June 2023 News Blog
News briefs from the HCC campus and beyond
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Extreme Makeover
Visitors to the second level of the HCC Library will find the entire space has been renewed with new carpet, tables, desks, booths, study carrels, and contemporary seating. The library renovations were celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on June 21. "This room is completely different, and, personally, I'm just thrilled about it," said Mary Dixey, dean of Library Services. "I think our students deserve a modern, functional place where they feel comfortable, and the students had a lot of input as part of this process." Above, Sharale Mathis, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs; Dixey; President Christina Royal; and Bob Gilbert, chair of the HCC Board of Trustees, cut the green ribbon. See more photos of the library renovations in our Facebook photo album.
Political Positions
Before she took the microphone for her town hall forum at HCC, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren grabbed some face time with a few of her fans, including HCC alum Jeffery Anderson-Burgos '15 (above with the senator in the Media Arts Center). Anderson-Burgos, a former president of the HCC Student Senate, is the administrative assistant for the Holyoke City Council and has long been involved in state and national politics. He came to the Sunday, June 25, event with his husband, city councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos. Together they presented Sen. Warren with a pin celebrating the city's 150th anniversary. She pinned it right on her blouse and wore it for the duration of her visit. You can see excerpts of her town hall talk on Holyoke Media's YouTube channel. Or read about it on MassLive ...
Ace for a King
Earlier this month, Josh King '23 accomplished a feat no other HCC golfer had ever achieved in 52 years of competitive play. He made a hole in one, which was also his first ever. And he did it on a big stage, during the final round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Div. III Men's National Golf Championship, on the par 3 eighth hole at the Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York. King describes the action: "The entire tournament felt surreal. With other players shooting in the 60s and 70s, my nerves were so bad that all I could try to do was make decent contact. Without a range finder, most of the tournament trouble was guessing what clubs to hit. The tee box was marked at 158 yards, and the nicest 6 iron I've ever hit turned out to be perfect." Teammate Dominik Rodrigo was on the tee box next to the green and saw it drop in for an ace and took the photo above of King. "It was very exciting," said King, a visual arts major who is on his way to Hampshire College in September. "Everyone was stoked." HCC Athletic Director Tom Stewart, the NJCAA Division III golf chair, was not far away at the official scorer's table. "The whole place went wild," Stewart said. HCC has had a competitive golf team since 1971 and not a single ace in tournament play. "That's a lot of years," Stewart said.
Nursing Pride
HCC nursing students and nursing alumni participated in Pride Fest on Saturday, June 17, in Holyoke's Veterans Park, but they weren't just there for fun. As part of the city's Community Emergency Response Team, they were on hand as volunteers, providing medical assistance to anyone who needed it. "Pride Fest was an excellent way for students to celebrate our values as nurses and as students at HCC," said Tara Kavanaugh, associate professor of nursing, who organized the HCC nursing group. "These events help students build critical thinking, problem solving, and emergency management skills." Kavanaugh maintains a network of nursing alumni who return regularly for volunteer opportunities like these. This year, in addition to Pride Fest, HCC nursing students and alumni have worked in medical tents at the St. Patrick's Day Road Race, St. Patrick's Day Parade, and an active shooter drill at the Holyoke Mall alongside EMTs and paramedics from the Holyoke Fire Department. "We continue to solidify strong collaborations with the City of Holyoke because of our dedicated nursing students and alumni who volunteer at these events with me, Kavanuagh said. (Above) Left to right, HCC nursing students and alumni at Pride Fest 2023: Natalia Korczak, Lela Griffin, Lillian Doherty '23, Jacquelyn Crosler '23, and Alison Coulombe '22.
Finance Fellows
Two HCC business students, Barney Garcia and Jacob Kris, were accepted this spring into 
The Local Finance Commonwealth Fellowship, a state sponsored internship program available to Massachusetts community college students in good standing. The program offers students 160 hours of paid training in municipal finance followed by a five to 10-week finance / accounting internship with a local city or town. Both Garcia and Kris are business administration majors from Northampton who intend to transfer to the Isenberg School of Management at UMass after completing their associate's degrees. "My long-term goal is to own, manage and run an energy utility company, especially one that is involved in the nuclear industry segment," said Garcia, an honors student, student senator, co-founder of the HCC Emerging Business Leaders Club and the student-trustee for the 2023-2024 school year. Kris intends to pursue a career as a certified public accountant. They will complete their training at the end of June and then being their internships with the City of Northampton.
