Press Releases, June 2007
Big Y donates $500 fee for HCC birthday cake to D’Amour Cancer Center
June, 2007
HOLYOKE – There will be nostalgia to spare on Thursday, June 7, 5-9:30 p.m. when Holyoke Community College celebrates its 60th anniversary during a gala dinner at the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation.
In addition to the live music, catered dinner, and memorabilia from the college’s storied six-decade history, the event will include a brief speaking program featuring former ABC40 news anchor (and HCC alum) Kathryn Shepardson, longtime Holyoke journalist Michael Burke, former HCC President David M. Bartley, former Holyoke Mayor William Taupier and former Lt. Governor Donald Dwight.
And if party-goers weary of words, they can feast on a sweeter version of HCC’s past: a 60-foot-long cake, complete with edible photographs depicting hallmark events in the college’s history. Produced by Big Y bakeries, the cake will have just six birthday candles (one for each decade). The candles will be lit by individuals who have played a significant role in the college’s history— icons like the Sheehan family, who sold their family farm to make room for the Homestead Avenue campus, the Frost family, whose patriarch, George Frost, served as HCC’s first president, and West Springfield resident Victor Thomas, who served as an administrator and teacher at the school for more than four decades.
Big Y bakeries have agreed to donate the $500 fee for baking the mammoth confection to the D’Amour Cancer Center.
The college will also unveil three 60th Anniversary Caricatures, depicting HCC’s three permanently appointed presidents: George Frost, David M. Bartley, and William F. Messner. The depictions were created by HCC alum Leo Pilares, a Westfield-based illustrator.
HCC groundskeeper John Gauger receives award attached is a photo of John Gauger
June 18, 2007
HOLYOKE - West Springfield resident John Gauger has been named by the Holyoke Conservation Commission as the recipient of the 2007 Environmental Award.
Gauger was officially recognized by the commission June 7, during its annual Environmental Award Reception, held at the Hadley Falls fish lift at the Holyoke Dam.
In bestowing the honor, the commission lauded Gauger for “his day-to-day diligence in improving the natural environment in Holyoke. He has advocated for the use of native, non-invasive plant species at the college and has undertaken the restoration of the Tannery Brook reflecting pool.”
The commission also recognized Gauger’s efforts to foster a positive relationship between the college and the city.
“Mr. Gauger is an example of how each one of us can make the natural world a better place through a series of small, daily actions,” said Conservation Director Alicia M. Zoeller via a written statement.
Gauger said he has managed to weave his love of nature into his groundskeeping job at Holyoke Community College.
“My duties here include the upkeep, beautification, and safety of the campus grounds,” said Gauger, who has worked at the college since 1994. “My most important work is protecting and conserving the environment by caring for our wetlands – on and off the campus.”
The Annual Environmental Awards are sponsored by the office of Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan, Holyoke Gas & Electric, and O’Connell Development Group, Inc.
HCC baseball camp still has openings for June 25-29 clinic
Boys and girls ages 8-17 can sign up this week
June 18, 2007
HOLYOKE – There is still room left in Holyoke Community College’s summer baseball clinic, which runs from June 25 to 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boys and girls ages 8 to 17 are invited to participate in the clinic, which will be run by J. C. Fernandes, whose Division III HCC Cougars Baseball team was ranked 12 nationally last year. The cost to participate is $149.
The five-day clinic will emphasize skill development, teamwork, and knowledge of the game. Participants will be coached one-on-one. To sign up, visit the HCC Welcome Center (Frost Building room 221), which is open daily from 8:30 to 5 p.m., or call (413) 552-2320.
June 25, 2007
HOLYOKE – There are still slots available in the Holyoke Community College Cougar Youth Soccer and Youth Softball clinic, which will be held July 9 –13 at the 303 Homestead Ave. campus.
The Cougar Soccer Clinic is open to boys and girls ages 6 to 17 and will run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fee is $119.
The Cougar Softball Clinic will run from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is open to youth ages 9 to 15. The cost is $124.
Both clinics will feature developmentally appropriate instruction, one-on-one skill-building, and a review of game strategies. For more information or a brochure, call (413) 552-2320.
June 25, 2007
HOLYOKE – A new agreement between Elms College and Holyoke Community College have will make it easier for students to transfer and complete their undergraduate studies in one of five fields of study. On Tuesday, June 26, at 1 p.m., officials from the two colleges will meet at HCC to sign five “articulation agreements.” The media is invited to attend the signing, which will take place at 1 p.m. in the Barrett Conference Room in the third floor of the Frost Building.
The articulation agreements allow eligible HCC graduates to seamlessly transfer their HCC credits to one of five academic majors at the Elms College. The agreements encourage academic coordination, collaboration, and joint academic advising between certain programs at the two institutions.
With the signing of the agreements on Tuesday, HCC graduates who earn an Associate in Liberal Arts and Science will be able to transfer to Elms College’s dual degree program in early childhood education and psychology or early childhood and Spanish. HCC graduates who earn an Associate in Science in early childhood education can transfer into the Elms College social work program, early childhood and psychology program, or the early childhood and Spanish program.
HCC and Elms College agreed to encourage qualified part-time and full-time students at HCC to participate in this program by providing the assistance necessary to assure that an easy transition from the two-year to the four-year institution occurs.
The colleges have worked for nearly two years to create a common list of required courses and to design a common program sequence that allows HCC graduates to complete a bachelor’s degree at Elms College as part-time, full-time, or Weekend College students. The colleges agreed that faculty advisors will advise part-time and transfer students according to the program sequences developed collaboratively by the two institutions which assure maximum transfer of credits to meet the core requirements of Elms College as well as its program requirements in early childhood education, psychology, Spanish and social work. Program information and procedural guidelines will be disseminated at both institutions.