June 2024 Edition

On June 11, 2024, Jim E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, delivered the keynote address during the 7th annual Elms College Executive Leadership Breakfast entitled, "Our Competitive Edge: Stronger Together". Over 150 people were present at the breakfast including business and community leaders of western Massachusetts, local politicians, educators, and students. The Executive Leadership Breakfast is an annual event that features discussions by the region's leaders on topics of relevance to area businesses and the economy of western Massachusetts.

From June 7th to 9th, we had the pleasure of hosting over 180 alumni from the classes ending in '4s and '9s for our Alumni Reunion. It was a wonderful weekend full of reconnecting and reminiscing. On Friday evening, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Boathouse followed by a river cruise on the Lady Bea in South Hadley.

Saturday began with Dr. Dumay delivering a State of the College address. The Class of 1974 was then inducted into the Golden Blazers and received the traditional Blazer scarf – congratulations to the Class of 1974! The Presidential luncheon honored Dr. Margaret Frieswyk '69 with the 2024 Sr. Margaret James McGrath Distinguished Alumni Award. The afternoon was packed with campus tours, a smoothie station, paint and sip, and Elms trivia and games. The day continued with dinner and the Class of 1999 being inducted in the Silver Celebration Pinning Ceremony. Congratulations to the Class of 1999! The evening concluded with the lively Blazer Bash.

Reunion weekend wrapped up on Sunday with a delightful brunch. We hope everyone had a fantastic time, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

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Several Elms faculty and staff were invited to attend the Davis Foundation's Literacy Roundtable on Wednesday, May 22nd to highlight the literacy initiatives occurring in western Massachusetts and to hear the state's rollout plan of the Literacy Launch. Dr. Tyra Good, Executive Director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education and Associate Professor of Education at Elms College, was an invited speaker at the Literacy Roundtable discussion that featured MA Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education.

Margaret graduated from Elms College with a bachelor’s degree in Education in 1969. This was the launch of a distinguished 50-year career in education in which she would serve as a classroom teacher, a special education teacher, and an administrator. For 15 years, she was superintendent of schools for a large public school district in Avon, Massachusetts, and after that, served as superintendent in the Gosnold/ Elizabeth Island Public School system. She earned her master of Education in special education in 1989, her certificate of Graduate Studies in Educational Administration in 1995 from Westfield State University, and her doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts in Boston in 2004.

Margaret assumed leadership roles with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the American Association of School Administrators, the National Council for Administrators for Special Education, the Commission on International Education, and several other boards and committees promoting education and professional development. 

In 2013, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents awarded her their prestigious Christos Daoulas Award, bestowed annually to the superintendent who personifies the exemplary qualities for dedicated and talented school leadership, and who has contributed significantly to the association and the families and children of Massachusetts. The association in 2009 also chose her to receive its President’s Award, given annually to those demonstrating outstanding service to public education.

Margaret has distinguished herself locally, nationally, and internationally. She has been a consultant with the New England School Development Council to help school districts improve the quality of teaching and student learning outcomes. She was a Fulbright Scholar in China, a leader of a delegation traveling to Finland to study that country’s educational system, and an educational specialist for the Tribal Group working to improve the quality of education in Middle Eastern schools and colleges. As a member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, she worked at the Frankfurt International School in Wiesbaden, Germany, to develop a model for improving school performance that could be applied to other international schools around the world.

Anabela Fernades '02 was inducted to Noontime Rotary at a luncheon meeting at the YMCA.

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Jessica Roncarati-Howe '03 named Executive Director of Dress For Success of Western Massachusetts, and also a recipient of the Fearless Women Awards.

Fearless Women Award Recipients 2024

Dress For Success

Charles Redd '14 was the keynote speaker for Berkshire Community College's Commencement Ceremonies.

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Ethan Campbell '16 joins forces with sister Fiona to lead JV Boys Volleyball at Ludlow High School, creating a positive and competitive environment. 

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The Elms College Campus was buzzing with Commencement activities through the month of May. These included the Senior Toast, Graduate and Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, Baccalaureate Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Baccalaureate Mass and Blessing of the Hoods, and Commencement. Check out our Facebook Page for more photos. Congrats to the Class of 2024!

Red Sox Game

Sunday, July 14

Free Transportation Available

Cape Cod Luncheon

Wednesday, July 31

Popponesset Inn, Mashpee, MA

Transportation Available

Sweet Summer Social

Wednesday, August 28

Keating Quadrangle- Elms College

Registration information coming soon! For any questions please contact Jill Perry '21 '23 at (413) 265-2388 or perryj@elms.edu.

Join the Alumni Association Board today

Every Elms College alumna/us is a member of the Alumni Association and is eligible to participate in alumni events and continue playing an important role in the future of the college. Alumni interested in getting involved can volunteer to help plan events, serve on committees, and mentor students.

The Alumni Association Board (AAB) is a group of dedicated volunteers, who support the goals and mission of the college and serve as the voice of our alumni. The AAB works closely with the college to organize traditional alumni gatherings and events.

Interested in getting involved?

Apply to the Alumni Association Board (AAB) today. Applications will be submitted to the Nominating Committee for review and outreach. The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and the Nominating Committee will begin outreach later this summer for open positions on the AAB and alumni volunteer opportunities for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Apply Today

Check out the Spring 2024 Elms Magazine!

Gifts made to the Founders Fund will honor the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph by providing financial assistance for students.

Time is running out! Please make a gift before our fiscal year deadline of Sunday, June 30.

Your gift of any size matters. Thank you!

In honor of their beloved sister, Sr. Mary T. Quinn, SSJ '71, who passed away in 2021 the Quinn Family has established an endowed scholarship at the College of Our Lady of the Elms.

To memorialize and celebrate Sr. Mary's lifetime of work and compassion, her family is inviting others to join this special endeavor by making a gift to the Sr. Mary T. Quinn, SSJ '71 Endowed Scholarship. In recognition of their sister, the family is extending a challenge to match additional gifts (up t0 $50k) made to the scholarship through June 30, 2024.

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

Email: Perryj@elms.edu

Phone: (413) 265- 2388