Education

Westfield State University’s Pathways to Excellence raises a record $203,000

Theatre students perform at Westfield State University’s Pathways to Excellence fundraising event, held May 11 at the Catherine Dower Performing and Fine Arts Center. (Photo courtesy WSU)

WESTFIELD — The fifth annual Pathways to Excellence fundraiser for Westfield State University and the Westfield State Foundation, held earlier this month, raised $203,000 to support students.

“This year’s event was our most successful yet,” said Dr. Erica Broman, executive director of the Foundation and Westfield State University vice president of Institutional Advancement. “This will allow us to make the state university internship incentive match for this year and to add additional student scholarships to our endowment.”

Westfield State University President Ramon Torrecilha, Ph.D., thanked the attendees for their loyal support of the annual fundraising event. “Your gifts support the worthwhile cause of public higher education and they are directly invested into student success,” he said.

Attendees were entertained and engaged by student presentations and performances. More than 150 students and faculty participate, including musical groups such as the University’s Chamber Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, and Faculty Jazz Ensemble; selections from the Theatre Arts Program’s spring production of “Urinetown,” and three original 10-minute theatre performances. In addition, the creative works of students were displayed throughout the evening, supplemented by interactive demonstrations of mediums, including printmaking, 3D printing, and the pottery wheel.

“As chair of the Westfield State Foundation Board, I have been fortunate to participate in many of the Pathways events,” said James Leahy. “This one was particularly special, due to its focus on the arts and its host facility, the University’s Catherine Dower Performing and Fine Arts Center, named for one of our most esteemed educators and philanthropists.”

Westfield Bank was the premier sponsor of the event. Platinum sponsors included Baystate Health (Noble), Berkshire Bank and The Washington Center. Specialty Bolt and Screw, and Westfield Electroplating were Diamond sponsors, and Comcast Cable/Xfinity was a Gold sponsor.

Silver sponsors included Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Baystate Dental, Commercial Distributing, Dietz & Company Architects, and Six Flags, while Bronze sponsors were Advance Manufacturing Co. Inc., Columbia Manufacturing, PeoplesBank, Wassman Audio & Visual and the Westfield State Alumni Association.

This year’s event co-chairs were Carlos and University Trustee Madeline Landrau; University Trustee representative on the Westfield Foundation Board Kevin Queenin ’70 and his wife, Barbara ’70; and Jim McGowan ’92, president of the University’s Alumni Association, and his wife, Julie.

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