Latest news with #GeorgeTimmons
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Holyoke Community College holds 78th Commencement ceremony
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke Community College's Class of 2025 proudly walked across the stage to accept their diplomas Saturday morning during the college's 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. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Stop & Shop presents $10K check to support HCC food pantry
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Stop & Shop showed their generosity during a Springfield Thunderbirds game Saturday night. Out on the ice, they surprised Holyoke Community College (HCC) with a $10,000 check. 'Very excited about the donation from Stop and Shop and what they've been able to offers us,' said President of Holyoke Community College, George Timmons. These funds comes from the store chains School Food Pantry started in 2019. It will ensure that every student that goes to HCC's food pantry located inside the Thrive Center in 201 Kittredge Center has consistent access to fresh food. Students are free to choose the foods they wish according to their dietary needs. 'We really focus in on making sure that students have access to healthy foods, not just during the day, but after hours and on weekends when they go home,' said Communications Manager at Stop & Shop, Stephanie Cunha. This, as food insecurity has become a growing issue on college campuses. In a recent survey from the Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition, 44 percent of college students face food insecurity at some point throughout the year. 'Food insecurity, housing insecurity, all the things that would prevent someone to a continuing education. We really make a conscious effort to try to overcome those barriers,' added Timmons. This donation made at the game will not only help support students health but also their academic success. 'Nobody wants to focus on where their next meal is when you really should be focused on the classroom. So that's the goal and the and what we hope to do. Becuase studies show you know that students who have access to nutritious meals, perfrom better at school,' said Cunha. And as part of Stop and SHop's ongoing commitment to fighting food insecurity, the store is donating a total of $55,000 this year to support school food pantries in Springfield and surrounding communities. This funding will help support school food pantries at other colleges, like AIC and STCC. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
