Tuesday, December 21, 2004
TWENTY STUDENTS HONORED AT PRACTICAL NURSING PINNING CEREMONY
By Kimberly B. Caisse
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Rebecca Lawrence, a 2004 graduate of MWCC’s RN program, pins a graduation ribbon on her daughter, Hilary Lawrence. |
The second annual Mount Wachusett Community College Practical Nursing Pinning Ceremony Monday, Dec. 20 celebrated the hard-won achievements of 20 nursing graduates and honored their families and friends for their steadfast support as they went through the challenging program.
Dean of the School of Health Sciences Deborah Orre recalled meeting two of the graduates two weeks ago. The women, excited to be completing the program, spoke of overcoming challenges to get through the one-year certificate program.
“These two young women are not afraid—neither are their classmates,” Orre said. “If they’re anything like me, they think they’re not supposed to be here. They know somehow…they were not worthy…rich enough…bright enough.”
But their “taste for adventure” was a large part of succeeding in their “journey” through the program, she added.
“They couldn’t have done it without you,” Orre said to the audience.
The traditional pinning ceremony offers “a moment to reflect on the profession of nursing,” according to Director of Nursing Eileen Costello. “To be a nurse, one gives a little of oneself and gets so much more in return.”
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Jennifer Mason, Class of 2004 vice president, addresses the 2004 Practical Nursing graduates. |
In her appreciation address, class vice president Jennifer Mason said, “I hope all of you feel the confidence and competence that I have when I work with each of you.”
The role state Sen. Stephen Brewer and Rep. Brian Knuuttila played in starting MWCC’s practical nursing program two years ago also was recognized. Each nursing student writes a letter to these legislators, Assistant Professor of Nursing Judy Giacoppe said, to share with them their personal stories and goals to become nurses. They get letters from Brewer and Knuuttila in return, she added.
The pinning ceremony reminded Brewer of his graduation ceremony 31 years ago from Assumption College’s master’s program, when Herbert Humphrey gave him his award. Monday night’s occasion, he said, reminded him of a famous Humphrey quote: “It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life—the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”
Nurses, Brewer said, provide “a helping hand.”
Nursing faculty member Muriel Zraunig concluded the ceremony by sharing her “meaning of hero”—shaped by news analysis of baseball pitcher Pedro Martinez’s decision to leave the Red Sox—in which she compared the public hero ideal with “quiet heroes.”
The 20 nursing graduates took a “hero’s journey” to find their way through the 40-week-long program. “Every hero needs allies,” she said. “We took a look at what our dragons were…and looked for ways to turn dragons into allies.”
“You have all been their allies…they couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you,” Zraunig said.
During the ceremony, Florence Nightingale’s letter about nursing and nursing pledge were shared, “The Nurses Prayer” was read and the traditional candle-lighting—a symbol of the care and devotion nurses give their patients—was observed.
About 200 family members and friends gathered in MWCC’s theatre to see the practical nursing students receive their graduation pins.
The Class of 2004 Practical Nursing Graduates are: Geneva Belton, Dawn Bennett, Angela Boudreau, Susan Bullock, Kimberley Canarelli, Rhonda Girouard, Carrie Greenwood, Amy Hall, Dusty Landry, Monique Lavoie, Hilary Lawrence, Juliet Madsen, Esther Makumbi, Anne Marfisi, Jennifer Mason, Jeanne Mellitt, Stephen Njoroge, Lisa Marie Poladian and Kelly Shaw.
MWCC ANNOUNCES THE WHAT’S NEXT SPEAKER SERIES
By Kimberly B. Caisse
Harvard Psychology Professor Dr. Margarita
Alegria, Boston Community Building Network
Director Charlotte Kahn and Middlesex District
Attorney Martha Coakley will be the first
three speakers featured in Mount Wachusett
Community College’s new speaker series.
As part of the college’s Decade if
Civic Engagement initiative, the What's
Next Speaker Series is a collaborative
effort with a variety of community partners.
The Molly Bish Institute for Child Health
and Safety, the Twin Cities Latino Coalition
and the United Way of North Central Massachusetts
are among the co-sponsors of the series.
“We will feature noted experts not only to provoke discussion, but to inspire
action,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “The reason the series
is entitled ‘What’s Next’ is because these featured speakers
will lead participants in exploring future solutions to make our communities
better places to work and to live. We are so proud to host these individuals.”
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Dr. Margarita Alegria |
Dr. Margarita Alegria
Dr. Margarita Alegria’s ground-breaking research has brought to light
the disparities in mental health rates and treatment in multicultural populations
nationwide. In addition to documenting these gaps, Alegria seeks to find ways
to get more appropriate services to minority populations.
Alegria, at Mount Wachusett Community College on Tuesday, Jan. 11 from 12 to 2 p.m., will share her ideas on how building community alliances—connections between social and community resources and needs—can help eliminate these inequalities. The goal of her research is to influence policy decisions and help the health care system improve clinical practices and community outreach. Alegria’s appearance is being co-sponsored by MWCC and the Twin Cities Latino Coalition.
Alegria, a professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, is the first tenured Latino faculty member at Harvard University. She also is the executive director of the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville. She is the recipient of the American Public Health Association’s 2003 Mental Health Section Award.
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Charlotte Kahn |
Charlotte Kahn
As director of the Boston Community Building Network at the Boston Foundation,
Charlotte Kahn coordinates the award-winning Boston Indicators Project. The
initiative, managed in conjunction with the City of Boston/Boston Redevelopment
Authority and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, has identified 10 indicators
of systematic change: civic health, cultural life and the arts, economy,
education, environment, housing, public health, public safety, technology
and transportation. These indicators are used to generate “informed” exchanges
of ideas and measure progress on common goals.
In her appearance at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster on Friday, Jan. 21, co-sponsored by the Twin Cities Latino Coalition, Kahn will explain the project’s purpose to area decision makers and citizens.
Kahn also has directed the Public Education Fund of the Tax Equity Alliance for Massachusetts and Boston Urban Gardeners. In addition to leading the Boston Community Building Network, Kahn serves as vice president of the Codman Square Health Care Centers in Dorchester, where she lives. She attended Cornell University and earned a master’s degree in organizational development from Antioch University. Kahn is a recipient of the Loeb Fellowship in Advanced Environmental Studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
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Martha Coakley |
Martha Coakley
Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley is a seasoned prosecutor who has
committed much of her legal career to public safety in Middlesex County.
Since assuming office as district attorney in January 1999, Coakley has dedicated
her time and energy to bringing justice to crime victims and their families,
as well as to working with law enforcement and community leaders in a variety
of diverse and multi-faceted prevention efforts and to improve public safety.
Coakley will continue that work with a presentation at MWCC on Tuesday, Feb.
15 co-sponsored by the Molly Bish Institute.
With Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, for which she serves as board chair, Coakley has hosted numerous workshops and training seminars for law enforcement, social service providers and educators to help foster an atmosphere of respect and public safety for Middlesex youth. In addition, District Attorney Coakley’s office has produced several award-winning educational videos, on such topics as drinking and driving, internet safety, designer drugs, and youth sports violence.
Coakley is a graduate of Williams College and Boston University School of Law. She has been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Massachusetts School of Law and the Frank J. Murray Inn of Court. Coakley was a 2000 recipient of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts’ Leila J. Robinson Award and was given the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pinnacle Award for Excellence in Management in Government in 2004.
For more information about the What’s Next Speaker Series, contact Lea Ann Erickson at (978) 630-9322 or Kim Caisse at (978) 630-9547.
Campus Events:
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Hanging in Mount Wachusett Community College’s East Wing Gallery, outside the Theatre at the Mount, until Wednesday, Jan. 19 are works produced by MWCC students Andy Argon, Corinne Goodrich, Marsha Hersey and Alaina Youngsma. For more information, call Professor John Pacheco at (978) 630-9184.
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Sign up for the Fitness & Wellness Center at MWCC’s annual baseball and pitching clinics. The age-appropriate baseball clinics will run on Sundays Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 27, March 6 and March 13 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each session is limited to an enrollment of 32. The cost is $45 per player. There is still room in the pitching clinic for children 13 and up that will be held on Sundays March 20 and March 27 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Enrollment is limited to 20. The cost is $25 per player. For more information, call the center at (978) 630-9212.
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MWCC and the Twin Cities Latino Coalition will kick off the What’s Next Speaker Series with a presentation by Dr. Margarita Alegria, a professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, the first tenured Latino faculty member at Harvard University and the executive director of the Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, on Tuesday, Jan. 11 from 12 to 2 p.m. Alegria will share her ideas on how building community alliances—connections between social and community resources and needs—can help eliminate inequalities in mental health care services. For more information, contact Lea Ann Erickson at (978) 630-9322 or Kim Caisse at (978) 630-9547.
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Register now for the Fitness & Wellness Center’s annual golf lessons, which begin the week of Monday, Feb. 28. Directed by PGA Professional Mike Egan, the lessons include individual instruction and video analysis. Participants can bring their own clubs or use the center’s. Beginner lessons will be held Mondays and Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. Intermediate classes will meet Tuesdays at 7:15 and 8:15 p.m. and Thursdays at 8:15 p.m. Advanced lessons will be held on Mondays at 8:15 p.m. The cost is $85 per session; fitness center members are eligible for a 10 percent discount. For more information, call the center at (978) 630-9212.
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Theatre at the Mount will hold auditions for the children’s musical “Honk! Jr.” by appointment only on Monday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Director Sharon Asher, music director Bill Asher and choreographer Nicole Couture are looking for a large cast of children and teens (age 8 to 18) with singing, dancing and acting ability. “Honk! Jr.” is a contemporary re-telling of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic story, “The Ugly Duckling.” To schedule an appointment, call the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or e-mail your appointment request to box-office@mwcc.mass.edu. Auditions—consist of singing, dance/movement and cold readings from the script—will be held in room 182 at MWCC. Performances of “Honk! Jr.” are Thursday, March 31, Friday, April 1, Wednesday, April 6, Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8 at 9:30 a.m.; April 1, 6, 7 and 8 at noon; and Saturday, April 9 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tentative rehearsal schedule is Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. For more information, contact Professor Gail Steele at (978) 630-9162 or visit the Theatre at the Mount website at http://theatre.mwcc.edu.
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The Mount Wachusett Community College Entrepreneurial Resource Center, 100 Jackson Road, Devens, will host its next Entrepreneur Speaker Series presentation, “Human Resource Basics: Top Five Pitfalls to Avoid” by Kathleen Mills, founder of HR Off Site Resources in Leominster, on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Mills will review all the areas human resources covers, the importance of being in compliance and common pitfalls. Participants also will take a mini-audit to help them understand how prepared they are. The cost is only $15, and includes lunch. To register, call (978) 630-9569.
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The Mount Wachusett Community College Entrepreneurial Resource Center, 100 Jackson Road, Devens, will host the Entrepreneur Speaker Series presentation “Taking the Mystery Out of Bulk Mailing” by management consultant Paul Lambert on Thursday, Feb. 17 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Direct mail can be an effective marketing tool. Lambert will review such issues as determining when direct mail is cost effective, purchasing mailing lists versus creating your own and direct-mail software options. The cost is only $15, and includes lunch. To register, call (978) 630-9569.