To celebrate Greenfield Community College's 50th Anniversary (1962-2012), the 2012 Greenfield Community College Distinguished Alumni Award will be given to 37 alumni. These 37 will join the 13 Distinguished Alumni who have been honored since 2001, to make 50. The GCC Alumni Association is seeking nominations of GCC alumni who a) hold a degree from GCC or have taken at least 15 credits, b) have contributed to their community, state, country or world in an altruistic or exemplary way, and/or c) risen to prominence in their profession. All nominations will be reviewed and Awardees will be selected by a diverse group of GCC faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. The 50 Distinguished Alumni will be honored at an event in Fall 2012 at the College. To nominate someone, visit gcc.mass.edu/alumaward and fill out the online form or contact Andrea Carlin at or (413) 775-1600 by March 31st.

Past recipients of the GCC Distinguished Alumni Award include Judith Roberts '94  (2011), Terri Cappucci '93 (2010), Meg Palmeri '70 (2009), Ruth Gallagher '93 (2008), Hank Tenney alum (2007), Carol Purington alum (2006), Brian Gilmore '67 (2005), Maureen Brown '86 (2004), Diane Esser alum (2003), Tom Bean '70 (2002), and Rosemarie Freeland '93, Thomas McCarthy '71, and Robbie Cohn '71, who were each honored in 2001.

Deb Klein of Greenfield, Co-Chair of the Distinguished Alumni Award Committee for the past four years, said, "Selecting recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award is always both exciting and challenging. In past years, we have had excellent nominees and had to choose one. This year will be quite different, as we will select 37 alumni to make a total of 50 Distinguished Alumni in honor of GCC's 50^th Anniversary. I look forward to reading about nominees from a wide range of fields and all of the past five decades. We are seeking nominees who have excelled in their professions as well as those who are exemplary in their contributions to their communities. GCC's alumni are a talented, caring, and diverse group and we hope the pool of nominees reflects that diversity and talent."

Regina Curtis '86, President of the GCC Alumni Association, said, "GCC alumni have made their mark on the local, national, and global communities and this is our chance to shine a light on their success. We know we have alums who went on to become  business people, educators, members of the creative economy, professionals and community leaders right here in Western Mass and that we all benefit from their engagement with, and support for, their communities. We also know that GCC alums are making a difference around the country and around the world – working in the entertainment, publishing, outdoor leadership, and health care industries, just to name a few. I urge readers to nominate someone whose life was changed by GCC, who is now changing the lives of others – perhaps in the Pioneer Valley, California, Ecuador, or Japan. The 50-year impact and footprint of our alumni on this earth is significant and this is the moment to share that good news."

For information about the GCC Distinguished Alumni Award, contact Regina Curtis at or (413) 775-1426, or visit gcc.mass.edu/alumaward

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