Communication Grad Makes a Splash at MassBay

MassBay Community College communication graduate, Henry Brill, poses at MassBay’s 64th Commencement ceremony on the Wellesley Hills campus, Wellesley Hills, MA, May 2026 (Photo / MassBay Community College)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., (June 8, 2026) — When Henry Brill was three years old, he learned to swim. Jumping and splashing in the pool quickly turned into laps, then competitive swim meets, and soon, many medals followed. Henry, who has Down syndrome, has always made a splash wherever he goes.

After attending Brookline High School and continuing in a post-grad program where he earned his GED, Henry came to MassBay entering the Transitional Scholars program, which supports students with disabilities. While in the program, Henry took courses aligned with the Communication program. After completing MassBay’s Transitional Scholars, he enrolled as a full-time communication student pursuing his associate’s degree.

“Henry’s success reflects not only his hard work and perseverance, but also what can happen when students are given the support and opportunities they deserve,” said MassBay Transitional Scholars Program Coordinator Kelly Graska. “He is a natural leader, a dedicated student, and someone who truly makes the MassBay community better. Since I started working at MassBay 12 years ago, Henry is the first student with Down syndrome to earn an associate degree from MassBay, and it has been such a proud moment for all of us. He has worked incredibly hard for this moment, and it’s been amazing to watch him grow and succeed.”

At MassBay, Henry is involved in multiple clubs and organizations. You can find him at nearly every campus event, where he is well known and well regarded by the student body. He is a member of the civic engagement student advocacy club, a club leader and co-founder of the Sustainability Club, a leader of both the Pride Alliance and the Neurodivergent Student Alliance, and a member of the Jewish Student Union.

Henry’s academic achievements are equally impressive. He has been named to the Dean’s List multiple times and is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. He has also been inducted into the Delta Alpha Pi and Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Societies for his excellence in academics.

When Henry is not at MassBay, you can find him teaching or training in the local pools. He works part-time at the Evelyn Kirrane Aquatic Center in Brookline as a swim lesson instructor aid for group lessons, and he’s a year-round competitive swimmer with New England Masters Swim Club for the U.S. Masters Swimming and Special Olympics.

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“I am a 35-time medalist and a 16-time ribbon recipient. I have earned 26 Special Olympics medals, three State Games of America medals, and four Bay State Games medals,” said Henry. “For my age group, I have won one New England championship and five Colony Zone championships ribbons, and I am a two-time national qualifier who has placed in the top five and top 10 in numerous events at the state, regional, zone, and national levels.”

Henry graduated in May 2026 with an Associate of Arts Degree in Communication and plans to transfer to the University of Massachusetts Boston to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Communication, with a minor in environmental anthropology. He will be the first person with Down syndrome to graduate from MassBay with an associate degree in at least the past 15 years.

“Receiving a degree makes me think about my grandparents and everything they have done and fought for so I can have the support to be successful and have an education,” said Henry. “It also makes me reflect on everything I have gone through, academically and personally—the challenges, the struggles, and the successes since elementary and middle school. The Transitional Scholars Program was the key to providing a foundation at MassBay, and the reason I was so successful. This is a very proud moment for me.”

Henry credits the support services at MassBay as a key part of his success. Throughout his time at the college, he utilized the Reading and Writing Center, Math Center, Science Center, peer tutoring, the Academic Resource Center, and academic coaching.

“My favorite thing about MassBay is the support they provide,” said Henry. “These resources have been a huge part of my academic success.”

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.