Friday, May 16, 2008

 

GRADUATES ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHERS

By Janice O'Connor

Ron Claiborne of Good Morning America urged members of the Class of 2008 to "savor the moment" of reaching an academic milestone, then remain engaged citizens of their communities, country and world.

Service to community and to others was the theme of Mount Wachusett Community College’s 43rd Commencement, Thursday, May 15, when 603 students received associate degrees and certificates.

In his opening remarks, MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino noted that over the course of the year, students and faculty contributed over 10,000 hours of service work in the community.

"As you leave us and begin another phase in your life, I ask you to constantly take inventory of your learning and your success and involve yourself in your community's affairs and the improvement of human kind," MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino told the graduates.

Ron Claiborne, news anchor for ABC's Good Morning America weekend edition, urged students to savor the moment and remain engaged citizens of their communities and of the world. "Service to community is not just an ideal and it's not just a goal. It is our assignment. You're lucky. You have attended an institution that understands that service is an important part of our lives."

Claiborne spoke of the endangered Earth due to global warming and pollution, acknowledging that the lack of foresight by past generations has left a "mess" for younger generations to try to remedy.

"We are now in the midst of an environmental crisis that we were late - but hopefully not too late - to acknowledge." Claiborne praised President Asquino and the college's administration for having the foresight to convert to renewable energy years ago, drawing applause from the crowd. "That's not just smart. It's an example of the kind of leadership and ingenuity that is needed if we are going to turn things around. You should be proud that this college had the innovation, the initiative, the creativity to start to tackle what I believe is the gravest peril in the world today."

Birgit Brauer flew in from Kazakhstan to accept the 2008 Alumna of the Year Award. Brauer, a journalist now writing on the political, economic and social situation in Central Asia for The Economist, graduated from MWCC's Broadcasting and Telecommunications program in 1989. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Harvard University Extension School, and a master's degree from American University in Washington, D.C. and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Center for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

"Graduating from the Mount was in itself a tremendous achievement for me back then. I was the first woman in my family to attend college. But as time has passed, I have come to appreciate more and more the excellent preparation I was given here form my professional life," she said, crediting Assistant Dean Vincent Ialenti and retired professors Tony Cherubini and John Koller with encouraging her to pursue a career in journalism.

“There is a popular saying in the States: If you shoot for the stars, you may at least reach the moon," Brauer told the graduating class. "But you can turn this around. If you achieve everything you set your mind on, then maybe you have set your goals too low. Do set your goal posts high. The Mount has given you a very sound foundation. It is now up to you to make the most of it."

Service Above Self Awards were presented to Suzanne Farias, general manager of the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton Leominster, Ladd Lavallee, co-president of Laddawn, Inc. in Sterling, and Dr. John Mulqueen and Paula Mulqueen, RN, for their commitment to serving others.

President's Keys were presented to Business Administration majors Adam Nadeau and Carol Ciccone for graduating with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. The Dean's Keys were present to Student Trustee Isaura Luna, a business administration major, and Katie Forgues, a Liberal Arts & Sciences major who served as Student Government Association president and as a member of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

Honorary degrees were presented to retiring Vice President of Academic Affairs Peter Trainor, State Sen. Stephen Brewer, and Ron Claiborne.

Retiring faculty members Elaine Falcone, professor of mathematics, Dr. John T. Fielding, assistant dean and professor of history and political science, and Dr. Richard Shine, dean of the Humanities, Fine Arts, and Developmental Learning division, were awarded emeriti status.

Outside the fitness center, members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society held the fifth annual "Project Graduation, Feed a Body, Feed a Mind" food and children’s book drive. On Friday, all donations were delivered to the Greater Gardner Community Health Center’s food pantry and “Reach Out and Read” program.

MWCC AWARDS HONORARY DEGREES TO EXTRAORDINARY CITIZENS

By Janice O'Connor

MWCC Board of Trustees Chair Jay Davis Drake and President Daniel M. Asquino present retiring Vice President Peter Trainor with a Doctor of Philosophy honorary degree during a special ceremony with his family Thursday.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education provided Mount Wachusett Community College with the authority to award honorary doctorate degrees to "three extraordinary citizens and human beings who have made a lifetime commitment to their profession, to community and to humankind," MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino said.

During a special ceremony at the Board of Trustees meeting before his family and friends, Vice President of Academic Affairs Peter Trainor was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Trainor joined the MWCC faculty in 1968 in its early years as an institution of higher learning, teaching sociology and psychology. His unwavering dedication and commitment to the community college mission, the mission of Mount Wachusett Community College in particular, and most especially to students, has endured over the past four decades.

“The Mount, as far as I’m concerned, has been my home away from home,” Trainor said. “I absolutely love Mount Wachusett. We have the finest faculty and staff. I’ve loved coming to work here. I’ve loved teaching students and advising them. I just think education is a wonderful profession, and I feel working with community college students is extremely gratifying.”

In 1972, Trainor became the first coordinator of what is now the college’s Human Services program and continued to teach full-time until 1995, when he accepted the position of Dean of Students. In 2002, he retired, for the first time, from MWCC, however continued serving as assistant to the president while also teaching and advising students. He then accepted the position of interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, which he has now held for the past five years. In addition, Trainor had a private practice in therapy from 1977 to 1995, assisting families, couples and individuals as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, licensed psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. His volunteer work includes officiating high school sports for 30 years and serving as former director of the Mount Wachusett Girls Basketball Tournament, which awarded $65,000 in scholarships to participating high school athletes over an 18-year span.

For his commitment and service to Central Massachusetts residents, State Senator Stephen M. Brewer was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Trainor earned a baccalaureate degree in psychology from the College of the Holy Cross and his master’s in social work from Boston College, and additional doctoral studies in education at the University of Massachusetts. He and his wife, Colleen, who also has a background in human services and social work, raised their family of three sons and one daughter in Fitchburg and Leominster. Their son David, an attorney, is the associate vice chancellor of Human Resources for the Connecticut State University System in Hartford. Twin sons Michael and Timothy both became orthopedic surgeons. Mike is an orthopedic spine surgeon in Prescott, Arizona, and Tim served as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy and is now an orthopedic surgeon in Las Vegas. His five years in the armed forces included seven months as a surgeon in Ramadi, Iraq, providing care for injured service men and women. The Trainors’ daughter, Christine, also entered a career in education, working as a teacher and as an assistant principal in Chicago, where she is now raising her family. The Trainors have eight grandchildren.

During the Commencement ceremony, a Doctor of Philosophy was awarded to State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, who has served the residents of 29 towns and cities in Central and Western Massachusetts since 1997, and also served as a state Representative from 1989 to 1996. At Mount Wachusett Community College, Brewer serves on the advisory board of the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety. He was instrumental in establishing the Institute with his dear friends John and Magi Bish, in memory of 16-year-old Molly, who was abducted from her lifeguard station in 2000. Through his diligence, child safety laws in the Commonwealth have been strengthened.

Similarly, Brewer is committed to the men and women serving our country in the armed forces. Last year, he filed legislation to allow 10 acres of Mount Wachusett Community College property be used to create the Northeast Veteran Rehabilitation and Training Center, a facility that would provide rehabilitation services, housing and access to academic programs to wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Senator Brewer received his baccalaureate degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and obtained a master’s degree in history and government from Assumption College. He is vice chair of the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and a member of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture committee. He previously has served as chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules, Senate vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture; and on the Joint Committee on Public Safety.

MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino and Board of Trustees Chairman Jay Davis Drake present Isaura Luna with the Trustees Award.

Ron Claiborne, news anchor for Good Morning America’s weekend edition, was presented a Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the ceremony. Claiborne joined ABC News in 1986 as a general assignment correspondent based in Boston, reporting for World News Tonight, Nightline and Good Morning America. He was part of the ABC News team that won a 2000 Emmy Award for coverage of the seizure of Elian Gonzalez in Miami. In 2003, Claiborne was embedded on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War, and also covered the first Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. He is currently assigned to covering the presidential campaign of Senator John McCain.

Claiborne has covered such stories as the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts, the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and the Yugoslavia conflict in Belgrade in 1999. He previously worked in ABC’s New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami news bureaus, and has covered stories in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, China and Europe.

A native of San Francisco, Claiborne earned a master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia University School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale University. Earlier in his career, he worked as a reporter for the New York Daily News, and was a reporter and editor for United Press International in New York.

In addition to the honorary degrees, the Board of Trustees presented the Trustees Award to Isaura Luna, who admirably served on the board for the past two years. Luna, who graduated with a degree in Business Administration, served as president of the ALANA (Asian, Latino, African American and Native American) organization from 2004 to 2006, and as vice president of the Student Government Association from 2005 to 2006. She also has served in a variety of volunteer and leadership roles on campus over the past three years.

MWCC GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS OF NURSES

By Janice O'Connor

Jennifer Logan, left, vice president of the 2008 nursing class, and Kelly Ryder, class president, distribute roses to classmates before the start of the 35th annual pinning ceremony. During the ceremony, each graduate hands the rose to the RN who pins them.

Ninety-eight members of the 2008 nursing class made history Tuesday, May 13, when they stood on the stage of the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center for the 35th annual nurses' pinning ceremony. The class is the largest graduating class in the history of the nursing program at MWCC.

Dressed in traditional nurse uniforms, the students were welcomed into the profession by having the program’s nursing pin fastened to their lapels by a fellow nurse, a family member, a friend, an alumnus of the program, or a faculty member, to the cheers of family and friends in the packed auditorium. One third of nurses pinning the new nurses were alumni of MWCC's program. The pin symbolizes where the nurses completed their studies to become an RN and distinguishes them from other health care professionals. The eight-star MWCC pin is imprinted with the words “Service to Humanity and the World.”

"This pin represents a symbol of your profession, your education and your mission," Director of Nursing Nancy Duphily told the class. "It is a passport to your personal journey ahead."

Program alumna Paula Mulqueen, who with her husband, Dr. John Mulqueen, established the Forward in Health nonprofit organization to provide much needed health care to Haiti, was presented with a gift from the class of $450, which will cover the costs of an education in nursing for a young woman in Haiti. Mulqueen said the gift will dramatically improve the life of the woman and her family. In addition, the graduating class presented a gift of equipment for the MWCC nursing program.

As part of the ceremony, the students also took a nursing pledge that dates back to Florence Nightingale, who distinguished herself during the Crimean War by coming to the aid of sick and wounded British soldiers. Through her selfless duty, she became known as the “lady with the lamp.” As a tribute to her dedication, each student receives a traditional lamp during the ceremony to represent the care and devotion they will have to their patients.

More than 150 years later, the significance of the lamp remains the same. "She is dedicated to her profession, that's why we are so proud of her," Sophie Tabi, also an RN, said of her sister-in-law, Christina Arrey, who was among the graduates.

DENTAL HYGIENE ICON DELIVERS PINNING CEREMONY ADDRESS

By Janice O'Connor

Ellen Daly pins graduate Tricia Lambert.

Students in the second graduating class of Mount Wachusett's Dental Hygiene program received a special honor during their pinning ceremony on May 9, when Dr. Esther Wilkins, an icon in the dental hygiene world, delivered the keynote address. The students met Wilkins in Boston this past fall when the class went to the statehouse to advocate for legislative changes that affect oral health care in Massachusetts, and were delighted when she accepted their invitation to speak at the ceremony.

Wilkins, a dentist and hygienist, is the author of The Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist, the textbook widley used by professionals in the field. A national leader, Dr. Wilkins has been involved in the Massachusetts Dental Hygiene Association, the Massachusetts Woman's Dental Society and has served as a trustee for the American Dental Hygienist Association. She has delivered over 750 continuing education courses throughout the United States and internationally and has served as a clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for over 35 years.

With words of encouragement and humor, Wilkins reminded the students of how far they have come since their first courses. "Remember how your instruments looked? So shiny! So many!" And the first examination of another person's mouth? "So dark!" Wilkins encouraged the students to embrace continuing education opportunities to stay current on changes in oral health care and treatment.

Dr. Esther Wilkins and Ellen Daly

"Don't be afraid to be a perfectionist," she said. "In a precise profession like ours, there is no room for mediocrity."

The students were pinned by Ellen Daly, former college trustee who was instrumental in starting the dental hygiene program at MWCC.

The evening of celebration included several exciting announcements. Program Director Anne Malkasian announced that all 12 of the graduating students passed their state licensing exam this month and are now ready to begin working in the profession. In addition, Patricia Willard, president-elect of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienist Association, arrived with a $500 scholarship for freshman student Rebecca Mariano. The scholarship is awarded to just one freshman chosen from a pool of all eight dental hygiene programs in the state who demonstrates scholarship, professional engagement and a passion for the profession.

Graduating student Alison Landry received the MDHA's American Dental Hygienist Association Award, which is dues for one year membership into the national organization. The award is presented to one graduating student from each dental hygiene school in Massachusetts.

VISIONS PROGRAM CELEBRATES STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENTS

Visions award recipients included, from left, Lisa O’Brien, Bobbie Jo Stankaitis, Patricia Gamache and Michael Lozeau. (Photo by Gaurav Khanna)

On Tuesday, May 13, the Visions Program held its 17th Annual Award Ceremony in the North Café to celebrate the accomplishments of its students. Visions students, nominated by staff, were awarded certificates for:

In addition, 38 students were recognized as Distinguished Achievers, for having a GPA of 3.3 and higher; 30 students were recognized for participation in college activities, including clubs, service learning and volunteerism, and 25 students are transferring to four-year colleges and universities. The Visions Program honored 40 students for receiving their Associate Degrees and 13 students for receiving Certificates.

 

More MWCC News:

• 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.

• 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.

• A reception celebrating the Summer UP community program sponsored by Mount Wachusett Community College in conjunction with Fitchburg State College and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, will take place Thursday, May 22 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Fitchburg. The reception and fundraiser begins with a social hour and hors d’oeuvres at 4 p.m., followed by a presentation featuring Summer UP alumni at 5 p.m. College Access and Preparation Programs at MWCC and community agencies are now coordinating the fourth year of the Summer UP program, which provides summer employment to middle and high school students and safe recreation spaces, field trips and meals for area children of all ages who are welcome to attend the free activities. This year’s program will include nine sites in Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner and Winchendon. Reservations to the reception are required by May 16 and may be made with Pati Gregson, Vice President of MWCC Access and Transition, at 978-630-9248, or pgregson@mwcc.mass.edu. Tickets are $25 and all donations are tax deductible.

• MWCC’s Forest and Wood Products Institute is hosting its fifth annual New England Student Woodworking Design Competition Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 30. Nearly 80 students from 21 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 nearly $10,000 in prizes will take place on May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater. Graham Oakes, a graduate of Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire and previous winner of this competition, will be the keynote speaker. His speech, "Schooled in Wood," will feature many props, history of woodworking and a bit of his own story mixed in. This year’s distinguished judges include David Sargent of Sargent Wood Products, Gardner, Jack Haley of J. Haley Woodworking, Sterling, and Guy Biechele of Shaker Workshops, Ashburnham. For more information, contact Ken Hanson at (978) 630-0179.

• The North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition will host the third forum in the“Facing Race: We're Better Together" series on Wednesday, May 28 at Fitchburg State College, Percival Hall. The forum topic is "Raceand Health Disparities" Refreshments will be available at 5:30 p.m., and the forum will run from 6 to 9 p.m. On site child care services will be available as well as Spanish interpreters and ASL services. All in the community are welcome to this free event! Health Alliance Hospital is co-sponsoring the forum in addition to Mount Wachusett Community College, Fitchburg State College, Three Pyramids, Inc., and Haymarket Peoples’ Fund.

• Author and storyteller Mark Binder will come to the Mount on Friday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to noon in the South Café to provide an Instant Short Story workshop to middle school students from Winchendon, Gardner, Leominster and Fitchburg during the annual Write On! Celebration, sponsored by the College Access and Preparation Programs. Write On! Is a celebration of the students' poetry, artwork and short stories. The event is designed to encourage students to continue their creative abilities.

• 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: June 18 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: June 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, room 341; A.S. Nursing: June 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate program: June 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Complementary Health Care: May 19 and June 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: 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