About Us

I’ve had a long-held belief in education. In high school, I headed up an inner-city tutoring program for elementary students in Rochester NY, and at Wellesley College I was involved in an educational program for Framingham women’s prison. I served as a Unitarian Universalist minister in churches for 10 years and on a variety of boards of directors, including The Connecticut River Conservancy and The Broad Brook Coalition in Northampton, Massachusetts. I serve as a Young Scholar Partner in addition to my role on the board.

My professional journey as an occupational therapist and my personal journey as a human being for over fifty years have taught me that being educated is absolutely paramount to the health, well-being, and optimal fulfillment of every individual and our society-at-large. In the words of former UN Secretary-General Kafi Annan, “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” I believe every one of us is a lifelong educator and student, regardless of our roles in life. I value fostering various educational opportunities for all and am proud to help Young Scholars create needed opportunities for youth; what a great investment in our collective futures!

I’m a professor of developmental psychology at UMass, studying ways to support academic success in young children. I have been privileged to have so many opportunities and advantages, and I’d like to help give more children opportunities to succeed.

I am honored to be a part of the Young Scholars Program. My husband and I were very excited when our daughter, Rayna, received the MLK Scholars scholarship. One of the things that receiving this scholarship has taught her is that good things come from hard work and determination. When I was enrolled in elementary school, I spoke only Spanish and struggled due to the language barrier. However, once I learned to speak English, I fell in love with school and truly enjoyed learning. Ever since then, education has always been important to me. As a mother, I have shared my life experiences with my daughter, and always encourage her to value and respect her community, and to play an important role in it. My goal is to share with other parents in the program the experiences that my daughter and I have encountered as she successfully transitioned into middle and high school.  I look forward to contributing to the success of the Young Scholars Program.

I am a retired teacher and psychologist, raised with the message that education is a necessity for success in life. I believe that all children should have access to quality education, and that society cannot afford to lose talented people just because they lack the financial resources to reach their potential. Therefore, I am thinking globally and acting locally.

I’m retired from the faculty at Smith College, where for more than forty years I strived to help students feel that learning was not just an obligation or a path to a job, but a great joy. I see this program as a continuation of that effort. In these days of questioning the value of college, I continue to believe that higher education remains the primary gateway to a rich and rewarding life. It’s immensely gratifying to witness the remarkable success of this program at keeping children in school and on track toward that life.

Hello, my name is Nicole E. Torres Collado and I am originally from Puerto Rico. I received a BA in Generalized Social Sciences with a minor in International Political Affairs from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. I further served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, where I worked with sustainable community development from 2017 to 2019. Further, I received an MSW from Springfield College and am currently working towards a Masters of Public Administration and Public Policy (MPAP) from American University. During my training and after, I have worked with support groups, counseling, education, community development, school districts and school mental health. I am fluent in English and Spanish, providing services in both languages. I am also currently partnered with 3 students and their families through Young Scholars and look forward to supporting the organization in any way I can.

Throughout my life and work, education was and is the key to liberation. Freedom. Freedom of thought, expression, dissent, ideals and visions. Freedom of self and liberation from the oft times limited and unexamined notions of the past. Education is the key that can and does unlock the door of the human mind and of the mystical spirit.

In a myriad of ways and places, I have always sought to engender and to cultivate education in all its forms. Witnessing the transformation and emergence of individuals and groups as they follow such paths has been perhaps the greatest satisfaction of my life’s journey.

The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote: “Only the educated are free.” This sign hung in my High School study hall, long ago and far away, but I have never forgotten nor strayed from this fundamental truth.

I recently retired from a consulting company called Praxis. They were in Philadelphia and I live in New England, so I am the New England office. I will retire from teaching at Amherst College at the end of December. I hope to be matched with a young scholar. I volunteer for a restorative justice organization called Communities for Restorative Justice, and I am the chair of board of the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire region.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” (Nelson Mandela). I am an educational leader, advocate, and first-generation college graduate. I am also a mother of four beautiful honor roll students who continually motivate me to advocate for equal access to quality education for all students. As an educated woman of color, I understand what it takes to give ALL of our children the opportunity to grow, develop, and achieve academic success. In order to educate all children, all educational stakeholders (business and community leaders, educators, parents, etc.) must work together, be accountable for their role, and consider our students first. A child’s education is impacted by what happens both inside and outside of the classroom. This is why mentors and caring adults often make the difference in a child’s academic success or failures. Organizations like Young Scholars Fund are necessary to help youth obtain the academic success they deserve.

I am the Administrative Manager at Young Scholars and a Scholar Partner.
I have a background in education, a master’s in public health, and I enjoy fostering curiosity in young people. Learning and exploring were encouraged and supported in my development and gave me the freedom and confidence to pursue my interests. Providing that same support to today’s youth is key to their success as they navigate their path. I am also an animal lover and my therapy dog and I visit people in retirement communities and hospitals to share the joy and love that a dog can offer.