Greenfield Community College has enjoyed the support of numerous people throughout its existence, but Jean Cummings was there at the beginning of it all. In fact, she was one of the college's earliest supporters.

Now her years of service will be recognized nationally, as she has been selected to receive a Council for Resource Development 2007 Benefactor Award.

"I'm sort of overwhelmed. I don't think it's sunk in yet," said Cummings, who didn't take the nomination seriously at first because she thought she had no chance at all to win a national award.

Cummings, of Greenfield, will travel to Washington D.C. with GCC President Robert L. Pura to accept the award on Nov. 2 at the awards banquet. The CRD is a national organization that supports fundraising endeavors for two-year colleges. Through advocacy, education and mentorship, the organization helps individuals and groups to better support community colleges. The Benefactor Award, which has been given out annually since 1993, is given to nominees chosen for their spirit of philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism.

GCC Director of Development Regina Curtis said she and Allen Davis, director of the GCC Foundation, came up with a list of several people who fit the profile of someone deserving of the award. But, Curtis said what the CRD is looking for is not just someone who has made a significant contribution in support of a community college, but someone who has also demonstrated that support across many, many years.

"Jean's involvement has really been significant and hasn't stopped since 1960. That made it an easy choice," Curtis said.

Cummings, said she got involved with GCC when it was still just an idea. She was part of the Parent Teacher Organization at Four Corners School back in the late ‘50s and attended a state conference for PTO members. She said most of the conference was boring, but one thing jumped out at her and that was a talk on community and junior colleges. She told her friend and fellow PTO member Grace Mayers about what she learned, and Mayers, Cummings, then-State Representative Allan McGuane and others were then inspired to make GCC a reality.

But Cummings' involvement didn't stop there. She taught biology as a part-time instructor for about seven years at GCC and has served as Chairman of the GCC Foundation and as a board member of the GCC Foundation since 1974 and has been a member emeritus of the board since 1982. She has also served as chair on several of the Foundation board's committees over the decades to raise money for the college. While she was working at GCC, she encouraged the college to start an endowment and promised her year's salary as the first donation. She insists its was a fairly small salary at the time.

"Jean certainly has been a leader all these years in the development of this community's support of education both in access and student success," Pura said. "This college is so very grateful."

Cummings said she is proud to see how GCC has grown. It started as a haven for students who may not have otherwise had a chance at college, bright students who maybe didn't apply themselves in high school. Now, she said, it is so much more — a place for professionals to increase their training, a place for students to launch into four-year programs, a place for people who want to change careers and a place for individuals to just take a course to enrich their lives.

"I am delighted in the way it has grown. I think it has a tremendous reputation for a small college," Cummings said. "It's just the best thing to have ever happened to Greenfield. To have it here has just done wonders for our area."

Only 10 people were chosen from all the schools who submitted nominations for the Benefactor Award. CRD, an affiliate organization of the American Association of Community Colleges, serves more than 1600 members. Cummings is the winner for Region I, which includes community colleges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward and Quebec, Canada

For more information, contact Regina Curtis at 775-1426, or .