July '25 News Blog
News briefs from the HCC campus and beyond
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Keeping Things Chill
Since relocating to new offices in September 2024, the Thrive Center and Food Pantry has seen requests for services and food skyrocket. During the last academic year (2024-2025), use of the food pantry doubled to more than 460 requests. All told, Thrive distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food last year to 259 HCC students and their families. “The numbers have jumped a lot because of this new location,” said Thrive Center coordinator Ben Ostiguy. (The food pantry alone, next door to the Thrive office on the second floor of the Kittredge Center, is four times the size of the old one.) “Our partnerships have also allowed us to offer more,” he said. Those partners include the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Stop & Shop, as well as donors such as Hyundai Motor America. In addition to that, state Rep. Pat Duffy recently secured $70,000 in state funds for Thrive that paid to install a bank of refrigerated lockers in the hallway outside the food pantry, where consumers can pick up perishable items like cheese, yogurt, and fresh fruit and vegetables. “Students will be able to access the lockers with a secure pin number or bar code,” said Ostiguy, “and they can pick up their food whenever the building is open.” PHOTO: Food pantry manager Elizabeth Eastman loads groceries into a refrigerated locker outside Thrive.
New Faces in IA
HCC recently added two new members to its Institutional Advancement team: Natalia Castagno, of Suffield, Conn., as assistant director for alumni relations, and HCC alum Heather (Lannon) Haskins ‘20, of Westfield, as assistant director for annual giving. Prior to HCC, Castagno worked at Springfield College as senior assistant director of undergraduate admissions and coordinator of diversity recruitment. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and is pursuing a master’s degree in education from Springfield College. “Natalia brings exceptional relationship-building skills and strategic thinking to HCC that will strengthen our alumni connections,” said Julie Phillips, HCC executive director of development. “As a natural networker, she will champion our alumni relations program and elevate alumni engagement.” Haskins, a 2020 graduate of HCC, returns to the college after serving as advancement operations associate at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. She began her HCC education at the age of 15 as a dual enrollment student from Westfield Technical Academy. After receiving her associate degree in business administration, she transferred to Bay Path University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management and marketing. “Heather’s extensive advancement experience and expertise in donor database management, event planning, and data analysis make her an excellent addition to our department and will enhance our annual giving efforts,” Phillips said. PHOTO: Natalia Castago, left, and Heather Haskins '20
Live From Studio B
Inspired by National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk series of in-studio musical performances, WCCH, the HCC college radio station, has launched its own version. “Live From Studio B” debuted last spring. So far, four HCC musicians have been recorded, and two of those episodes can be viewed on the WCCH YouTube channel (@103.5_WCCH_FM). “I’m really into live music,” said radio station manager Patrick LaBelle. “I’m a musician as well, and I wanted to give more opportunities to people around HCC, specifically in the radio station, because there’s a lot of musicians here.” The first three performers were all solo singer-songwriters and also student DJs: Daymen Touissant, Alyssa Jost, and Mikayla Nelson ’25. The fourth was HCC music student Andres Lopez Pozo, who played the cuatro and led the Commencement 2025 procession into the MassMutual arena. For those unfamiliar with WCCH geography, Studio A is the DJ broadcast booth. Studio B is the WCCH podcast room across the hallway on the first floor of the Donahue Building. Each “Live from Studio B” episode features musicians performing two songs, one cover and one original, but LaBelle says each recording session takes about two hours, including setting up the recording equipment and lighting. “It wasn’t just me,” he said. “We had a whole team.” PHOTO: HCC student musician Daymen Touissant performs during a ”Live From Studio B” concert.
