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2021 “29 Who Shine” Awards Ceremony

May 13, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the 2021 ceremony was held virtually via a YouTube Premiere.

Who Are the “29 Who Shine”?

In May 2011, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education launched “29 Who Shine,” a commencement season awards program to recognize 29 outstanding student graduates from the Commonwealth’s public higher education system. Each honoree from a community college, state university or University of Massachusetts campus is nominated by a faculty or staff member, or by a university awards committee.

The criteria:

Whether furthering their education or entering careers in fields such as education, public policy, health care, creative arts, or engineering, the “29 Who Shine” embody the vibrant future that we all envision for the Commonwealth.

The Awards Ceremony

This year, the Governor will recognize the “29 Who Shine” winners via a virtual ceremony.

Publishers’ Campaign

Each year the publishers of many Massachusetts daily newspapers donate full-page color ads to salute the “29 Who Shine.” Most local media also publish profiles of student honorees.

A Massachusetts Public Higher Education Partnership among the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the Massachusetts Community Colleges, the State University System of Massachusetts, and the University of Massachusetts
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