According to Kate Gigliotti, MCLA's senior director of constituent engagement, 2020 was a record-breaking year for alumni volunteers. In the 2020-21 academic year, 440 alumni volunteered their time, spending 2,650 hours helping with programs that support students and recent graduates, plus 1,250 hours spent volunteering through alumni leadership roles, including the Alumni Association Board of Directors and other alumni boards and committees.
Crystal Wojcik '21, a business major at MCLA with a concentration in accounting, is staying local after graduation, starting her career as the finance director for her hometown of Adams, Mass.
In May, Courtney Keefe will finish her master of education from MCLA. Summer sessions helped keep her on track as she earned her degree.
A team of six interns is helping the MCLA Institute for Arts and Humanities meet its goals this year, driving everything from programming to graphic design to community engagement.
This name change better reflects what students are learning as they work towards careers in medicine, epidemiology, nutrition, health policy, and more.
After earning her bachelor's degree in mass communications, master of education, and completing Leadership Academy, Hoosac Valley High School Principal Colleen Byrd is back at MCLA, working toward her special education director's license.
MCLA's chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been named a "distinguished" chapter by the national SPS association, recognized for its active student leadership and slate of on-campus (and now virtual) activities.
The Berkshires are more than 90 percent white, and while MCLA's student population is fairly diverse, it can be hard for students to find role models and mentors. Though Erica Barreto '18, Kayla Hollins '12, Khalil Paul '17, and Michael Obasohan '11 all work in very different roles on campus, they have something crucial in common: All opted to stay in the Berkshires after graduation, and all are actively working to create change on campus, mentor students, and contribute to the wider community.
MCLA alumni regularly opt to stay in the Berkshires after graduation, launching careers here and often finding ways to stay involved at the College. Rachel Durgin '18, Adam Galambos '18, and Noah Henkenius '20 are among those alumni--all graduates of MCLA's Environmental Studies Program, they found full-time work in the area and continue to stay in touch with the ENVI community.
