BARD Holyoke

08/31/2025

During Language & Thinking at Bard Microcollege Holyoke, Program Coordinator Julisa DeLeon '19 organized a panel for alumni to share advice with and answer questions from incoming students. Here is some of what they shared:

“You need a team to win. And you will find it here.“ - Jessica Rivera '25

“Stay curious. Don’t let these opportunities they give you pass you by. Check out every flyer on the wall, meet every guest that comes to talk.” - Brenda Hill '19

"You worked for this. Use it to your benefit.” - Joanita Young '23

“Your story to tell should be that YOU make it. That YOU don’t give up.” - Tessa Colon '20

“Do the best you can." - Mary Pion '19

We extend gratitude to all of the students and alumni involved for creating such a strong Bard community in Holyoke!

Bard Microcollege Holyoke is a unique, community-based opportunuty for women of the Pioneer Valley to enroll full-time at Bard College at no cost to them. Bard Microcollege Holyoke, which launched in 2016 as a pilot for future Bard Microcolleges, was developed in partnership between the Bard Prison Initiative and The Care Center (). Learn more at microcollege.bard.edu

08/31/2025

Congratulations to our very own Brenda!!

Congratulations to Brenda Hill, a member of The Care Center community, on her appointment to the Clemente Alumni Council! Representing graduates from The Clemente Course in the Humanities programs across the country, the Council will help shape alumni engagement, support outreach efforts, and provide vital perspective on Clemente’s evolving work.

Brenda Hill is a poet/songwriter from Springfield, MA. She is a graduate of the Inaugural 2015-2016 Clemente class at Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services in Springfield. She was also the former Site Coordinator for the Springfield Clemente site at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services. She serves as a Writing Consultant /Teachers Assistant at BARD Holyoke at The Care Center, where she graduated in 2019.

There’s still time to apply to join the Bard Clemente Course in the Humanities Holyoke at The Care Center! Class starts in October and runs through mid-May. It is a college seminar that gives women of all ages the opportunity to explore history, literature, philosophy and writing in a supportive, intimate environment while earning six credits from Bard College. Learn more and apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf87v-jSNKv4J5Z1HyqZPQG4h2V-t8tjwGpKQ-W0L_Tcky5Zg/viewform

For more information, email Pam at [email protected].

08/15/2025

Welcome, Cohort 12! ✨

Week one of Language & Thinking is complete! Students have been busy writing, learning, and reading work by Octavia Butler, Hannah Arendt, Claudia Rankine, Layli Long Soldier and more.

After all their hard work, Bard Holyoke and The Care Center celebrated with our annual ice cream truck visit!

05/28/2025

We have opened up one FINAL admissions session for Thursday, May 29! This is the last chance to apply for the fall 2025 semester.

Schedule your session here: https://appt.link/bard-microcollege-holyoke-admissions-2025-2026/writing-sessions

05/26/2025

Congratulations to the Bard Microcollege Holyoke Class of 2025!!! 🎉

05/24/2025

Watch our graduates walk the stage live!

Bard College will hold its 165th commencement on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The program will begin at 2:30 pm in the commencement tent on the Seth Goldfine Memo...

04/11/2025

Congratulations to Kelberlin Tejeda and Karina Lozada, the Bard Microcollege Holyoke winners of The 2025 Five College Prose and Poetry Prize! Come hear their brilliant poetry alongside the other winners on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:00pm, Weinstein Auditorium in Wright Hall, Smith College.

04/11/2025

Admissions are open now through the end of May!
Sign up for a writing session in the link below:
https://appt.link/bard-microcollege-holyoke-admissions-2025-2026/writing-sessions

04/07/2025

Students from Dr. Mary Anne Myers’ first year seminar class have been studying Percival Everett’s novel James alongside Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. On Friday they visited The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford to learn more about the author and his life. Thank you to the museum for hosting us so warmly!

04/04/2025

Congratulations to all our scholarship winners!!!

📣We are thrilled to announce the recipients of The Care Center scholarships for the spring season! We offered three different scholarships this season with awards up to $1000. With 12 applications submitted this term, scorers had a tough time selecting the recipients. We are so proud of these students and the effort they put in daily to their academics. Scholarships are awarded directly to students and can be used as they see fit.

📣The Stephen Schneider STEM Scholarship, administered by The Care Center, offers grants to students who have an interest in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and is open to any Care Center HiSET graduate, Clemente Course in the Humanities graduate, or Bard Microcollege Holyoke (BMC) student or graduate. Six grants were awarded:

▪️Rosalyn Bryant plans to study social work/ psychology after graduating from BMC this spring. She would like to work with people who struggle with addiction and abuse. She wants to study brain development and function to best help her future clients.

▪️Alexis Francisco is a Life Skills program student who attends STCC. A criminal justice major, she would like to pursue a bachelor's degree program in forensic science. She is interested in the role of science to help solve crimes.

▪️Ruth Medina is a 2001 Care Center HiSET graduate. She returned to The Care Center in 2023 and enrolled in the Clemente Course, which she completed in May 2024, and was accepted to BMC for fall 2024. She would like to become a math teacher at the elementary level.

▪️Angelica Lopez is a first-year BMC student. She has demonstrated dedication and drive in her first semester and plans to continue directly to a bachelor’s degree program, ultimately earning a master’s in psychology. In addition to her academic talents, Angelica is a gifted artist.

▪️Joanita Young is a 2024 BMC graduate currently attending Mt. Holyoke College as a Frances Perkins Scholar. She is majoring in biology with the goal of doing lab research on female reproduction.

▪️Nitzairis Rivera is a second-year BMC student who will be continuing to a bachelor’s program after graduation. She plans to become a math educator for middle school students.

📣The Care Center Selenia Vazquez Memorial Scholarship offers two grants to Care Center graduates who are enrolled in an accredited college for spring 2025. This scholarship is open only to Care Center HiSET graduates.

▪️Sujeil Albelo is a 2009 Care Center HiSET graduate. She participated in our rowing program. She is attending STCC and majoring in Health Information Technology with anticipated graduation in fall 2025.

▪️Shania Hardrick is a 2024 Care Center HiSET graduate and first-year BMC student. She completed her HiSET exams quickly and started BMC in fall 2024. Her goal to is to become a labor and delivery nurse to provide support to women in their journey to motherhood.

📣The Angela Wright Women in Leadership scholarship is for Care Center HiSET graduates attending BMC.

▪️Olivia Maysonet is a second-year student at BMC and plans to continue her education after graduation. She is a 2023 Care Center HiSET graduate. Olivia is a leader inside and outside the classroom. Originally interested in nursing, she recently changed her path and would like to study law to advocate for communities and create meaningful change.

Please join us in congratulating the scholarship recipients!

04/04/2025