Old Colony Educational Foundation: 2025 50th Anniversary Gala

On Friday, November 14, 2025, we invite you to join us at the Century House in Acushnet for a truly special evening—Old Colony’s 50th Anniversary Gala. Together, we will celebrate five decades of learning, achievement, and community while looking ahead to a future filled with promise.

This unforgettable “Night to Remember” will honor the newest inductees into the Old Colony Wall of Achievement, shining a light on the graduates, educators, and community members whose dedication and spirit have shaped our story. Their journeys remind us that Old Colony is more than a school—it is a family that connects, inspires, and transforms lives.

The evening will feature dinner, music, and a silent auction, creating the perfect backdrop for reflection, connection, and celebration. We can’t wait to share this milestone with you and to honor the 2025 Class of Inductees:

Mrs. Nancy Francis

graduated from Dartmouth High School in 1962. She attended Bridgewater State College as a mathematics major but left after three years. In 1986, she returned to complete her degree, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1987. She later received a Master’s in Education from Fitchburg State College in 1999 and became a certified PALMS Teacher Leader.


Nancy taught mathematics at New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School for ten years before joining Old Colony in 2000, where she served until 2014. At Old Colony, she wrote curriculum guides aligned to new mathematics standards and created the school’s revised Program of Studies. She also co-directed the first Teacher-Mentor Certificate Program, supporting dozens of new teachers with monthly meetings on classroom management, grading, and communication, while also training veteran teachers as mentors.


Nancy introduced the Student Support Team at Old Colony, assembling teachers to monitor “at risk” students through regular check-ins and monthly meetings. The program was highly effective in preventing students from “falling through the cracks.”


Her commitment extended far beyond teaching. In 1992, Nancy helped transform the vacant Marie S. Howard School into the Acushnet Community Center, which operated for sixteen years without town funding, supported solely by volunteers. She served as Director and Treasurer, organized fundraising, and offered free math tutoring and SAT workshops. After the Center closed in 2013, the building was repurposed as the Acushnet Public Library, where Nancy continues to serve as a trustee.


On June 18, 2019, Nancy was honored at the Massachusetts State House as one of the Commonwealth’s Unsung Heroines. Recommended by Representative Chris Hendricks, she was recognized for her unwavering dedication to the Acushnet Community Center and her years of library service.

Mr. Frank Knox graduated from the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Electrical program in 1981. Frank married Karen Clemishaw (OC Class of 1981) in 1983. They have two sons, Alexander (OC Class of 2007) and Thomas, along with three grandsons and one granddaughter.


Following his father and brother, Frank entered the electrical field after graduation, working for Ocean Electric and Good Year Tire and Rubber before starting his own company, Knox Electric, in 1987. The business began with residential and commercial wiring and later expanded to alarms and stand-by generators. Knox Electric has employed Old Colony co-op students and sponsored AYAA youth sports. The company also maintained AYAA field lights, replaced the Pony League lights, and contributed to the electrical installation at the Veteran’s Memorial at Pope Park.


In 2014, Frank entered the solar industry as a subcontractor. Since then, he has overseen more than 3,900 installations and employed up to 50 workers, often alongside his brother Jim, son Alexander, and wife Karen. Frank has served as a deputy and head wire inspector in Acushnet for 25 years and as deputy wire inspector in Mattapoisett for 20 years, roles he continues to hold.


At 17, he joined the Acushnet Fire Department as an on-call firefighter, later becoming president of the Firefighters Association. He competed in musters, helped run fundraisers, and participated in community traditions from Halloween parades to Christmas singalongs. Frank served as an on-call firefighter for 34 years.


At 21, he built his first home, sparking a passion for construction. He has since built, remodeled, and rehabbed numerous properties in Acushnet and New Bedford, including spec houses and rentals. His greatest joy has been designing his own second home and helping his sons, nieces, and nephews build theirs.


Frank coached his sons’ Hetland Panthers hockey teams for years, serving on the board and traveling widely with them. He also served over 25 years as a board member and later president of the Acushnet Federal Credit Union. Additionally, he helps lead the OC Class of 1981 alumni in raising funds for the “Marcus Ashley III Award,” which provides electrical tools to a graduating senior each year.

Mr. Gerard "Jerry" Santos is a proud 1998 graduate of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School where completed his vocational training in the Electrical program. Jerry is the Associate Director of Physical Plant and Trades Management at Bridgewater State University, where he leads a broad portfolio of facilities operations, infrastructure maintenance, and workforce development. His journey from the trades classroom to leadership is a testament to the power of vocational education and lifelong learning.


After Old Colony, Jerry pursued many degrees in higher education at BCC, UMass Dartmouth and the latest at Bridgewater State University, earning a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Educational Leadership. This academic path deepened his understanding of organizational dynamics and prepared him to lead with purpose and vision.


Jerry holds multiple professional certifications, including CEFP, MCPPO, CSL, and multiple others in safety, facilities, and event management. He’s a proud Eagle Scout, active volunteer with local and national organizations, and a serial entrepreneur, having launched ventures in construction, retail, pop-ups, and many others.


He serves as the Director of Professional Development for SNEAPPA, contributes to the ERAPPA Professional Development Committee, and is a member of the executive board of the Bridgewater APA union. He also serves as President of the Old Colony Educational Foundation and sits on both the Carpentry Advisory Board and the General Advisory Board at Old Colony.


Known for his leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence, Jerry continues to inspire through his work and community involvement.

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