Hawkeye Innovation LLC, a veteran-owned contract manufacturing company in Agawam, specializing in flexible contract manufacturing services and government sourcing for Governors America Corp., has been certified by the Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert) at the Small Business Administration. The confirms the company’s eligibility to compete for set-aside contracting opportunities, as well as other benefits, as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).
Sean T. Collins, the founder and owner of Hawkeye Innovation and president and CEO of GAC, is a combat veteran with multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hawkeye Innovation’s certification is valid for three years.
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Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts honored its 18 Under 18 Class of 2024, sponsored by Teddy Bear Pools and Spas, at Tower Square in Springfield. The event was also sponsored by The UPS Store and Holyoke Community College.
The program included poster board displays by the students; remarks by Ted Hebert, owner, Teddy Bear Pools and Spas; Tracey Alves-Lear, JA of Western MA board chair; Brooke Sokoloff-Adams, director of student development, Holyoke Community College; and individual student recognition.
The following students comprise the 18 Under 18 Class of 2024:
— Aarav Trehan, Grade 12, Longmeadow High School.
— Aiden Kane, Grade 12, Agawam High School.
— A’jahna Johnson, Grade 12, Chicopee Comprehensive High School.
— Haileigh Swistak, Grade 12, Quaboag Regional High School.
— Isabella Oliveira, Grade 11, Agawam High School.
— Jasmine Griffin, Grade 12, East Longmeadow High School.
— Jayden Lopez, Grade 12, Holyoke High School.
— Jordan Wetherell, Grade 11, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School.
— Lila Broadley, Grade 11, Quaboag Regional Middle-High School.
— Lucy Hildreth, Grade 11, Agawam High School.
— Mah’dee Naylor Jr., Grade 10, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy.
— Martha Brannstrom, Grade 12, Longmeadow High School.
— Mychal Connolly Jr., Grade 12, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy.
— Nicholas Kendra, Grade 12, Chicopee High School.
— Qua’Nae Golston Thomas, Grade 12, Holyoke High School.
— Nicholas Rodriguez, Grade 11, Holyoke High School.
— Siobhan Armstrong, Grade 11, Holyoke High School.
— Zainab Sheikh, Grade 11, Longmeadow High School.
Nominations for 18 Under 18 were open to anyone 18 years or younger who attends school in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin or Berkshire counties, as well as the Quaboag and Tantasqua regional school districts and the state of Vermont. Judging criteria were divided into three categories: innovative spirit, leadership and community involvement.
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To honor Dr. Mark Keroack’s 10 years on the board of directors of Health New England, the health plan is creating a $250,000 grant-making fund to help community organizations improve health equity.
Keroack, president and CEO emeritus of Baystate Health, retired at the end of June. As chair of the board of Health New England, a not-for-profit health plan owned by Baystate Health, he helped form a deeper, more collaborative relationship between the entities.
The Dr. Mark A. Keroack Health Equity Grant program will provide local nonprofit organizations with a one-time grant of up to $50,000 to advance health equity in health care over a one-year period.
Programs are required to promote health equity and include community collaboration resulting in improved health outcomes. Programs must target communities in Franklin, Hampden, or Hampshire counties, and focus on one or more of these populations:
Children and youth, communities of color, individuals experiencing poverty or with low incomes, and older adults.
Nonprofit organizations can learn more or apply for the grant at healthnewengland.org/community/grantprogram by Aug. 28.
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The Holyoke Public Schools communications team has earned five national awards this year, including an Award of Excellence for a video produced by HPS Media Center Director Michael Hines — A Model School: Making it Our Own — along with four other winning entries produced by the HPS communications team.
The National School Public Relations Association recently announced its 2024 Publications and Digital Media Excellence winners, representing some of the best communications work produced by public relations professionals from school districts across the United States and Canada.
Holyoke Public Schools submitted a total of five entries this year, and all were selected for national recognition. These include:
— Three videos produced in house, including A Model School: Making it our own (Award of Excellence), Cultivating compassion: Sullivan Middle School’s social-emotional learning journey (Award of Merit), and High school is just ahead: Advice for 8th graders (Honorable Mention)
— The district’s e-newsletter, Together for Holyoke: Stories and inspiration from our schools (Award of Excellence)
— A news article, ‘You’re good at math; you just don’t know it yet,’ says Sullivan math coach (Award of Excellence for writing)
The awards were presented to Communications Director Jennie Oesterreicher, Media Center Director Michael Hines, Senior Communications Coordinator Kat Johnson, and Chief of Strategy and Turnaround Erin Linville.
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Keiter recently announced a $25,000 donation to the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce for its annual Keiter Card promotion. This initiative, now in its fourth consecutive year, seeks to inject over $50,000 into the local economy.
Keiter’s contribution enables consumers to receive $50 in spending power with the purchase of a $25 Northampton Gift Card.
As the longtime Florence contracting and construction management company expands to West Springfield, Keiter said it remains committed to the Northampton area.
The 2024 Keiter Card promotion will begin Monday, Aug. 5, and Keiter Cards will be available while supplies last. Cards can be purchased only at the chamber offices at 99 Pleasant St., Northampton, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those interested must request a Keiter Card upon purchase.
The promotion is applicable only to $25 Northampton Gift Card purchases with a limit of one card per customer, per transaction. The Northampton Gift Card is accepted at over 115 local businesses, spanning restaurants, shops, services and spas.
