Special Events & Highlights
Special events play an important part in our efforts to provide financial support to our students and to our College. Events bring people together from all backgrounds, means, and interests. Events provide an opportunity to entertain and enlighten, to communicate our accomplishments, as well as our needs.
Pillar of the Community
The Pillar of the Community Award Celebration took place on April 29, 2004 at The Inn at Longshore. Approximately 200 attended the event as the Foundation honored the Bigelow Family – David, Eunice, Lori and Cindi – for their professional success and philanthropic commitment to the community.
The R.C. Bigelow, Inc. Tea Company was founded 60 years ago in New York City. In the 1960’s son David and wife Eunice took the helm and greatly expanded the product line and the number of markets. Under their leadership the company grew from one small factory in Norwalk to three major facilities throughout the country, including one in Fairfield. Lori and Cindi Bigelow represent the third generation in the family business, and are dedicated to maintaining excellence in business and an exemplary role in the philanthropic community. The Pillar of the Community Award was created in 2000 to recognize outstanding men and women of greater Bridgeport, the community that the Housatonic Community College serves.
Joyce Gerber Scholarship Concert
On April 13, 2003, more than 50 faculty, staff, students and friends of HCC attended a concert and reception at the Performing Arts Center to benefit the Joyce Gerber Early Childhood Education Endowed Scholarship Fund. A scholarship was established the previous year in recognition of the retirement of Joyce Gerber, an outstanding member of the our faculty. The concert was organized this year to raise additional funds, and as a continuing tribute to a woman who devoted four decades to the field of Early Childhood Education.
Sam Lardner and Suite Mediterranea performed a delightful array of flamenco songs. Mr. Lardner noted that he was honored to travel from Spain to pay tribute to Ms. Gerber, who he publicly thanked for providing him with guitar lessons and instilling in him a love of music.
Housatonic Community College Foundation Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting was held at the College on September 8, 2003.
College President, Dr. Janis M. Hadley, addressed the group, and announced
that full-time enrollment for 2003-04 had increased by 6 percent and
that
the College had awarded more than $5 million in total financial aid,
surpassing the amounts by any other community college in the state.
The Board elected a new president, Barbara P. Johnson, a Bridgeport
resident and a Senior Vice President at People’s Bank. Barbara
has served for three years on the Board and brings to her new position
an expertise
in finance and fundraising as well as a long history of community service.
Allan J. Rosen (pictured at right), the outgoing president, was honored for his three years of service. Mr. Rosen is a prominent attorney with a demonstrated commitment to the College, the students and the Housatonic Art Museum.
Board member Von Bair stepped down after serving for ten years. He served as Treasurer and was a strong supporter of the Foundation’s efforts. He was a regular presence at special events at the college, foundation, and art museum.
The Annual Meeting also served as an excellent opportunity to honor the contributions of the Fairfield County Chapter of the General Electric Elfun Society, a volunteer association of G.E. leaders dedicated to volunteerism and community service. The Foundation presented commemorative plaques to Gus Serra, Manager of Communication and Community Relations, and to Efun Society members Vicki Brown and Barbara Morro.
UNICO Scholarship Dinner
Two students were awarded scholarships at a dinner October 28, 2003
at Roberto’s Restaurant in Monroe. The Foundation scholarships were
made possible by a donation from the local chapter of UNICO, the largest
Italian American service club in the country. Frank Verrilli, chair of
the local UNICO mental health committee, presented the scholarships to
students enrolled in MERGE, HCC’s Mental Health Certificate Program
that prepares students, including those with mental illness, for a
career in the field.
Carol Gee of Waterbury was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. This mother of four completed advocacy training at Northwestern Connecticut Community College prior to enrolling at HCC. Mugemangango Senzoga, a native of Rwanda now living in Bridgeport, is fluent in several languages. He plans to work with the homeless and refugees who suffer from mental illness.
Dr. Jessica Wolf, a professor at the college and the Director of
the MERGE Program, played an integral part in the scholarship and
dinner
event.Awards Night
A record number of students, faculty, staff, friends and family
attended the 37th annual Awards Night on Tuesday, May 25, 2004.
The event
is held prior to graduation to recognize outstanding students and
the
generous
individuals, groups and organizations that support them. General
Electric and the G.E. Elfun Society sponsored the event.
Housatonic Foundation Scholars this year numbered 43. Students
were recognized for academic achievement as well as for receiving
a scholarship
or financial
award during their time at the College.
Other financial awards provided by the HCC Foundation at this event
include
The Burt Chernow Scholarship, The Jeanne DuBois Scholarship,
The George Endowed Scholarship, The Joyce Gerber Early Childhood
Education
Endowed
Scholarship, The Ralph Fabrizio Scholarship, The Beverly G. Anderson
Memorial Award, The Robert Gerard Naples Award, Marshall Rachleff
Scholarship, Jane Mahoney Memorial Award, The HCC Foundation
Dale Ward Endowed Scholarship
Award, and three scholarships through The Frank J. Scallon Foundation.