SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will offer a master of science program in cannabis science and commerce beginning in the fall of 2020, the first of its kind in this region.

The 30-credit, hybrid graduate program is designed for individuals interested in a career in the cannabis industry and will provide students with an understanding of the science, business, and legal issues associated with the cannabis industry. The program offers education in the areas of basic science, including chemistry, horticulture, cultivation, uses, and delivery systems; business management, marketing, and operations; and federal and state laws and policies.

According to a March 2020 jobs report issued by Leafly, the world’s largest cannabis website, over the past four years, legal cannabis has supported nearly a quarter of a million jobs. That equates to a 15% annual uptick in employment. The multi-billion-dollar cannabis industry continues to be the single greatest job-creation engine nationally, growing at a faster rate than any other industry in the same timeframe.

In the Northeast, Massachusetts is among the top 10 states across the county where cannabis jobs exist. Moreover, reported retail sales to the Cannabis Control Commission were $420 million in 2019.

Smaller markets like Maine and Vermont, which previously legalized recreational marijuana without allowing sales, may finally see regulated stores open in the coming year. Still, in Vermont, the medical-marijuana industry realized $14 million in sales with nearly 300 jobs last year. Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island all have medical-marijuana dispensaries. With 14 dispensaries statewide, Connecticut served nearly 40,000 patients with estimated sales approaching $60 million, supporting nearly 1,400 jobs. New Hampshire also realized growth, albeit on a smaller scale, with a $22.5 million market and more than 400 jobs. Rhode Island has posted nearly 50% year-over-year growth, topping $50 million with more than 1,000 jobs.

“American International College is excited to introduce a graduate-level program that offers courses focused on developing business acumen in a field that is experiencing a meteoric rise,” said Mika Nash, AIC’s executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “AIC is positioning itself to be an educational leader in this flourishing industry in order to ensure our students have job opportunities upon graduation.”

With medical marijuana legal in 33 states and Washington, D.C., and recreational marijuana now legal in 11 states and the nation’s capital, the U.S. Cannabis Report 2019 Industry Outlook projects annual sales of medical and recreational cannabis will continue to rise over the next several years, reaching nearly $30 billion by 2025. Both nationally and regionally, this rapidly emerging market offers burgeoning employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the future.

For more information regarding the AIC’s master of science program in cannabis science and commerce, visit www.aic.edu/cannabis.

WARE — Country Bank reported its donations to area nonprofits totaled $905,049 last year. Throughout 2019, more than 500 organizations in the communities the bank serves received donations, including the Children’s Trust, Ludlow Community Center Boys and Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Project Bread, and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, among many others.

Recognizing the importance and overwhelming need to help organizations that address hunger, Country Bank provided monetary donations exceeding $100,000 to food programs throughout the region. The recipients of these funds included Friends of the Homeless, Springfield Rescue Mission, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as well as many local food pantries.

“Our desire to support and enrich our communities is not only a part of our mission, it’s truly who we are,” said Paul Scully, president, and CEO of Country Bank. “Team members embody our standards of professional excellence every day by applying the bank’s iSTEP core values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity. These values continue to guide our mission, especially through our community-involvement efforts.”

In addition, Country Bank’s employee charitable giving program raised more than $30,000 in 2019 through events such as jeans days, bake sales, and raffles.

“Our team volunteered more than 1,000 hours of personal time at various events within our communities,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, vice president of Community Relations. “These volunteer hours speak directly to our culture and our belief in helping others. Serving meals, filling backpacks for the homeless, and building beds for children in need are just a few of the ways we gave back to our communities.”

SPRINGFIELD — Tower Square announced today that it will unveil a James Kitchen sculpture in its Center Court on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m.

The 11-foot-high sculpture, titled “Tower Squares,” is comprised of intricate, stacked blocks, a la Dr. Seuss, filled with parts and pieces recycled from Springfield’s past. Visitors will discover a 1940s Indian motorcycle seat, pipe wrenches invented by Solymon Merrick in 1835, a clip-on ice skate patented by Everett Barney in the 1800s, a basketball hoop, ice tongs, hammers, gears that turn, doorbells that ring, faucets, and much more. The entire installation is interactive, inviting children and adults to explore its components.

“I asked myself, ‘what would connect the community with the fascinating history of Springfield?’” Kitchen said. “I wanted people to stop and think a moment, to connect, and to fall in love with Springfield’s rich and varied history. Add to this the memory of my mother and I reading Dr. Seuss, and it all fell into place.”

The statue will be a permanent feature of the building.

“When we began renovations at Tower Square under our new ownership, our first priority was to protect its legacy and be a part of its continuing history,” said Vid Mitta, managing partner of Tower Square. “I have seen Mr. Kitchen’s amazing work and requested that he create a monument for the Center Court at Tower Square. I am thrilled with the outcome.”

Added Fred Christensen, general manager of Tower Square, “we’re very familiar with the quality and caliber of James’ work. It is a great pleasure to support one of Massachusetts’ most innovative artists while celebrating and promoting Springfield’s rich history of innovation.”

CHICOPEE — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Golf Channel will air “The Ball That Changed a Town,” a 30-minute documentary chronicling the 100-plus year history of the Callaway ball plant (formerly the Spalding facility), the long-standing employees who bring the facility to life, and the cutting-edge technologies that produce Chrome Soft golf balls, used by some of the best golfers in the world, including Phil Mickelson.

The documentary will air on the Golf Channel on Feb. 18 at 10:30 p.m., and again on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to submit nominations for BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2020. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be detailed in nature, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form.

Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges. The selected individuals will be profiled in the April 27 issue and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala on June 25 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty is is presented by PeoplesBank and Health New England, and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Springfield. WWLP-22News is the media sponsor, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield is a partner. Other sponsorship opportunities are available.

LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts chairman and CEO Jim Murren has told the company’s board that he is stepping down, prior to his contract ending, the company announced Wednesday. He will serve in his role until a successor is appointed.

Murren has been CEO since 2008, and he has been with MGM, the parent company of MGM Springfield, since 1998. MGM said its board has formed a committee of independent directors to search for a replacement.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Today, Feb. 13, the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) will present its FeBREWary beer-tasting event at Table & Vine, 1119 Riverdale St. West Springfield. This exclusive beer tasting begins at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 7:30 pm. The event is open and free to the public.

This is the second year the GSCVB is offering this event along with Table & Vine. Local breweries taking part in the tasting include Abandoned Building Brewery, Amherst Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Co., Brew Practitioners LLC, Building 8 Brewing, Iron Duke Brewing, Hitchcock Brewing Co., New City Brewery, White Lion Brewing Co., and Wormtown Brewery.

Each of these local breweries will showcase their signature brews, some of which are award-winning and many of which use locally grown hops, fruits, and nuts to create interesting and unique tastes. The craft-beer scene in Western Mass. is flourishing, and this event is a way for craft-beer lovers to learn more about regional breweries and what they have to offer.

This event is also an opportunity to witness the positive impact local breweries have on the Western Mass. region. Breweries are strong contributors to the economy, locally and nationally. According to the Brewers Assoc., the craft-brewing industry contributed $79.1 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018 and generated more than 550,000 jobs.

CHICOPEE — The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Elms College will host its third annual Black Issues Summit in celebration of Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 28 from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the Alumnae Library.

This year’s summit will bring regional leaders and social-justice advocates to Elms College for an important dialogue on this year’s theme of “Housing, Health, and Education: Basic Human Rights.” The summit is open to the general public, the Elms community, and anyone who is interested in issues of social justice, equality, and diversity.

“The purpose of the Black Issues Summit is to provide an opportunity for meaningful dialogue about pertinent issues affecting the black community,” said Harry Dumay, president of Elms College. “We are honored to have Denise Jordan, Savina Martin, Frank Robinson, and Yves Salomon-Fernández as guest speakers this year, in addition to the artwork of Ryan Murray.”

Jordan is currently executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority, the third-largest authority in the Commonwealth. In 2008, she became the city of Springfield’s first African-American chief of staff and was longest-tenured person to ever occupy the seat, serving more than 10 years. She also worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for more than 20 years as a civil rights officer for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. She is also a founding member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Excellence, 5A Football, and the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition. She serves as a trustee for Baystate Health, a board member for Square One, and a member of the Bay Path Advisory Council.

Martin is a minister who has spent three decades advocating on behalf of issues and symptoms related to poverty and homelessness, particularly black homeless veteran and non-veteran women. She is currently one of three state chairs with the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign: “A National Call for Moral Revival.” She has served as president of the Boston chapter of Union of the Homeless and as the executive director of the Women’s Institute for New Growth & Support, whose house for homeless women in recovery from substance abuse is named in her honor. In 1988, she was recognized with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award. She is a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Kairos Center for Religious Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Robinson, vice president of Public Health for Baystate Health, is responsible for helping to bridge healthcare gaps caused by social determinants of health. His innovations aimed at addressing community drivers or structural drivers of health, such as racism, include the Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership and the Baystate Academy Charter Public School. Among his many awards for community work are the city of Springfield’s 2008 Luminary Award, the 2009 Rebecca Lee Award from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the 2010 Lemuel Shattuck Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Assoc., the 2013 Power Couple of the Year Award (won jointly with his wife, Dora Robinson), and the 2014 Annual Human Relations Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice.

Salomon-Fernández is president of Greenfield Community College. She previously served as president of Cumberland County College in New Jersey and interim president of Massachusetts Bay Community College. She has served as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation and Johns Hopkins University Press, and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Advisory Development Council and a corporator for Greenfield Cooperative Bank. She also serves on the board of Mass Humanities and the Opioids Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.

Registration will begin at noon, and presentations will begin at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Following the summit, attendees are invited to participate in a debriefing session to provide feedback and thoughts on the issues discussed.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Visit www.elms.edu/summit to register. E-mail [email protected] for more information.

LONGMEADOW — What happens when you’re wrongfully convicted of a crime, only to be exonerated after spending almost two decades in prison? Kristine Bunch, executive director of JustIS 4 JustUS Inc., will be on the Bay Path University campus on Wednesday, Feb. 19 to share her story of wrongful conviction.

After spending more than 17 years behind bars after she was arrested and charged with setting a fire that claimed the life of her 3-year-old son, Anthony, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the conviction. Bunch, who had earned undergraduate degrees in English and anthropology from Ball State University in prison, was released on her own recognizance — 17 years, one month, and 16 days after her wrongful arrest. Eight days before Christmas 2012, the prosecution dropped all of the charges.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for the Bay Path community, and especially our students and future students, to hear Kristine’s remarkable story of overcoming the tragic injustice she suffered and her inspiring, relentless advocacy to secure justice for other exonerees,” said Gwen Jordan, chair of Bay Path’s Justice and Legal Studies Department and previously a staff attorney for the Illinois Innocence Project. “Kristine’s raw honesty provides a unique insight into the consequences of convicting the innocent and provides a pathway for all of us to help prevent future wrongful convictions.”

This free event, open to the public, will be held at Mills Theatre in Carr Hall, Bay Path University, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information or to register, visit wrongfulincarceration.eventbrite.com.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Is your business telephone system compliant with Kari’s Law, which goes into effect starting on Sunday, Feb. 16? Kari’s Law requires telephone systems to provide direct dial and routing to 911 with no prefixes or other button press, as well as on-site notification of a 911 call being made, with a ‘dispatchable location’ conveyed (for example, which floor and room of an office building a worker is on or which classroom a student is calling from).

In addition to facing potentially devastating civil liabilities should a tragedy occur, businesses that fail to comply with the law risk fines, and may be subject to additional penalties for each day they remain non-compliant. With Kari’s Law now included within the amended Communications Act, the Federal Communications Commission has the power to enforce the rules, assign judgments, and collect penalties.

Kari’s Law is named after Kari Hunt, who was tragically murdered in her hotel room in 2013 after multiple failed attempts by her daughter to dial 911. Medical examiners agree that, had her daughter been able to reach emergency services, Hunt would have survived the attack. The law is designed to ensure that anyone, anywhere can reach emergency services and that critical location data is provided with that call.

Normandeau Technologies Inc. (NTI) can help businesses determine compliance with the law. To reach NTI, call (413) 584-3131.

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) announced it has earned the 2020-21 Military Friendly School designation.

“We greatly value the service the veterans have provided to our country,” Asnuntuck CEO Michelle Coach said. “We understand the importance of having a Veterans Oasis Center on campus. These individuals have a place to work, relax, and also relate to other veterans within the college. It is an honor to have them on our campus.”

Asnuntuck, along with Tunxis Community College, will serve for the third year as a sponsor of the Hartford Yard Goats’ Military Family of the Game, at each home game during the 2020 season.

Beth Egan, ACC’s veterans coordinator, has direct contact with ACC’s active-duty and veteran students. “It is an honor for Asnuntuck to receive this recognition,” she said. “We pride ourselves on our philosophy that students come first. Our military and veteran students make up an important part of our community.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,000 schools participated in the 2020-21 survey, with 695 earning the designation.

The 2020-21 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

“Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to colleges creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to invest in programs to provide educational outcomes that are better for the Military Community as a whole,” said Josh Rosen, Military Friendly’s national director.

HOLYOKE — Rosemarie Ansel, executive director of River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC), has announced Kelly Gloster as its senior grants director. In this new role, she will oversee all grant programs to ensure the organization’s funded programs are compliant with grant rules and regulations based on the terms and conditions set by each funding organization. Gloster is also the program director for both River Valley Counseling Center’s School-Based Health Centers and HIV/AIDS Project.

“I have a particular interest in maximizing grant dollars to both better serve clients and achieve program efficiencies,” Gloster said. “My goals are to bring transparency to the grant-compliance activities, such as chart and documentation standards, data collection, and reporting requirements. I will also be looking to increase grant funding for River Valley Counseling Center programs, as we continue to serve the mental-health needs of our community.”

Prior to joining RVCC, Gloster was an assistant vice president of Grants and Government Relations at Landmark College in Vermont. She brings more than 20 years of grant-writing and grant-administration experience, and owned her own grant consultancy. She maintains a certificate in financial research administration. She also has extensive experience in the nonprofit and mental-health sectors, having worked as a foster-care supervisor, residential case manager, and crisis hotline counselor.

“We are fortunate to have an experienced grant writer joining our team as River Valley Counseling Center continues to grow as a nonprofit behavioral-health organization serving the Pioneer Valley,” Ansel said.

Gloster received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMass Amherst and a master’s degree in social work planning, policy, and administration from Boston College.

SPRINGFIELD — Paul Aquila, registered principal with Raymond James Financial Services and founder of Longview Investments, LLC, a diversified financial-services firm offering wealth management in Connecticut and Massachusetts, will address the Springfield Rotary Club’s luncheon meeting on Friday, Feb. 28. He will discuss donor-advised funds — what they are, how to use them, and how they can help clients integrate their values into their investments.

According to Aquila, “by having meaningful conversations about what is important to each individual, I can assist clients in achieving their financial goals through awareness, knowledge, planning, and action.”

Aquila has been a financial advisor exclusively with Raymond James since 1999. He began his career in banking at Webster Bank before joining Raymond James. He has more than 20 years as a licensed professional in the financial-services industry concentrating on wealth management and capital allocation. He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University with a concentration in accounting and marketing, and is a licensed professional holding a Series 7, 24, 63, and 65.

The Springfield Rotary Club meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the MassMutual Room at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, and is a member of Rotary International. The Rotary luncheon with Aquila costs $18 per person and is open to the public.

SPRINGFIELD — Kristin Leutz announced she is leaving Valley Venture Mentors after more than two years as CEO. VVM board member Chris Bignell will step into the role of interim CEO on March 1 as the organization begins the search for a permanent director. Bignell has been a mentor, volunteer, and startup founder, as well as a partner in the Alchemy Fund.

“Nearly 10 years ago, I wandered into a VVM community night and met our founding team,” Leutz said. “I was hooked on the magic formula of startups, great networking, and generous community. Since that time, I have been a mentor or worked on staff at VVM. As I move on to a new challenge, I plan to remain engaged with VVM on various projects. In my next professional role, I will be consulting and also have taken on the position of executive director of the Startup Champions Network, a national membership organization supporting entrepreneurship ecosystem builders.”

This past year marked significant leaps forward for VVM, Leutz went on. “Together, we achieved the opening of the Valley Venture Hub, the new co-working space that anchors the Springfield Innovation Center, in which we hosted over 6,000 people who attended various events. We re-launched a new mentorship program and have over 40 people engaged in learning and mentorship. We graduated 15 high-growth startups in our accelerator, and we now see those companies raising funds and growing sales. In addition, we created a groundbreaking collegiate summer accelerator that welcomes all Pioneer Valley students, co-hosted with our colleagues at the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship at UMass. Our impact has been significant.”

SPRINGFIELD — Nicole Gagne recently joined the Center for Human Development (CHD) as its new chief operating officer, bringing a wealth of compliance knowledge and a strong history in supervision from both clinical and administrative standpoints.

As COO, Gagne will work in partnership with the CEO to support and guide other leaders across the organization in their efforts to launch initiatives and help their respective departments and programs, and thus the agency, continue to move forward. Additionally, Gagne will oversee all of CHD’s compliance efforts. Backed by her extensive experience with compliance work, she will be critical in the creation, strengthening, and revision of organization processes and systems.

“What I love about CHD, which was evident right from orientation, was that there is a commitment to a culture and a mission,” she said. “I really believe in working collaboratively, and I think it’s really important that people come together as a team and collaborate with different strengths.”

Most recently, Gagne served as president and CEO of Community Healthlink Inc., a position she held for four of her eight years with the organization. Gagne has also been a consultant for the House of Peace and Education, served in executive roles with Montachusett Opportunity Council and North Central Human Services, and has years of experience as a direct-care worker earlier in her career. She holds a master’s degree from Assumption College in counseling psychology with a concentration in cognitive behavioral therapy with children and families.

Gagne has also served as a board member on the Assoc. of Behavioral Health (ABH) and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. With ABH, she has worked on some of the planning around Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders’ work to revamp ambulatory services.

SPRINGFIELD — Thomas Maulucci, professor of History at American International College (AIC), has been named secretary of the board of directors for the Springfield Public Forum. In this role, he is a member of the executive committee. He joined the board in 2012.

Maulucci graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. with a bachelor’s degree in international relations, economics, and German. He attended Yale University, where he received a master of arts, a master of philosophy, and a doctorate in modern European history. Joining the faculty of AIC in 2006, he first became affiliated with the Springfield Public Forum while arranging events co-sponsored by the college and the Forum.

“Each year, the Springfield Public Forum invites award-winning journalists, writers, actors, and other exceptional individuals to Symphony Hall to provide perspective and share their expertise on the most pressing issues we face as a nation and as a people. I am honored to be able to work with and serve this outstanding organization,” Maulucci said.

The Springfield Public Forum has been in existence for more than 80 years. Integral to its mission, events are free and open to the public in order to provide an open forum for ideas and education to the community.

SPRINGFIELD — Throughout its more than 150-year history, Community Bank N.A. has remained committed to giving back to the communities it serves. In 2019, the bank’s annual charitable giving reached more than $2.6 million in sponsorships, donations, and grants, with its branches across New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts donating to more than 2,500 local organizations.

“Going the extra mile for our neighbors is a fundamental part of our values,” said Anita Bourgeois, vice president and New England regional manager of Community Bank N.A. “As our name suggests, one of the important missions of our bank is to support the well-being of the communities we serve and where we work and live. We’re more than just your local teller or banker — we’re your neighbors, friends, maybe even family. We want to help give our region a better tomorrow.”

Each individual branch follows the passions of its employees and customers to support causes that are important to its community. In addition to awarding corporate donations, branches often host fundraisers and collection drives as a way for employees, customers, and community members to participate in the charitable giving.

In Massachusetts, Community Bank N.A. supported a variety of organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA of Greater Springfield, UMass Amherst, Bay Path University, Springfield Rescue Mission, Open Pantry Community Services Inc., Way Finders, Gardening the Community, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County, and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, Western Regional Office.

“We’re extremely proud to have been able to help so many organizations last year,” Bourgeois said. “We’re honored to serve Springfield, Massachusetts and be a part of this community. With 2020 underway, we’re looking forward to continuing our tradition of giving back.”

On top of its charitable giving, Community Bank N.A. employees also volunteer their time to local nonprofits and charities in need. In 2019, team members committed more than 10,000 hours to giving back.

HOLYOKE — Women leaders of prominent area institutions will be the featured presenters at the spring 2020 Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series hosted by Holyoke Community College and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute.

The four-part, monthly “Leadership in Your Future 2020” series kicks off Friday, March 27, and continues on April 10, May 8, and June 19.

Each of four presenters will sit at a different table each week and speak on a subject of their choosing. Over the course of the four-session series, they will rotate among the tables so guests have the opportunity to hear all the presentations.

The four presenters are Theresa Cooper-Gordon, commissioner, Holyoke Housing Authority (“Self-Determination”); Priscilla Kane Hellweg, executive/artistic director, Enchanted Circle Theater (“In it for the Long Haul”); Jody Kasper, chief of Police, city of Northampton (“Rising to the Top”); and Christina Royal, president, Holyoke Community College (“Leading Through Change”).

The luncheons run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St. Lunch will be prepared and served by students in the HCC Culinary Arts program.

The series will provide an opportunity to learn from women leaders of area institutions and a chance for participants to network with their peers and gain insights on building their own careers.

The cost is $150 for all four sessions. Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Valentyna Semyrog at (413) 552-2123 or [email protected].

GREENFIELD — The Mass Cultural Council announced the 2020 Artist Fellowship awards in drawing and printmaking, poetry, and traditional arts. Among this year’s fellowship awardees is artist Kelly Popoff, faculty member in the Art Department at Greenfield Community College (GCC).

The awards include 19 fellowships of $15,000 and 16 finalist awards of $1,500. Applications were open to all eligible Massachusetts artists. A total number of 632 applications were received: 363 in drawing and printmaking, 243 in poetry, and 26 in traditional arts.

“The Art Department congratulates GCC painting, drawing, and design instructor Kelly Popoff, MFA on receiving this prestigious grant,” said Art Department Chair Paul Lindale, “Kelly started teaching at GCC in fall 2011 and works tirelessly as a full-time exhibiting artist and educator. She plays a critical role in the continuing success of the Art program at GCC and of our students, and in promoting the arts in Western Massachusetts. She also happens to be an amazing artist. Kelly is truly deserving of this honor.”

Added Popoff, “I am so grateful for the Massachusetts Cultural Council for this fellowship and the work that they do to support the advancement of our culture. I would also like to acknowledge the Vermont Studio Center and the support they have given to me and many others through the years. The work submitted for this fellowship was created at the Vermont Studio Center during a residency in 2017.”

SPRINGFIELD — Vonetta Lightfoot, Multicultural Afairs operation manager at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), will be honored for her contributions to the community at the 100 Women of Color Gala & Awards on Friday, April 3.

The event, to be held at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Conn., recognizes women of color in business, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment, government, and public service, and their impact on the lives of people in Western Mass. and Connecticut communities.

“I’m honored to receive this award, which I did not expect,” Lightfoot said. “I know many people who have received the award in the past, and I’m humbled to be in the same circle.”

Others at STCC who received the award include Denise Hurst, vice president of Advancement and External Affairs, and Lidya Rivera-Early, director of Community Engagement.

In her role as Multicultural Affairs operation manager, Lightfoot brings a diverse range of speakers and performers to the college, from jazz musicians and actors to journalists and acclaimed authors. She said she is proud to expose students and the community in Springfield to the Diversity Series at STCC.

“You never know who is going to be inspired by what they see or hear,” she said. “I’ve seen it a few times with the people I have brought to the college. Our students often open up and share their experiences. They ask questions and want to know more. That is why I do it.”

Lightfoot took the role of managing the Diversity Speaker and Performance Series after her mother, Myra Smith, retired.

“I saw the impact my mom was having all these years,” she said. “People in the community would ask, ‘when’s the next event?’ The fact that the events are free is a huge benefit. We are giving access to people who might not be able to afford these experiences.”

Hurst said STCC is committed to providing a multicultural learning experience. The Diversity Series gives the region access to a wide range of voices.

“Vonetta’s work with the Diversity Series helps to enrich students as well as people in the community,” she said. “We are proud of Vonetta and congratulate her on being honored.”

The award is presented by Eleven28 Entertainment Group. “Our goal is to provide financial support for programs that support the advancement of young women of color,” said June Archer of Eleven28 Entertainment in an online announcement about the event. “A portion of the proceeds from this annual event will support scholarships for young women who graduate from high school and plan on attending college, leadership, and mentorship programs. On this day, we believe these individuals should be honored for their achievements and celebrated for their accomplishments, along with their family, friends, and support networks.”

HOLYOKE — EforAll Holyoke is actively seeking both English- and Spanish-speaking volunteers to participate as mentors in the summer 2020 business accelerator program.

Accelerator mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and use their business and leadership experience to guide new entrepreneurs through the process of turning their idea into a growing business. Mentors work in teams of three and are matched with an entrepreneur based on schedule availability and the desire to work together. The team meets as a group to help reaffirm topics and themes raised during classes, while also strategizing with the entrepreneur on how to reach their specific goals during the program.

This is a high-touch, year-long commitment. Mentor teams have 90-minute, in-person meetings for three months and then meet once a month for the following nine months. Anyone who is looking for an interactive and meaningful volunteer opportunity can e-mail [email protected] for more information.

SPRINGFIELD — Jamina Scippio-McFadden, a senior program manager at the UMass Center at Springfield, has been named director of the center by UMass Amherst.

“Jamina Scippio-McFadden has outstanding professional credentials and a wealth of strong ties to the community,” said Steve Goodwin, deputy chancellor at UMass Amherst. “As the center builds upon its achievements and identifies opportunities to be more deeply connected to the community, she is well-prepared to provide the leadership essential to success.”

Scippio-McFadden, who has served as interim director for the past year, said, “I’m enthusiastic about contributing to UMass Amherst’s work in the Pioneer Valley through its UMass Center at Springfield. Finding new ways to expand academic programs, research initiatives, and community engagement are among the strategies we hope to enhance as we continue to be a good neighbor and collaborator.”

Scippio-McFadden’s wide-ranging community involvement includes serving on the executive committee of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts board of directors and the board of directors for the Hampden County Community Impact Foundation and Community Enrichment Inc. She is a member of the Springfield Museums African Hall Subcommittee and an organizing and charter member of the Western Mass. chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc.

She joined the UMass Center in 2014 as the director of Marketing and Community Relations, Student Services, and Academic Support, where she managed College Matters 4 U, a partnership program with Springfield Public Schools that educates students in grades K-12 about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) career options available after high-school graduation, while also exposing students to the college environment. She was appointed program manager for business and community development in the center’s Office of Economic Development in August 2018. She was named interim director of the center in January 2019.

Previously, Scippio-McFadden taught communications at American International College and served as a college administrator and faculty member at institutions in Florida and Georgia. She has 20 years of experience in the media industry, including television news, radio, newspapers, and public relations.

She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethune-Cookman College, where she graduated magna cum laude. She earned a master’s degree in communications from the University of Florida and is currently a doctoral candidate in education at UMass Amherst.

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2020-21 academic year. Awards totaling more than $200,000 are available for incoming, continuing, and transferring HCC students. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 25.

Students must be currently enrolled at HCC or have been accepted for the upcoming academic year to be eligible for scholarships, which are awarded through the HCC Foundation, HCC’s nonprofit fundraising corporation.

“Scholarships recognize academic achievement, help students overcome financial barriers, and acknowledge that there is more than one path to a college degree,” said Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation. “This is the best time of year for the HCC Foundation because scholarships help us fulfill our purpose to expand educational opportunities for HCC students. There is nothing more rewarding — to us and to our donors.”

Applicants need only fill out a single online form to be automatically matched with the scholarships they are most qualified to receive. There are scholarships for new students, current students, and students transferring to other institutions, as well as scholarships based on financial need, scholarships for students in specific majors, scholarships for residents of certain communities, and scholarships that recognize academic achievement. For the 2019-20 academic year, the HCC Foundation awarded $223,000 in scholarships to 231 students.

To begin the application process, visit www.hcc.edu/scholarships. Questions should be directed to the HCC Foundation office at (413) 552-2182 or Donahue 170 on the HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke.

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield will welcome Costa, a classic Italian restaurant serving housemade charcuterie, pizzas, pastas, salads, desserts, and more, to the resort’s food and beverage portfolio on Friday, Feb. 28.

This will be Costa’s third outpost, having debuted as Osteria Costa at the Mirage Las Vegas and MGM National Harbor in 2018. Costa at MGM Springfield will be located in the Cal Mare space, which will close on Monday, Feb. 24.

“Authentic Italian cuisine is a hallmark of our South End neighborhood in downtown Springfield,” said Anthony Caratozzolo, vice President of hospitality for MGM Springfield. “We’re honored to celebrate those traditions and make new memories with one of our own original restaurants. In Italian, ‘abbondanza’ signifies plenty, and that’s exactly what guests will experience at Costa. From family-style antipasti to generous portions of our housemade pasta, guests will savor the abundance of our take on Italian home cooking.”

Costa will be open Sunday to Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m. For reservations, visit Open Table or call (413) 273-5430.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced three new members of its faculty across the undergraduate and graduate divisions.

Xiaoxia Liu, director, Applied Data Science, is a seasoned data scientist with years of experience across different industries, including healthcare, business solutions, and insurance. She has extensive experience in handling various data problems through teaching, statistical collaboration research, and advanced analytic/predictive modeling. Liu has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, which have appeared in JAMA, Pain, Circulation, and other leading medical journals. She holds a master’s degree in mathematics and statistics from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in communication from SUNY Albany.

Joshua Hamilton, program director and professor, is a fellow of the American Assoc. of Nurse Practitioners and is in private practice in Las Vegas, Nev. He has held a variety of faculty and administrative positions in the U.S. and abroad, and is an internationally recognized speaker at conferences and professional meetings. He holds a doctor of nursing practice degree from Rush University and is in the process of completing his juris doctor through Northwestern California University.

Nisé Guzmán Nekheba, coordinator and associate professor, Legal Studies and Paralegal Studies, comes to Bay Path with more than 30 years of experience in both professional and academic settings. As a published author and a seasoned presenter, Nekheba is highly experienced in the areas of real property, family law, race and the law, immigration, Native Americans and the law, and law and religion. She is an award-winning academic professional and a member of the American Bar Assoc., the Assoc. of American Law Schools, and the Assoc. for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Nekheba simultaneously completed her juris doctor and master of divinity degrees at Harvard University, where she was the recipient of the Harvard University Baccalaureate Speaker Award.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal has been selected for a national fellowship for first-time college presidents administered by Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute.

The Aspen New Presidents Fellowship is a new initiative designed to support community-college presidents in the early years of their tenure to accelerate transformational change on behalf of students. Royal and Luis Pedraja, president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, were the only two community-college presidents chosen from Massachusetts. They are part of the inaugural group of 25 Aspen fellows selected from more than 100 applicants nationwide.

The leaders, all of whom are in their first five years as a college president, will engage in a seven-month fellowship beginning in June 2020.

“The Aspen Institute has a reputation for excellence, and I am honored to be selected as part of the inaugural group alongside President Pedraja,” said Royal, who started working at HCC in January 2017 after three years as provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Inver Hills Community College in Minnesota. “Higher education is experiencing a lot of disruption as the world changes. We are being challenged in greater ways to alter the ways we educate and provide support for students as demographics shift and their needs and preferences change. It is an exciting opportunity to be in the company of other scholars and community-college presidents who want to grow and learn in an intense environment that exposes us to new models of thinking.”

The fellows were selected for their commitment to student success and equity, willingness to take risks to improve outcomes, understanding of the importance of community partnerships, and ability to lead change.

“We know more than ever before about how community colleges can improve outcomes for students, both in and after college,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “And the urgency for them to do so only increases, especially for students of color and low-income students. These fellows have shown they are fully, urgently committed to excellence and equity, and we look forward to working alongside them.”

JPMorgan Chase is funding the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship as part of New Skills at Work, a five-year, $350 million investment to support community colleges and other pathways to careers and economic mobility.

SPRINGFIELD — In celebration of the leap year, the Springfield Technical Community College Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign called “Leap Forward” to support students.

The foundation is asking alumni, parents, the community, and friends of the college to make a gift of $29 in the month of February. The contribution will go directly to support the students currently enrolled at STCC.

“We want to show our students that we support their desire to succeed,” said Kelly Galanis, director of Operations and Donor Relations at STCC. “Since 2020 is a leap year, we thought it would be fun to tie in support for our students with the 29 days of February. It’s easy to donate. Just go to stcc.edu/leap and click on ‘give now.’”

The website gives donors the choice to donate in $29 increments, and each $29 represents support for one student. Donors also can enter any amount in an ‘other’ box. In addition, donors can use a drop-down menu to designate their gift for a specific category (where the need is greatest, general scholarship fund, Society of Women Engineers, Hispanic Assoc. in Higher Education, Arts at STCC, STCC athletics, or a named scholarship fund).

STCC graduates said financial support from donors made a meaningful difference and were excited to hear about the “Leap Forward” campaign.

“STCC helped me take a leap forward in my career by giving me the opportunity to explore different fields of study,” said Olivia Boadi Sarfo, a 2019 graduate. “The staff and faculty guided me the minute I stepped foot on the campus.”

Added Alicia Cameron, a 2016 graduate, “being a student at STCC has opened so many doors to help me leap ahead in my personal life and professional career.”

For questions about the campaign or the STCC Foundation, contact Galanis at (413) 755-4529 or [email protected].