Western New England University once again played a meaningful role in one of the region’s most celebrated traditions—the 2025 Spirit of Springfield Bright Nights Ball, held on Saturday, November 8 at the MassMutual Center.
WNE student ambassadors served as event volunteers, greeting guests, assisting with program logistics, and representing the University with professionalism and Golden Bear pride. WNE Professional Educator Brenda Garton returned as emcee, bringing warmth, humor, and continuity to this signature Springfield celebration.
WNE is the only university in the region that provides dedicated student support for this signature community celebration—an effort powered each year by the exceptional Student Ambassadors. In 2025, 29 student ambassadors once again played an essential role in the evening’s success. Their presence drew enthusiastic praise from event organizers and attendees alike.
“To our students, once again, you exceeded every expectation,” said Andrea St. James, executive director of career education and coordinator of the Student Ambassador Program. “Your poise, preparation, and genuine hospitality elevated the entire experience for our guests. You represented Western New England University with distinction, and your impact on this year’s gala was truly remarkable.”
In addition to the ambassadors, special recognition goes to Jessica Brown, OTD ’27, who supported the coordination and management of student ambassadors and to Sophia Dobek ’28 (Management & Leadership), who served as an intern for the Spirit of Springfield and played an important role behind the scenes.
Student Ambassador Reflections
The students’ experiences speak powerfully to the impact of the evening. Many shared how meaningful it was—professionally, personally, and as members of the Springfield community.
Camden Kaufmann ’26 (Political Science & Criminal Justice) reflected on the significance of his ongoing involvement with the event:
“For the third consecutive year, I’ve had the honor of volunteering at this incredible event and supporting an organization that does so much to bring my home community together. The Spirit of Springfield continues to create experiences that unite and uplift the people of our city, and I’m proud to have played a small part in that mission these last three years.”
2025 WNE Student Ambassadors
(Listed alphabetically by last name)
Rohan Alle, MS Business Analytics ’26
Autumn Bissonnette, Mechanical Engineering ’26
Kelsey Bouchard, Finance and Accounting ’27
Rachel Brenzel, Secondary Education & Mathematical Sciences ’26
Jackie Casalone, Psychology ’26
Sean Clark, Civil Engineering ’28
Jess Cloutier, Law and Society ’26
Clara Donivan, English & Psychology ’27
Ahmed Elbakri, Marketing Communication/Advertising ’27
Klaire Farley, Communications – Public Relations, December ’25
Alexsis Galvez, Psychology ’26
Joshua Goodman, Secondary Education & History ’27
Justin Gould, Electrical Engineering ’27
Chloe Jekanowski, Health Studies – Pre-OT ’27
Camden Kaufmann, Political Science & Criminal Justice ’26
Becca Kilday, Mechanical Engineering ’27
Mya Lipscomb, Business Analytics & Information Management ’26
Steven Morrison, Marketing Communication & Advertising ’27
Liam Norton, Secondary Education – History ’28
Elena Puiggari, Mechanical Engineering – Aerospace Concentration ’27
Antonia Santos, Pharmacy ’27
Maahi Shah, Psychology ’26
Victoria Sharpe, Psychology ’28
Gloria Souza, Biomedical Engineering ’26
Cora Taylor, Management & Leadership ’27
Breanna Thurston, Political Science ’27
Dominique Valentine, Electrical Engineering ’27
Victoria Weagle, Biology ’27
Skyllar Welch, Psychology + Occupational Therapy 3+3 ’26
Continuing a Community Tradition
WNE is proud to support the Spirit of Springfield each year and to showcase students’ commitment to service and leadership. The Bright Nights Ball remains a shining example of regional collaboration—and WNE is honored to play a part in bringing the community together.
