Holyoke Community College holds 78th Commencement ceremony
'HCC has always been a community I always wanted to be a part of,' said Isa'Rose Ramos, HCC graduate.
It all started by word of mouth for Isa'Rose Ramos, a Human Services major. In 2012, she lived at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts with her children. Ten years later, she transitioned from a volunteer to a domestic violence trauma-informed counselor at the shelter.
'In order to move up in the departments, you have to have Bachelor's in Human Services,' Ramos said. 'You have to start with an Associate's.'
Holyoke organization hosts 'Golden Prom' for 50+ community
This was a similar goal for the nearly 750 graduates at Holyoke Community College. After closing their chapter at HCC, the Class of 2025 walked across the stage on Saturday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield to receive their Associate's degrees and certificates.
'Commencement is just such an exciting time for us, because it's a culmination of so many struggles that our students have had,' said HCC President George Timmons. 'And this is just a way to celebrate this achievement in a grand way. For some, what takes a two-year degree may have taken them 10, 12, 15 years.'
President Timmons told 22News that the graduates couldn't have done it without the help of the faculty members, which is why the college decided to grant an English professor with the Marieb Award of Teaching Excellence, the college's highest faculty award.
'Dr. Trobaugh exudes HCC mission and values, like she loves what she does,' Timmons said. 'Because I think that in life, don't chase money, chase happiness. And if you are happy with what you do, then I believe the money will come.'
But the acknowledgements didn't stop there. The graduates decided to give back to the school, with the class of 2025 raising hundreds of dollars to give the college a donation to its Thrive Resource Center. It's in honor of a woman who started this student resource center to help with homelessness, food insecurity, SNAP, credit scores, and housing.
'Despite the odds, we made it because we kept showing up,' Ramos said. 'Not because it was easy, not because anything was handed to us in life, but because we know our worth.'
The graduates' way of giving back is a direct representation of others who helped the college. Because of their work, four individuals were presented with Distinguished Service Awards.
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