Matt Aronson -- Eph Men's Soccer Capt. 2004 Headed to Africa With the Peace Corps

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A three-year starter in the back for Williams men's soccer head coach Mike Russo, Aronson earned a reputation for being a hard-nosed defender and a great communicator on the field. He captained the 2004 Ephs and graduated last June with a degree in political economy. He has served this fall as a volunteer assistant coach under Russo. Over the last four-plus years Matt Aronson has been a significant contributor to the continued success of the Williams men's soccer team, but now it is time for him to leave the Purple Valley. The Amherst game on October 29th could be the last time Aronson sees his beloved Ephs play a game on Cole Field for three years. Sometime in November Aronson will be deployed to an English-speaking African country — either Swaziland, Botswana or Gahanna — as a member of the Peace Corps. His assignment is to teach basic computer skills. After a three-month in-country training program Aronson will be assigned to a specific country for the next two years. Aronson has designs on either law school or some other graduate school in the future. "I'm looking forward to seeing how I react in the Peace Corps to having put myself in a place where I will not be comfortable (at first).and seeing how I react.” Mike Russo was not surprised to hear that Aronson was looking at the Peace Corps. "Matt was always concerned about others and he is always trying to find ways to help," said Russo. "He was a true leader for us, even when he was injured as a senior. He was always positive and enthusiastic." The notion to purse an opportunity with the Peace Crops just kind of entered Aronson's mind one day early in his sophomore year at Williams. "I was just thinking one day about what real life would hold for me and how I would like to join a non-profit organization that makes a difference," recalled Aronson. "I've always been one who looks for ways to increase my perspective on issues and see where I can be most helpful. "The Peace Corps seems like the perfect great challenge and as a soccer player I'm competitive by nature and always looking for ways to challenge myself by going outside of my comfort zone," he said. Growing up in Newton (Mass.) and having had the opportunity to travel in Europe, Israel and the Caribbean, Aronson knows that his time in Africa will be something he has not experienced before. Playing college soccer, Aronson believes, has prepared him for the challenge of leaving his comfort zone and even encouraged him to leave his comfort zone through the Peace Corps, "College soccer definitely forces you out of your comfort zone because you have to have the motivation in the summer to work on your skills and your fitness so you are ready to play when the season begins even though your friends are off hanging out," said Aronson. "You also have to approach your academics with consistency and organization so they don’t get the better of you, and then you need to play. For me how I played was usually a more tangible way of how things were affecting my life." Through his four years as a player and his one season as an assistant coach one trait has always stood out with Matt Aronson -- communication. "He has done a terrific job for us this season," said Russo. "Not only on improving our defenders 'skill levels, but improving their communication. He is so genuine and sincere he commands respect." Standing on the sidelines coaching the Ephs is vastly different from playing for the Ephs. "You see many more things as a coach than you do as a player, because you are not in the middle of the play," said Aronoson. "As a player you are always concerned about your own role, but as a coach you see the bigger picture of how all of the players are moving and communicating or how they are not doing those things. The key is to get the right message to the players about what they need to do as a group to be successful." Aronson has already taken the LSATs in case he decides to pursue a law degree after his time in Africa with the Peace Corps, but if not a law degree another postgraduate degree will be in the offing. Whatever proportions the mix is for Aronson after his tour in Africa, he knows that coaching some level of soccer, helping others, a graduate degree and continuing to go outside his comfort zone will be the main ingredients.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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