Press Releases, May 2007
May 1, 2007
HOLYOKE – Holyoke Community College’s ABE/College Transition program is recruiting adult learners for a free 10-week college preparation class, June 11 to August 17.
Co-sponsored by the Community Education Project, the class prepares high school graduates (or GED recipients) for college-level work. Classes run at the college three days a week, 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and a free PVTA bus pass will be provided.
For more information about this Adult Basic Education (ABE) program, call Elia Dreyfuss at (413) 552-2852.
This class will provide a supportive environment to help participants overcome hurdles they may have encountered after completing high school-level work. Subjects include math, reading, writing, and computer applications. Bilingual counseling and information on college admission/financial aid will also be available. Participants who have a GED must be at least 18 years of age; high school graduates must have graduated from high school five or more years ago.
May 2, 2007
HOLYOKE - Officials at Holyoke Community College today stated that the college has cooperated with Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett’s office’s investigation and arrest of a student who is alleged to have made violent and threatening statements on the Holyoke campus during the week of April 23.
The campus police learned of the alleged threat from an anonymous phone call on April 26. That call sparked an immediate collaboration between campus and state police which resulted in the arrest of the student on May 1.
State Police arrested the student on charges of threatening to commit a crime. College officials have suspended the student and issued a notice of no trespassing. Taken together, both orders will prevent the student from returning to campus until the matter is resolved.
College President William F. Messner praised the Holyoke Community College Police Department, which assisted Bennett’s office in the investigation.
“The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff are of the utmost importance,” Messner said. “Our campus police took this incident very seriously and lost no time in contacting the State Police for a thorough investigation. Together, we were able to quickly identify the individual involved and take action.”
Citing federal privacy laws, college officials declined to identify the student involved in this alleged incident. No other students were identified as suspects by the DA’s office.
May 2, 2007
HOLYOKE – May 17 is the priority deadline to register for Holyoke Community College's 60 th Gala, to be held at the David M. Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation on June 7, 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets to the event are $20 and should be purchased by prior to the event. To receive a formal invitation or to find out more, send us a note at 60 th gala@hcc.mass.edu . or call Suzanne Doyle at (413) 552-2546.
The evening will feature catered food stations, a video montage of HCC’s 60-year history, and memorabilia from every era. There will also be a DJ and live musical performances from HCC students and alumni, featuring big band, jazz, and rock ‘n’ roll selections. Featured guests include former HCC President David Bartley, former Lt. Governor Donald Dwight, and former Holyoke Mayor William Taupier.
HCC faculty members recipients of the Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair
May 9, 2007
HOLYOKE – Gratitude was the only language spoken on May 9, when the staff and faculty of Holyoke Community College celebrated the accomplishments of English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors Pamela Kennedy and Eileen Kelley.
The two longtime HCC faculty members were both reduced to tears when their names were announced as the 2007 recipients of the Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence. Named after a retired HCC professor, the Marieb Chair is annually bestowed upon a faculty member who exemplifies the characteristics of outstanding classroom teaching.
The celebration included numerous videotaped tributes from current and former students of Kennedy and Kelley, who have taught ESL at the college for 21 and 20 years respectively.
“You gave me the hope that one day I will be able to reach my goal and become a nurse,” said one former ESL student, a native of Poland . “You never give up on your students, and we want to thank you for not forgetting us.”
Both women said they were dumbfounded by the announcement.
“I really am speechless,” said Kennedy, an Easthampton resident and the mother of three. “But this is a perfect year for this. I am celebrating my 25 th wedding anniversary, and the ESL program just celebrated its 20 th year.”
Her colleague, Kelley, of Amherst , said she was happy to share the honor with Kennedy, who hired her as an instructor 20 years ago.
“The rewarding part is that we see peoples lives change,” said Kelley. “Hearing the testimonials of our students made it all worthwhile.”
Both women said that the students in their classes were not the only ones learning lessons. The greater college community, they said, benefited from the different customs, lifestyles, perspectives and, yes, language that the ESL students have brought to the campus over the years.
“What I love is when I have a class with 10 different cultures,” said Kennedy, the chairman of the ESL program. “That’s when everyone in the class gets to learn something.”
Kelley echoed that sentiment, adding:
“It took awhile for us to convince people that ESL is not a remedial program. It’s rigorous academic work,” she said. “And I think that bringing different cultures to the campus really makes the campus a more interesting place.”
May 12, 2007
HOLYOKE – Supporters of Holyoke Community College will have until Friday, June 1 to reserve a seat at the college’s 60th Anniversary Gala, to be held at the David M. Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation on Thursday June 7 , 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets to the event are $20 and should be purchased by prior to the event. To receive a formal invitation or to find out more, send us a note at 60 th gala@hcc.mass.edu . or call Suzanne Doyle at (413) 552-2546.
The evening will feature catered food stations, a video montage of HCC’s 60-year history, and live musical performances from HCC students and alumni. Featured guests include former ABC40 anchor Kathryn Shepardson, former HCC President David Bartley, Holyoke journalist Mike Burke, former Lt. Governor Donald Dwight, and former Holyoke Mayor William Taupier.
May 14, 2007
NORTHAMPTON – Anyone interested in attaining a general education diploma (GED) is invited to a free open house, 5 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday May 31 in Building A at Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School , 80 Locust Street .
The open house will give participants a chance to take a sample GED test, speak with GED instructors, and enroll in a free GED preparation course. It is designed to help interested individuals map out a strategy for completing their secondary school education.
The event is sponsored by Holyoke Community College , the City of Northampton , Mayor Mary Clare Higgins, the Greater Northampton Community Education Consortium, and the Literacy Project’s Pioneer Valley Adult Learning Center . There will be free refreshments provided.
For those who are ready to take the GED test, the open house will provide an opportunity to register for an upcoming test at Smith Voke on June 18, 19, 20. The deadline for registering for this exam is June 4. For more information about registration, call HCC’s GED Testing Program at (413) 552-2292 or the Pioneer Valley Adult Learning Center , (413) 584-6755.
GED test candidates must be at least 16 years of age, have a photo ID, and pay a $65 registration fee. Those who are under the age of 18 must have a letter from the last-attended high school stating the date of withdrawal.
The GED is recognized by colleges, employers, and job training programs as the equivalent of a high school diploma. Any eligible person who is interested in attaining this degree is welcome to attend the Northampton open house, regardless of their place of residence.
Three Hampshire County residents among the recipients
May 14, 2007
HOLYOKE – Holyoke Community College recently recognized four staff members, three from Hampshire County, with awards that celebrate their unique contributions to the college.
Easthampton resident Pamela Kennedy and Amherst resident Eileen F. Kelley were named as the co-recipients of the 2007 Elaine Marieb Chair for Teaching Excellence. Named after retired HCC anatomy and physiology professor Elaine Marieb, the award was established 1990 and is given out annually to a faculty member for excellence in classroom teaching. Recipients each receive a cash award to support activities that will further enhance their professional skills . It is the highest honor bestowed by the college on faculty. Kennedy, a 21-year college employee, chairs and teaches in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Kelley has taught in that program since joining the college faculty 20 years ago.
Granby resident Jack Scanlon was recognized as the Outstanding Non-unit Professional (NUP) Staff Member of the Year. A 33-year employee of HCC, Scanlon directs the college’s graphics department, which designs everything from the HCC catalog to the commencement program. He was lauded by the selection committee as “the unseen backbone to most initiatives at HCC."
Holyoke resident Linda Sullivan was recognized as the 2007 Classified Staff Member of the Year. Sullivan, who serves as the clerk for the Division of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, is a seven - year employee of the college. In naming her to this honor, the selection committee hailed Sullivan as “ resilient, dedicated, and one of the most approachable and sincere people on campus.”
HCC to honor 9 distinguished alumni
May 22, 2007
HOLYOKE – An Academy Award nominated producer, a poet laureate, and a decorated World War II veteran are among the nine recipients of the 2007 Distinguished Alumni of the Year, Holyoke Community College announced this week.
The college will bestow the awards on June 8 , during the 30 th Annual Alumni Award Dinner, to be held in the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development, from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets to the gala cost $40 per person and must be reserved by June 1 by calling (413) 552-2253 .
Normally, the college celebrates one or two of its graduates with the Distinguished Alumni Award. This year, in honor of the college’s 60 th anniversary, nine former students will be celebrated. All current and past awardees will be featured in the newly created Alumni Hall of Recognition , located on the third floor of the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.
Class of 1948
Home: Holyoke , MA
Thomas E. Zebrowski – WWII veteran, 104 th Infantry Regiment. Zebrowski has been involved in the Yankee Division Veterans’ Association for 60 years.
Class of 1949
Home: Coralville , IA.
Robert Dana – Named Poet Laureate of Iowa, 2004-2007; published poet (15 books); professor of English and writer in residence, Cornell College, since 1967; Pushcart Prize XXI (1996); Carl Sandburg Medal for Poetry (1994); National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships (1985 and 1993); Delmore Schwartz Memorial Poetry Award, New York University (1989); Rainer Maria Rilke Prize for Poetry (1984); White House Salute to Poetry and American Poets (1980).
Class of 1950
Home: Creston , IA
Richard Provost, Ph.D. – Retired HCC faculty member with 40 years of teaching experience. Provost has taught psychology and/or education at East Texas State University , Northern Illinois University, Texas A&M University , Sul Ross State College, Kearney State College, Nebraska Law Enforcement Academy, Southwestern Community College , Creston , IA.
Class of 1954
Home: Longmeadow , MA
George Ditomassi— Retired CEO and Chairman of Milton Bradley and COO
of Hasbro, Inc. Ditomassi has done extensive volunteer fund raising for Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Miracle Network, American Heart Association.
Arthur Brodeur - Retired college administrator at the University of Connecticut, Ohio State University, Northeastern University, Cornell University
Margaret Wendlandt —First female HCC graduate to become a lawyer. Wendlandt is now retired and a volunteer and board member with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Class of 1965
Home: Mar Vista , CA
Karolyn Ali
Academy-Award nominated film producer of Tupac Resurrection. Founding member and co-chair of Theatre of Hearts/Youth First in Los Angeles . 1990-AT&T’s Black Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award; 1989: Women in Film’s Lillian Gish Award.
Class of 1969
Home: New London , NH
Doris Nuttelman, R.N., Ed.D. – Retired executive director, New Hampshire Board of Nursing. Former chair, department of nursing, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH; director of the nursing division, American International College. Consultant to the South African Nurses Curriculum Association.
Class of 1973
Home: Holyoke , MA
Leokadia Rowinski — Polish WWII freedom fighter with the Polish Resistance. Rowinski led dozens of secret missions behind Nazi lines and participated in the Warsaw uprising, after which she was interned in three Nazi prisoner-of-war camps before being liberated by Allied Forces on April 12, 1945. She is the author of four books: “Poklosie” “Bajki”, “That the Nightengale Return,” and the most recently published: “From Over Two Oceans.”