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Dick and Sue Cetti, generous donors to ºìÐÓÖ±²¥'s Scholarship for Excellence in STEM, give for one simple reason: their love of helping people.

"We're very fortunate to be able to do this, so why shouldn't we?" says Sue, and Dick agrees. "There are needs everywhere, especially now. Every nickel, every dime counts," he says.

The Cettis, who reside on Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield, met in Holmdel, NJ at what was then AT&T Bell Laboratories. Sue held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Bowling Green State University when she was hired, while Dick arrived with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from UMass Amherst. With a similar hard work ethic, they both earned master's degrees — Sue in computer science from Rutgers University in 1974 and Dick in operations research from Columbia University in 1973 — while working full time. Their careers at AT&T spanned more than 25 years, during which time they lived in various New Jersey towns, moving to Pittsfield in 2003.

STEM has always been front and center for the Cettis, both in their careers and in their philanthropic efforts.

"STEM teaches logic, thinking and problem-solving. Those are the things needed in all disciplines," Dick says. "It teaches you how to break problems into bite-size pieces and solve them."

That makes supporting STEM students easy, they say — especially non-traditional students who have the motivation to succeed, but just need a leg up to make it happen.

We love to support people who find themselves not where they wanted to be in life, but they are taking action to better themselves. I have so much respect for students willing to take that leap. I want to help them as much as I can.

"It's about being able to help folks who are struggling uphill," Dick says. "If we can help them minimize that struggle, that's terrific."

The couple's journey into philanthropy started with humble roots. Dick, after retiring from AT&T, started a bowling pro shop called ProZone in the 1990s, offering equipment and expert lessons as a member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He continued the business in Pittsfield until 2020, when COVID-19 forced his doors to close. Meanwhile, Sue tutored math at ºìÐÓÖ±²¥, which provided invaluable insight into the needs of the students. An acquaintance of theirs was then director of development — and the relationship was born.

Adding to the incentive to give to higher education was the Cettis' friendship with then-neighbors Tom and Anne Wojtkowski. Tom, who served nine terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, wrote the legislation for community colleges to be established in the Commonwealth — with ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ becoming the first in 1960 — and Anne was a ºìÐÓÖ±²¥ professor of engineering and mathematics.

"They were pioneers at ºìÐÓÖ±²¥," Sue says.

Aside from supporting STEM students at ºìÐÓÖ±²¥, the Cettis have also helped the College build the endowed portion of the fund. And, they have established an endowed fund at Dick's alma mater, UMass Amherst, to support the general population.

The Cettis are quick to point out that even with the Commonwealth's free tuition initiative at community colleges, support for students is still needed.

"We want to continue our support for whatever the student's major needs may be, and there are many," Dick says, citing food insecurity, transportation, child care and job support as critical funding areas.

But their support extends well beyond higher education. The Cettis also support St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, South Community Food Pantry, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Berkshire Humane Society, Elder Services of Berkshire County and The Trustees of Reservations. Outside the Berkshires, they lend their support to Disabled American Veterans, Ronald McDonald House, American Red Cross, St. Jude Research Hospital and the National Parks Conservation Association.

Sue devotes considerable time to St. Charles Borromeo, coordinating two ministries and serving as a recording secretary of the finance committee. She's also an avid reader. Dick, meanwhile, likes to build things, joking that his maker space rivals ºìÐÓÖ±²¥'s Science Commons. The couple also has a passion for classic vehicles and own three vehicles ranging from 1952 to 1960.

Their true passion, however, is giving. Nothing feeds their souls more than attending scholarship awards ceremonies, where they are able to meet the people they help and see the rewards of their generosity in real time.

When I see a single mother of three children receiving her scholarship, just trying to improve her life by taking classes, it's a very heartwarming experience all around. Those children are in the audience, clapping for her, and she's showing them what she can accomplish with hard work. ºìÐÓÖ±²¥'s commitment to students of all walks of life is truly inspiring.