Former student returns to STCC to ‘pay it forward’

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Some students might see a little bit of themselves in Charlie Rosario, a financial aid counselor at Springfield Technical Community College.

Rosario graduated from STCC in 2016 but admits he had a rough start when he started at the college a few years earlier. He was the first in his family to pursue a degree and didn’t know what to expect when he stepped foot on campus in 2012.

“I didn’t do that well, but I decided to come back in 2014,” he said. “I was basically an average student, but then I got involved in activities, which made a difference.”

Rosario, who is of Puerto Rican descent, joined the LLAVE Club which provides support for students who identify as Hispanic, Latino, Latina or Latinx. LLAVE stands for Latino Leaders Achieving Valuable Education.

STCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution, a designation given to institutions that have at least 25 percent of their population identifying as Hispanic, Latino, Latina or Latinx.

“From there, that’s where I really branched off,” Rosario said. “At LLAVE people like Maria Zayas-Bonilla (an academic counselor at STCC) really helped and motivated me. When I joined the club, it was like a family.”

He remembered LLAVE worked on a fund-raiser so the club could go to Washington, D.C. He and many other students had never taken a big trip far away from home. He appreciated seeing the monuments and museums, and learning about other people’s cultures.

With the support at STCC, Rosario found academic success along with personal growth. He earned his general studies degree in 2016 and later received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Cambridge College. His goal is to earn a master’s of business administration (MBA).

He started in his position at STCC in January 2023. He loves his career in higher education and wants to keep helping students transform their lives. He won’t ever forget how he received help when he was a student.

Some people lack the information they need, so I help them out and pay it forward. Charlie Rosario, Financial Aid Counselor at STCC

STCC’s support networks for students have grown even stronger. If Rosario were a student today, he might be involved in MILE (Male Initiative for Leadership and Education), a program that provides inclusive academic support, mentoring and community engagement opportunities to male students at STCC.

The college also offers tutoring and a writing center. Another program, TRIO Student Support Services, assists students in adjusting to the college environment and helps them prepare for the transition either from college into a career or from STCC into a four-year college/university.

Women can get involved with the Female Leadership and Mentoring (Lead) Program.

Massachusetts residents who have not earned a college degree can now go to STCC and other state community colleges at no cost. The state offers MassReconnect, a version of free community college for Massachusetts residents 25 years of age or older  to earn an associate degree or certificate.

Samantha Plourd, the dean of Enrollment, Retention and Completion at STCC, said Rosario is an asset to the institution and someone who brings excellent relationship-building skills.

“The students tend to like working with him because he knows and understands what it’s like to be a student here,” Plourd said. “He has those experiences that he can bring forward and help them navigate the difficulties that come with being a student.”

When he interacts with students, Rosario might tell them to get involved in clubs and organizations. He also might encourage them to not be afraid to reach out to their professors and advisors and ask questions.

“One of the professors who helped me, Theresa Shea, talked me into getting involved on campus,” he said.

As a student at STCC, Rosario started with LLAVE and eventually branched out to other campus activities. He joined the Student Government Association and served as the club liaison where he worked to help the student clubs at STCC be successful. He helped with student orientation. After he graduated, he worked as the coordinator of the Summer Bridge Program, which helps incoming STCC students get a head start.

He said a big lesson he learned when he was active as a student at STCC was to “pay it forward” by helping out others. He wants to help students understand their options – and know that they can get a college education like he did even if they have limited resources. He keeps that in mind in his role as financial aid counselor when he’s assisting them with their documents and applications for loans.

Rosario’s satisfaction from his job comes when he sees how his work has helped a student.

“Some people lack the information they need, so I help them out and pay it forward,” Rosario said. “Someone might decide not to come to school because they don’t know how to get started. I want to show them how to make it work. I really appreciate it when I help a student get what they need to be successful.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

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

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