STCC academic counselor who overcame obstacles wins ‘Rising Star’ award

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – When he’s counseling students at Springfield Technical Community College, Jason Phillips looks for ways to help them to do their best, despite any obstacles they might face.

Phillips, 25, knows about barriers. When he was in high school, Phillips struggled with a stutter and faced bullying. He did not have the best grades and was told he would never make it in college.

Yet he persisted and went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Today, he works at STCC as an academic and transfer counselor. Phillips recently was honored with the Western Massachusetts Counselors Association Rising Star Award for his dedication to serving students.

Zahi Haddad, a professor in Engineering and Physical Science, nominated Phillips, saying he’s one of the hardest workers he knows.

“I want him and I want others on campus to know if you work really hard, people notice,” Haddad said. “He does care about the students. He puts in tons of hours. I want him to know we’re proud of him, and he deserves that award.”

Added Dr. Melishia Santiago, Assistant Dean of the School of STEM: “We’re proud of Jason and were thrilled to hear he received this well-deserved award.”

At STCC, Phillips not only counsels students but serves as an adjunct faculty member. He teaches the STEM First Year Experience, which helps students with strategies to be successful in college. He works in the STEM Center at STCC. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Phillips received the Rising Star award at a celebratory Western Mass. Counselors Association dinner on Nov. 16.

“I was surprised when I got the phone call,” Phillips said. “I was honored. I don’t do it for the recognition. I do it for the students here at STCC.”

I want him and I want others on campus to know if you work really hard, people notice. Zahi Haddad, Professor at STCC

It was no doubt a bright and uplifting evening, but Phillips has not had an easy journey. When he was getting ready to graduate from high school in 2016, Phillips thought about his future and going to college. But he heard from people who doubted his ability to succeed academically. Someone told him he shouldn’t even bother applying to college because he wouldn’t make it.

He ignored them and applied to Westfield State University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

As a child, Phillips developed a stutter. He has improved his communication skills after working with a speech pathologist, but in high school he sometimes would have trouble getting words out.

“Back in high school and even my first year in college, I couldn’t even say a full sentence without having an issue,” he said. “I ended up changing high schools because of bullying.”

Even today, Phillips’ stutter might return during stressful situations. He recalls one day “getting worked up” and having trouble getting the words out when speaking with an STCC student who also happened to have a stutter.

“He asked me about my strategies to talk,” Phillips said. “He feels more comfortable talking to me. We have the commonality of having a disability.”

Professor Haddad said Phillips won’t let his disability or anything else get in the way of his work and desire to motivate others.

“He presented in Atlanta at a conference about success,” Haddad said. “He told other colleges if they want to succeed, this is what we do at STCC,” Haddad said. “For someone who might be nervous about standing in front of people, he doesn’t let that get in the way. He does a lot of public speaking.”

Haddad credits Phillips with boosting the number of students in his program. Phillips visits high schools to talk to students about STCC’s unique STEM programs, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the region.

“He’s the one looking for students, explaining to them what the program does and how to succeed in class,” Haddad said.

He makes a special connection with students, Haddad added.

“They will feel at ease with him,” Haddad said. “If there’s an issue going on with their lives, they don’t want to tell us (teachers) but they will talk to him about it. And Jason will tell us. He does a good job of communicating back to us about some of the issues they’re having. Without him, I think we would be lost.”

Phillips grew up in Westfield and graduated from Northampton High School in 2016. He earned his bachelor’s degree in movement science and master’s degree in counseling from Westfield State University.

He discovered a passion for working in higher education when he was a student working as a Peer Advisor and Contracted Academic Advisor at Westfield State. Before coming to STCC, he worked for the Northampton Board of Health.

Phillips lives in West Springfield with his parents and sister. He bought the house himself.

“Where he is right now is a massive accomplishment,” Haddad said. “His story is uplifting. It makes you feel like, if he can do it, everyone one of them should say I can do it. One day, he may have his doctorate. He may one day apply to be a dean. I will be sad to lose him, but I will be thrilled for him.”

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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