Mount Wachusett Community College News & Events

Friday, June 23, 2006

GED GRADUATES CELEBRATE AT 21ST ANNUAL CEREMONY AT MWCC

By Nichole Carter

Over 300 proud spouses, parents, grandparents, children and friends enthusiastically cheered as 55 students celebrated the 21st annual GED graduation at Mount Wachusett Community College, Saturday, June 17 in the college auditorium.

Sauveur Charles addresses his fellow GED graduates as GED Chief Examiner Angela Lunn-Marcustre looks on.

GED Chief Examiner Angela Lunn-Marcustre, who presided over the ceremony, told the graduates, “As you sit here on this special occasion, your family and friends remember the road that brought you here—filled with courage and the determination to succeed. I feel privileged to have worked with you in your journey to continue your formal education. Let me be the first to congratulate you all on a job well done.”

Director of Workforce Development Jeremiah Riordon welcomed the graduates. He commented that MWCC has helped 6,100 students receive their GEDs, and he congratulated the students on “your great triumph in earning your GED.”

State Rep. Robert L. Rice Jr., D-Gardner, delivered the keynote address, telling the students that they were securing a better future for themselves because of this step. “You have overcome many barriers to get here today,” he said. “By passing this test, you have assured yourself a better job.”

Rice also commented that this was the first step on a journey of lifelong learning. “I hope you’re not looking at the GED graduation as an end, because ‘commencement’ means beginning,” he said. “When I come to commencement at Mount Wachusett Community College in a couple of years, I hope to see many of your faces there.”

GED graduate Sauveur Charles of Fitchburg addressed his class. Charles came to the U.S. from Haiti not knowing English. He said that he realized he needed to continue his education, because he would never be able to attain a better position without it.

Through courses at the Fitchburg Public Library and at MWCC’s Adult Basic Education Center in Fitchburg, he learned English and more. With his GED, he plans to continue his education. “Completing classes was hard. I had to balance that with my many family and church commitments,” he said. “I was successful because of my encouraging family. After many years of work, and many years of studying, I have earned my GED.”

Abdou Karim Fall and Wendy Jurczyk received President’s Awards. The award, founded by MWCC president Daniel M. Asquino provides a voucher good for two MWCC courses as well as the books needed to take the classes.

A total of 500 students earned their GED through MWCC’s Adult Basic Education Program between June 1, 2005 and June 17, 2006.

 

TWIN CITIES LATINO COALITION CELEBRATES STUDENT EXCELLENCE

By Janice Battista

Nearly 50 Latino students were recognized this week for their hard work and perseverance in overcoming obstacles to achieve success and for serving as a source of inspiration for improving their own lives and the lives of others.

Jasira Delarosa, left, a sophomore at Leominster High School, and Merchy Peralta, an eighth-grader at Southeast Middle School in Leominster, were among the nearly 50 students honored during the first Twin Cities Latino Coalition’s Latino Youth Achievement Awards.

The middle-school, high-school and college students earned recognition and certificates for their achievements in academics, personal leadership and community involvement at the first annual Latino Youth Achievement Awards, held at Mount Wachusett Community College on Thursday, June 22. The coalition is a partnership between the college, local Latino community and business leaders and organizations, such as the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center in Fitchburg, the Spanish American Center in Leominster and Fitchburg and Leominster public schools, as well as regional and national organizations.

About 150 students and their families attended the celebration, which included dinner and music. The evening was so successful, said Sayra Pinto, executive director of the Twin Cities Latino Coalition, that plans are already underway to make it an annual event.

The awards and certificates were presented by State Rep. Jennifer Flannigan, D-Leominster, and Miggie Velez, assistant director of the coalition.

In his keynote address, MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino told the students he was proud of their accomplishments, because they overcame many obstacles to achieve them, including becoming accustomed to a new language and culture. The coalition, he said, was established to help young people achieve their goals. “Mount Wachusett Community College and the other members of the Latino Coalition intend to be part of your future as you move forward,” he said.

In addition to honoring the students, the coalition also presented awards to Asquino and Fitchburg Chief of Police Edward Cronin for their work in supporting Latino youth in the region.

“This is about community. It’s about people caring about each other and making a difference,” Velez said.

“We feel very honored to receive these awards,” said Jesira Delarosa, who is completing her sophomore year at Leominster High School. Merchy Peralta, who is finishing the eighth-grade at Southeast Middle School in Leominster, added,
“We’re very happy that we took part in our community.” The two friends serve on the youth committee of the Spanish American Center and help plan activities, such as a recent police versus youth basketball game.

Some academic achievers, such as Leominster High School classmates Katherine Munoz and Livanny Rivera, said they appreciated the recognition because it was unexpected.

Chief Cronin, who serves on the coalition’s board, emphasized the importance of encouraging students’ success not only to help them achieve their goals, but also to strengthen the communityl. “I really feel the people that can make a difference are the people in leadership,” he said. “When you look at what we do as agency heads, we are in positions to open doors and be proactive.”

The following students received awards: Mercedes Abreu, Alex Alcala, Diane Aguirre, Jorge Aguirre, Jonathan Andujar, Nelson Berrios, Elizabeth Burgos, Jose Anibal Burgos, Natasha Carrion, Jessica Carvajal-Cuesta, Arlyne Cortes, Mairim Cortes, Reyna Cortez, Jasira De La Rosa, Johnny Diaz, Lorena Donascimento, Stephanie Flores, Kimberly Garcia, Amanda Guzman, Jonathan Hernandez, Raya Lugo, Marcelina Matta, Marissa Mitchell, Edwin Munoz, Katherine Munoz, Kayla Jessenia Negron, Luis Nunez, Moema Oliviera, Elliott Oquendo, Joseph Pantojas, Jose Pena, Marianaliz Pena Cosme, Pete Pena, Merchy Peralta, Nicolas Fabian Perlas, William Quiles, Livanny Rivera, Jonathan Rodriguez, Vinnie Rodriguez, Pamela Sanchez, Lesley Sandoval, Crystal Soto, Jorge Torres, Sebastian Urrea, Nancy Zhaqui, Jasson Guevara, Wilber Renderos, Anthony Semidey and Angel Vega.

 

More MWCC News:

• The cast of "Urinetown"

  The Theatre at the Mount’s production of the Tony award-winning musical “Urinetown” starts Friday, June 23 at 8 p.m. in the theatre at the Gardner campus. This uproariously funny, irreverent hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold will continue Saturday, June 24, Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets for evening performances are $18; matinee tickets are $15. Tickets may be purchased online at theatre.mwcc.edu, by calling the box office at (978) 632-2403 or at the TAM box office located in the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one hour before performance.
• MWCC, in association with the Broadcasting and Telecommunications program and Phi Theta Kappa, is pleased to once again offer 2006 Commencement DVDs. This professional quality, edited DVD of MWCC’s 2006 graduation day ceremony will be available for a limited time at a cost of $15 each. This low cost includes 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 Winchendon CAC. To place an order, contact Sheila Murphy, PTK advisor, at smurphy@mwcc.mass.edu.
• To meet the needs of students, MWCC has added three classes, American National Government, American International Relations and Introduction to Philosophical Issues, to its course offerings, beginning this fall. American National Government will analyze the American government, why it has the power it possesses today and more. American International Relations will examine the impact of U.S. foreign policy decisions as they relate to the political, economic and military environments in which the federal government operates. Introduction to Philosophical Issues will review the nature and practice of philosophical reflection on the meaning of awareness in defining self, the nature of reality, the problem of knowledge, the development of moral standards, the existence of God and the individual’s place in the universe. For more information, or to register, contact the Admissions Office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.
• MWCC is launching a new Allied Health program this fall in response to a critical shortage of laboratory personnel within the healthcare industry. The new 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 Wednesday, July 12 at 3 p.m. in the Volney Howe Conference Room at Heywood Hospital. The session 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. Information about the new CLS program also is posted on the college Blackboard website called CLS Information Center. To access more information, go to https://bb.mwcc.edu and then enter cls as both the username and password.
• Registrations are now being accepted for MWCC Foundation, Inc.’s 11th annual Golf Tournament to benefit student scholarships. The tournament will take place Tuesday, July 18 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 Diane Hamilton at (978) 630-9387 or dhamilton@mwcc.mass.edu.
• Sign up now for a three-day spray-finishing workshop at MWCC on Tuesday, July 25 through Thursday, July 27, starting at 8:30 a.m. Participants will learn about the equipment, systems and techniques of spray-finishing. Topics will include surface preparation, equipment types, evaluation and spray applications associated with industrial finishing. Each student will have ample opportunity for hands-on application of coatings with several types of spray tools. Space is limited to 20 participants. The cost is $575 per person and includes all materials and lunches. For more information, or to register, contact Wood Products Workforce Development Coordinator Ken Hanson at (978) 630-9179 or khanson@mwcc.mass.edu.
• The Society of American Period Furniture Makers will hold its fifth annual Summer Conference Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30 at MWCC. The conference will focus on surface treatments and will bring together expert craftspeople. The registration fee is $295 for members; $330 for non-members. The non-member fee includes a one-year membership to SAPFM. The conference fee includes two dinners, two cocktail hours with a limited number of drinks, two continental breakfasts and refreshments during breaks. The fee for guests to attend the two dinners is $60. For more information, or to register, contact Wood Products Workforce Development Coordinator Ken Hanson at (978) 630-9179 or khanson@mwcc.mass.edu.