MassBay Receives $10K from Natick’s ABI-LAB and Dacon Corporation at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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

Funds to be used for STEM Student Scholarships

MassBay Community College Director of STEM Starter and STEM Tech Career Academies, Valerie Kapilow accepts a $10,000 donation from Natick-based ABI-LAB at their recent ribbon cutting ceremony. From left to right, ABI-LAB COO Gary Kaufman, Valerie Kapilow, Dacon Corporation COO Armand Souliere, and MA Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao at ABI-LAB Natick, MA March 2025 (Photo/MassBay Community College).

NATICK, Mass. (April 2, 2025) — MassBay Community College received a generous $10,000 donation from Natick-based ABI-LAB and the Dacon Corporation at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its third facility in Natick. ABI-LAB, a bio-incubator and accelerator focused on life sciences, supports a range of startups across all stages of development. Dacon Corporation is a design build firm that created the ABI-LAB spaces in MetroWest. Since 2022, ABI-LAB has supported MassBay’s STEM student scholarships and the College’s STEM programs through mentorship and internship opportunities, and by providing students with tours of the facility and insights into ongoing research.

“We are deeply grateful for ABI-LAB and Dacon Corporation’s continued support,” said MassBay President David Podell. “Our partnership creates life-changing opportunities for MassBay STEM students, bridging education, innovation, and collaboration. As the life sciences sector grows, it offers students a sustainable, rewarding career path. We look forward to continuing this partnership.”

ABI-LAB holds a distinct position in Massachusetts’ life sciences sector by utilizing a shared services model. Companies leasing space have access to innovation labs equipped with advanced instruments, deionized water, CO2, gas, backup generators, and HVAC for Biosafety Level 1 and Biosafety Level 2 applications. This collaborative environment fosters technical excellence and creativity, critical components for scientific success. Research conducted at ABI-LAB includes work in immunology, oncology, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and precision medicine.

“Initially formed as a collaboration to provide STEM mentors for our STEM students, the partnership between ABI-LABS and MassBay has grown significantly over the years,” said MassBay Director of STEM Starter and STEM Tech Career Academies, Valerie Kapilow. “ABI-LAB has not only hired our students for internships and jobs but has hosted several field trips at their labs in Natick. They have also generously contributed, both collectively and individually, to our STEM student scholarship fund. From their Co-Founder and COO to the dedicated scientists who work in their labs, we feel deeply supported by ABI-LAB. They understand the high quality of education MassBay STEM students receive and recognize the importance of minimizing educational debt. We are excited for many more years of this fruitful partnership, and we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing support.”

MassBay biotechnology student, Cam Duso of Boston, represented the College’s STEM program at the event and presented his research on nucleotide changes that result in spinal muscular atrophy. He emphasized the impact of ABI-LAB’s support on student success.

“Being a student while working feels like holding two full-time jobs,” said Duso. “These STEM scholarships, along with the MassEducate and MassReconnect free community college programs, allow students to focus more on studying and less on stressing about living expenses.”

The guest speaker for the ceremony, Yvonne Hao, Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development, highlighted the significance of the new Mass Leads Act in today’s market. “Massachusetts is the global hub of life science innovation thanks to our robust ecosystem of hospitals, research institutions, leading companies, and incubators like ABI-LAB,” she said. “Through the Mass Leads Act, Massachusetts is reinvesting in the tools and resources necessary to support growth in this vital industry, and we are grateful for ABI-LAB’s expansion in our state with this new facility.”

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.