Fall Graduate Reception
HCC to hold inaugural fall graduate reception
For the first time in its 77-year history, Holyoke Community College will celebrate its fall semester graduates with a special reception on Wed., Nov. 29.
HCC's inaugural Fall Graduate Reception will run from 5-7 p.m. on the main HCC campus, beginning in HCC's Leslie Phillips Theater for the official ceremony and continuing over appetizers and activities in the PeoplesBank Conference Room on the third floor of HCC's Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.
"This will be a family-friendly event with food, photo opportunities, and fun as we recognize the accomplishments of HCC students who will complete their graduation requirements by the end of December and the fall 2023 semester," said Sharale Mathis, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs.
According to the HCC Registrar's Office, 172 HCC students will be fall 2023 semester graduates, many of whom will transfer to four-year schools for the spring 2024 semester. Although fall graduates are always invited to attend HCC's formal Commencement ceremony in the spring, historically, many choose not to attend.
"Our goal with this ceremony is to celebrate our fall graduates, strengthen their connection to HCC in the hopes that they will remain engaged with the college and attend our 76th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2024," Mathis said. "I'm excited for this. I think everyone is excited about it."
During the first part of the event in the Leslie Phillips Theater, new President George Timmons will offer some welcome remarks, followed by student speakers Alannah Brunt, a Latinx Studies major from Springfield, Marcos Figueroa, a Communications, Media, and Theater Arts major from Holyoke, and Angela Tindell-Gula, a Creative Writing major from Three Rivers. Julie Phillips, director of Institutional Development, will welcome the fall graduates as new members of HCC's Alumni Association.
About 5:45 p.m., students and their families will be directed to the PeoplesBank Conference Room for appetizers, activities, and photo opportunities, and to collect their free HCC swag bag.
Like spring Commencement, the Nov. 29 event will be livestreamed on the HCC website for those who cannot attend: hcc.edu
