Publisher, civil rights activist Frederick Hurst to address STCC graduates at commencement ceremony on May 31
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Frederick A. Hurst, an attorney and publisher of the community news magazine An African-American Point of View, will be the featured speaker at Springfield Technical Community College's 51st commencement on Thursday, May 31, 6:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center.
In 2003, Hurst and his wife, editor and attorney Marjorie Hurst, founded Af-Am Point of View, a free publication for the African-American community and other readers who are interested in diverse points of view. Topics covered include business, community issues, education, health, politics, religion and the arts.
Frederick A. Hurst
Over a career that spans six decades, Hurst has worked in a wide range of positions, including as a discrimination and employment attorney. He and Marjorie Hurst are partners at the Springfield law firm Hurst & Hurst, P.C.
During his legal career, Hurst was a commissioner/administrative law judge with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination for nine years. He also worked as a criminal defense attorney.
Hurst, who is known as “Rick,” has served as trustee on boards for STCC and Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He recently served a two-year term on the board of directors of Mass Humanities and was a corporator for the Springfield Museum & Library Association. He is a former member of the Hampden County Bar Association, Springfield Central Board of Directors and Springfield Rotary.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Hurst held different positions in Springfield and Chicago. His diverse career experience includes working as director of student affairs and administrative services at a university in Chicago, a teacher in the Springfield Public Schools and a director of federal jobs program for the Urban League of Springfield.
Hurst has written or co-written several legal publications and is the author of “A History of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, 1908-2017.”
"Simply stated, Mr. Hurst is a dynamic human being, and we are thrilled he is our commencement speaker. As a former STCC Trustee from 1995 to 2003, he knows our institution and the importance of our two middle names," said STCC President John B. Cook.
“I have had a long-standing relationship with STCC, and the opportunity to address this year's graduates is an honor," Hurst said.
Hurst earned his law degree from DePaul University School of Law in Chicago. He was a doctoral student in education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 7,700 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@S_T_C_C).
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu