HCS Head Start Announces 2024 Recipient of Janis Santos Scholarship

SPRINGFIELD — Last year, Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start announced the formation of the Janis Santos Scholarship. This recognition was created by Janis Santos, former CEO of HCS Head Start, to help address the shortage of early-childhood teachers.

Santos, an avid supporter of early education for children and families, served as the lead of HCS Head Start for 48 years. She established the scholarship to support current HCS staff, parents, and Head Start alumni who are pursuing a degree in early education and care but may be encountering financial hardship.

Last year, the first Janis Santos Scholarship was awarded to Mayra Felix, who applied with the dream of using it toward completing her bachelor’s degree. The second annual scholarship was recently awarded to Notavious Andino-Galarza-Perez, who attended HCS Head Start 15 years ago and is currently studying at Columbia University.

“Head Start undoubtedly nurtured my creativity when I needed it most,” Andino-Galarza-Perez said. “Early in life, I, like many of us, realized that life would be difficult. It wouldn’t always be fair, and it certainly wouldn’t be easy. However, Head Start set out to challenge that. Day in and day out, the Head Start staff served their community, tirelessly nurturing the next generation (nurturing me), watering the seeds of the future.”

Santos, along with Nicole Blais, HCS Head Start’s current CEO, presented Andino-Galarza-Perez with this honor at the organization’s annual Professional Development Day. The recipient, joined by his mother, expressed his immense appreciation.

“I vividly remember playing teacher,” he said. “Oh, how I wanted to be in charge of the room! I would have given anything for that. Fast-forward 15 years, and although my interests have shifted slightly, the call toward the education field continues to pull at me. I often find myself imagining myself leading a classroom, just like I did all those years ago. This is what ultimately led me to minor in education.”

Andino-Galarza-Perez also shared that becoming a teacher would mean he would finally be able to repay the debt of gratitude owed to those who inspired him all those years ago, and hopefully inspire the next generation to always strive to be better than the last.

Through the generous donations of many sponsors, including Pioneer Valley Financial Group, the Janis Santos Scholarship will continue to annually support a deserving individual pursuing a career in early education.