Florence Rice

HCC Grad Exhibits "True Grit"
Springfield Union-News, Thursday, June 1, 2000
By Nancy H. Gonter, Staff writer
Holyoke, MA

When Florence Rice graduates from Holyoke Community College on Saturday, all eight of her sons - ages 3 to 19-will be watching. "They are my inspiration," said Rice, 39, who plans to go Mount Holyoke College in the fall.

A single mother, Rice started at Holyoke Community College in February of 1987 just after she had given birth to her youngest son. She had been working as a nursing assistant and knew what she was making was not enough to support her family. Being at HCC has been a transformational experience for Rice who had dropped out of high school in Connecticut at age 16. When she first started taking classes she was quiet and did not speak out. But sociology Professor Penelope Herideen took an interest her, making sure she spoke in each class. "She saw something in me. She kept pushing," Rice said.

Florence Rice , poses with all of her boys. 
Left to right: Daniel 17, Ian 12, Florence Rice, Paul 12, Matthew 11,
Jaime 13, Brian 15.  Not shown are Malcom 4, and Donovan 3.

With professors encouraging her, she took more risks and had success. Now, while her self-esteem is not as high as it should be, it is much better than when she first started school, Rice said. With eight children, all of whom are living in Rice's Cabot Street three-bedroom row house, getting her school work done has not been easy. "I do a lot of late night work. If I'm too exhausted, I go to bed and get up at 3 or 4 a.m. and work until its time to go to school, " Rice said. Rice is on public assistance and worked at the college 12 hours a computer lab assistant. 'She's now looking for a summer job.

At Mount Holyoke, Rice will be a Frances Perkins scholar and hopes to someday work with battered women or other oppressed people. Getting more education sends an important message to her children, Rice said. "I wasn't taught about education when I was young. It took me to this age to understand. I really want to impress that on them and so far it's working," Rice said. "I look at how we are living and I don't want that for them, so they are my inspiration. My only regret is waiting so long," Rice said.

It will hard to leave Holyoke Community College, where Rice has won numerous awards and scholarships, been involved in the African-American Club and the Student Senate and she has befriended many of the younger students in a maternal way. "They call me Mama Flo. I'm really going to miss them. It's really heart-breaking leaving here," Rice said.

-- Photo by Jim Sears