GCC President Bob Pura with "29 Who Shine" Awardee Jake Powers

Jacob Powers was nominated by GCC President Bob Pura to represent Greenfield Community College at a State House ceremony on the Grand Staircase on May 12^th to honor a group of outstanding graduates of the Class of 2011. The MA Department of Higher Education initiative, called "29 Who Shine," is part of the agency's ongoing effort to call attention to the role of the 29 community and state colleges and universities in the MA public higher education in producing a well-educated citizenry and workforce for the Commonwealth.

Governor Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Cahill, Secretary of Education Reville, Department of Higher Education Commissioner Freeland, President Pura and the presidents from the other 28 public institutions of higher education, and members of the MA State Legislature were in attendance to honor the students and their families.

Powers was nominated by President Pura as a student who met and exceeded the stated criteria for the recognition, namely:

The individual student graduate of the Class of 2011 shows exceptional promise as a future leader in civic affairs or in business or professional activity, having already demonstrated a strong ability to contribute to the civic life and economic prosperity of the Commonwealth. This student should have a strong record of academic achievement and civic engagement.

• Demonstrated awareness of the importance of public higher education (e.g., served in student government, participated in higher education lobbying or advocacy activities, tutored or mentored other students, etc.). 
• Demonstrated ability to overcome adversity (personal, financial) to complete his or her education.

In nominating Powers for the award, Pura noted, "Jake served on the GCC Board of Trustees as the student representative, consistently made the Dean's List, was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Society, and worked in the Peer Tutoring Center." He also recognized that Powers spearheaded the formation of a community on campus for students in recovery and, during this time he also acted as a liaison between GCC and The Recover Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping change the lives of those affected by addiction.  "Through his work and studies over the past two years, Jake developed a passion for supporting individuals who are in recovery from addiction and trauma," said Pura. "He worked closely with GCC staff and faculty to bring resources to the campus for students struggling with issues of addiction, paving a safer path to their recovery and to achieving their educational goals."

Powers' personal and academic accomplishments have been acknowledged by another important institution as well. After he completed his degree requirements in Dec 2010 at GCC, he received a significant scholarship to transfer to Amherst College for the Spring 2011 semester, where he is pursuing his Bachelor's of Arts in English, with plans to continue in graduate school.

As a writer, Powers best describes his journey in his own words, as evidenced by this excerpt from a piece of his poetry:

"…I am from a place where nothing is free,
my people told me never give in,
so I trudge forward,
in other words, I walk with a purpose.
I believe in a dream,

Recovery is possible and
my life is what I make it…"