Voices Carry
On Feb. 24, the day Russia invaded, a call went out to college radio stations around the world seeking support for the people of Ukraine. Over the next 24 hours, representatives from some 50 college stations on three continents responded the best way they knew — by recording their own voices.
One of those stations was HCC’s. “We are the students from 103.5 WCCH in Holyoke, a city in western Massachusetts in the U.S.A. We stand with you in Ostroh and all across Ukraine. Please know we are in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and we wish you safety, unity, and eventual peace for you and your homeland.”
The voice on the WCCH clip belongs to Stevie Converse, adjunct professor of communications and advisor to the HCC Radio Club, who sent the message on behalf of the club. “We were the only station in Massachusetts to participate,” Converse said. “It was just something we could do, and I thought it was important for WCCH to take part.” The College Radio Foundation compiled the audio clips and posted them to SoundCloud. They were broadcast on STUD Radio in Lviv and sent to universities throughout Ukraine.
‘Whatever You Bring Is You’
In English, Bienvenidos literally means “welcome.” Culturally, though, the Spanish word means much more than that, says Julissa Colón ’14, director of HCC’s El Centro program: “It’s more like a welcome where you grab someone by the hand and lead them into the house.” That was the feeling Aug. 27 as HCC held its second annual Bienvenidos celebration for Latinx students. “Our Bienvenidos is about seeing new students and returning students and prospective students and saying, ‘You are so welcome here. We are so happy to have you here, and we want to show you that there exists a community here that wants to help you and support you.’”
The event featured food from the Dominican/Puerto Rican restaurant Sabor Latino, entertainment from the music and dance troupe Bomba de Aquí, a panel discussion with HCC Latinx alumni, and a “Language as Placemaking” workshop led by Raúl Gutiérrez, coordinator of HCC’s Latinx Studies program. “Whatever you bring is you, and you should be proud of that,” Gutiérrez said. “This is what placemaking means, that you are comfortable with what you bring and are respected for what you bring.”
Core Values
Over the years, professors Nicole Hendricks (criminal justice) and Mary Orisich (economics) have been frequent teaching partners in HCC Learning Communities. Their courses tend to focus on the link between socioeconomic conditions and incarceration, or what Orisich calls “the carceral world.”
A few years ago, during a joint sabbatical, they starting building a program that put their commitment to social justice and equity into action. The result is Western Mass CORE – “community, opportunity, resources, and education.” Its mission: help incarcerated individuals transition into higher education. In partnership with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, CORE runs classes at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow and the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center in Chicopee and also provides wraparound support services for students.
“Our main objective is to facilitate an academic pathway and provide support for incarcerated people,” Hendricks said. “We’re building a pathway to college.” Although CORE launched in 2019, just prior to the pandemic, it opened the doors to its campus offices and lounge on the first floor of the Frost building in April, celebrating with an open house attended by Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocci.
Something Very Certain
Last spring, HCC celebrated its newest graduating class in a way it had not since 2019 — with an in-person ceremony at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The college held its 75th annual Commencement June 4, honoring 665 graduates from the Class of 2022 as well as dozens more from the classes of 2020 and 2021, who were invited after their in-person graduation ceremonies were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, HCC awarded a total of 691 associate degrees and certificates to new graduates, who hailed from 66 different Massachusetts cities and towns as well as Connecticut, Vermont, Florida, North Carolina, South Dakota, and countries as far away as Tanzania, Turkey, and Vietnam. Even as the event followed the same script as previous ceremonies, the pandemic loomed large in the remarks of speakers. “Our world has been affected on so many levels, personally, professionally, culturally, spiritually, and academically,” said President Christina Royal. “And in the midst of it all, you made the decision to get a college education. You persevered through the most unpredictable circumstances and decided to forge ahead.” Now, she continued, “you have something very certain – a college degree.”
Itsy Bitsy Grand
HCC celebrated the grand opening of its free Itsy Bitsy Child Watch Center on May 4, and students like accounting major Kara Torres couldn’t be more excited. The mother of 8-year-old twins plans to take full advantage of the program to help relieve some of the stress of being a college student and a parent. Last semester, for instance, she had to stay home for a week during her kids’ spring break so her wife could go to work. “I had to miss some classes,” she said. “If anything happens now, I’ll be able to bring my kids with me to school.”
State Sen. John Velis of Westfield and state Rep. Pat Duffy of Holyoke helped President Christina Royal cut the green ribbon after adding their hand prints to an Itsy Bitsy Child Watch poster. “So many students have to make a choice between an education and child care. That shouldn’t be a choice they have to make,” said Velis, who was key to securing $100,000 in state funds to get the pilot program running.” The Itsy Bitsy Child Watch Center is located in Marieb 103 and accepts children three months to 12 years old.
Direct Connection
A new agreement means HCC students who continue their educations at American International College will find the transfer process smoother – and a lot more affordable. The accord, called Direct Connect, aligns academic programs between HCC and AIC to ensure a seamless transition for HCC graduates who transfer to the four-year college in Springfield. Administrators from the two colleges met at HCC on June 23 to sign the agreement. “We are excited to develop more transfer opportunities for our HCC students by expanding our partnership with AIC and providing students with even more pathways to a four-year degree,” said HCC President Christina Royal.
Direct Connect students automatically receive a $4,000 scholarship in addition to any merit scholarships they might qualify for. Direct Connect transfer students can earn up to $18,000 in grants – not loans – before being evaluated for additional need-based aid. The program allows students to earn a degree in any major at HCC. “In this time where the value of education is being questioned, we are ensuring that students do not lose time or credits in the transition,” said AIC President Hubert Benitez.
