Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater State University
On July 4, 2026, the town of Bridgewater hosted its annual parade and we share a video of the highlights:
Among those marching was our own Dr. Michael J. Kryzanek, professor emeritus of political science (he's wearing the baseball cap). He was among those representing the Rotary Club of the Bridgewaters in the parade:
"Award recognizes the EXCEL Program and
our commitment to inclusive education"
In a recent message to the university community, President Clark shared the following:
On behalf of the entire BSU community, I was pleased to recently accept the Massachusetts Inclusive Post Secondary Education 2026 Higher Education Leadership Award.
The honor recognizes BSU’s exceptional commitment to providing opportunities for students with disabilities to experience college.
The award is a testament to everyone who welcomes and supports our EXCEL students, who I often call the “heart of BSU.”
Just like every BSU Bear, EXCEL students come to Bridgewater seeking an education that will prepare them for a meaningful career.
They are determined to not let intellectual and developmental disabilities keep them from pursuing their dreams.
The EXCEL team admirably oversees a growing program that builds occupational, social and independent living skills.
Just five years ago, BSU served 30 EXCEL students; this fall, we expect to welcome
80 students (23 of whom will live in our residence halls).
Over the past year, we added 12 partner school districts that send us students. Additionally, the new Uniquely Abled Academy offers vocational training and certifications in advanced manufacturing/machining.
The program also serves our matriculated students, who work as education coaches, peer mentors and graduate assistants. Through these incredibly rewarding positions, they gain hands-on experience supporting EXCEL students.
When I think about the EXCEL Program, the word community comes to mind because it truly takes the entire campus – and beyond – to make it successful.
Our faculty, librarians, administrators, students and off-campus internship partners welcome EXCEL participants into classrooms, offices, residence halls and clubs.
EXCEL students, in turn, bring infectious positivity and relentless determination.
They teach us that a disability should never be a barrier to a fulfilling career and life.
As I remarked during a statewide conference at which the award was presented, our philosophy of supporting every student, one student at a time, without exception fuels our passion for the EXCEL Program.
Thank you for that deeply meaningful work that you perform every day.
"Teaching from the Heart"
We're grateful to Ms. Heather Harris Michonski, G '26, senior media advisor in BSU's Office of Enrollment, Marketing and Communications, for sharing the following story. These are highlights of Ms. Michonski's article:
Despite having a successful career in banking, Sandi Telless, ’02, knew it wasn't her true calling.
“At age 40, I quit my banking job to go back to school to be a teacher,” she said.
“It was the best decision of my life.”
Ms. Telless chose Bridgewater State University to continue her earning a degree in early elementary and physical education.
Since then,she has served as a beloved kindergarten teacher for 20 years at Central School in East Bridgewater.
She approaches teaching from a place of love, making sure to engage with every with, and get to know every student.
And Ms. Telless has fun while doing it.
Her colleagues often see her dancing in the halls and during classroom dance parties, and handing out warm embraces during “Free Hug Fridays.”
“I always try to be myself, so my kids know it’s okay to be yourself. I don't worry about what other people are doing. I’m animated in my classroom, and have been known to ride a unicycle."
To read the entire article, please visit the university's main web page and first click on Quicklinks and then on the list of options click on Bridge.Net, which will lead you to the archives of news articles, including the full text of "Teaching from the Heart."
Memory Lane: A Random Look Back at Our History - 121 Years to be Exact
Bridgewater State Normal School was already 65 years old when the women's basketball team assembled for this photograph.
It should be noted that the year, 1905, was notable in BSU history because Albert Gardner Boyden, class of 1849 and principal since 1860, was planning his retirement which would be officially announced in1906.
He would be succeeded as principal by his son, Arthur Clarke Boyden, class of 1869 a member of the faculty since 1879.
In 1932, he would become Bridgewater State's first president.
So popular was the younger Boyden that the 1902 yearbook was dedicated to him with these words:
"Although we cannot account for a man such as Mr. Boyden, yet we delight to dwell upon some of the reasons why we reverence his scholarly achievements, as well as his scholarly ideals, which are of the highest order . . . Thus he stands for the ideal student: alert, earnest, thorough, discriminating, persistent and enthusiastic."
Now, in 1905, no one was making movies at Bridgewater State Normal School.
But the women above and all of their contemporaries knew that movies existed because Thomas Edison had released his first movie to the public in 1894.
So we did a bit of research to see how Edison captured American life in 1905,
and we share below a link to a movie he produced that year.
Here you can see on film the fashion of that time and the new (for that period) the many technologies then emerging,
According to Google, "In the early 1900's silent movies were shown in Bridgewater on the second floor of the old Town Hall in Central Square. Soon the Princess Theater opened on Broad Street and remained in business for almost 40 years."
So it's highly possible that some of the women above were familiar with this particular movie and they were certainly of a generation that flocked to see this Edison 1905 silent film.
At least, thanks to Mr. Edison, we get an idea of life in that era was like from this surviving movie:
Thomas Edison at work editing his movies, which transformed
American lives at the turn of the 20th century.
Next edition: July 13, 2026