STCC freshman student gets elected to Chicopee School Committee

by Jim Danko

Springfield, MA (12/14/2021) — January is shaping up to be a busy month for Springfield Technical Community College student Tim Wagner.

The 19-year-old Wagner begins his second semester at STCC on Jan. 24, three weeks after getting sworn-in as one of the newest Chicopee School Committee members.

Elected in November, Wagner was thrilled to get an opportunity to serve in the city where he was born and raised. He has a well-known surname in Chicopee. His father is State Rep. Joseph Wagner, the second assistant majority leader in the State House who represents the 8th Hampden District, which includes much of the city of Chicopee.

"It's already keeping me busy," Wagner said on a recent early December day. "I just went to an eight-hour seminar that is required training. And, of course, school work here at STCC is keeping me busy."

Passionate about technology, Wagner studied Information Support Services & Networking at Chicopee Comprehensive High School.

When he was in high school, Wagner told his parents and teachers he wanted to go to STCC, the only technical community college in Massachusetts. At the time, he was also serving as student representative to the Chicopee School Committee.

"I wanted to stay local. I didn't want to stick my parents and myself with a big bill," Wagner said. "I asked myself, where can I go to get the major that I want, the education that I want? Where can I go that's a good school that I can afford? And I said STCC."

Wagner said his parents and teachers encouraged him. One of his teachers at Chicopee Comp was a STCC graduate. "He had nothing but good things to say," Wagner said.

He is excited about STCC and the Computer Information Technologies program. Enrolling in the CIT program was an ideal fit, given his technology background.

Brian Candido, chair of the Computer Information Technologies program, said students like Wagner who earn a degree in CIT will have many options.

"What's exciting about our program is that it equips students with skills they need to enter the workforce immediately after graduation or transfer to a four-year college or university," Candido said. "Our students have obtained jobs at software companies, insurance and financial industries, in health care or in manufacturing. They can work in government or in schools, which depend on technology to serve their students. I'm excited that Tim Wagner chose STCC and wish him the best of luck."

What does Wagner think about STCC after his first semester? "I like it a lot. The teachers have all been nice and helpful. They make time if I need to go over coursework or I have difficulty understanding a concept. The campus is nice. The atmosphere is great. Overall, I recommend the school to anyone," Wagner said.

Wagner was asked by one of his STCC teachers to apply for a tutoring job at the Writing Center, which provides student support for all types of writing. He recently started helping students.

As Wagner puts it, public service runs in the family. His father serves as a state representative. His grandfather was Chicopee city solicitor. His mother works in municipal finance.

Wagner is as passionate about government service as he is about technology. It makes sense that he'd be serving on the School Committee while pursuing a technical education.

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