image description

McCann Tech Grad, MCLA Senior Learning with Mass Golf Association

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
Print Story | Email Story
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- For the second time in less than a month, Nate Gutmann’s summer job has taken him back to North County.
 
Gutmann of Adams, a McCann Tech graduate and senior at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, is a summer intern with Massachusetts Golf Association, which on Sunday and Monday is holding the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship at Waubeeka Golf Links.
 
In July, the MGA held the Massachusetts Amateur Championship at Williamstown’s Taconic Golf Club.
 
“When I’m here, they ask me what’s good in the area because I’m the local boy,” Gutmann said, referring to his MGA colleagues. “It’s fun being out here. I love it.”
 
And Gutmann is loving his time at the association, whether it is helping to update the MGA database at its headquarters in Norton or working at one or two tournaments per week around the commonwealth.
 
“I also help out at the [MGA Links at Mamantapett],” he said, referring to the organization’s par-3 youth program. “I help out with the kids clinics and all that fun stuff. I try to teach the kids the right way.”
 
Gutmann is a relative newcomer to the sport himself, having started playing golf just two and a half years ago. His time with the MGA is helping him gain a deeper appreciation for the sport and, occasionally, work on his own game at some of Massachusetts’ top courses.
 
“I was out here Thursday playing [at Waubeeka],” he said. “Some courses will ask if you want to play. I don’t always because I’m usually two-and-a-half hours away, so I get back in the car [after working at a tournament]. But when I get free time, I do play.”
 
On Sunday, he was helping to update scores on the association’s website and assisting the rest of the MGA’s professional staff keep the tournament running.
 
The course management experience could pay off down the road as Gutmann pursues his career in the business of sports.
 
Gutmann is majoring in business with a concentration in sports management in MCLA. After graduation this year, he hopes to pursue a master’s degree in sports business.
 
“I’m hoping to do anything in the sports realm,” he said. “Realistically, I’d love to be an athletic director. That would be awesome.”
 
For now, Gutmann is having an awesome summer on the links.
 
“Learning the game of golf and being in the organization has been outstanding,” he said. “It’s been everything anyone could dream of.
 
“It’s not playing golf that’s the highlight. It’s the people I meet. … They’re incredible people, and I never would have met them if I didn’t have this internship. That’s what makes this job.”
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories