Gov. Deval Patrick and many other excited officials and MCLA members cut the ribbon at the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts President Mary Grant announced a "transformational gift" of $5 million from Feigenbaum Foundation to an ecstatic crowd that packed the science center's lobby on Friday afternoon.
Moments later, the sign with the new namesake of the recently constructed building and the first new building at MCLA in 40 years was revealed — Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation.
"With support from the Feigenbaum Foundation we will support excellence in learning and teaching at MCLA, the advancement of research on innovation and leadership at the college amd throughout the Berkshires that the Feigenbaums held so dear," Grant said.
Emil George, president of the Feigenbaum Foundation, explained the foundation was established to improve the quality of life particularly for those institutions in Berkshire County with an emphasis on education, science, technology and management.
George said this was the first major donation since the passing of Donald Feigenbaum and the retirement of his brother, Armand.
The Feigenbaum brothers, experts in total quality management, were known as philanthropists, most notably donating more than $1 million to renovate the Berkshire Museum, which opened the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation in their honor.
He also credited his friend and adviser Bud Riley, who died on Aug. 18, just three days after completing the paperwork to finalize the agreement, for spearheading the gift and naming the science center. In his honor, $20,000 worth of scholarships in memory of Bernard E. Bud Riley will be awarded annually.
"Within weeks after Donald's death, I had a meeting at Bud's house," George said. "And we were discussing the mission statement and what the brothers would've wanted, and Bud said, 'You know, when it comes to this area of education, technology and sciences, I really would like to do something for MCLA' just out of the blue."
Many local officials attended the ceremony, including Gov. Deval Patrick.
Patrick described the center as a "gorgeous building" that he hoped he could tour when there weren't quite so many people around.
President Mary Grant spoke to a packed lobby on Friday afternoon.
Constrasting the opening as a step forward for the state, even as the federal government is stalled, he said the center was "important for North Adams, for Berkshire County, for Western Massachusetts, for the whole region, and the whole commonwealth.
"Why? Because growth will come from a blend of education, innovation and infrastructure pursued with discipline. ... It's a winning strategy through history and it will make a difference here today and tomorrow."
Department of Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland said the building shows a strong commitment to the state's youth.
"I don't think [you light] a fire more among a young person than adults saying, 'You matter, you're important, your work matters and we're willing to put money on the table.' That's what this building says to this community and the young people who come here and the people who teach and work here," Freeland said, speaking with Carole Cornelison, commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.
Ann Billetz, chairman of the science department, was excited that all of the sciences are under the same roof for the first time.
"When we moved into this building, it was really like moving home," Billetz said, also noting how the science departments were involved in the process and were able to provide input along the way.
MCLA senior and psychology major Asia Andrews spoke of her excitement as well.
"My peers and I have the opportunity to enhance our learning both in and out of the classroom because of the resources available to us in this building," Andrews said.
Both Andrews and Billetz appreciated the new labs, classrooms, lounges and study areas.
The county's delegation had strong attendence, with Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, on hand. In addition, Sen. Benjamin Downing attended. Grant also thanked past representatives and school officials who had made the project possible, particularly former state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley.
"Aren't we all excited?" Cariddi asked giddily. "This is just not the newest project of the commonwealth, but it's the finest example of a project that the Legislature and government working with higher education to benefit the students who come here and will go through this building and go be educated to go work with businesses that need to have the people who come through these doors."
The county's two mayors also attended. Mayor Richard Alcombright and Pittsfield Mayor Daniel Bianchi stressed the importance of the center as a regional asset to science education.
"As a significant part of [Mary Grant's] efforts, she was passionate that this place does not only provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for her students, but also a facility that would become a regional STEM resource center for the community and for our K-7 educators and our students," Alcombright said.
The $40 million building was funded through $54.5 million in capital funds from the governor's 2008 Higher Education Bond Bill and $1.7 million from MCLA; the college next looks to use those funds to begin renovations of Bowman Hall. The center's groundbreaking took place on a similarly drizzly Friday two years ago and was opened to students at the beginning of this semester.
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Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock was awarded a Freedom to Read Grant by the Newburger Schwartz Family Foundation.
The grant was awarded to support the Alumni Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project in building a more robust collection of queer scholarship, starting a Queer Book Club, and hosting Drag Story Time events in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires.
According to a press release:
In response to current educational threats with book bans affecting schools and libraries across the country and further proposed legislation against LGBTQ+ people's access to basic rights and education, Simon's Rock is actively seeking to create inclusive and equitable spaces for queer individuals.
The Bard Queer Leadership Project and Alumni Library will utilize the grant funding to expand the library's current collection of queer books in order to fully enable the longevity of the Queer Book Club and the Bard Queer Leadership Project. The Queer Book Club will be an intergenerational space, open to local middle school students through rainbow seniors and will partner with local community organizations, to discuss queer books and learn about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. Bard Queer Leadership Project students will eventually help lead this initiative as part of their leadership project training.
The Queer Book Club will host their first meeting on April 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alumni Library, with following meetings on April 27 and May 11. This semester, the selected books are "Obie is Man Enough" and "He/She/They," both by Schuyler Bailar, inspirational speaker and first openly transgender NCAA Division swimmer, who was a guest speaker in the inaugural Queer Leaders Vision Forum in fall 2023 at Simon's Rock. Schuyler Bailar will return to campus for a book signing and pool party at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Participants in the Queer Book Club will receive a free copy of either book of their choice.
The first Drag Story Time will be on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Simon's Rock Alumni Library and is open to all LGBTQ+ affirming individuals. The event is in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires with local drag queens JV and Poppy DaBubbly. The second Drag Story Time will be Saturday, April 27 with drag queen Poppy DaBubbly and drag king Sativo Green.
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Emily Holian’s strike to open the 10th frame of the Wildcats’ second game against Worcester Tech all but assured Lee a team title at Bowlero Chicopee.
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