In celebration of the extraordinary successes of Greenfield Community College students, GCC will confer the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award to one distinguished alumna/us. This individual will join the GCC Distinguished Alumni who have been previously honored, representing the college's nearly sixty years of providing access and excellence in education to all who seek to learn.

The annual Distinguished Alumni Award was established by the Greenfield Community College Alumni Association to recognize and honor an alumna/us of GCC who has achieved substantial public recognition for his/her accomplishments or success. To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must have:

1. Earned a degree/certificate or at least 15 credits at Greenfield Community College, and
2. Earned the respect and trust of their associates in his/her profession, and
3. Made substantial contributions to the good of their fellow human beings
4. Volunteered for a nonprofit/civic organization(s) that promotes the common good

All nominations will be reviewed and the Awardee will be selected by the GCC Alumni Council, a diverse group that represents all alumni of the College. The Distinguished Alum will be honored at a meeting of the GCC Board of Trustees in April.

To nominate someone, visit gcc.mass.edu/alumaward and fill out the online form or contact Nance Rifanburg at (413) 775-1600. Nominations must be received by March 1.

The GCC Alumni Association seeks nominees from the broad array of professions into which its alumni have entered over the past five decades, looking for candidates who have excelled in their professions and who are exemplary in their contributions to their communities. GCC's talented, caring and diverse alumni have positively impacted many, many lives.

A complete list of previous Distinguished Alumni winners can be found on the Distinguished Alumni nomination page at gcc.mass.edu/alumaward.

Regina Curtis '86, member of the GCC Alumni Association and Executive Director of the GCC Office of Resource Development, said, "GCC alumni have made their mark on the local, national, and global communities and this is one way we can 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 here in this region and that all benefit from their engagement with, and support for, their communities." She added, "We also know that GCC alums are making a difference around the country and around the world – working in the public safety, 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, whether they live near or far, who is now changing the lives of others."

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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