From the President

Dear Alumni, Donors, and Friends,

It never ceases to amaze me how often I encounter the green thread of HCC woven through our community. Whether I’m at a local business, a regional event, or simply having a conversation with someone new, the connection to Holyoke Community College emerges — often in the most unexpected ways. A business owner who started here before launching their dream. A healthcare professional who discovered their calling in our labs. A parent whose own HCC experience now guides their child’s educational journey. These connections are everywhere, and each one tells a story worth sharing.

That’s what makes this issue of The Connection so special. In these pages, you will discover how storytelling itself has become a powerful thread binding our community together. Our new podcast, “The Green Thread,” captures the voices and journeys of alumni across generations, creating an oral history of the HCC experience. You’ll meet Elizabeth Staples, who transformed her passion for dogs into a thriving business, armed with the practical business knowledge she gained right here. And you’ll read heartfelt reflections from alumni and friends who continue to share — through social media, emails, and yes, even handwritten letters — how HCC has touched their lives.

What strikes me most about these stories is how beautifully they illustrate that HCC is so many things to so many people. Some arrive with a clear destination in mind. Others discover their path along the way, often ending up somewhere completely different — and wonderfully unexpected — from where they started. That’s not just OK; it’s part of what makes this institution so vital to our region.

These stories matter beyond nostalgia. They show today’s students what’s possible. Students can’t become what they cannot see, and our alumni make the invisible visible. They prove that success takes many forms, that learning never stops, and that the HCC experience — whatever shape it takes — can be the foundation for extraordinary futures.

As you explore this issue, I invite you to see yourself in these stories, to recognize the threads that connect you to this remarkable community, and perhaps to share your own story with us.

Sincerely,

George Timmons, Ph.D.
President