Letters

Praise from Retired Professor

After reading every page of the Fall 2025 issue of The Connection, I am compelled to congratulate you on an outstanding publication. As a parent of four and grandmother of 10, all of whom attended different colleges, I see many alumni magazines. None reach the level of excellence of The Connection, including several elite colleges. 

Keep up the good work. It is impressive. The cover story, “More Than Money: 50 Ways to Give, Give Back and Connect to HCC” — a great, creative idea!

Sincerely,

Patricia B. Triggs
Nursing Faculty Emerita, 1978-2000
Springfield, Mass.

More ‘More Than Money’ Reaction

Congratulations on the Fall 2025 issue of The Connection. I really liked the focus on opportunities for staying connected to the college (“More Than Money”). I didn’t attend HCC but worked in administration for 13 years before retiring in 2019. I’d be happy to volunteer at the college. You listed a number of opportunities, including reviewing student scholarship applications (#21) and helping with campus events (#46).  I’d be willing to volunteer wherever the need is greatest. 

Bill Fogarty
Retired vice president, Administration and Finance
Wilbraham, Mass.

Editor’s Note: Since reaching out, Bill Fogarty has been enlisted as a scholarship application reviewer.

Several other people also wrote in response to the “More Than Money” story, one seeking free HCC decals — #27, “Stick an HCC decal to …” (Just send an email to alumni@hcc.edu), another, from Mary LaPlante ’82, in response to #19, “Buy a Bowl,” inquiring about the date of the next Empty Bowls fundraiser. (The event is typically held in December.)

Connection Kudos 

The Connection received a first-place gold Medallion Award at the Fall 2025 District 1 conference of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations. The Spring 2025 edition of the magazine took the top spot in the category of Large-Scale Magazine, for publications of more than 16 pages. 

“The design looks polished and professional,” said the NCMPR judges. “It’s an engaging issue that highlights student and alumni success while showing how the college continues to grow and support its people.”

In addition to the usual campus news and alumni briefs, the Spring 2025 issue included a cover story about the opening of HCC’s Marieb Adult Learner Success Center and Parent Learning Center (“A Family Affair”); a profile of late alum JoAnne Wrobel ’02, who launched a free food cart for students that grew into the Thrive Center and Food Pantry (“A Silent Hero”); and a feature story about HCC alum Brandon Towle ’19, of Westfield, who founded the first sleepaway camp in New England for stuttering youth (“Freedom to Speak”). 

“Freedom to Speak,” written by Connection editor Chris Yurko, received a second-place silver Medallion Award in the category of Long-Form Writing (stories of more than 800 words).

The magazine is designed by John Devanski, owner of Guy With Glasses Design in Ware. 

“I’m incredibly proud of our marketing and communications team for earning this recognition,” Amanda Sbriscia, former vice president of the Institutional Advancement division, said in November. “Their collaboration, creativity, and exceptional writing are what set The Connection apart. But credit also belongs to the HCC community — our students, alumni, faculty, and staff provide endless inspiration through their stories. Our team has the great honor of amplifying those voices, and it’s that authentic storytelling that makes our work meaningful.”