1967
Elizabeth (LaFreniere) Willard (arts and science) enjoyed attending the alumni welcome reception for President George Timmons last fall at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, describing the event as “a big part of getting back to where I started at HCC so long ago.” She described the new president as “a George Frost kind of guy,” “down to earth about making things better!” Willard shared: “It’s good to feel part of something as important as intergenerational education; I think HCC has it covered… very well!”
1968
Walter Mozgala (liberal arts) retired in 2003 after a rewarding career teaching at HCC for more than 30 years. After graduating, Mozgala received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany from University of Massachusetts Amherst. He returned to HCC and taught several courses in the Biology department. One of several highlights was twice taking a winter class to Caribbean field stations, where students learned about coral reef organisms and ecology, both in the laboratory and in the sea.
1972
Roger Croteau (arts and science) has spent the last 50 years working as an educator in several high schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, and Texas; as well as being a homeless advocate in New York, Texas, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. He is currently a chaplain in a correctional facility in San Antonio.
1974
Janis Santos (liberal studies) is celebrating 50 years since graduating from HCC. She enrolled in the evening division in 1969 as an adult — with a family — to fulfill her dream of getting a college degree. Graduation was one of the proudest moments of her life, and her entire family was there to cheer her on. “My degree opened the door for me to have a 48-year career in Head Start that I loved so much,” she wrote. “Thank you, HCC. You are my HERO!”
1976
Donna (LaChapelle) O’Connor (arts and sciences) has retired from her career as a financial analyst.
Tobias Roche, who has worked in law enforcement and criminal justice for almost 50 years, is the subject of a new book, Behind Blue Eyes. Written by award-winning author and former NYPD Detective Pete Thron, the story covers Roche’s career and investigative casework from 1981-2021. The book debuted on Amazon as number one in the law enforcement category. Two of its chapters have resulted in a documentary film being made by Citrus Productions called A Lost Life Found, detailing the life of a notorious female narcotics smuggler.
1980
Andrea (Haskell) Locke (computer information systems) retired after a 38-year career with CompuCom. She lives in Georgia with her husband, David.
1983
Denise (Karcz) Devine (computer information systems) of Hadley, Mass., is co-owner of Devine Overhead Doors. She volunteers for many nonprofits, including Hadley Mothers’ Club, National Fragile X Foundation, Most Holy Redeemer Church, and Citizens Advisory Council for the Department of Developmental Services.
1986
Lisa Besse (arts and science) has completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westfield State University, 38 years after graduating from HCC. During her final semester at HCC, Besse lost her home to a fire. Faculty members were able to grant her an extension to complete her exams, and staff provided her with new blankets, clothes, as well as vouchers for beds. “HCC helped me build a strong foundation in my life journey and helped me raise my self-esteem by helping me believe in myself and that anything is possible,” she writes.
1989
Michael Anderson (hospitality management) and Karen Anderson ’90 (business management) are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their restaurant, Tucker’s, in Southwick.
1991
Margaret Downing (arts and science) received a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University in communications and a master’s degree in education from Springfield College. Downing worked at Springfield College for 15 years before coming to HCC in 2012 as the coordinator of career planning and placement. She is now acting associate dean of the division of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities.
1993
Sheila (Long) Dion (liberal arts) received the Chamberlain Scholarship to attend the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) World Conference. This prestigious event brings together fundraising professionals from around the globe to share insights, best practices, and innovative strategies for advancing philanthropy.
1998
Jennifer (Allis) Provost (environmental science) released her first young adult fantasy novel, Merrowkin, in March 2024. It is available on Amazon and through other online retailers. She lives in Springfield, Mass.
2001
Richard Alvord (arts and science) works as a compliance consultant for MassMutual, after holding similar positions with both Santander Securities and Eaton Vance. In 2005 he married his wife, Jennifer. They have two daughters, Katelyn and Grace.
2003
Talia Romana, the daughter of Zachary Masi (history), was born on Oct. 19, 2023. Masi currently works as an interventional radiologist at Guthrie Clinic, in Newfield, N.Y.
2006
Barbara Paulo (liberal arts) has been the owner and artistic director of Shear Xtreme in Northampton, Mass., since 2003. After her niece lost her hair from radiation treatment for cancer, Paulo was inspired to become an ambassador for Wigs for Kids. Now she works in a dual role with Wigs for Kids, as she cuts hair of donors and fits kids for their new wigs. Additionally, she has become a certified hair loss practitioner and teaches yoga.
Bobbi Rougeau (early education) opened a group childcare center shortly after graduating from HCC. Since then, she has expanded her business to three locations with about 40 employees caring for up to 114 children (infant through preschool age) daily. She celebrated 18 years in business on August 6, 2024. Rougeau also recently re-entered college in an accelerated online bachelor’s degree program at Bay Path University. Further, she is proud to announce that her scholarship, the Alphabet Soup Childcare Center Scholarship, has been endowed through the HCC Foundation. “I am particularly proud of this accomplishment because it was scholarships that allowed me the luxury of obtaining my first degree,” she writes.
2012
Michael Theroux (liberal arts) is the new health director for the city of Greenfield, Mass. He previously worked for the town of Agawam for 20 years, playing a crucial role in various city departments, such as building, engineering, and health, as well as serving as Agawam’s health director for 12 years.
Camille Theriaque (liberal arts) has been named director of Amherst’s Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service (CRESS) department. This innovative program provides an unarmed alternative to police response. Theriaque is a member of the Holyoke Community College Foundation Board of Directors.
2014
Kristen Rivers (creative writing) is the editor of the Chicopee Register and Wilbraham-Hampden Times, both part of the Turley Publications newspaper chain. Rivers, a Chicopee resident herself, got her start in journalism at HCC, where she covered campus events as an intern in the Marketing and Communications office. After HCC, she received a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Smith College. Before landing at Turley in 2023, Rivers, 31, ran her own blog, “The Writer’s Soul,” reviewed books for Hallmark Publishing and Harpeth Road Press, and worked as a freelance reporter The Republican newspaper. “As long as I’m writing, I’m happy,” she told The Connection. Outside of that, she is an advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, participating in the Greater Springfield Out of the Darkness Community Walk since 2021 for the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
2015
Patricia (Taylor) Rodriguez (business administration) received a bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University and is pursuing a master’s degree in professional studies at Penn State University. She married in 2018 and now has two boys, 2 and 3. Rodriguez currently works as the human resources director at the Center for Human Development, a nonprofit based in Springfield, Mass.
Tracy Viola (accounting) is a licensed real estate broker in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Colorado. In addition to helping sellers, buyers, and investors, she runs first-time homeowner classes and networking events for investors and wholesalers.
2018
Louis Burgos (criminal justice 2014; communications, media and theater arts 2018) joined the HCC Marketing and Communications team in January as the multimedia specialist. He has worked in communications since graduating with his bachelor’s degree in communications from Westfield State University, beginning as a bilingual retail marketing specialist for the nonprofit Center for Eco Technology. In 2022, he joined the staff of Springfield Technical Community College as digital and social media manager. Burgos is also the lead vocalist for the Springfield-based band LastMinute, which includes his twin brother Jon Burgos ’14 on guitar. The band released its first single, “Out of Time,” earlier this year.
2019
Yaritza Barta (liberal arts) has joined the division of Institutional Advancement at HCC as the administrative assistant for scholarships and donor relations. In that role, Barta works in the Scholarship Resource Center, administering the scholarship process and assisting with donor relations programming and events. She has worked at HCC since 2022, previously in the Human Resources department.She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bay Path University in 2023.
2020
Joi-Faith (Torres) Desrochers (liberal arts) married her best friend in 2020. Two years later they welcomed their first child, Pj, in 2024, Desrochers graduated in May from Elms College in Chicopee, Mass., majoring in information technology and security.
2021
Zadia Valenze (liberal arts) is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
2022
Alyssa Czupryna (human services) completed a bachelor’s degree in human services with a concentration in gerontology from Southern New Hampshire University.
Emma Pouliot (criminal justice) graduated in May summa cum laude from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Pouliot was awarded a spot on the Honor Roll and President’s List each term. Her next step will be law school.
2023
Jessica Cogoli (information technology management) has been promoted to instructor at Tech Foundry. She previously worked at Tech Foundry as an assistant instructor and technical lead for the IT support training program. Cogoli is now working toward her bachelor’s degree at Southern New Hampshire University.
2024
Dan Conway (environmental science) transferred to UMass Amherst to complete a bachelor’s degree in building and construction technologies.
