Commissioner of Higher Education to deliver keynote address at 2024 STCC Commencement
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Dr. Noe Ortega, a prominent figure in education and advocacy, will serve as the featured speaker at Springfield Technical Community College’s 57th Commencement Ceremony on May 30, 6:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center.
Ortega was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in 2022. Appointed by the Board of Higher Education, with approval of the Secretary of Education, the Commissioner works to help advance equitable outcomes and student success throughout the Commonwealth’s public and private higher education institutions. This work includes collaborating with the leaders of the Commonwealth’s 29 public colleges and universities to promote, foster and coordinate the Commonwealth’s public higher education system. With a distinguished career dedicated to educational access and equity, Ortega brings a wealth of experience and insight to inspire STCC’s graduating class of 2024.
Dr. Noe Ortega
Dr. John B. Cook, STCC President, expressed excitement about Ortega’s serving as keynote for this year’s commencement.
“We are honored and excited to have Commissioner Ortega join us as our featured speaker,” Cook said. “This year has been so important for community colleges given MassReconnect, and our work with Dr. Ortega to bring forward such a significant investment is a testament to his leadership and commitment to our students. I know our graduates will value his message and outlook, including how important they are for our communities.”
Ortega's extensive background in education includes serving as Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prior to that role, he served as Deputy Secretary and Commissioner for the Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
He is a strong advocate for underrepresented populations and historically disenfranchised communities of color. As Commissioner in Massachusetts, he has been instrumental in advancing educational initiatives like MassReconnect, which is free community college for adults age 25 and older, as well as expansion of MASSGrant Plus, in addition to Tuition Equity for undocumented students, all of which aim to close opportunity gaps.
“I am honored to address the graduating class of Springfield Technical Community College,” Ortega said. “Massachusetts should be a Commonwealth in which any student with the talent, desire and drive can attend college, succeed as a student, graduate and launch a rewarding career. This year’s historic financial aid expansion brings us much closer to achieving this vision. With students and their families at STCC, I very much look forward to celebrating the significant accomplishment that graduation represents.”
In addition to Commissioner Ortega as keynote, the commencement will feature speeches from graduates, college leaders, as well as awards. During the ceremony, STCC will honor Ralph Jordan, a Springfield native, with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Jordan, who was one class shy of obtaining his degree at the then Springfield Technical Institute, will also be presented with his associate degree during the ceremony.
With a career in manufacturing and engineering that included prominent leadership roles, he was also a longtime faculty member at the UMass Lowell Manning School of Business.
The commencement ceremony will take place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, at 6:30 p.m., May 30, 2024. Graduating students, faculty, staff, families and community members are invited to attend and celebrate the achievements of STCC’s graduating class.
For more information, visit stcc.edu/commencement.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu