '83 Karen Thompson-Brown ‘04 Vandelyn T. Wright ’83 Celebrating the college’s 60th anniversary on June 7 was a team effort, especially when it The Alumni Council, a group of key alumni came to lighting the candles on the 60-foot birthday cake. Lighting candles for each of the six volunteers, oversees alumni initiatives. To decades of our history were some of HCC’s special friends. Seen here are two of our honored learn about joining, please call Joanna Brown, candle-lighters: Maureen Gazda '05 and Kathleen Frost Burke, the granddaughter and daughter, (413) 552-2253. respectively, of HCC’s founding president George Frost. Alumni Connection 2 Fall 2007 A Letter from the Director of Alumni Relations ear alumni, • HCC’s small classes provide a setting in which each student is involved in DIn this issue of the Alumni the learning process. Connection, we focus on one • HCC’s faculty members are superb of HCC’s chief strengths: educational teachers, committed to student excellence. This point is eloquently success. expressed by the success of our many • HCC’s staff consistently “go beyond alumni, three of whom are featured in this the call” to assist students whose life issue. challenges could easily have derailed their educational ambitions. Sheila Donohue ‘81, Jerry Levinsky ‘73, and Susan Hall ‘05 each found the My anecdotal sense, gathered through resources at HCC that they needed to go conversations with hundreds of alumni on to exemplary success. Sheila is now a during the past eight years, is that top executive at IBM, Jerry is senior legal more than 90 percent are satisfied counsel for the Western Massachusetts with the education they received at office of the Massachusetts Commission HCC. This hunch is confirmed by the Director of Alumni Relations Joanna Brown Against Discrimination, and Susan is recent graduate survey, conducted by a junior at Wellesley College. Each of HCC'S Office of Institutional Research. Sincerely, them traveled a somewhat bumpy road For instance, in the class of 2005, 98 before they came to HCC, but all of them percent of respondents said they would excelled at their college studies, thanks to recommend HCC to friends or family Joanna Brown the support, encouragement, and talent who are interested in attending college; Director of Alumni Relations of our faculty and staff. 94 percent of the respondents who [email protected] transferred to other colleges said they (413) 552-2253 Sheila’s, Jerry’s and Susan’s stories are feel that HCC provided them with “good unique, but contain common themes to excellent preparation” for their current P.S. This year, the HCC Theater that exemplify the spirit of Holyoke college programs. Department and Electronic Media Community College: program will hold a reunion for all former Please join me in welcoming Diana Stiles, students who have participated in either • HCC puts out a “welcome mat” to our new director of development. In the the HCC Players or the Electronic Media people of all ages and from all walks coming weeks, many of you will have Program. Get on the mailing list by of life. Applicants are not required to the opportunity to meet Diana, whose emailing to [email protected] with take SATs or Achievement Tests to enthusiasm, creativity, and talent are “HCC Players/EM” in the subject line or enroll here. welcomed additions to our work. Please visit our new alumni pages at www.hcc. feel free to contact Diana at edu to view event information and to sign (413) 552-2746. up for the event online. The Frost Society reated in memory of HCC’s first president, Dr. George Frost, this society recognizes individuals who have made a provision in their estate plans for the HCC Foundation, CInc. Membership is offered to all who make such bequests, regardless of the amount. All donations are greatly appreciated. Frost Society members receive personal invitations to college events and are recognized in the Foundation’s annual report. With the recent additions of Heather Sabin ’93, Gregory R. Dubreuil '88, and Nadine A. Dubreuil '85, the Frost Society currently has 22 members. If you would like to join, please contact Erica Broman, executive director of the HCC Foundation (413) 552-2747 or [email protected]. George Frost Alumni Connection 3 Fall 2007 "I'm just savoring the moment" higher education was bumpy. Her first Honors Colloquium was every bit as attempt at college – after graduating challenging as my work at Wellesley.” from Classical High School in 1983 – stalled when she became pregnant “I took Diane’s African-American history with her daughter Whitney, now 21. class and loved it. She was such a great Over the next two decades, Hall took lecturer, so well prepared. Phenomenal, classes at private and public colleges really. And, as a person, she really from Massachusetts to Maryland. Each engaged me...Kim was my toughest critic time, the experience left her wanting as a writer. She was always asking me something more. ‘What do you mean by this?’ and that made me work harder to articulate my “I never felt like I was at that place points.” where I was going to be a part of the community, where it was all going to That work paid off for Hall, whose work,” she says. “Then I came back to eloquence has garnered praise far Susan W. Hall '05 Springfield in 2001 and I got a course beyond academia. A volunteer in Deval bulletin from HCC. I started reading Patrick’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign, ong before she stepped onto the every little thing and thinking: I can do Hall struck up an email correspondence HCC campus, Susan W. Hall was this. I can get to where I want to go.” with Patrick’s wife, Diane, that continues Ldreaming about where she would to this day. It was one of Hall’s finish her undergraduate education. Inspired as she was, Hall still had her emails—sent on the eve of the historic moments. victory—that the governor-elect used as “I got on the mailing lists for Smith inspiration for his inaugural speech. In College and Mount Holyoke because they that email, Hall asked the first-lady how both had programs for non-traditional the Patrick administration would nurture students. I had been getting their stuff “I never felt like I was at the lessons learned during the campaign. for 15 years,” says Hall, 41. “I would read that place where...it was According to a Boston Globe article through their brochures and imagine all going to work. Then I written the day after his election, Patrick what I’d do. It allowed me to dream.” paid tribute to Hall’s query: came back to Springfield In 2005, when Hall graduated from in 2001 and I got a “She (Hall) said everything I’m trying to HCC, those dreams turned into real-life say tonight,” Patrick said.