Friday, May 11, 2007

 

MWCC HONORS OUTSTANDING STUDENTS WITH AN EVENING OF EXCELLENCE

By Kimberly B. Caisse

MWCC honored the academic achievements of outstanding students at the gala “Evening of Excellence” dinner Thursday, May 10 at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster.

Art major Elizabeth Benoit of Athol receives her Curriculum Award from Professor John Pacheco. Beniot plans to transfer to Illinios State University.

Eighty-one students received Honors Society recognition and 11 Honors Program students were recognized. Fifty-six students were recognized with Outstanding Achievement Awards, including 43 students who have been honored with inclusion into “Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges.” Twenty-five students received Curriculum Awards, including three who received Nursing Awards. Three students received Memorial Awards. In addition, 10 MWCC Foundation Scholarships were awarded.

Vin Ialenti, assistant dean of distance learning and instructional technology at MWCC and one of the masters of ceremonies, likened the experience of the nearly 200 students in attendance to the American Idol contest. “You have made it to the final 10,” he said.

“Like the Idol finalists, you started with many contenders who wanted to make it but did not get there. Your instructors serve in many cases in the roles of judges Randy, Paula and Simon. Their opinions and advice may sometimes not be what you want to hear, but they are the experts,” Ialenti added. “You practiced and revised your work and hopefully improved it by taking the positive, constructive criticism as it was meant to be.”

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

University Scholars: Deborah A. Chatigny of Gardner and Jessica R. Polana of Gardner
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarships: Carole L. McKenna of Athol
Jean Tandy Award: Christina L. Low of Pepperell
Sandy Signor Award: Nathan Dandridge of Hubbardston
Craig Hamel Scholarship: Katrin Goerz of Gardner
Visions Program Award: Gary M. Talbot of Orange
All USA Academic Team Nominee: Joana M. Dos Santos of Fitchburg
Best of English 101: Frank D. Peckham of Baldwinville and Karla M. Boll of Athol
Best of English 102: Corey L. Bobzin of Harvard and Melissa Torres of Leominster
Mount Observer Scholarship: Danielle E. Reeder of Gardner
Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges: Anna M. Amico of Leominster, Heather F. Baird of Jaffrey, N.H., Jean M. Bills of Winchendon, Gail F. Brooks of Ashburnham, Kristine K. Danforth of Gardner, Joana M. Dos Santos of Fitchburg, Jason T. Forbis of Athol, Katie M. Forgues of Fitchburg, Erika Fregia of Leominster, Laura Gage of Winchendon, Patricia M. Gamache of Troy, N.H., Jaime L. Gaudette of Sterling, Michele M. Geary of Hubbardston, Monique G. Haley of Gardner, Shirley L. Hobbs of Athol, Christopher J. Hoey of Holden, Benjamin D. Johnson of Westminster, Gregory J. Kotoch of Rindge, N.H., Candace L. LaBonte of Gardner, Alison E. Landry of Westminster, Lindsey M. Larry of Athol, Melody A. LePage of Athol, Michael D. Lozeau of Leominster, Isaura Luna of Fitchburg, Kerreye D. Marcoux of Hubbardston, Meghan M. Moulton of Phillipston, Amber M. Pfeiffer of Wales, Erin E. Pfeiffer of Gardner, Mai C. Pha of Leominster, Amanda J. Phillips of Leominster, Danielle E. Reeder of Gardner, Christine T. Ricciardi of Hubbardston, Kelly A. Ryder of Orange, Everett C. Schofield of Oakham, Mary B. Shanahan of Ayer, Sonya L. Shelton of Gardner, Darlene Shnaper of Littleton, Andrea Suarez of Fitchburg, Gimena Suarez of Fitchburg, Gary M. Talbot of Orange, Melissa Torres of Leominster, Jack Wilson of Ayer and Michelle L. Wood of Athol

Early Childhood Education Department Chair Rosanne Morel, one of the Evening of Excellence masters of ceremonies, introduces one of the night's many award categories.

MWCC FOUNDATION INC. AWARDS

Alumni Scholarship: Desire Maldonado of Fitchburg and Briana M. Nobrega of Otter River
Barbara Chaplin Scholarship: Michele M. Geary of Hubbardston
Barnes & Noble Scholarships: Laura Gage of Winchendon and Kayla Hamilton of Winchendon
Carl Tammi Scholarship: Gregory J. Whitehead of Merrimack, N.H.
John Burton Award: Elizabeth D. Benoit of Athol, Reva S. Loudermilk of Fitchburg and Claudia E. Montoya of Worcester
Robert Weibel Award: Shirley L. Hobbs of Athol

HONORS SOCIETY RECOGNITION

Alpha Beta Gamma Scholarship: Everett C. Schofield of Oakham
Phi Theta Kappa: Debra A. Bachrach of Petersham, Christine C. Baer of Ashburnham, Michelle K. Baker of Jaffery, N.H., Nathan R. Beauvais of Winchendon, Elizabeth D. Benoit of Athol, Sarah E. Bergstrand of Shirley, Heather M. Borelli of Worcester, Abby L. Brockelbank of Orange, Howard A. Burton Jr. of Fitchburg, Maria Casey of Groton, SangSoon Castle of Templeton, Tracy A. Clarke of Orange, Jennifer A. Cloutier of Athol, Andrew J. Colameta of Leominster, Charity A. Cooley of Barre, Timothy G. Cross of Ashburnham, Jennifer L. Davenport of Fitchburg, Susan B. Dean of Shirley, Sheri L. Deignan of Pepperell, Megan E. Donovan of Orange, Joan D. Doyle of Gardner, Cynthia R. Driscoll of Winchendon, Julie M. Drouin of Athol, Sifael Y. Eliamani of Fitchburg, AnnMarie E. Ferguson of Jefferson, Kelly M. Fruit of Templeton, Laura Gage of Winchendon, Christa A. Gonzalez of Rutland, Cheryl L. Gregory of Shirley, Ana Gutierrez of Fitchburg, Kayla Hamilton of Winchendon, Colleen R. Hayes of East Templeton, Jacqueline A. Herron of Leominster, Lisa M. Hogan of Winchendon, Lana A. Jeanty of Worcester, Tristan J. Kippax of North Oxford, Katie M. Koutrakos of Templeton, Chad Landry of Gardner, Jessica D. Landry of Greenville, N.H, Robin A. Lemire of Oxford, Jeanne L. Lirette of Phillipston, Michael D. Lozeau of Leominster, Carrie A. MacDonald of Lunenburg, Brian P. Major of Baldwinville, Heidi J. Marrama of Fitchburg, Heather M. McDonald of Otter River, Bridget C. McFarland of Fitchburg, Kelly A. McTighe of Townsend, Razi O. Mirshahi of Devens, Adam Nadeau of Westminster, Janice M. Neumann of Lancaster, Briana M. Nobrega of Otter River, Robert F. O’Donnell of Sterling, Karen A. Palma of Gardner, Carol A. Quiet of Leominster, David T. Rainville of Westminster, Owen J. Reardon of Leominster, Danielle E. Reeder of Gardner, Sharon A. Rhoades of Lunenburg, Joseph E. Robinson of Athol, James Rodriguez of Fitchburg, Charlene Roman of Leominster, Stephanie H. Roy of Gardner, Everett C. Schofield of Oakham, Mindy J. Sears of Winchendon, Barbara M. Shaughnessy of Townsend, Sara L. Sherritt of Worcester, Darlene Shnaper of Littleton, Bobbie Jo A. Stankaitis of Phillipston, Gimena Suarez of Fitchburg, Linda M. Sullivan of Leominster, Rory J. Tavares of Winchendon, Krista K. Traffie of New Ipswich, N.H., Angela M. Verheyen of Orange, Carrie L. Wheeler of Gardner, Gregory J. Whitehead of Merrimack, N.H., Kathleene V. Wilder of Rindge, N.H., Jack Wilson of Ayer and Carolina Zuniga of Maynard
Honors Program: Jean M. Bills of Winchendon, Stephanie L. Brissette of Fitchburg, Jessica Collette of Leominster, Joana M. Dos Santos of Fitchburg, Nora H. Ferrarone of Barre, Laura Gage of Winchendon, James D. Strunk of Gardner, Andrea Suarez of Fitchburg, Gimena Suarez of Fitchburg, Rory J. Tavares of Winchendon and Krista K. Traffie of New Ipswich, N.H.

CURRICULUM AWARDS

Business Administration: Jacqueline A. Herron of Leominster
Business Administration Career: Jack Wilson of Ayer
Computer Information Systems: Timothy G. Cross of Ashburnham
Criminal Justice: Joseph M. Gallagher of Gardner
Medical Assisting: Stephanie Reyes of Fitchburg
Nursing: Lorna S. Gross of Holden, Mary A. Griffith of Orange
Art: Elizabeth D. Benoit of Athol
Computer Graphic Design
- Print Concentration: Briana M. Nobrega of Otter River
- Web Concentration: Sonya L. Shelton of Gardner
Complementary Health Care: Caitlin A. Smith of Athol
Liberal Arts: Kelly A. McTighe of Townsend
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Deborah A. Chatigny of Gardner
Liberal Arts LAX: Megan E. Donovan of Orange
General Studies: Deborah A. Brennan of Ashburnham
Human Services: Gail F. Brooks of Ashburnham
Paralegal: Danell K. Betbeze of Temple, Texas
Early Childhood Education: Michele M. Geary of Hubbardston
Broadcasting & Telecommunications: Nathan R. Findley of Winchendon
Automotive Technology: Zachary P. Fissette of Westminster
Computer & Electronic Technology: Joshua A. Rogers of Orange
Dental Hygiene: Abby L. Brockelbank of Orange
Natural Resources Technology: Ryan A. Killeen of Fitzwilliam, N.H.

MEMORIAL AWARDS

Aspasia Anastos Award: Joseph E. Robinson of Athol
Judge Moore Awards: Tara M. O’Brien of Jaffrey, N.H., and Joana M. Dos Santos of Fitchburg

NURSING AWARDS

Sophomore Nursing Club Awards: Kerreye D. Marcoux of Hubbardston and Darlene Shnaper of Littleton
Sara Kajel Scholarship: Johannah W. Contis of Rutland

MWCC NAMES 2007 SERVICE ABOVE SELF AWARD HONOREES

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Robert Ansin

MWCC announces the three community leaders who will receive the 2007 Service Above Self Awards at the college’s 42nd Commencement, Thursday, May 17 at 6 p.m. in the Fitness & Wellness Center. The three individuals chosen for their commitment to serving their communities are president and CEO of MassInnovation Robert Ansin, Spanish American Center Executive Director Neddy Latimer and North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce President David McKeehan.

The Service Above Self Awards recognize those who have made significant contributions to MWCC and the 29 North Central Massachusetts cities and towns that make up MWCC’s service area.

“I’m proud to honor these three individuals with this award,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “They show our students that they will find success not only professionally, but also in giving back to their community.”

Ansin originally established MassInnovation in 1997 in a 130-year-old textile mill complex in Fitchburg that previously served as headquarters for the Ansin family’s shoe manufacturing business. His experience in orchestrating the transformation of this historic facility from a shoe factory to a thriving, mixed-use, green urban campus, led to the evolution of his company as well. He has developed his own unique formula for community building that has made his company a replicable model for sustainable development and smart growth.

Neddy Latimer

For more than a decade, Ansin has served on a wide variety of charitable, cultural and regional economic development boards in Central Massachusetts and the Merrimack Valley. Currently he is a member of the Board of Governors of the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club, a commissioner of the Essex National Heritage Commission, director of Commonwealth National Bank in Worcester, director and Executive Committee member of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, member of the regional Board of advisors of the University of Phoenix and chairs the Business Leaders Network of the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.

Ansin is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a degree in political science. He lives in Lincoln with his wife, Adriana, his daughter, Isabella, and son, Oliver.

For the past 31 years, Latimer has devoted her life to the Spanish American Center, ensuring that the Latino community has a voice in Leominster. She represents the agency and its constituents on countless boards and committees, and continues to seek new avenues of funding to provide the highest quality of service for clients. One of her proudest projects is the acquisition of a new building for the center.

Latimer, after completing high school, studied Business Administration at the Commercial Institute in Puerto Rico. Later, while living in Manhattan, she continued her studies at the Fernandez Bilingual Institute and began performing volunteer work with disadvantaged children. She moved to Fitchburg in 1969.

Latimer has been recognized over the years for her dedication to the area’s Latino population and her community in general. She is the recipient of the City of Leominster’s 1999 Citizen of the Year award, the 2003 Boy Scout’s Distinguished Citizens Award and the 2006 LUK Crisis Center Founders Award.

David McKeehan

McKeehan has served as president of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce since its conception in 1984. Under his leadership, the regional business advocacy organization has grown to a community of businesses with over 1,500 member firms. He was formerly vice president of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce.

Recently, as president of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, McKeehan joined forces with MWCC and Fitchburg State College to launch the North Central Massachusetts Economic Development Council, a 26-community effort to improve economic opportunity throughout the region. He also serves as president of the area’s hospitality and tourism organization, the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association.

McKeehan, a graduate of Wayne State University and Atlantic Union College, was recognized by Fitchburg State College as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the Last 100 Years” at their Centennial Celebration in 1984. He is active, locally, on the boards of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts and the Twin Cities Latino Coalition.

McKeehan and his wife, Marilyn, live in Westminster.

Governor Deval Patrick will deliver the commencement address. Diane Castelli ('83) will be honored as the 2007 Alumna of the Year. Retiring professors Ray Coleman, Ron Clemente, Fran McFaul, Allan Russell and Jeanne Shea will be awarded emeriti status.

Outside the fitness center, members of Phi Theta Kappa will hold the annual Project Graduation, a food and children’s book drive for the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center as part of the Decade of Civic Engagement initiative. Graduates who have completed their service-learning project requirements will be wearing Civic Scholar Medallions.

More MWCC News:

• MWCC will celebrate the expansion of its Leominster campus with a special reception Friday, May 11. Located at 100 Erdman Way, this satellite campus now has 11 classrooms and five computer labs. More than 240 accelerated classes, eight full-semester and about 40 English as a Second Language full-semester classes ran during the 2006-07 academic year. In addition, the Center for Democracy and Humanity, which features the Institute for Nonprofit Development, United Way Youth Ventures and Community Builders, and the Entrepreneurial Resource Center operates at this campus. The event is by invitation only. For more information, contact Kimberly B. Caisse at (978) 630-9547.
• MWCC’s Dental Hygiene program will hold a pinning ceremony for its first nine graduates on Friday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts theatre. The nine graduates will be pinned by Ellen Daly and 12 freshmen will recite the Dental Hygiene Oath. Awards will be presented on behalf of the Dental Hygiene program. For more information, contact Ann Malkasian at (978) 630-9367.
• MWCC’s new Biotechnology program will host information sessions Wednesday, May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. at the main campus. Another session will be held at the Leominster campus, 100 Erdman Way, Wednesday, May 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. With the decision by the drug manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb to locate a large biotechnology company at Devens, the college anticipates starting the biotech program in fall 2007 at the Devens and Gardner campuses. Registration is required. To register and for more information, contact MWCC’s Dean of Science Charles Weitze at cweitze@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9207.
• MWCC’s 42nd graduation will be held Thursday, May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Fitness & Wellness Center. Governor Deval Patrick will deliver the commencement address. Diane Castelli (’83) will be honored as the 2007 Alumna of the Year. During the ceremony, students who have completed qualifying service-learning projects will be awarded Civic Scholar Medallions as part of the ceremony. Outside the fitness center, members of Phi Theta Kappa will hold the annual Project Graduation, a food and children’s book drive for the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center as part of the Decade of Civic Engagement initiative. For more information, contact Kimberly B. Caisse at (978) 630-9547.
• The TAMY Awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, June 5 at 6 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster. This program, sponsored by the Theatre at the Mount, publicly acknowledges the outstanding effort local schools make to strive for excellence in the performing arts and celebrates the casts, crews, directors and designers who make outstanding musical theatre happen. Participants are invited to dress up and walk the red carpet looking their best. Tickets for the awards ceremony are $30 and will be sold between Tuesday, May 15 and Friday, May 25 only through the Theatre at the Mount Box Office at (978) 632-2403.
• MWCC, in association with the Broadcasting and Telecommunications program and Phi Theta Kappa, is pleased to once again offer 2007 Commencement DVDs. This professional quality, edited DVD of MWCC’s 2007 graduation day 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 Cleghorn Neighborhood Center. To place an order in advance, contact Sheila Murphy, PTK advisor, at smurphy@mwcc.mass.edu.
• For the second time, HealthAlliance Hospital, Leominster Campus is teaming up with MWCC to host a Kid Expo on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., which also will feature the free child safety I.D. kits, a health and safety fair, demonstrations, free bike helmets car seat safety inspections, and other give-aways, while supplies last. The event will also include the Sheriff’s office Mobile Command Unit and search dogs, a bike rodeo, karate and cheerleading demonstrations, many other hands-on health and safety activities for children and families, and lots more. For more information, log on to http://mollybish.mwcc.edu or call Andrea Dudley Hart at (978) 630-9458.
• The Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety at Mount Wachusett Community College will host the fourth annual Kid Expo Saturday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gardner campus. The free event will feature free Molly Bish Foundation child safety I.D. kits, r.a.d.KIDS self-defense demonstrations with Campus Police, car seat safety inspections, a health and safety resource fair, free bike helmets courtesy of Heywood Hospital (while supplies last), raffles for bikes, car seats, tons of free raffle baskets. Smokey Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog and Lil’ Iguana will be present. The event also includes a Lifeflight helicopter landing, complementary health workshops including Chi Kung, the Fitchburg Fire Department Smoke House, lots of safety vehicles to explore, the Worcester County Sheriff’s office search and rescue dogs, food, music, entertainment, lots of fun games and activities such as a climbing wall, and lots more. For more information, log on to http://mollybish.mwcc.edu or call Andrea Dudley Hart at (978) 630-9458.
• Registrations are now being accepted for MWCC Foundation, Inc.’s 12th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit student scholarships. The tournament will take place Monday, July 16 at Sterling National Country Club, 33 Albright Road, Sterling. The cost is $175 per person to play and $40 for dinner guests. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. Two raffle drawings and an auction will be held. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. with a breakfast buffet starting at 9. The shotgun start will be at 10 a.m. The tournament will conclude with a social hour from 3 to 4 p.m. and dinner and awards at 4. Players must wear soft spiked golf shoes. Proper attire is required: All golfers must wear a collared shirt. For more information about registering or becoming a sponsor, contact Darlene Cloutier at (978) 630-9387 or dcloutier@mwcc.mass.edu.
• MWCC’s Forest and Wood Products Institute is hosting its fourth annual New England Student Woodworking Design Competition Tuesday, May 29 through Friday, June 1. Nearly 80 students from twenty schools throughout New England, including Leominster High School Center for Technical Education, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, and Fitchburg’s Applewild School, will display their best woodworking projects. These projects will be on display in the Fine Arts Gallery. A ceremony to award prizes will take place on June 1 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater. Michael Humphries, a business owner and woodworker, will give the keynote address entitled “The Soul’s Attraction to Woodworking.” This year’s distinguished judges include David Sargent of Sargent Wood Products, Gardner; Michael Humphries of Michael Humphries Woodworking, Warwick; Jock Snaith and Scott Bridges of Bridges and Snaith Cabinetmakers, Fitchburg; and Jack Haley of J. Haley Woodworking, Sterling. For more information, contact Ken Hanson at (978) 630-0179.
• Lifelong Learning Institute for Enrichment (LIFE) at MWCC is offering a fabulous bus trip to Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, N.H., Tuesday, June 5. This trip is open to the public; the cost is $45, and does not include lunch. Be transported to another time in U.S. history. Experience the everyday life of everyday people who lived from the 1600s to 1950. Furnished houses with costumed interpreters will be engaged in common household tasks as we visit. Relax in the period gardens in bloom and visit the systematic gardens of Prescott Park across the street from Strawbery Banke with benches overlooking the river. Departure is at 7:30 a.m. at the MWCC’s flagpole. The return time is expected to be around 3 p.m. Registration available through Enrollment Services, located at MWCC’s Gardner campus, at (978) 630-9176. Make checks payable to MWCC with “LIFE bus trip” on the memo line. For more information, contact Lorraine Wickman, LIFE program coordinator, at (978) 630-9176 or lwickman@mwcc.mass.edu.