Class of 2021

Continuing Act

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:35:57 +0000

Continuing Act HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 08/09/2021 - 12:35

Graduating senior successfully mixes family and studies

August 10, 2021

Heather Harris Michonski

Raising two young children is hard, which is probably why most people wouldn’t consider simultaneously going back to college, but not Georgia Johnson, ’21, who decided it was the perfect time to jump right in.

At age 30, she made the decision to enroll at 51�Թ�� to earn a degree in communication studies.

“I was really nervous, I didn’t think I was smart enough to do it, but two classes in, I realized I’ve got this,” she said.

While studying at BSU, Johnson and her husband Christopher added another daughter to their growing family.

This might have deterred her from continuing, but Johnson kept going and along the way received support from many professors.

“Across the board, my professors were amazing,” she said. “I had pregnancy complications in the beginning, and they really helped to take the pressure off or me.”

Her path to Bridgewater started in Scotland, where she grew up.

In her homeland, Johnson was heavily involved in theater, acting and singing. She even earned a scholarship and moved to New York City to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Johnson’s acting career next took her on tour with Shout! The Mod Musical. Next up was a gig playing the USO Liberty Bell, that took her on stages around the country performing in front of military audiences.

The recent BSU graduate still performs as a member of the Highland Divas. The group has toured internationally, playing venues that include Carnegie Hall, Manchester Cathedral and B.B. King’s.

Looking ahead, Johnson doesn’t intend to give up acting entirely, “I plan on performing as much as possible on the side,” she said.

But her next goal is to earn a master’s degree in early education to pursue a teaching career.

Johnson said the support she received at BSU really helped her juggle motherhood, her acting career and school. It also helped her build confidence that she could continue her schooling, that she could reach her educational goals.

“Coming to Bridgewater was the best decision. My professors were really understanding and worked with me,” she said. “I never felt like I had a professor I couldn’t work with. BSU was a calm, relaxed and supportive environment.”

For people considering going back to school but worried about having too much on their plate, or maybe are just insecure about the process, Johnson said, throw those worries aside.

“Being a mom, I needed a good support system and found it at Bridgewater State. I don’t think I could have managed without that,” Johnson said. “Look into all your avenues. If I can do it, you can do it.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Being a mom, I needed a good support system and found it at Bridgewater State. I don’t think I could have managed without that.

Georgia Johnson, '21

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Class of 2021

Alumni Profile

‘We Persisted’

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 22:41:40 +0000

‘We Persisted’ BBENSON@bridgew.edu Sat, 07/31/2021 - 18:41

Class of 2021 looks back at challenges overcame and forward to lives of promise

July 31, 2021

Brian Benson

Adaisha Straughn could have given up her educational dreams. Stress prompted her to put classes on hiatus, but hard work and a renewed focus ultimately led her to the commencement stage at Gillette Stadium.

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” the mathematics major said. “It’s awesome. To be here with family and friends is great.”

Straughn was among approximately 2,000 51�Թ�� students recognized for their academic accomplishments at Saturday’s undergraduate commencement ceremonies for the class of 2021. Speakers praised graduates’ success amid a COVID-19 pandemic that upended their college experience but did not deter them.

“We persisted. We endured. And along the way we may have learned something about ourselves: We need each other,” said President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83. “As much as possible, we need to be together since being alone cuts against the grain of our humanity. Being together to learn, to serve, to lead, to compete or simply have fun matters.”

Congressman Stephen Lynch, former state Sen. Therese Murray and BSU President Emeritus Dana Mohler-Faria received honorary degrees and offered words of wisdom for the graduates.

“Whether you realize it or not, you have learned to change obstacles into opportunities,” said Murray, the first women to be president of the Massachusetts Senate. “Looking at obstacles as opportunities allows you to persevere, to find a new way to think and to be creative in reaching your objective.”

The day was especially meaningful for graduate Brian DelloRusso, a physical education major who asked his girlfriend, Katie Bryant, to marry him just before the ceremony. She said “yes.”

Gillette Stadium was the perfect proposal location for the Patriots fans, who first met as Weymouth High School students. Katie, he said, made it possible for him earn his degree while raising their young son, Maxwell.

“It’s amazing,” he said of the proposal. “I want to spend the rest of my life with her. She helped me through this journey with support and encouragement.”

Abigail Soares’ dream to become a teacher began in her childhood bedroom, where she would pretend to take attendance with her family and friends serving as pupils. Soares, the student speaker for the colleges of education and health sciences, business, and science and mathematics, encouraged classmates to never stop following their dreams.

“We demonstrated an unprecedented ability to adapt and change and that is what sets us apart,” the English and elementary education major said. “The only way to survive was to adapt, so we did against all odds. But we didn’t do it alone. We did it through the help and support system of professors, staff, friends, family and peers and everyone behind the scenes who turned dreamers into achievers.”

Ethan Child, an English and secondary education major, told his classmates in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to follow a Cambodian proverb: “Do not abandon the curved path, don’t travel on the straight path.”

The curved path to a BSU degree may have included transferring schools, navigating online learning, changing majors, finding a job, or raising kids.

“Classmates, I am inspired by your refusal to adhere to the straight path,” Child said. “Before me today are change-makers, visionaries shaping more sustainable futures, activists advocating for equity for the LGBTQ+ community, and leaders in the ongoing fight for racial justice.”

In the parking lot before commencement, Tiffany MacLean, an elementary education and art major, reflected on being a first-generation college student and the help she found at Bridgewater around every corner.

“Navigating through college without the support of someone who has already done it meant a lot of problem solving and trying to figure out what way works best,” said MacLean, who will teach at Burkland Elementary School in Middleboro this fall.

Her mom, Christine, added: “We’re proud of her. We never even thought of going to college and now she’s graduating. It’s great.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

We demonstrated an unprecedented ability to adapt and change and that is what sets us apart.

Abigail Soares

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Commencement

Class of 2021

Success Stories

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:51:53 +0000

Success Stories BBENSON@bridgew.edu Tue, 07/20/2021 - 10:51

Graduate students look back over their time at the university

July 22, 2021

Brian Benson

Members of the College of Graduate Studies’ Classes of 2020 and 2021 are bringing compassion, tenacity and ingenuity to the world. And they credit their 51�Թ�� education with making it possible.

We asked several graduates to reflect on their time as Bears and how BSU set them up for success.

A Lesson in Perseverance

Jessica Mello’s advisees at Argosy Collegiate Charter School will not have far to look for inspiration: Mello’s higher education journey shows that obstacles are merely things to be surmounted.

The Somerset resident worked on her master’s degree in student affairs counseling while working, pregnant, raising her three children, and coping with a learning disability that makes reading more difficult.

“It was really hard being a non-traditional, first-generation college student with a disability most people didn’t know about,” said Mello, a visual learner who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from BSU after graduating from Bristol Community College.

Mello, who is finishing her fieldwork this summer, didn’t share with others her disability until graduate school. The counselor education curriculum includes lessons on serving students with disabilities, prompting Mello to open up about her personal experience.

“They were super supportive,” she said. “I can’t say enough about the counselor education professors. That’s one of the things I love about the graduate program.”

Through mock counseling sessions and other hands-on learning, faculty brought out her confidence.

“I felt very prepared thanks to professors like Dr. (Katherine) Bender, Dr. (Nikki) Freeburg and Dr. (Victoria) Bacon who really challenge you in unique and encouraging ways,” she said.

As Argosy’s new dean of college and career readiness, she will serve students taking dual enrollment college classes and encourage middle schoolers to reach for their dreams. She looks forward to sharing her own story to illustrate what is possible.

“They’re capable of doing anything if they put their mind to it,” she said. “I know achieving my degrees is something that can never be taken from me.”

Illuminating new opportunities

Dr. Gale McCall, G’20, once didn’t know Bridgewater State even existed. The South Carolinian wasn’t familiar with northern schools.

Fortunately, her mentor was Michael Akinbola, G’17, an assistant athletic trainer and physical therapist for the New England Patriots. The BSU graduate recommended his alma mater’s athletic training program.

“I feel like I developed a lot of good relationships,” said McCall. “From everyone in the College of Graduate Studies to my professors and classmates, it was pretty tight-knit.”

She appreciated the funding available to students, which she said is superior to what she sees elsewhere. So too were the clinical rotations, where McCall worked at Harvard University, Stonehill College, and the Texas Legends of the NBA G League.

McCall, who earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University, is already achieving her goal of working with professional athletes: She was head athletic trainer for the G League’s Long Island Nets this past season. And McCall knows her Bridgewater connections will be there for her into the future.

“If you say you want to do it, someone in that network is going to help you do it,” she said. “Every person I’ve met at BSU was a little bit of sunshine amid all the snow and rain in Massachusetts.”

Commitment to service

Cassandra Laslie, ’16, G’20, and Christopher Welch, ’18, G’20, came to Bridgewater as undergraduates unsure what their futures would hold. They graduated with Master of Public Administration degrees and a new outlook on rewarding careers.

“BSU has reshaped my life and my worldview,” said Welch, who is from Fall River and aims to earn a doctorate in environmental public policy.

Laslie, who is from East Bridgewater and studied art as an undergraduate, knew little about public and nonprofit work until graduate school.

“The word ‘constituent’ wasn’t even in my vocabulary,” she recalled. “It’s opened up my eyes to a totally different world.”

Laslie interned at Massachusetts Wonderfund, a nonprofit supporting children served by the state Department of Children and Families. She teaches high school art and plans to continue her BSU education in the fall to advance her teaching skills. Welch gained hands-on experience at Cape Cod Commission, a regional planning agency. He is a management fellow in the General Manager's Office for the Town of Norwood and aims to become a regional planner or a town manager.

“BSU helped me to understand what my purpose is and what career I would like to pursue,” said Welch, who has a graduate certificate in applied anthropology and bachelor’s degree in history.

Both benefited from BSU’s commitment to student success. Welch, whose mother survived COVID-19, received assistance paying his rent during the pandemic from the Student Emergency Fund. He appreciated the help of many political science professors, especially during the uncertain summer of 2020. Laslie praises the support of Dr. Melinda Tarsi, who she says will be a mentor and friend long after graduation.

“Bridgewater State overall has made me a more confident person,” she said. “They’ve introduced me to a ton of people who I know will be there for me when I’m looking for jobs.”

Twice as Nice

Patriots fan Taylor Schon, ’20, G’21, is eager to show off her accomplishments at commencement on the Gillette Stadium field. Thanks to her determination, she gets to do it twice.

“To me, it’s just a whole different feeling and experience because I am able to go and celebrate myself with my classmates,” said Schon, who will be recognized for her Master of Business Administration degree on July 29 and bachelor’s in management the next night.

But she knows her time at BSU was about more than a ceremony.

“I think Bridgewater overall has shown me with my education what I can do in the real world,” said Schon, who is from Stoneham and completing her coursework this summer.

She’s a marketing assistant at engineering firm Weston & Sampson, a company for which she interned. Schon, who played ice hockey as a Bear, hopes for a career tied to her passion for both athletics and environmental protection.

She praised Dr. Kathleen Ferris-Costa, an associate professor in the Department of Management and Marketing, for her unwavering support and encouragement.

“Grad school is a lot different than undergrad,” she said. “It really opens your network and allows you to meet a lot more people.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I think Bridgewater overall has shown me with my education what I can do in the real world.

Taylor Schon, ’20, G’21

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Commencement

Class of 2020

Class of 2021

Graduate Studies

Bus photo by Zachary Allen, '24

Class of 2021 Senior Voices

JFINKELSTEIN@bridgew.edu — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 13:47:27 +0000

Class of 2021 Senior Voices JFINKELSTEIN@b… Thu, 06/24/2021 - 09:47

Members of the Class of 2021 look back

July 27, 2021

Heather Harris Michonski

As the 51�Թ�� class of 2021 prepares to walk across the stage at Gillette Stadium later this month to celebrate commencement, it’s safe to say these Bears will have stories to share for generations to come. This class learned how to adapt. Each student in their own way successfully navigated a global pandemic to make it to the finish line. Before collecting their degrees, we asked some of them what it feels like to be graduating from BSU.

I am so grateful for my four years at BSU. Being a bear has made me a better person. Each step of the way BSU has helped me grow as an individual, citizen, and aspiring educator. For as long as I can remember I have been an "aspiring" educator. Now, it is time for me to move from aspiring to achieving. There are many days I feel like a child who is pretend playing grown up, but in my heart, I know I am ready, and I have BSU to thank for it.

Jessica Rinker

English and Secondary Education Major from Fairhaven

Graduating from BSU feels extremely bittersweet. On one hand I’m so excited to be done with my undergraduate career, but on the other I’m sad to be leaving because I’ve made so many great connections and memories over the last four years. I thank BSU and all of the people I’ve met along the way for helping me become who I am today. Every day truly was a great day to be a Bear

Jake Dee-Hastings

Communications Major from Falmouth

I couldn't be happier graduating from BSU. After six years of college, I am finally graduating from a place that shaped me so much. I knew from day one when I took a tour that this was where I was meant to be. With scars I got from being worn down, scars in my heart, and from falling from my skateboard… I am now graduating with beautiful flowers. And each petal with different shades of memories and experiences that I will carry for the rest of my life.

Kalvin Mota

Theatre Arts Major from New Bedford

Graduating from 51�Թ�� feels great. I’ve definitely grown tremendously during my time here and have also grown out of my comfort zone for the sake of speaking up when necessary. I believe I am capable of taking on whatever the world has to offer after my experience at BSU.

Melissa Adilas

Public Heath Major/Minor in African American Studies from Randolph

My past four years at BSU have shaped a trajectory for my life. As I begin my career in education, I carry many lessons from BSU with me. Above all, BSU has called me to be the change that our world needs—a challenge that I plan to embrace.

Ethan Child

English and Secondary Education Major from East Bridgewater

Yes

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Class of 2021