FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2015
Contact: Carla J. Potts
Coordinator of Media Relations
Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Square, Suite 1
Springfield, MA 01102
(413) 755-4812
cjpotts@stcc.edu
STCC faculty recognized, awarded Deliso and Scibelli Endowed Chairs
Springfield, Mass.—Springfield
Technical Community College (STCC)
recently announced Beth McGinnisCavanaugh, of Springfield, as the
recipient of the Anthony M. Scibelli
Endowed Chair and Gary Masciadrelli,
of Agawam, and Paul Thornton, of
Chicopee, as recipients of the Joseph
J. Deliso, Sr. Endowed Chairs.
Each year, STCC faculty are nominated
for an endowed chair by their
colleagues and then invited to apply.
Applications are reviewed by an award selection committee, comprised of faculty and staff. Winners are
then selected by the STCC Foundation Executive Committee. The awards include a $3,000 grant given to
each recipient, half of which is applied to professional development for the recipient and half of which is
given to the recipient’s academic department.
The Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair was established in 1992 to recognize and foster faculty
excellence. A co-founder of STCC, Representative Scibelli was instrumental in passing legislation and
approving funding which authorized and enabled the Massachusetts Board of Regional Community
Colleges to establish the only technical community college in the Commonwealth.
McGinnis-Cavanaugh, professor of physics and civil engineering, will donate her funds to STCC’s chapter
of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to fund service projects and cover event costs. McGinnisCavanaugh is the faculty advisor to the chapter which she created last year.
“I was honored to receive the award and be in such great company,” said McGinnis-Cavanaugh. “We are
only one of a few community colleges in the country to have a Society for Women Engineers chapter. I
believe the addition of a SWE chapter at STCC is very important in providing professional resources for
female students majoring in engineering, engineering technologies, and related STEM fields.”
Established in 1993 by the family of industrialist Joseph J. Deliso, Sr., The Deliso Endowed Chair is
awarded annually by the STCC Foundation in recognition of excellence in teaching. Deliso was an STCC
co-founder who served as the first chairman of the STCC Advisory Board from 1967–1981. He later
became the first chairman of the STCC board of trustees and served through 1985.
Masciadrelli, a professor and department chair in mechanical engineering technology, will use the award
funds to update software in his department to an industry standard product called PC-DMIS for
coordinate measuring machines.
“It is truly an honor receiving the Deliso Endowed Chair this year,” said Masciadrelli. “It is particularly
satisfying when I reflect on the growth the mechanical engineering technology department has
experienced over these last few years. As I begin my 29th year, this award is the exclamation mark on the
exciting and fascinating career I have enjoyed at STCC.”
Thornton, professor and tri-chair of business administration, said award funds will be used to purchase a
new printer and flip-charts for his department as well as a set of multi-walkers which will be used in
team-building exercises with his students.
“It’s a great honor and big responsibility to help students transform their lives,” said Thornton.
“Teaching is the most challenging, and rewarding, career there is. I’m thrilled to be a recipient of the
Joseph J. Deliso Endowed Chair this year.”
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