Friday, May 18, 2007

 

GRADUATES URGED TO BECOME 'ACTIVE CITIZENS' WHILE PURSUING CAREER SUCCESS

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Six hundred, fifty-six students received 508 associate’s degrees and 265 certificates at MWCC’s 42nd commencement Thursday, May 17 at the Fitness & Wellness Center.

Joana M. Dos Santos was one of 11 Honors students who graduated.

“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 our community’s affairs and the improvement of human kind,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “Thus, my wish for you is that you use your education to continue these pursuits to improve your life, that of your family and friends, and that of your community, your state and your nation.”

Governor Deval Patrick gave the commencement address. “With the education you have received here (and that I hope you will continue), you must assume your special role in our democracy as active citizens and use the power of reason to overcome the politics of fear,” he said. “Saying ‘never mind’ to facts or fairness is not OK. Your job, as informed and educated citizens, is to remind our community of this, to keep America true to who she is.”

“Without colleges such as Mount Wachusett Community College, higher education opportunity would be out of reach for thousands of persons,” said MWCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jim Garrison. “In order that this type of opportunity survives and flourishes, I ask all of you here this evening to vow to support this college and others like it. Our future depends on it.”

Diane Castelli, who graduated from MWCC’s Nursing program in 1983, was honored as the 2007 Alumna of the Year. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing as well as two master’s degrees in Forensic Nursing and Communications from Fitchburg State College. A former licensed practical nurse at Heywood Hospital, Catelli currently is the training manager for AMD Telemedicine Inc. in North Chelmsford. AMD Telemedicine is a worldwide supplier of telemedicine equipment and technology devices used in telemedicine.

The 2007 Service Above Self Awards were presented to MassInnovation President and CEO 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.

Retiring professors Ray Coleman, Ron Clemente, Fran McFaul, Allan Russell and Jeanne Shea were awarded emeriti status.

Inside the fitness center, members of Phi Theta Kappa held the annual Project Graduation, a food and children’s book drive for the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center in Fitchburg as part of the Decade of Civic Engagement initiative. Graduates who completed their service-learning project requirements wore Civic Scholar Medallions.

MWCC HONORS NURSING PROGRAM’S CLASS OF 2007

By Kimberly B. Caisse

Ninety-four graduates of MWCC’s Nursing program were presented with nursing pins at the 34th annual Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony Tuesday, May 15.

While some Nursing students walked into the theatre for the annual Pinning Ceremony, others danced their way in, as the song "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley played.

During the ceremony, each graduate, dressed in a traditional nurse uniform, was welcomed into the profession by having a nursing pin fastened to her/his lapel by a fellow nurse—a family member, friend or faculty member. The eight-star pin is imprinted with the words “Service to Humanity and the World” with the nursing symbol in the middle.

The nursing pin symbolizes the medal of excellence Florence Nightingale presented to the women who nursed the wounded of the Crimean War. Nightingale also led a candle-lighting ceremony, with a lamp representing “the care and devotion the nurse administers to the sick and injured regardless of time of day, level of fatigue or need of respite.”

“I know your journey has been tough…and that you’re ready to take your place in what I believe is a noble profession,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino to the graduates and more than 550 family members and friends gathered in the college’s auditorium and two classrooms.

MWCC’s Director of Nursing Eileen Costello explained that she receives letters from patients about MWCC Nursing students’ work at area hospitals. This year, she received more than usual.

“A student nurse from your college was assigned to help take care of me for two nights… (The student) helped to calm some of my fears and spent quality time with me. (The student’s) caring and thoughtfulness in helping me through some tough hours should be commended. .. I am deeply grateful for the care,” Costello read.

MWCC CELEBRATES GROWTH OF LEOMINSTER CAMPUS

By Kimberly B. Caisse

The addition of learning space, the opening of the Center for Democracy and Humanity and moving English as a Second Language classes to Mount Wachusett Community College’s most popular satellite campus were celebrated at a special reception attended by community leaders Friday, May 11.

Musicans from Step Up to Music, one of the finalists in the 2006 Business Plan Competition, performed during the Leominster campus reception.

“I’m delighted with the growth of our Leominster campus,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “Our connection to this community has grown both in depth and in breadth.”

Located at 100 Erdman Way, the Leominster campus now has 11 classrooms and five computer labs to support academic programs, such as Cisco Networks Training. 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.

The Center for Democracy and Humanity, which is comprised of the Institute for Nonprofit Development, United Way Youth Ventures, Community Builders, the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety, and the Entrepreneurial Resource Center operates at this campus.

In addition, the campus is the hub of MWCC’s corporate training, the majority of which takes place off-site at area businesses. The college customizes and structures training that address the unique needs of companies and their schedules. Grant writing assistance for the development of state Workforce Training Fund applications is also offered.

The reception kicked off the third annual MWCC Business Plan Competition, which is coordinated by the ERC, for startup or growing businesses. Past winners attended the event. Competition guidelines and applications are available at http://erc.mwcc.edu. All entries are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Those who took tours of the campus, led by MWCC officials, learned more about the campus’ academic offerings, the Center for Democracy and Humanity and the ERC.

MWCC has operated the Leominster campus for 10 years and now occupies 23,000 square feet of space. The college saw course registrations at this campus grow by almost 25 percent between 2004 and 2006.

More MWCC News:

• 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 Leo & Theresa LaChance Library will be open regular hours over the summer, but there will be no public access to the Mezzanine and lower levels from approximately Monday, May 21 to Friday, Aug. 31 due to the library renovation. Access to the book collection will be extremely limited, so patrons should call ahead if they need something in particular. Staff may be able to access parts of the collection at various times, but they cannot guarantee that they will be able to retrieve specific titles at specific times. The main level will provide public access computers and printing. The rooms on the lower level will not be available during this time. If you have any questions, please call Assistant Dean of Library and Information Services Linda Oldach at (978) 630-9126.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The Clinical Laboratory Science program offers an associate’s degree curriculum and integrates general education courses with science and hospital rotations. Students enrolled in this program will learn how to use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and computers to analyze blood and other body specimens. The generation of accurate results of laboratory tests allows physicians to detect, diagnose and treat disease. An information session will take place Wednesdays June 13, August 22, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. in the Volney Howe Conference Room or the OBS Conference Room at Heywood Hospital. The sessions will include a tour of the clinical laboratory. Prospective students interested in attending the information session are asked to call the admissions office at (978) 630-9110 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.
• 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.