Student Profile: Shay Hamel ’26 Following Family Footsteps at Westfield State

Shay Hamel ‘26, a junior at Westfield State University, is majoring in elementary education with a minor in Spanish. Additionally, she is also a member of the Commonwealth Honors Program. Her passion for Spanish began in middle school and continued through high school, leading her to pursue the language at the collegiate level. Hamel is a third-generation Westfield State student, following in the footsteps of her grandfather and mother, who were also elementary education majors. Because of the University’s well-known reputation for offering high-quality education at an affordable rate, Hamel said that the choice to pursue elementary education here was easy.

Hamel’s hands-on experience includes substitute teaching in local school districts along with the completion of her first field experience teaching fourth graders at Gerena Community School in Springfield. To expedite the earning of her master’s degree, Hamel is also considering joining the University’s 4+1 Program, which would allow her to complete requirements for her bachelor and master’s degree in just five years.

Hamel’s initial field experience at Gerena Community School last semester solidified her desire to become an upper elementary classroom teacher, a role she finds “perfect for her.”

“I was in a special education classroom,” she said, “so I had a mix of different students. I loved the teachers I was with. I was so lucky. I ended up creating a good bond with them, and they invited me back on June 7 for a Hobby Day, so I was a hobby runner for one of their events.”

In addition to her studies, Hamel is active in the cross-country and track & field teams and serves as a student tour guide at Westfield State. Inspired by her time as a paraprofessional educator at Washington Elementary School in Springfield, she was encouraged by the principal to become a student tour guide and was then contacted by Katelyn Shea, Associate Director of Admissions.

“I like it a lot,” Hamel said. “I’m definitely going to continue doing it. I’ve had great people to work with, which is amazing. They’re so sweet. I’ve liked being able to learn more about the school, so getting insight on different things is cool. Learning about things even though you live there every day… I like being able to share my own individual experience with others, because everyone experiences things in a different way. Typically, I’m the tour guide who does the Dining Hall because I love it there. Trying to excite other people to also like it excites me too.”

For new students attending Westfield State, Hamel emphasizes the personal connection the University offers and highlights the importance of community. “You’re not a number,” she said.
“I think that’s the most important thing for me here, because I like to get to know my professors and classmates. People know you by name, and I feel that’s something Westfield State offers that other schools can’t. The University not only supports its students but makes it feel like home.”