From farm to future: STCC students blossom through Gardening the Community

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – At first glance, the urban farm just a half mile from the Springfield Technical Community College campus may seem like an unlikely launching pad for future leaders in social justice.

But for Kami Trushaw and Malahny Wedderburn, Gardening the Community (GTC) has been more than a job. It’s been the foundation for growth, purpose and a path toward higher education.

STCC students Wedderburn and Trushaw are preparing to transfer to the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the fall, continuing their studies in fields rooted in their passion for sustainable agriculture and community equity. Trushaw, an STCC Class of 2025 General Studies graduate, will pursue a degree in Sustainable Food and Farming at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Wedderburn, a Chemistry Transfer major at STCC, has been accepted into UMass’s Food Science program.

The Food Science program and the Stockbridge School are widely regarded as among the best in the country, drawing students from across the nation for their rigorous academics and strong focus on innovation, sustainability and real-world application.

For 42-year-old Trushaw, returning to college after two decades was no small feat. “Twenty years ago, I did about three different majors and half a degree not knowing what I wanted to do with my life,” she says. But after falling in love with farming in her early 30s, she discovered that working the land was more than a job: It was a calling.

Now the farm manager at GTC, she leads the daily operations, teaching youth workers aged 14 to 18 how to grow food and engage in conversations around racial and food justice. “This area right here in Springfield is a food desert. There’s not enough access to grocery stores and healthy food,” she said. “At GTC, we grow food and sell it at reasonable prices, give some away and partner with programs to hand out boxes of fresh produce.”

Her return to school was fueled by MassReconnect, a state initiative that removes financial barriers for adult learners 25 and older. “A major barrier for me going back to school for years was finances. I’ve mostly been a waitress, bartender and farmer,” she says. “Now that I work more in the food justice world, I know a degree is helpful.”

Trushaw was diagnosed with ADHD in her mid-30s, a revelation that helped her reframe her academic struggles. “In high school, I was smart enough to understand it all, but they called me lazy. I was a B/C student who never wanted to do homework,” she recalls. “Now I have a diagnosis, and I know how my brain works. With support and a real goal, it’s been a lot easier to dig in.”

With different college offices and staff providing resources, she maintained an exceptional GPA at STCC.

The relationship between STCC and Gardening the Community is a relationship between people, not only organizations, and together we are so proud to support students who live their dreams. John B. Cook, STCC President

Trushaw’s partner, Christopher Gregoire, who also works at GTC, takes classes in the Health Science program with the goal of entering the Respiratory Care program at STCC.

STCC student Malahny Wedderburn’s connection to GTC began in when she was 13. “I started at Gardening the Community as a youth,” she said. Now 19, she works part-time at the farm while studying at STCC. As part of a unique public/private higher education partnership, she lives in a dormitory at American International College (AIC), which she says is convenient since her home is in Brimfield, about a 35-minute drive. Like Trushaw, Wedderburn has excelled academically.

Her journey to STCC was rooted in both passion and purpose. “I’ve always been drawn to science and community work,” she said. Her studies in chemistry and experience with urban farming inspired her to combine the two by pursuing food science.

She credits STCC with giving her the foundation she needed to transfer to a top-tier university. “I always felt supported at STCC, especially by professors who encouraged me to go further. They saw my potential before I fully believed in it myself.”

Her younger sister Marah Wedderburn, also an STCC student, studies Fine Art and works at GTC.

Both Trushaw and Wedderburn are excited, but a bit nervous, about their next chapter at UMass Amherst.

“I’m still anxious about going to Stockbridge,” Trushaw said. “But I’m excited about being around like-minded people – my ‘colony of dirt nerds.’”

The GTC youth staff recently surprised Trushaw after she got into Stockbridge early admission. “They called me and played the song ‘Celebration’ for about 30 seconds, and then they all went around in a circle and handed off the phone to tell me how proud they were,” she says. “I got teary.”

A champion for collaboration in the region, UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes said, “Congratulations, Kami and Malahny! I look forward to welcoming you on campus in the fall.

“Your achievements and those who helped guide your academic journey are a powerful example of what can happen when institutions and communities work hand-in-hand to support the next generation,” Reyes said. “This is the way in which a community’s economic development thrives.”

Lidya Rivera-Early, Executive Director of Government Relations and Springfield Partnerships at UMass, said Trushaw and Wedderburn’s journey to UMass highlights the power of connecting community organizations, colleges and public universities.

“Their success reflects both personal determination and a strong support network,” Rivera-Early said. “We’re proud to celebrate their achievements and remain committed to working with our partners to expand access, foster opportunity and strengthen our communities.”

Liz O’Gilvie, director of Gardening the Community, has watched both students evolve in powerful ways.

“Kami’s an amazing farmer,” O’Gilvie said. “And Malahny is one of the bravest young people I've ever encountered. I’ve watched her grow up here. Each in different ways, they’ve helped me become a better and stronger leader.”

O’Gilvie reflected on Trushaw’s impact not just on the farm, but as a role model: “It was here that we helped awaken her dream of going back to school,” O’Gilvie said, noting that she has inspired others to consider college.

While both students credit STCC with giving them academic confidence, they say GTC played a critical role in helping them discover their passions.

O’Gilvie believes their success stories will reverberate far beyond GTC. “Many of our kids don’t think UMass is a possibility. But now someone they’ve known for years, who they’ve knelt in the dirt with, is going there. That changes everything.”

In addition to mentoring youth, GTC partners with STCC’s Center for Access Services to provide fresh produce to students through the on-campus food pantry. O’Gilvie called the collaboration a powerful example of community-based institutions supporting each other.

O’Gilvie also credits STCC President John B. Cook for fostering these connections. “He shows up in the community and listens. On that campus, people are seen and valued because of the way Dr. Cook models it,” O’Gilvie said.

Cook said the feeling is mutual: “Ms. O’Gilvie is a force of nature, and the way she breaths life into the work of food justice in our region is remarkable.” 

Cook added, “The relationship between STCC and Gardening the Community is a relationship between people, not only organizations, and together we are so proud to support students who live their dreams.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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