MWCC's Weekly e-newsletter

Fri., Nov. 7, 2003

MWCC BCT STUDENTS WIN GOLD NCMPR AWARD

By Lea Ann Erickson

The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) has awarded Mount Wachusett Community College three Medallion Gold Awards—including one for a student produced radio ad. MWCC students Jess Glidden and Vincent Belliveau worked with professor Tony Cherubini to develop a radio ad highlighting the best that MWCC has to offer in a format targeted to prospective students. Cherubini said the students, “lived up to what they set out to do. Whenever we call on our students, they rise to the occasion.”

NCMPR is an organization for community college marketing and public relations professionals. “These students should be commended for the their work. They were not competing against other students, but seasoned marketing and public relations pros,” said Asquino. “To have won the gold award is a tribute—not only to them—but to Tony Cherubini and the rest of the faculty.”
Belliveau, said he would have been happy with a bronze award and was thrilled to hear they had garnered a gold. Glidden agreed. “I was happy just to hear it (the ad) on the radio.” Both students wrote the script and original music. Both are aspiring musicians and are currently working on films for Cherubini’s class.

The college also won gold awards for a series of transfer ads, “1,000 excuses,” radio and for the Face of Courage exhibit featuring original oil paintings of the fallen heroes of 9/11.

MASSACHUSETTS JOINT ENERGY COMMITTEE TOURS MWCC BIOMASS PLANT; LEARNS ABOUT COST AND ENERGY SAVINGS

Members of the Massachusetts Joint Energy Committee heard a presentation on the cost savings and environmental benefits of the college’s new biomass system this week. State Representative Ann Gobi was instrumental in bringing he lawmakers to the campus for informational session and biomass plant tour spearheaded by MWCC Executive Vice President Edward R. Terceiro and Forest and Wood Products Associate Director Robert Rizzo “This is good for the economy; good for the logging industry,” said Gobi. She added that the so-called “green power” was the “wave of the future.”

Senator Robert Wetmore, who worked with college officials to conceive the idea when it was faced with costly energy bills, also attended the session. “After a distinguished career serving the Commonwealth, Senator Wetmore has been an incredibly valuable contributor of ideas to the college,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. Development of the Biomass initiative and the Wetmore Center for Innovation and Technology would not be here were it not for his efforts.”

State Rep. Brian Knuutilla also attended the session and praised the college for its leadership on the initiative. Senate Chair of the Energy Committee, Robert O’Leary, who represents the Cape and the Islands, said he was very impressed with the college’s commitment to educating other organizations nationwide about the benefits of biomass. Also attending was State Rep. Mathew Patrick.

The biomass hydronic project, which uses wood chips for fuel in a gasification process, replaces the college’s costly electric heating system. The system will use 1,000 tons of wood chips during one heating season to heat the 427,387 square foot of space at the college’s Gardner campus. The college is utilizing a fuel source that is renewable, locally available, cost-effective and non-polluting. In addition, Terceiro pointed out that, “as a public institution facing ever-shrinking budgets, we have to be creative in our efforts to cut costs wherever we can. Eighty percent of what is spent on fossil fuels leaves the state—and the country. But 100 percent of every dollar spent on biomass fuel remains in the local economy.”

Upcoming Campus Events:

• In recognition of Veteran's Day, the English Department is sponsoring a Poetry and Prose reading on war-related themes, Wed., Nov. 12, from 12:40 to 1:40 p.m. in the cafeteria. (Veteran’s Day is Tues., Nov. 11 and the campus will be closed in observance.) Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend and read a piece of literature that deals with the subject of war.

• Alpha Beta Gamma will host its Annual Speaker Dinner, Fri., Nov 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the north cafeteria, featuring NEADS Director Sheila O’Brien. The event is part of the College’s Decade of Civic Engagement initiative. NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization established to provide Hearing and Service Dogs for people who are deaf or who use wheelchairs. These Assistance Dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their human partners. O’Brien will be speaking about the importance of giving to community.

• As part of MWCC’s Decade of Civic Engagement, The Student Government Association and MASSPIRG have kicked-off their holiday food drive that will continue until they reach their goal of “filling the chair” in front of Gardner’s Elm Street School, Sat., Nov. 22. Last year, they raised 600 pounds of food. This year, they hope to collect and distribute 900 pounds of food to area families. To learn how to contribute, call (978) 630-9133.

• Due to popular demand, Theatre at the Mount has scheduled an additional performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Sat., Dec. 13 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are expected to sell out by Thanksgiving. This wildly inventive musical is the biblical story of Joseph, his tribulations and his triumphant adventures with his brothers, his multi-colored coat and the great Pharaoh of Egypt. Other scheduled performances of Joseph are December 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 8:00 p.m. and December 7 and 14 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 for evenings and $12.00 for matinees, with group rates available on request. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Theatre at the Mount box office at 978 632-2403 or may be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu.

• Tickets are now on sale for North Shore Comedy Night, Sat., Nov. 22, to benefit the MWCC United Way campaign. Three nationally known comedians will perform at the event beginning at 7:00 p.m. Rob Steen began as a street performer at the age of 12 in Boston and now delivers over 350 show per year. He is a frequent guest on the Late Show with David Letterman. Tom Hayes was an executive in a multi-national manufacturing and marketing organization for over 20 years before turning to a life of comedy. The Boston Globe called comedian Larry Miles, “an excellent Boston-based comedian.” Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To order tickets call the box office at (978) 632-2403. For more information, call Diane Hamilton at (978) 630-9387.

• The MWCC Library has been selected as one of only 40 libraries nationally to host an exhibit in December 2006-March 2007 about Queen Elizabeth I. MWCC is the only community college library in the country selected. " Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend" is a national traveling exhibit organized by the Newberry Library's Center for Renaissance Studies, in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It is based on a major exhibit of the same name mounted by the Newberry Library in 2003 to commemorate the reign of Britain's Queen Elizabeth I on the four hundredth anniversary of her death. The Newberry Library, Chicago, is an independent humanities research library. The exhibition was funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vance Family Fund and the University of Illinois. Prior to the exhibit’s opening, the college will offer programs on Queen Elizabeth including a one-woman show of Queen Elizabeth, a Shakespeare play to be studied in English, live theater and music, lectures, tours of the exhibit by local high schools, and a film series.

Lea Ann Erickson
Director of Community Relations
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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