A Newsletter for STCC Alumni and Friends

Dear Alumni and Friends,



Happy New Year! We hope that you enjoyed the holiday season with friends and family. Thank you, alumni and friends, for helping to make 2023 a successful year. We appreciate your generosity and support more than ever.

In this issue you will learn about the impact our students are making at MassMutual and how alumni are helping to pay it forward. We have more great things planned here at STCC this year such as our on-going Annual Fund campaign. This year's theme is "See Yourself Fueling Ambitions and Creating Opportunities."

Did you know 2024 is leap year? We have planned to continue to fuel ambitions and create opportunities by celebrating leap year in February. We also have scheduled a few alumni events this year, so please check your email for updates. Let's continue to make STCC a place where we strive to fulfill our mission of supporting students and transforming lives.

To that end, please also share the information with friends and family about free community college for 25+ through a new program called MassReconnect (https://www.stcc.edu/pay-for-college/massreconnect/). We hope you will join us in making 2024 a year to remember!

Eunice Guidry

Manager of Advancement & Alumni Relations

STCC student and graduate starts internships at MassMutual

A Springfield Technical Community College student and an STCC graduate joined financial services company MassMutual in Springfield as interns this fall.

MassMutual hired cybersecurity student Michael Lavallee and recent graduate Michael Buckley '23 to work as information technology (IT) interns. Lavallee and Buckley started last month as cybersecurity analysts. They are working in a new one-year internship program for eligible STCC students.

The partnership with MassMutual comes at a time when cybersecurity jobs are in demand and STCC’s cybersecurity degree program is growing.

Earning a degree from STCC is more attainable now than ever thanks to MassReconnect, a program for Massachusetts residents 25 years of age or older who meet eligibility requirements to earn an associate degree or certificate for free.

Former student returns to STCC to "Pay it forward"

STCC alum Charlie Rosario '16 admits he had a rough start when he started at STCC. He was the first in his family to pursue a degree and didn’t know what to expect when he stepped foot on campus in 2012.

This did not stop Charlie from working towards his ambitions and goals. He returned to STCC in 2014. "I didn't do well, but I decided to comeback in 2014," he said. "I was basically an average student, but then I got involved in activities, which made a difference."

Charlie is now a financial aid counselor at STCC. Read more to see how returning to STCC helped Charlie create the opportunity of now assisting STCC students.

STCC continues to Create Opportunities for giving by celebrating Leap Year in February 2024

We are continually amazed by our STCC students, most of whom are from our own backyard. Every day they strive to transform their lives and do so in many ways: some come to learn a trade, some to explore a potential career, others come because it is an affordable way to earn transfer credits into a four-year college. Still, some come to STCC just to take a class or two in order to enhance their skills.

Whatever the reason, every student at STCC is taking a leap forward in their lives and STCC helps them to do so. 

Will you help to fuel ambition and create opportunity by sending a message to our students that our alumni, parents, friends, the college community and the greater community supports them? If so, we invite you to take a leap by committing $29 a month to support our students.

STCC names Dr. Karen L. Walker to leadership position

Springfield Technical Community College appointed Dr. Karen-Louise (Rucks) Walker as Assistant Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director to the STCC Foundation.

A native of Springfield and a product of Springfield Public Schools, Dr. Walker began her appointment at STCC on Dec. 4. She is responsible for managing all aspects of STCC’s fundraising, philanthropy, alumni relations and Foundation-supported work, including overseeing communications and branding functions. She will work with President John B. Cook, administrators and faculty to support the mission of STCC.