Friday, May 2, 2008

 

MWCC STUDENTS PROVIDE 8,500 HOURS OF SERVICE TO REGION

By Janice O'Connor

Community Builders Chair Karson Aubuchon and President Asquino congratulated Paralegal Studies students Valerie Daigle, Sara Vaz and Nathaniel Katisch for their successful food drive this spring.

Proving the act of giving truly is its own reward, nearly 500 Mount Wachusett Community College students collectively volunteered more than 8,500 hours this academic year through service learning projects benefiting children, adults and organizations throughout North Central Massachusetts.

Their efforts, in such areas as preventive health care, education, tax preparation, business services, environmental conservation and numerous others, were celebrated Tuesday, April 29 during a recognition luncheon at the Gardner campus.

“The way to build healthy communities and sustain healthy communities really is through civic engagement and volunteerism,” MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino said in recognizing the students’ efforts. Students who completed 20 hours or more of service received lapel pins and students who contributed 40 hours or more were prestented medallions that are worn at commencement to signify their community service.

Among the achievements announced during the ceremony, a trio of paralegal studies students was recognized for organizing a food drive to benefit Ginny’s Helping Hand food pantry in Leominster as part of the Feinstein Foundation's $1 Million Giveaway to Fight Hunger initiative. More than 54,000 items poured in to Ginny's in March and April through this three-campus drive and other collections in the community. The contributions will be matched with a $50,000 donation from the Rhode Island-based foundation, the maximum amount donated to any one organization.

Ginny’s pantry and thrift shop founder Ginny White said the efforts of MWCC students Nathaniel Katisch, Valerie Daigle and Sara Vaz increased awareness and participation throughout the greater community tremendously, resulting in a final tally that was more than double last year’s drive. The students placed collection bins at Leominster City Hall, where employees could dress casually in exchange for food contributions, and also placed bins at Tim’s Diner and Sovereign Bank in Leominster, and at MWCC campuses in Gardner, Leominster and Devens. Through raffles and bake sales, they raised more than $500, which was used to purchase additional food for the drive. The students also placed signs throughout the community to raise awareness about the hunger crisis, now significantly affecting more families and individuals than ever due to the faltering economy.

A Community Builders Awards presentation took place as part of the service learning celebration. From left, Karson Aubuchon, chair of Community Builders, Michelle Starr, David Ramsey, Aaron Correll, Michael Lozeau, MWCC President Daniel Asquino and Rebekah White.

MWCC's Service Learning Awards Ceremony also included a presentation of Community Builders Awards to five students by Karson Aubuchon, who chairs the Community Builders partnership between MWCC, the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. “My motto is ‘a small change can make a big change,’ and that’s what everyone in this room has done,” Aubuchon said.

Nursing students Aaron Correll and David Ramsey were recognized for volunteering 100 hours and 75 hours, respectively, for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the American Stroke Association. The students organized and participated in a Sporting Charity event in April that raised more than $5,000. Nursing student Michelle Starr was recognized for her volunteerism with the New Mothers Group, providing support and education to new mothers in the community and providing training for new volunteers.

Rebekah White and Michael Lozeau, art majors, were recognized for numerous volunteer efforts on campus. Both contributed in excess of 40 hours assisting with the labor-intensive process of bronze casting sculptures in the college’s art department. In addition, White, a nursing student, has volunteered the past two years painting large murals for the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety’s Kid Expo.

The college also recognized Holly Cain, an art major, for more than 100 hours of service learning participation at the Elm Street School in Gardner, and Stacy Lafrennie, a business administration major, for volunteering more than 100 hours over the past two years preparing tax returns for low-income residents. A number of MWCC faculty members also were recognized for outstanding commitment to service learning projects.

Administered by the Office of Academic Affairs under the direction of Associate Vice President Melissa Fama and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Service Learning Coordinator John Fielding and driven by MWCC faculty, service learning programs combine community service and classroom knowledge focusing on critical thinking, personal and civic responsibility.

ALPHA BETA GAMMA CHAPTER INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS

By Janice O'Connor

Professor Linda Bolduc, Alpha Beta Gamma advisor, congratulates inductee Morgan Opramolla.

Thirty-four Mount Wachusett Community College students were inducted into the Chi Gamma Chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma, an international business honor society, during the 18th annual induction ceremony held Friday, April 25 at the Gardner campus. The evening of celebration featured a keynote address by Suzanne Farias, general manager of the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton.

The new members are: Rebecca Able, Kevin Anderson, Nick Bergeron, Leila Brookhyan, James Conway, Jonathan DeWitt, Clyde Fayorsey, Aurora Ferreira, Donyce Fleck, Eric Gendron, Luke Gilmore, Carl Gore, Jakob Hamm, Allison Hautanen, Christine Hicks, Deborah Kobierski Gallimore, Stacy Lafrennie, Marissa Lanza, Hannah Lazerow, Charles Lewis, Enongene Lonbe-Epie, Ashley Maddocks, Karen Maldonado, Lisa O’Brien, Morgan Opramolla, Kathleen Osborne, Shauna Pineo, Ayanna Powell, Tricia Rathbun, Angel Richard, Daniel Soucy, Charlene Swalec, Katie Vadnais and Pamela Wood.

Farias, who was the honorary inductee, told the students of her career track in the hospitality industry, and encouraged them to be open to different career options as a path to discover what they enjoy most. Although she earned a bachelor's degree from American International College in Springfield and anticipated a career in education, Farias said she discovered her calling in the hospitality industry through MWCC's "Beyond 9 to 5" program, a career and college re-entry program. "Without the Mount, I would be working, but not at something I enjoy as much as I do now."

Farias volunteers with numerous organizations, including serving on the advisory board for MWCC's School of Business. She is the current chair of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

The Alpha Beta Gamma honor society was established by business professors in 1970 to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year business and professional college students.

COMMUNITY LIFE SKILLS STUDENTS WIN BIG AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS

By Janice O'Connor

Salam Ishitwi, Robby Goodnow and Erin Meagher, students in the Community Life Skills program, won medals at the Special Olympics Massachusetts' North Central School Days Games held this week at Fitchburg State College.

Salam Ishitwi, Robby Goodnow and Erin Meagher, students in the Community Life Skills Program, were among the big winners at the Special Olympics Massachusetts North Central School Days Games held this week in Fitchburg.

The students, familiar faces on campus for their work with the recycling program, groundskeeping and in the cafeteria, theater and other locations, attended the day-long event Thursday May 1 at Fitchburg State College with their teacher, Mindy Fuhs, and transition specialist Robyn Soucy.

"It was a really great day for the kids," Fuhs said.

Robby brought home a gold medal for the 100 meter dash and a gold medal in the shotput category for a toss he said went "wicked far." Salam and Erin brought home silver and bronze medals in the softball throw and 100 meter dash categories. All three brought home beaming smiles and wonderful memories. They now move up to compete in the state games taking place next month at Boston University.

The Community Life Skills Program, an initiative of Gardner Public Schools in collaboration with MWCC's Division of Access and Transition, provides vocational training for young adults ages 18 to 22. In addition to attending the program five days a week and engaging in a wide variety of jobs on campus, all of the students work in the community as well, including keeping the Gardner Police Department's fleet of cars gleaming and assisting the city engineer's office with the important task of charting the location of storm drains through the use of high-tech GPS equipment. "It's a fun service for us and it gives us the opportunity to do community service that's really valuable to the city," Fuhs said.

The students also participate in the ICE program on campus, which is administered by CAPP through an Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education. The program, led by coordinator Amy Feeley, provides classes in landscaping, work skills, money management and art.

"The programs on campus provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to work and build relationships with the staff and students of the college," Fuhs said.

HONOR SOCIETY'S "PROJECT GRADUATION" MARKING FIFTH YEAR OF SERVICE

By Sheila Murphy, Professor of Psychology/Human Services and Phi Theta Kappa advisor

This year will mark the fifth year that honor society students at the Mount have volunteered in "Project Graduation: Feed a Body, Feed a Mind," a Phi Theta Kappa civic engagement program that encourages community college students across the country to donate canned goods and books to local relief agencies and literacy organizations. Since 2004, the Phi Delta Chapter at MWCC has worked to collect food and books and donate them to organizations in order to help eliminate hunger and illiteracy.

We’ve been able to join with the national organization by asking our graduates, their families and guests, and faculty and staff to bring nonperishable food items and/or new or gently used children's books to the commencement ceremony.

The international honor society adopted this project in 2002, and since then, nearly 440,000 food items and 355,000 books have been collected and donated to community organizations. The MWCC project has donated more than 1,000 items to the Gardner and Winchendon community action councils, and to the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center. This year, we will donate all food and children's books to the Greater Gardner Community Health Center's food pantry and "Reach Out and Read" program.

We began this initiative as part of MWCC’s decade of civic engagement, and plan to continue it as long as the need in the community exists and as long as we can help to improve the quality of life for people who live in our community. A simple gesture such as bringing a canned good or a new or gently used children’s book can truly make a difference! We are proud of our PTK students who are participating in this event, as they are able to give back to the community that supported them through their college experience.

Phi Theta Kappans will be collecting donations at the commencement ceremony, and will be stationed at the entrance of the Fitness & Wellness Center beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. They also will be accepting donations at graduation rehearsal beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14. Donations may also be dropped off at the Honors Program Center, room 355, any time through May 15.

Thank you in advance for your support!

2008 EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS

President Daniel M. Asquino and the Human Resources department honored MWCC employees who reached milestone years of service with the college during a recognition celebration on Monday, April 28. Collectively, the group contributed 645 years of service to students and the community.
35 years - Charles Weitze. Not pictured: William Nutting and William Welch	30 Years - Gail Steele and Paul Laverty	25 Years - Paula Pitkiewicz and David Patterson. Not pictured: Richard Friberg and Charlene Sundstrom
20 Years - Jane Carney and President Daniel Asquino. Not pictured: Paula Davidson	15 Years - Alan Medeiros, Nancy Kennedy, Joseph Stiso, Louise Hallgren, Janice Gearan, Glenn Roberts, Joann Brooks, and Melissa Sargent. Not picutred. Michael Boudreau, Nancy Greenlaw, Zulma Melendez and Lisa Williams	10 Years - Stephen Washkevich, Marianne Stoy, Mary Petersen, Dale Sanborn, Diane King, Eileen Costello, Sandra Aresenault and William Swift. Not pictured: Jane Gustowski, Heather March
5 Years - Denise Whitney, Aaron Spencer, Jeremiah Riordon, Victor Rojas, Jeffrey Boisseau, Darlene Morrilly, Judith Giacoppe, Gayle Jaillet, Susan Blake, Melissa Croteau, Norman Boudrea, Yong Saddler and Chad Roger. Not pictured: Darren Senecal	Volunteer of the Year Raeann Leblanc, with President Asquino	Employee mentors: JoEllen Soucier, Gregory Clement, Patricia Ainsworth and Joseph Stiso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More MWCC News:

• Complimentary copies of the literary arts journal i magazine are available in the library. The journal contains poetry and fiction by a number of MWCC students. The journal is published annually with funding from the the office of Student Life and the Humanities division.

  The Green Society will be selling a variety of plants for your garden and home on Saturday, May 3 and Monday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenhouse. The selection this year includes an assortment of vegetables, herbs, flowers and hanging baskets. All are reasonably priced too! In addition to flowering bulbs, members of the student club will continue to sell CFL light bulbs for $1 each and LED night lights for $2 each.

• The academic achievments of MWCC students will be celebrated Thursday, May 8 during the annual Evening of Excellence. The awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster. Students will be honored with merit and scholarship awards during this special ceremony. For more information, contact Jackie Suhoski at (978) 630-9142.

• MWCC’s Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony will take place Friday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center. Graduates will be pinned and freshmen will recite the Dental Hygiene Oath. Awards will be presented on behalf of the Dental Hygiene program.

• MWCC’s 35th annual Nurse Pinning Ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. in the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center. The achievements of 98 graduates will be celebrated. Eileen Costello, Dean of MWCC's School of Health Sciences, will deliver the keynote address.

• MWCC’s 43rd Commencement will take place Thursday, May 15 at 6 p.m. at the Fitness & Wellness Center. Ron Claiborne, weekend news anchor for Good Morning America, will deliver the commencement address, and international journalist Birgit Brauer will be honored as Alumna of the Year. Outside the fitness center, members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society will conduct the 5th annual “Project Graduation, Feed a Body, Feed a Mind” food and book drive. All graduates and their guests are requested to bring a new or gently used children’s book or a non-perishable food item to the Commencement rehearsal or ceremony. All donations will given to the Greater Gardner Community Health Center’s food pantry and “Reach Out and Read” program.

• MWCC, in association with the Broadcasting and Electronic Media program and Phi Theta Kappa, is pleased to once again offer Commencement DVDs. This professional quality, edited DVD of MWCC’s 2008 graduation ceremony will be available for a limited time at a cost of $15 each. This low cost includes the cost of shipping and handling. Fifty percent of the profits from the DVD sales will go to MWCC’s Phi Delta Chapter of the PTK Honor Society. PTK students will donate the other 50 percent of the profits directly to the Greater Gardner Community Health Center's food pantry. To place an order in advance, contact Sheila Murphy, PTK advisor, at smurphy@mwcc.mass.edu.

• MWCC alumna Alex Magay, back row second from left, an art teacher at the Winchendon School, brought a group of his students to the 26th annual regional high school art exhbit and awards ceremony. The annual exhbiit is sponsored by the art department.

  An exhibit of artwork created by MWCC students is on display through May 15 in the East Wing Gallery. The exhibit features drawings, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, watercolors and other works created throughout the academic year.

• Central Massachusetts residents interested in starting a nonprofit organization are invited to attend a two-part workshop, "Nuts and Bolts of Creating Social Change Organizations," sponsored by MWCC's Institute for Nonprofit Development. The first session will take place on Wednesday, May 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at MWCC's Leominster campus, 100 Erdman Way. Pete Cormier, Institute member and founder of Sterling Music Exchange, will lead a discussion on reasons why and why not to start a nonprofit organization, how to develop a mission statement, choosing a name, membership, officers, choosing your fiscal year, and dissolution clauses. The second session will take place on Wednesday, June 4, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Leominster campus, and will cover the topics of: board of directors, bylaws, conflict of interest policy, tax exempt status. The fee is $20 per session. Please contact the Institute for Nonprofit Development at 978-840-3221 x216 or nonprofit@mwcc.mass.edu with any questions or for more information.

• The Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety at MWCC will host the fifth annual Kid Expo Saturday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gardner campus. In addition, Health Alliance Hospital, Leominster Campus is teaming up with MWCC to host a Kid Expo on Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both events are free and will feature Molly Bish Foundation child safety I.D. kits, karate demonstrations, hands-on health and safety activities for children and families, car seat safety inspections and free bike helmets while supplies last. The Gardner event also includes a Lifeflight helicopter landing, the State Police's Convincer Rollover Simulator, the B.A.T mobile, lots of safety vehicles to explore, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue dogs and Mobile Command Unit, r.a.d.KIDS self-defense demonstrations with Campus Police, a health and safety resource fair, raffles for bikes, car seats, a playhouse, gift baskets, appearances by Smokey Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog, free food, music, entertainment, lots of fun fitness games and activities such as a climbing wall, and much more. For more information, log on to http://mollybish.mwcc.edu or call Andrea Hart de Gravelle at (978) 630-9458.

• 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: May 14 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Dining Room B; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: May 7 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Devens Campus and May 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Leominster campus; A.S. Nursing: May 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate program: May 8 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Complementary Health Care: May 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: May 7 and June 4 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