The fifth annual Pathways to Excellence fundraising event of the Westfield State Foundation raised a record total of $203,000 and drew its largest crowd. Held May 11 at the Dower Center for the Performing and Fine Arts, this year’s event celebrated all departments, highlighted by music, art, and theatre arts.
All of the proceeds benefit students through scholarships, internships and student programming. The evening included student presentations and performances by more than 150 students and faculty, including the University’s Chamber Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, and Faculty Jazz Ensemble; selections from the Theatre Arts Program’s production of “Urinetown,” and three original 10-minute theatre performances. In addition, the creative works of students were displayed throughout the evening, supplemented by interactive demonstrations of mediums, including printmaking, 3D printing, and the pottery wheel.
Westfield Bank was the premier sponsor of the event. Platinum sponsors included Baystate Health (Noble), Berkshire Bank and The Washington Center. Specialty Bolt and Screw, and Westfield Electroplating are Diamond sponsors, and Comcast Cable/Xfinity is a Gold sponsor.
Silver sponsors included Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Baystate Dental, Commercial Distributing, Dietz & Company Architects, and Six Flags, while Bronze sponsors were Advance Manufacturing Co. Inc., Columbia Manufacturing, PeoplesBank, Wassman Audio & Visual and the Westfield State Alumni Association.
This year’s event co-chairs were Carlos and University Trustee Madeline Landrau, University Trustee representative on the Westfield Foundation Board Kevin Queenin ’70 and his wife, Barbara ’70, and Jim McGowan ’92, president of the University’s Alumni Association, and his wife, Julie.