Monday, Dec. 21, 2009
Business Students Prepare Strategic Assessment of Locally-based, International Company
By Janice O'Connor
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Members of the fall 2009 business capstone class in Strategic Management include: front row: David Cox, Tim Coelho, Fernando Garcia-Rodriguez, Rebecca Taylor, Aurora Dupuis; back row: Oren Traffie, Graham Heagy, Seth Knipe, Stephanie Chambers, Angel Richard, Stephen Begley, Dan Houle, and Hamilton Barthelemy, with Dr. Michael T. Greenwood. |
The rigorous business capstone course, Strategic Management, took on a new facet this semester when students were given the opportunity to be the first in the program’s five-year history to develop a case study based on an actual, locally-based, international corporation.
The connection was made after a company official attended a capstone course presentation in May and inquired about having a study prepared based on the $1 billion North Worcester County manufacturing company. After signing a nondisclosure agreement prior to having access to confidential corporate data, the students were able to access key files and work with two company representatives.
The team of students, who called themselves Wachusett Consulting, spent the final six weeks of the fall semester honing their analytical and strategic planning skills by preparing the analysis.
In their case study and Dec. 16 presentation to faculty, fellow business students, alumni, college officials and business and community leaders, the students referred to the corporation by the pseudonym, Ajax. The plastics company, founded in 1955, focuses on three primary markets: healthcare, consumer and electronics and packaging. The case study focused on the corporation’s health care global business unit. The class provided an in-depth analysis of the company’s financial report, product and service information, internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats from competitors.
Much of the work focused on creating strategic options that will help the company increase its healthcare business unit revenue from $300 million to $500 million by 2013. The students will present their findings and recommendations to company officials in January.
“The attitude of this group is amazing,” remarked Professor Michael T. Greenwood, who teaches the capstone course. “Half-full would describe them,” he said, referring to the adage on optimism.
In addition to Professor Greenwood, business Professors Linda Bolduc and John Reilly were recognized following the presentation for their dedication and experience working with the students over the past two years.
The case study and PowerPoint presentation was bound in a book that also included student bios and statements that focused on the experience they gained from the coursework and the opportunity to work as a team.
“I have learned how to start from scratch, and build a presentation from nothing, into something that I never thought could be possible,” noted Seth Knipe, co-project manager with Angel Richard. “The knowledge that I obtained from this class will impact my skills professionally and will put me one step closer to the larger challenges ahead.”
Classmate David Cox remarked: “This course has helped me tie in all the lessons that I have learned in my other business courses and how to apply them to real life. Noted Fernando Garcia-Rodriguez: “I learned from this capstone class that success is dependent on effort. Working on this project has taught me that the dynamics of working with this team any experience I’ve ever had. I learned how to exceed expectations with the influence and help of the team.”
MWCC PN Graduates Welcomed Into the Nursing Profession
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The December 2009 Practical Nursing class was welcomed into the nursing profession during a traditional pinning ceremony. |
A traditional pinning ceremony held Dec. 14 at Mount Wachusett Community College’s Gardner campus celebrated the success of 32 graduates of the college’s Practical Nursing program as they embark on their healthcare careers.
Class co-chairs Christopher Ball and Erinn LaJoie delivered student addresses, noting the strides and accomplishments they and their classmates have made since beginning the 41-week program. For example, they learned not to say “icky” when describing a health situation and discovered that you can’t take someone’s blood pressure if the stethoscope is on backward, LaJoie quipped. “But most of all we learned how to think like nurses.”
Guest speaker Deborah Plotkin, a family nurse practitioner at North Quabbin Family Physicians in Athol, was the keynote speaker, drawing from her own path to further her education. Plotkin initially received her Licensed Practical Nurse training from Monty Tech, before deciding to enroll in MWCC’s associate degree nursing program to become an RN. She then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Fitchburg State College, a master’s degree in nursing administration from UMass Medical School in Worcester and her family nurse practitioner certification from UMass Amherst.
“Few careers give the satisfaction of knowing that you actually made a difference in someone’s life,” Plotkin told the graduates. “Keep learning and experiencing the varied and exciting opportunities that await you.”
During the ceremony, each graduate, dressed in a traditional nurse uniform, was welcomed into the profession by having a nursing pin fastened to her or his lapel by a fellow nurse – a family member, friend or faculty member. MWCC’s eight-star pin is imprinted with the words “Serve to Humanity and the World” with the nursing symbol in the middle. The pin symbolizes the medal of excellence Florence Nightingale presented to the women who nursed the wounded soldiers of the Crimean War.
The ceremony also included the traditional recitation of the Florence Nightingale Pledge and lighting of a candle as a symbol of the care and devotion nurses administer to the ill and injured.
As part of the rigorous academic program, the students train with professionals at a number of clinical sites that partner with the college, including Baldwinville Nursing Home, Caldwell Alternative School, Central New England Health Alliance, Burbank and Leominster campuses; Community Health Connections, Inc.; Davita Dialysis Group; Diversified Visiting Nurses Association; Fallon Clinic; Gardner Community Health Center; Gardner Visiting Nurses Association; Golden Living; Heywood Hospital; Heywood Medical Group; Jewish Community Health Center; Legend Center for Nursing; Quabbin Valley Nursing Home; Seven Hills Foundation; Seven Hills at Groton; The Highlands; Wachusett Manor Nursing Home; and Wachusett Extended Care.
MWCC Nursing Students Administer Flu Vaccines
By Dana Laha
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“This has been a very unique flu season” stated Bernie Sullivan director of Public Health for the city of Gardner. With both the H1N1 flu and the seasonal flu spreading widely, providing flu shots to those who need it is very important, he said.
Over 30 first and second year nursing students from MWCC administered flu shots to students and local senior citizens during a flu clinic Dec. 15 at the Gardner campus coordinated by the Gardner Health Department and MWCC Health Services. For more than a decade, MWCC nursing students have played a key role in the inoculation of hundreds of area residents and students to protect them from contracting the flu.
"The students gain a lot of experience and confidence” said Nancy Duphily, director of the Nursing Program. “It gives them a chance to learn how to do safe injections and interact with the public’.
“It’s nice to be all together for this experience” said Jaki Brown a first year nursing student. “It’s helpful to learn with others.” Students were given the opportunity to not only give the vaccinations, but to experience the aspects of record-keeping and patient contact.
Through MWCC’s health services department, nearly 100 students were immunized for H1N1 during the clinic. Meanwhile the seasonal flu clinic administered nearly 200 vaccines to senior citizens.
Every year, the flu virus is able to change, requiring a new vaccination formula to be developed. This year, with both flu strands, vaccines have been hard to find, particularly the H1N1 vaccines. According to student nurse Nicole LaJoie, “lots of student commented that they have been trying to do it, but this is the first opportunity they have had.”
The federal government suggests that everyone under the age of 18, and over the age of 50, as well as people in certain occupations, including health care providers receive the seasonal flu vaccine. The government also suggests that pregnant women, the elderly, anyone under the age of 24, and the immune compromised should receive the H1N1 vaccine.
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Orientation for New and Transfer Students will take place Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Gardner campus. Check in begins at 8:30 in the South Cafeteria. The orientation runs through 2 p.m. and will include a general information session, academic and student success sessions, student IDs and more. For more information, contact the office of student life at (978) 630-9133.
Members of the Alpha Beta Gamma business honor society recently assembled care packages for soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Boxes included snacks, personal care items, magazines and other items, all donated by students. Pictured from left: Edwin Martinez, treasurer; Christina Doyle; Scott Brown, president; Amanda White; Theresa Beach; and Heidi DeLuco.
- Watch your favorite Theatre at the Mount performers compete in this take-off of the popular TV reality show, Survivor, as they try to “out sing, out perform, and out shine” in musical theatre challenges. Survivor, the Musical comes to the Theatre at the Mount stage on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. Singing, dancing, acting, puzzles, trivia, and the dreaded “tribal council” will provide a full evening of fun. Survivor, the Musical is conceived and hosted by TAM veteran Chris Casello and features TAM performers Joey Andrade, Trish Aponte, Paul Caouette, Craig Cormier, Doug Dame, Matt Dombroski, Shani Farrell, Melissa Gates, Darlene Gaudet, Thom Hardy, Nick Howe, Tony Kirouac, Alison Laverdiere, Mark LeBlanc Peterson, Norma Marshall, Tara McRae, Cheryl Miller, Emily Smith, Julie Smith, and Jeff Williams. Tickets are on sale now at the Theatre at the Mount box office 978 632-2403 or may be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu
- More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families through the holidays. Cell Phones for Soldiers and Mount Wachusett Community College are calling on Americans to support these brave men and women by donating their unused cell phones. Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at MWCC campuses at 444 Green Street, Gardner, 100 Erdman Way, Leominster, and One Jackson Place, 27 Jackson Road, Devens. Cell Phones for Soldiers, founded by Norwell, Mass. teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist with $21, is now a registered nonprofit organization that has raised nearly $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials. For more information about MWCC’s collection for Cell Phones for Soldiers, contact phone drive organizer Jo-Ann Meagher at (978) 630-9105.
- The enrollment center is offering Information Sessions on a number of academic programs. Upcoming sessions will take place on the following dates: Associate Degree Nursing Program: Jan. 12 from 2 to 3 p.m., Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate: Feb. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m., Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: Jan. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m., Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Clinical Laboratory Science: Jan. 20 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Laboratory Education Area. In addition, small group information sessions are offered daily Monday – Thursday beginning at 3:00 p.m. Prospective students interested in all other information sessions are asked to call the Enrollment Center at (978) 630-9284 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu