Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges

All-USA Academic Team Scholar and New Century Transfer Scholar – As a mother, wife, opera singer, theater artist, and non-traditional student, I’m both a theater and music major. My hope is to transfer to a four-year college as a theater major. I’m passionate about preserving live theater as an art form. Not only does theater entertain, but theater serves as an incredibly powerful tool of the people which can influence and change society. Using theater to illuminate a problem creates empathy which can resonate throughout the entire world. My goal is to lead a progressive theater company producing transformative work. I’m a Berkshire Honors Scholar. I serve as PTK New England Region President, PTK Chapter President, SGA President, PR Chair of the Massachusetts Student Advisory Council to the Board of Higher Education where we work to make education and the student experience as equitable and accessible as possible. My interests also include writing, social justice, law, and politics.

Monica Bliss, Berkshire Community College

When I first entered Berkshire Community College, I majored in music but later realized that it was not the right path for me. I was inspired by my second semester sociology class to fully invest myself in understanding the world around me. While I don’t currently have a major, I have been devoted to the Berkshire Honors Scholar program to expand my abilities as a student. Upon transferring, I intend to major in gender studies while additionally taking courses in the many aspects of the humanities. I believe that putting emphasis on critical thinking will allow me to gain well-rounded knowledge of my major. I want to effectively serve marginalized identities through my work and part of this effort will be to educate future students. My goal after finishing college is to become a college professor and to create positive change through higher education.

Molly Gingras, Berkshire Community College

Hello my name is Ginger Zani,  I live in Ashley Falls, MA with my husband, two teenage boys and many beloved pets. I have worked most of my life as a licensed veterinary technician. While I love working with animals, I have always been drawn to the field of nursing and am so excited to be on the journey I am on now. I was first inspired to be a nurse when I had my first child. I thought what could be more amazing and fulfilling than helping to bring a life into this world. After graduation from the ADN nursing program at BCC I hope to go on to receive my bachelors in nursing from Umass. I look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead in my career. When I am not working or studying, I enjoy gardening, kayaking and camping with my family.

Ginger Zani, Berkshire Community College

My name is Dakota Chixarro and I am a graduating sophomore at Bristol Community College in the criminal justice transfer program. In the fall, I will be transferring to UMass Dartmouth to continue my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Upon attaining my bachelor’s degree, I hope to be hired as a police officer for the UMass Dartmouth Campus Police department while I continue to work on my master’s degree in criminal justice. I plan to transfer to another agency to pursue a career as a detective in either domestic violence or juvenile units. I also plan to attain the rank of lieutenant before retirement when I merge my career experience and love for the classroom as a criminal justice professor. I currently work as a night victim advocate with the New Bedford Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit. I enjoy playing guitar and listening to music.

Dakota Chixarro, Bristol Community College

My name is Magielette Hudson and while at Bristol, I have held leadership roles as President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Vice President of the Commonwealth Honors Program Club and Academic Chair of Bristol’s Student Senate. I am dedicated to serving my community as a volunteer with Bristol’s Mobile Food Market. I have also served as president of my husband’s military unit Family Readiness Group and as a volunteer with the Fall River Women, Infants and Children program. Upon graduating this spring, I will be attending Bryant University to pursue a degree in human resource management and will continue to volunteer in initiatives at Bryant and throughout my community. I attribute my success to the immense support I have received from the faculty, staff and my peers at Bristol, but especially to my husband and six children for always encouraging me to thrive in academics and beyond.

Magielette Hudson, Bristol Community College

My name is Ross Sherman and I am an excited and grateful young man who will be majoring in nursing beginning in September 2021. I look forward to helping as many people as possible and giving back that which has been so freely given to me. I am interested in the areas of emergency care, pediatrics and weight loss. When I complete my time with Bristol, I plan to pursue my BSN degree at UMass Dartmouth. I enjoy exercising, spending time with family and fixing stuff up around the house.

Ross Sherman, Bristol Community College

Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar – Niki Nguyen currently serves as the Student Trustee at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and Vice-Chairperson of the Massachusetts Student Advisory Council (SAC) to the Board of Higher Education. She also served as Vice President of Service for Phi Theta Kappa and Central Vice President of PTK New England. Niki is a member of the Student Trustee Advisory Committee to the ACCT Board of Directors, Massachusetts OER Advisory Council, and the Basic Needs Advisory Committee. She is currently interning as an Asian American Women’s Political Initiative (AAWPI) fellow at the State House and as an Early Education and Care Policy and Advocacy Intern for Strategies for Children. As a History/Government and Biology Transfer major, Niki’s future plans include emphasizing the importance of equity and access to education for all. To Niki, serving her community does not simply mean representing just one voice but standing for every voice at all levels.

Niki Nguyen, Bunker Hill Community College

Andrea Priolo came to Bunker Hill Community College in the Fall of 2019. Inspired by her mother, who is a Respiratory Therapist, she chose to pursue a career in Health Care.  After working in Radiology in a few hospitals, she decided to focus her studies in Cardiac Sonography.  She will complete her program in July and looks forward to a fulfilling career in providing care to people in our community.

Andrea Priolo, Bunker Hill Community College

Although Zuleka Queen-Postell started her education at Bunker Hill Community College in 2012, she took time off to raise her children. In 2019, she resumed her education with renewed passion.  Zuleka serves as Associate Vice President of the H Building on the BHCC Student Government Association and has actively represented the student voice at college events and college committees. She is a TRO Student Success Program member and an Open Educational Resources (OER) Ambassador. Zuleka works as the Special Education Parent Advisory Council Liaison for Cambridge Public Schools and is passionate about sharing her knowledge of Special Education Rights and laws with anyone in need. She is the neurodiverse mom of two neurodiverse boys and plans to transfer to Lesley University to obtain her Bachelor’s in Art Therapy. Her goal is to open a school in Barbados that helps children with disabilities grow to their fullest potential.

Zuleka Queen-Postell, Bunker Hill Community College

My name is Alexandria Moran. I am 25 years old and have lived on Cape Cod since I was two years old. Growing up on Cape Cod has been a blessing. I am a student at Cape Cod Community College expecting to graduate this upcoming May 2021. I am a Phi Theta Kappa Honor society member and a part of my colleges’ Alpha Upsilon Mu chapter. Through this, I was nominated to the All-State Academic Team. My goal after graduation is to transfer to a four-year university for to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Neuroscience. I believe the brain is one of the most interesting and complex parts of the human anatomy. After I receive my bachelor’s degree, I plan to attend an accredited Physician Assistant program with hopes of obtaining a career as a Physician Assistant in Neurosurgery.

Alexandria Moran, Cape Cod Community College