Letters

Hello HCC Alumni Community!

I’m Natalia Castagno, and I’m thrilled to join Holyoke Community College as your new assistant director for alumni relations. With more than eight years of experience in higher education and event management, I’m passionate about building the strong, lasting connections that make our community thrive. What excites me most about HCC is our incredible diversity — our 43,000 alumni include teachers, neighbors, authors, grandparents, and community leaders of all ages, backgrounds, and life experiences. 

From first-generation graduates to those carrying multi-generational legacies, and from traditional students to adult learners, our alumni represent the full spectrum of educational journeys that make our community so vibrant.

Having worked extensively with organizations throughout western Massachusetts, I’ve developed deep roots in this region. I can’t wait to create meaningful opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and stay connected to the college, fostering the kind of lifelong relationships that make HCC special.

When I’m not planning alumni events, you’ll find me hiking local trails, painting, discovering new coffee shops, or exploring new cities. I’m excited to get to know each of you and hear your HCC stories. Please drop me a note anytime.

Let’s build something amazing together, 

Natalia Castagno
alumni@hcc.edu

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Truly Inspired

Just letting you know, I read the Spring 2025 Connection magazine from cover to cover, and it was fabulous. So many great, inspiring stories.

I was especially taken by HCC alum Brandon Towle’s journey to get Camp Words Unspoken up and running (“Freedom to Speak,” about the founding of New England’s first sleep-away camp for stuttering youth).

The story inspired me to make a donation to his camp, so I’m just letting you know that whoever continues to put the Connection magazine out is doing a great job, and I hope the effort continues.

Jon Roe ’76
Los Angeles, Calif.   

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Adding to the George Frost Legacy

In the Fall 2024 Connection, Chris Yurko wrote an article (“Junior Pride”) that tells how President George Frost was involved in the lives of all his students. That part of the article brought tears to my eyes. In 1953, I had recently been discharged from the Army after serving in Korea and decided to enroll. Dr. Frost helped with the application and gave me my acceptance. 

At first, I was not a very motivated student. First mid-semester marks came out and I think I had earned two F’s, 2 D’s and a C. By accident, I met Dr. Frost in the hallways of old Holyoke High. He invited me into his office. He started the conversation by asking me why I was attending classes and not putting in the necessary time studying, and why was I wasting his time and mine. He said this in a tone that made his meaning very clear. 

Without his involvement, I am sure I would not have graduated and earned a degree from UMass Amherst. I would like my experience to be part of Dr. Frost’s history.

Sincerely,

John P. Warren HJC ’55, UMass ’57
South Dennis, Mass.

Editor’s Note: According to our records, with a birthdate of Sept. 22, 1929, Warren, now 96, is our oldest alum, followed by Michael Sears ’49, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who turns 96 on May 27, 2026.