Class of 2024

Cynthia G. Simison

Cynthia G. Simison took over as executive editor in January 2020, becoming the first woman to lead the newspaper in its 200-year history. Her appointment followed a long career that began in May 1977 at the Springfield Daily News, following three years as a summer intern in the newsroom. Over the course of her career, she has been a reporter, columnist, city editor and managing editor.  She retired in March 2023 and continues with The Republican as executive editor emerita, writing occasional columns and working on the Heritage Books series.

Born and raised in Northampton, she first worked as a school sports writer for the Daily Hampshire Gazette and, while in high school, worked there as an archivist.  She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.  The recipient of numerous writing awards over the years, including several for her work profiling military veterans from Western Massachusetts, Simison in 2019 was recognized by the American Legion with its national Fourth Estate Award for one of her World War II pieces about a World War II Army nurse from Westfield.

 In the community, Simison has served with the boards of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Northampton Dollars for Scholars. She’s also a past president of the Valley Press Club and still serves on the club’s Scholarship Committee.  She continues volunteer service with the food bank and is also a member of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Museum & Library Standing Committee at Forbes Library in Northampton.

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Amy Purdy

Amy Purdy has defied the odds throughout her life and overcome a near death-experience to accomplish some extraordinary things. 

Amy grew up with a passion for snowboarding and dreamed of traveling the world, and despite obstacles that perhaps should have stopped her dead in her tracks, that passion carried her not only to the upper echelons of athletics, but onto the dance floor of Hollywood and well, well beyond.

Amy is a NY Times best-selling author who has been published in ten different languages around the world, she has toured with none other than Oprah Winfrey, she has been featured in a Superbowl commercial narrated by the legendary Muhammad Ali, and she is a 3-time Paralympic medalist, making her one of the most decorated adaptive snowboarders in the history of Team USA. 

Amy Co-Founded Adaptive Action Sports for athletes with disabilities and she is the host of the critically acclaimed podcast Bouncing Forward! Amy has partnered with both the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee to promote health, diversity, equity and inclusion through sport. 

Amy Purdy has truly inspired millions across the world!