Friday, January 4, 2008

 

THIRTY SIX AREA RESIDENTS GRADUATE FROM PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM

By Janice O'Connor

Practical Nursing graduate Jacqueline Gallant lights the candle during the pinning ceremony while her classmates recite the Florence Nightingale Pledge.

Thirty six new graduates of Mount Wachusett Community College’s Practical Nursing program celebrated their academic achievement during a traditional pinning ceremony at the Gardner campus on December 14.

Guest speaker Colin Blake, MD, an anesthesiologist at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, presented a lighthearted look at the hours of study and preparation that go into obtaining a degree in the medical field, and also addressed the serious side of the nursing profession.

 “Those of you who have through hard work and perseverance come to this place tonight deserve our respect and congratulations, and you have them without reservation,” Blake said. “Take this moment to look back with pride on an accomplishment that so very few have the skill or determination to reach. The skills, the knowledge the experience required, is hard won, yes, but is a pearl beyond price because it means that you are one of the special few that make lives better in vital ways each and every day. At the end of every day, you can hold up your head with pride and say, ‘I did good today,’ which is a rare gift.”

Graduate Jenny Pierre was pinned by nursing professor Kathy Panagiotes.

During the ceremony, each graduate, dressed in a traditional nurse uniform, was welcomed into the profession by having the college’s nursing pin fastened to her or his lapel by a fellow nurse—a family member, friend or faculty member. The nursing pin symbolizes the medal of excellence Florence Nightingale presented to the women who nursed the wounded of the Crimean War. The traditional ceremony also included the lighting of a candle and the recitation of the Nightingale Nurse’s Pledge.

“Through your year’s experience in school, you have seen that nursing today is experiencing many changes,” MWCC Director of Nursing Nancy Duphily told the graduates. “The crisis of the nursing shortage has focused attention on the profession as never before. As a nurse of the future, you are now charged with the responsibilities of improving practice environments, making decisions regarding standards of care, and continually educating yourself to maintain the quality of care you deliver,” she said. 

“As you receive your nursing pins, I encourage you to read the inscription carefully: ‘Service to Humanity and the World.’ This pin is a symbol of your diligence, your accomplishment and your mission. It is a passport to your personal journey ahead.”

Class co-representative Tenneal Perron was pinned by her husband, Dennis Perron.

MWCC’s December 2007 graduates in the Gardner Practical Nursing program are:

Athol: Massiel Colon, Nicole Stoddard
Baldwinville: Suzanne Geyster, Jamie Siart
Barre: Emily Arslen, Michelle Maguire, Tenneal Perron
Dracut: Maxwell Aifuwa, Caroline Njuguna
Fitchburg: Jenny Pierre
Gardner: Kelly Connolly, Shannon Daly, Jacqueline Gallant, Charlene Gleason, Shawna Jovanovic, Christophe Samsia Nji
Leominster: Joyce Appah, Phyllis Asamoah-Pratt, Kristin Shaw
Lunenberg: Deborah Hansen
Lynn: Arinze Ejiofor
Malden: Ritza Noel
Marlborough: Elizabeth Nantaba
Orange: Rebecca Anderholm, Marie Bigelow, Kaitlyn Lemoine, Caroline Njeri, Karen Shepardson
Phillipston: Jessica Casiano
Royalston: Priscilla Ryan
Sterling: Craig Godfroy
Templeton: Angela Maguire
Townsend: Rachel Baro
West Brookfield: Carol Ouellette
Worcester: Mercy Irungu, Carolina Vargas

For more information about MWCC’s Practical Nursing program, contact the Admissions Office at admissions@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9110

'EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW ECONOMY' FOCUS OF NEXT SPEAKER SERIES FORUM

MWCC's What’s Next? Speaker Series will continue on Thursday, Jan. 10 with a panel presentation on “Emerging Opportunities in the New Economy,” from noon to 2 p.m. at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster.

The forum will provide an in-depth look at how certain industries, including health care, the biomedical industries and green construction, affect economic development. Panelists include Dan Moen, president and chief executive officer of Heywood Hospital, Rick Mohnk, chief information officer for HealthAlliance Hospital, Richard Elmer, training manager, learning and development, for Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ed Terceiro, executive vice president of Mount Wachusett Community College.

The 2007-2008 speaker series focuses on “Embracing the New Economy” and provides a statewide and local perspective on the many areas of our lives that are affected by growth. Health care, the biomedical industry, the creative cluster, housing, transportation, municipal growth, ecotourism and local farming are among the topics that will be addressed. This year’s speaker series is sponsored by MWCC’s Center for Democracy and Humanity in partnership with the Trustees of Reservations, the Twin Cities Latino Coalition and the North Central Massachusetts Economic Development Corporation.

Lunch will be provided. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Nancy Hawkins at 978-630-9163 or emailing nhawkins@mwcc.mass.edu

More MWCC News:

• Tickets are now on sale for the 2008 season of plays presented by Theatre at the Mount. The music of legendary rock and roller Buddy Holly takes center stage as the season kicks off. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, featuring over 20 hit songs such as Peggy Sue, Chantilly Lace and That'll Be the Day, will run on Feb. 22, 23, 29 and March 1 at 8 p.m., and March 2 at 2 p.m. Summer heats up with the powerful musical Ragtime, painting a portrait fo the melting pot of America at the turn of the 20th century. Performances of Ragtime are June 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and June 29 at 2 p.m. the Disney Channel's smash hit movie High School Musical comes to life in August. This amazing blockbuster will be performed on Aug. 8, 9, 13, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m., and Aug. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. Dan Goggins' Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue brings the zany Sisters of Hoboken back to the stage. In this all-new, sixth eidtion of the Nunsense series, a parishioner has promised the Little Sisters of Hoboken $10,000 for their school if they go to Las Vegas and perform at a friend's showplace. Show dates for Nunsensations are Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. Home for the Holidays will conclude the 2008 season. This Christmas spectacular promises to put audiences in the festive spirit with dazzling sets, stunning costumes, Broadway-style dancing, traditional holiday songs and a visit from Santa. Home for the Holidays runs Nov. 28, 29, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets or request a season brochure, call the TAM box office at 978-632-2403. Tickets also may be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu

• Student Orientation for new and transfer students will take place Tuesday, Jan. 15. Check in begins at 8:30 a.m. in the South Cafeteria. The orientation runs through 2 p.m. and includes an activities and student services expo, advisor meetings, academic success sessions and more. For additional information, call 978-630-9252.

• The enrollment center is offering Information Sessions on a number of academic programs. Upcoming sessions will take place on the following dates: Clinical Laboratory Science: Jan. 16 and Feb. 13 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Dining Room B; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: Jan. 8 from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Gardner campus, room 341, Jan. 10 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Leominster campus and Feb. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner Campus, room 341; A.S. Nursing: Jan. 8 and Feb. 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate program: Jan. 17 and Feb. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Complementary Health Care: Jan. 28 and Feb. 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: Jan. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Burbank campus in Fitchburg and Feb. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, Room 12. Prospective students interested in attending an information session are asked to call the enrollment center at (978) 630-9110 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu

• Wish you could be the next American Idol but find the thought of facing Simon Cowell too intimidating? The Office of Student Life is offering students, faculty and staff the opportunity to make their own music videos for free during Spring Semester Welcome Week. Stop by the South Cafe from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday Jan. 23 and find out if you're the next Carrie Underwood...or William Huong. On Friday, Jan. 25, the Welcome Week fun continues with free personalized signs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lion's Den Student Center.

• Works of art created by Drawing III/Painting III students will be on display through Jan. 25 in the East Wing Gallery. In addition, an exhibit of sculptures and carvings by Boston artist Paul Angiolillo is on display in the gallery through Jan. 18.

• Stressed? Why not schedule a relaxation massage to ease your tension? The MWCC Student Massage Therapy Clinic provides relaxation massage at a reduced rate to the public, faculty, staff and students. One-hour sessions with student massage therapists enrolled in MWCC's Massage Therapy Program are just $15 for students and MWCC employees and $30 for the general public. Many people have already discovered the advantages of this service as a way to relax and reduce stress. To schedule an appointment, call (978) 630-9212.