Friday, May 23, 2008

 

SUMMER UP A HIT WITH STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES

By Janice O'Connor

Area high school and middle school students and MWCC employees at the top of Mount Wachusett during a previous Summer UP field trip.

With the unofficial start of summer beginning this weekend, organizers of the Summer UP program picked a perfect week to announce plans for the fourth annual community recreation and employment program for area children and teenagers.

A reception and fundraiser celebrating Summer UP, a program sponsored by Mount Wachusett Community College, Fitchburg State College, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, with the support of many others, took place Thursday, May 22 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Fitchburg. The event attracted supporters from the region, including municipal and business leaders, representatives from nonprofit organizations and officials from both colleges.

Summer UP provides summer employment, field trips and leadership training to middle and high school students as well as safe recreation spaces, activities and meals for program participants and the hundreds of area children age four and above who attend the free six-week program. Summer UP is designed to decrease unsafe behaviors by providing meaningful service to the community.

“This is an extraordinary program because it impacts the most important element of our society – the kids, our future,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “This is a collaborative program that has so many positive residual effects. This is what community is all about.”

Since its inception, the program has expanded to nine sites in four communities. This summer, youth counselors will receive training the week of June 30, and the program will begin in July. The Summer UP sites are located this year at the Boys and Girls Club, Green Acres/MOC and Parkhill/Cleghorn Neighborhood Center in Fitchburg; the Boys and Girls Club and Spanish American Center/Riverside Village in Leominster; HOPE house, Olde English Village and Jackson Street Playground in Gardner; and The Clark in Winchendon.

Last year, 135 middle school and high school students served in the recreation work program, and 450 elementary school children participated in the activities and lunch program. In addition, 45 middle school students participated in a computer Cyber Camp. In Fitchburg, 105 elementary school children were served at three sites in the city last year, and 90 elementary school students participated in the two Leominster programs. In Gardner, 135 elementary school children participated in the three programs and in Winchendon, 120 school children were served.

Pati Gregson, Vice President of Access and Transition Programs at MWCC, said it has been rewarding to see children continue with the program from participant while in elementary school, to youth worker in the middle school and high school years. The program is succeeding in its goal to provide safe fun alternatives for middle school and high school students as a way to deter crime. "It really is building the capacity of the neighborhoods," she said. "It helps these neighborhoods help themselves."

During the reception, Summer UP youth counselors Yohanna Island-Mateo, a student at Fitchburg High School who will be participating in the program for the fourth consecutive year, and Nicholas Landry, a student at Gardner High School who is participating for the second year, said the program not only is engaging and fun, but provides opportunities for teens to develop leadership and organization skills.

“This is a true community program,” said Ronald M. Ansin, one of the attendees. “The bottom line is it’s for the kids.” Added Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke, another attendee: “I think it’s essential. As the kids were saying, this program is providing the leadership opportunities they need.”

The program, administered by MWCC's Division of Access and Transition, is partially funded by a federal Gear Up grant and also relies on community contributions. Donations to help support the program are still being accepted and may be made to MWCC Foundation, Inc. – Summer UP. All donations are tax deductible.

TUITION INITIATIVE ENHANCES ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

By Janice O'Connor

In a measure to make a college education more accessible and affordable, Mount Wachusett Community College will maintain tuition and fees at the Fall 2008 rates for Massachusetts residents who complete their associate’s degree in the next two years.

The college developed this initiative to ensure that students can successfully enroll and complete their degrees without fear of rising costs. Matriculating students enrolled in a degree or certificate program who initiate their studies in September 2008 will be guaranteed the fall 2008 rates for all subsequent semesters until summer 2010. The initiative applies to all day and evening credit courses at any MWCC campus and includes online courses. Students must maintain good academic standing, 2.0 or above, and have continuous enrollment for the two year period.

“We recognize that affordability is often the obstacle that prevents many people from pursuing their goal of obtaining a college education. With the faltering economy and rising costs of fuel and food, it is our hope that this commitment will encourage prospective students to follow their dreams with the assurance that their education costs will remain stable,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino.

This announcement comes on the heels of recent changes on a national level to the student loan industry.   In April, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) announced that it is suspending all federally guaranteed student loans effective July 1, raising concern among students and their families about funding a college education. Although MEFA’s action did not affect any current students at Mount Wachusett Community College, the change will affect many students throughout the Commonwealth. MWCC is taking this initiative to lock in prices to assist students and families with financing a college education.

MWCC offers over 40 associate degree and certificate programs. The college’s main campus is located in Gardner, and satellite sites are located in Leominster, Fitchburg and Devens.

STUDENT'S PASSION FOR COOKING HELPS FUND COLLEGE EDUCATION

By Janice O'Connor

Niki Plourde and her $5,000 pizza.

When it comes to finding creative ways to finance a college education, MWCC Liberal Arts & Sciences major Niki Plourde takes the cake - or rather, the pie. Plourde recently won $5,000 plus additional prizes for her Apple Jack Chicken Pizza with Caramelized Onions in the 43rd annual Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest.

Plourde became one of 100 finalists after her original recipe was selected from tens of thousands of entries. Then, she received the most votes from consumers across the country in the Pizza Creations category, resulting in a free trip to Dallas to compete in the contest finale, where she was presented with her winnings. In addition to the cash prize, Plourde received $2,000 in appliances, including a GE Profile refrigerator, upright freezer and microwave.

Plourde, who lives in Gardner with her husband, Roland, said she will use the winnings to help finance her college education. She expects to graduate from MWCC in spring, 2009, then continue on for a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in social work.

"Fruit and cheese go well together, and it's kind of unusual to put it on a pizza. I like that combination, and with the chicken, it really makes a substantial meal. But I never thought I would win," she said.

When reached this week, Plourde was busy creating a new recipe for another contest, having found it is a satisfying way to blend her passion for cooking with the prospect of earning more prizes. "It's almost like a subculture. For some people, it's a hobby and it's really competitive."

The 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest is sponsored by General Mills, General Electric, Old El Paso, The J.M. Smucker Company, Eggland’s Best, Land O’Lakes, Inc., Fisher Nuts and Domino Foods, Inc. To view Plourde's award-winning recipe and other winning recipes, go to www.pillsbury.com/bakeoff.

FOURTH ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION IS UNDERWAY

By Lisa Derby Oden

The Entrepreneurial Resource Center at MWCC is accepting applications for its fourth annual Business Plan Competition. The competition, initiated in 2005 to highlight, celebrate and stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit in North Central Massachusetts, is open to any start-up or growing business and nonprofit that is located or willing to locate within the college’s service area.

The competition gives innovators in the business and community involvement sectors an opportunity to submit business plans and vie for up to $12,000 in cash prizes, as well as over $8,000 of in-kind services. One finalist will be chosen in each of the following three categories: start-up profit, expanding profit businesses, and start-up and expanding nonprofits. A grand prize winner will be selected from among the three finalists. In addition, special awards will be given in the following categories for qualifying entries: Gardner profit or nonprofit, Community Builders profit or nonprofit volunteer program, Phoenix Park office suite for up to three people, and Task Proposal by Marketing & Management of New England.

Competition guidelines and applications are available at http://erc.mwcc.edu. All entries are due on Sept. 15. The Entrepreneurial Resource Center will provide Competition Workshops on June 17 in partnership with Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce at the MWCC Devens campus; July 25 in partnership with Wachusett Chamber of Commerce, at Clinton Hospital; and August 1 at Experience Gardner Sidewalk Sale above BDO Seidman. The workshops will focus on what goes into a business plan as well as competition guidelines. At the July workshop, 2006 grand prize winner Maureen Kittredge of Clinton Wellness will share what it is like to be in the competition. In addition, a business plan writing workshop series will be offered June 4 through Aug. 20 at the Entrepreneurial Resource Center, at MWCC’s Leominster campus. Semi-finalists will be announced on Nov. 3, and the grand prize winner will be announced on Nov. 17following public presentations and final judging.

MWCC’s service area includes the towns of Ashburnham, Ayer, Ashby, Athol, Barre, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Oakham, Orange, Pepperell, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shirley, Sterling, Townsend, Templeton, Westminster and Winchendon.

The competition’s premier sponsor is WXLO of Worcester. Growth sponsors are the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and Unitil Corporation of Fitchburg. Phoenix Park of Shirley, Community Builders, and Parkerhill Technology of Lyman, NH, are the start-up sponsors. Incubating sponsors are MWCC’s Institute for Nonprofit Development and Entrepreneurial Resource Center, Enterprise Bank of Leominster, Gardner Redevelopment Authority, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Wachusett Chamber of Commerce, Image Software Services of Devens, and The Print Shop at Dunn & Company of Clinton. Supporting sponsors are Wiltec, Inc. of Leominster, W. E. Aubuchon Company Inc. of Westminster, Fidelity Bank of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State College, Wachusett Village Inn of Westminster, Onsite Studios of Boylston, APEX Properties of Leominster, Richard LeTarte, CPA of Leominster, Central Mass Web Design of Gardner, BY THE BOOKkeeping of Fitchburg, Marketing & Management of New England of Townsend, and Clinton Savings Bank. Sponsorships and competition judges are still being accepted.

MWCC established the Entrepreneurial Resource Center in 2004 in part through a $25,000 grant from The Coleman Foundation and the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship to initiate new business programs and to serve pre-startup, new and existing small businesses in North Central Massachusetts. The Business Plan Competition was chosen as a finalist from a field of 50 programs across the United States for the prestigious Bellwether Award.

SEVENTEEN PRODUCTIONS ENTER THEATRE AT THE MOUNT'S 'TAMY' AWARDS

By Gail Steele

Theatre at the Mount is pleased to announce the nominees in the 2007-2008 TAMY Awards, High School Musical Theatre Competition. With 17 high school musical productions entered, the list of nominees truly represents the “best of the best” in high school musical theatre.

The TAMY Award program recognizes the extraordinary amount of work, creativity, and devotion that faculty and students pour into their high school theatrical productions. The TAMY Awards celebrate the entire art of musical theatre: casts and crews, directors and designers and the great musical theatre works that inspire such devotion.

Winners will be honored at a “red-carpet” Awards Ceremony and dinner, modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards, at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, on June 3 at 6 p.m. The evening will begin with a social hour and “open soft-drink bar” featuring a slide show with photos from all productions entered in the competition. Christopher Chew, former Theatre at the Mount performer, professional actor and founder of the Village Theatre Project, will be the featured speaker. Guests will be treated to a three course dinner and vocal performances by the nominees in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. Winners in each category will be honored as the highlight of the evening.

High schools that have entered their musical production for consideration by the Theatre at the Mount adjudicating panel include:

Acton Boxborough Regional High School - Brigadoon
Algonquin Regional High School - Thoroughly Modern Millie
Billerica High School - Once on This Island
Chelmsford High School - The Scarlet Pimpernel
Clinton High School - Damn Yankees
Cushing Academy - Kiss Me Kate
Gardner High School - Once Upon a Mattress
Keene High School - Little Shop of Horrors
Leominster High School - Grease
Littleton High School - Cabaret
Montachusett Regional High School - Little Shop of Horrors
Narragansett Regional High School - Once on This Island
Nashoba Regional High School - Thoroughly Modern Millie
Nashoba Valley Technical High School - Damn Yankees
North Middlesex Regional High School - Little Shop of Horrors
Oakmont Regional High School - Anything Goes
Quabbin Regional High School - Little Shop of Horrors

Awards will be presented in Best Overall Production, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Male Cameo Performance, Best Female Cameo Performance, Not Your Average Chorus Member, Best Chorus, Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Musical Director, Best Student Orchestra, Best Choreographer, Best Production Number, Best Stage Crew, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Costumes, Best Playbill, Judges Special "Green" Award (for excellence in "Little Shop" production) and Best Lobby Display.

Sponsored by the Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, the TAMY AWARDS are also made possible through generous donations by: the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation, Aubuchon Hardware, Health Alliance Hospital, Henry Heywood Hospital, I-C Credit Union, and Brigita Clementi.

Tickets for the TAMY Award Ceremony and Dinner are $35 and are on sale at the Theatre at the Mount box office at 978 632-2403, or online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu – (click on TAMY AWARDS).

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR RECOGNIZED AT 8TH ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY

By Janice O'Connor

Magi Bish and Andrea Hart de Gravelle at the statehouse Wednesday during the eighth annual Massachusetts Missing Children's Day.

Andrea Hart de Gravelle, coordinator of civic engagement for the Center for Democracy and Humanity at MWCC, was recognized by the Molly Bish Foundation during the eighth annual Massachusetts Missing Children's Day on Wednesday, May 21 at the statehouse. The poignant event brings together the families of missing and murdered children, officials and numerous others for a ceremony of remembrance and dedication to strengthening child safety and protection laws.

John and Magi Bish serve with MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino as co-chairs of the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety at MWCC. The institute was named in memory of the Bishes 16-year-old daughter, who was abducted and murdered on June 27, 2000 while working as a lifeguard at rural Comins Pond in Warren. Since then, the couple has worked tirelessly as national advocates for child safety.

Guest speakers at the memorial program included state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Senate President Therese Murray, state Rep. Anne Gobi and state Rep. Todd Smola.

Hart de Gravelle was recognized for a her work creating the Molly Bish Insititute Health and Safety Manual, which is filled with tips and advise for parents and children, healthy recipes, family fun activities, safety contact numbers and helpful websites. MWCC's Molly Bish Institute is currently seeking a grant to distribute the manual to schools throughout the region this year.

"We are extremely proud of this work that Andrea has done," Magi Bish said during the ceremony. In addition to the manual, Hart de Gravelle coordinates the annual Molly Bish Kid Expo events, which attract several thousand attendees each year. This spring, the expos will take place on May 31 at HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster and on June 14 at MWCC in Gardner. “Andrea is just wonderful and the most touching part is how she has been able to get donations and give away not two bikes, not 10 bikes, but 28 bikes for the children.”

Hart de Gravelle said she was truly honored to be recognized for the work she does on behalf of the Molly Bish Institute. "We strive to ensure the safety and health of all children in the Commonwealth through our collaborative projects and programs in the community. We have high hopes in finding funding to disseminate our Molly Bish Institute Health and Safety Manual out to the area schools this year. I will be forever grateful to the co-chairs of the Institute's advisory board, President Daniel Asquino and John and Magi Bish, for their leadership and vision in my work for the institute at the college. It is only because of their unending support that this manual was created."

 

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.

• MWCC’s Forest and Wood Products Institute is hosting its fifth annual New England Student Woodworking Design Competition Tuesday, May 27 through Friday, May 30. Nearly 80 students from 21 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 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 "Race and 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.

• Central Massachusetts residents interested in starting a nonprofit organization are invited to attend the workshop, "Nuts and Bolts of Creating Social Change Organizations," sponsored by MWCC's Institute for Nonprofit Development. The 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. Please contact the Institute for Nonprofit Development at 978-840-3221 x216 or nonprofit@mwcc.mass.edu with any questions or for more information.

• MWCC's Pacer’s Team will join over 125 others at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life taking place at the college beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 6 and continuing until 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. The Relay for Life is the signature fundraiser for the ACS. Last year, the Gardner walk was recognized as the seventh largest in the country and the largest in New England. Over the past 14 years, the Gardner relay has raised $7.7 million for cancer research. For more information, go to http://www.acsevents.org/relay/MAgardner or contact Sue Goldstein at (978) 630-9344.

• 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: 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