Annual Award Tops $80K.

Read the MGHPCC Press Release

Holyoke, Massachusetts, May 26, 2022 – Holyoke Mayor Joshua A Garcia today announced the winner of a $5,000 college scholarship from the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC). The scholarship recipient is Jacqueline Jourdain, who will be attending UMass Amherst in the fall.  Now in its ninth year, the MGHPCC’s merit-based scholarship program has awarded more than $80,000 in grants to date.

“Our community partners are a great part of what makes this city flourish,” said Mayor Joshua A Garcia. “We are grateful for the MGHPCC’s continued support to the growth and development of our city, especially educational programs like the annual scholarship that can make a real difference in the life of a young person.”

“Advancing education and workforce development in the region is part of our founding mission, one to which each of our members is committed, collectively and individually,” said MGHPCC Executive Director John Goodhue. “We congratulate Jacqueline on her scholarship, graduation and acceptance into UMass, and we are gratified that she took advantage of this opportunity.”

“Jacqueline is a dedicated student who will surely continue her growth and exploration in college,” said Superintendent Anthony W. Soto. “She has already demonstrated that she has the skills and habits of mind to succeed during her college career and beyond.  We wish her all the best.” 

The MGHPCC scholarship program is open to any Holyoke Public School student enrolling at one of the five founding members of the MGHPCC: Boston University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, MIT or UMass. It is open to students in any major and not limited to students of computer science or other scientific disciplines. Recipients are chosen based on an 800-word essay answering the question, “What do you see as the three biggest challenges currently facing Holyoke, and what would you do to address them?”

In addition to sponsoring the scholarship program, the MGHPCC works with the mayor’s office, Holyoke Public Schools, Holyoke Community College, Springfield Technical Community College and local community service organizations to host internships, robotics competitions, teacher workshops, after-school classes, programming courses, career awareness days and summer camps.

Story image: From left to right: Anthony Soto (superintendent), Joshua Carcia (Mayor), Jacqueline Jourdain (scholarship winner), Kevin Jourdain (father) – Courtesy Mayor’s Office, Holyoke