Honoring a Legacy of Giving: The Breck Family Supports American International College through Schola

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Continuing a family legacy that spans generations, the Breck family has renewed its enduring commitment to American International College (AIC) through both scholarship support and campus renewal.

In 2023, siblings John Breck III and Sandra Breck established two scholarships in memory of their parents, John ’40 and Barbara Breck ’40, and their sister, Susan Breck Carpenter. The Barbara Breck and John Breck Annual Scholarship and the Susan Breck Carpenter Annual Scholarship each fund Springfield students with financial need, covering the full cost of attendance for four years.

“Our parents were always grateful they could help others,” the siblings shared. “Through the John and Barbara Breck Charitable Foundation, we hope to continue their legacy of generosity.”

John and Barbara Breck’s connection to AIC began in the late 1930s, when they met as students and graduated together in 1940. Their family’s relationship with the College deepened over the decades. In 1969, John and Barbara joined John’s siblings—Edward Breck, M. Constance Breck, and Marian Breck Sullivan—in helping fund the construction of Breck Hall of Science, named for their father, John H. Breck, Sr. Barbara later supported the 2012 renovation of the building.

In 2025, John and Sandra continued that legacy with a $100,000 contribution from the John H. Breck and Barbara N. Breck Charitable Foundation to restore Breck Hall’s brick façade. The gift funded extensive masonry repairs to ensure the safety and longevity of a facility central to the College’s science programs.

Through these recent investments, the Breck family honors its Springfield roots and reinforces its longstanding connection to AIC. Their generosity is reflected in the lives of students whose educational paths are shaped by scholarships like the Breck Awards.

One recipient, Darrion, a dual major in Digital Media Production and Arts and Entertainment Management, described the award as life changing. “AIC is more than just a school to me—it’s a community,” he said. “A place where I truly feel like I belong.”

President Nicolle Cestero reflected, “Darrion’s story reminds us of the core purpose behind everything we do at AIC. When we invest in our students, we don't just change individual lives; we transform entire families and communities. The Breck family's generosity exemplifies the profound impact that believing in someone can have.”

From helping students achieve their dreams to preserving an essential academic space, the Breck family’s stewardship continues to advance AIC’s mission of access and opportunity. Their lasting contributions ensure that future generations of students will learn and thrive on the same campus where their family story began.

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Founded in 1885, American International College (AIC) is a private, co-educational, doctoral-granting institution located in Springfield, Massachusetts, comprising the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences, the School of Health Sciences, and the School of Education. AIC supports and advances education, diversity, and opportunity for its students and the community.

1000 State Street | Springfield, Massachusetts 01109

413.737.7000 | 800.242.3142 | www.aic.edu