September 2026 Edition

On Campus

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Fall Is in Full Swing at Elms College

It has been a busy few weeks on campus as we welcomed our students back for another academic year!



From Welcome Day and the first day of classes to the Student Engagement Expo and First Year Seminar events, our newest Blazers have been getting settled, meeting new people, and finding their place at the Elms. There have also been plenty of opportunities for the campus community to come together, including Elms Night, the Blessing of the Athletes, and a special welcome reception for our newest Irish Fulbright Scholar.


There is something special about the start of a new year at Elms College. The campus feels a little busier, there are new faces everywhere, and students are beginning to make the memories that will become their favorite Elms stories.


For our alumni, we hope these photos bring back a few memories of your own first days on campus. The buildings may look a little different and there are certainly new faces around campus, but that same sense of community is still at the heart of the Elms.


Here is a look at some of the fun from the first few weeks of the 2026–27 academic year!

Alumni in the News

Melissa Gillis ’96 Named A 2026 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Woman of Law

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Shareholder Melissa Gillis has been named a 2026 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Woman of Law, a prestigious recognition honoring women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professional excellence, and meaningful contributions to the legal profession and their communities.

Mary Kate O’Connor ’11 and Husband Joe Honored with Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Citizenship Award

Lifelong Holyoke residents Joe and Mary Kate O’Connor have been selected as the recipients of the 2027 Citizenship Award for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. The annual award recognizes individuals whose service and involvement reflect the spirit of citizenship and community long associated with the parade.

Alumni Engagement

A Great Day on the Green

We had a great day on the green at the 2026 Elms College Green & Gold Golf Tournament! Alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and members of the Elms community came together for a day of golf, friendly competition, good food, and plenty of laughs.


A special thank-you goes to all of our generous sponsors, whose support helped make this year’s tournament possible. And to everyone who came out to golf with us, thank you for spending your day with Elms and making the tournament such a fun one! We loved seeing so many familiar faces, welcoming new ones, and watching everyone enjoy a day on the course. We’re so grateful to all of the businesses, organizations, alumni, and friends who sponsored the tournament, donated raffle items, put together foursomes, and helped make the day such a success.

Save the Date:

Upcoming Events

Mass of Remembrance


Join us for the Mass of Remembrance, a special service honoring deceased alumni and loved ones, free and open to the community. All are welcomed to join us for lunch following Mass.


Wednesday, November 4

12:15 PM

St. Josephs Chapel, Elms College

New York City Bus Trip


Grab your friends and spend the day in New York City! We'll take care of the ride there and back, and you can make the day your own once you arrive. Shop, explore, grab lunch, see a show, visit a museum, or simply wander the city. The day is yours!


Saturday, December 5

Bus Leaves 7 AM

Departs from Elms College


Breakfast with Santa


Bring the family back to Elms for a festive morning with breakfast, Santa, and plenty of holiday fun! It's a favorite Elms tradition for alumni and families of all ages.


Sunday, December 13

10 AM

Mary Dooley College Center, Elms College

Stay Connected

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Jill Perry '21 '23, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

Email: Perryj@elms.edu

Phone: (413) 265- 2388