MWCC Alumnus, Richard Elmer, Manager of Learning and Development for Bristol-Meyers Squibb's (BMS) Large Scale Cell Culture (LSCC) facility located in Devens, MA, recently participated in a panel discussion about jobs in the new economy. The panel is part of the What's Next? series, presented by Mount Wachusett Community College. Read more...
Richard is responsible for regulatory compliance training, personal and professional development, on-going skill development, and for ensuring that the appropriate training technologies and support systems are in place to support the mission of the Devens LSCC site.
Richard has over 30 years experience in the field of training and development supporting a wide range of industries including pharmaceutical, health care, and computer hardware manufacturing technology. Prior to joining BMS, Richard worked for AstraZeneca in Westborough as Senior Manager of Training and Communication for the company's pharmaceutical supply site. He was responsible for implementing and managing leadership and management development programs, designing technical training processes, for implementing e-learning systems. Additionally, Richard served as an internal performance consultant supporting company merger-related activities and for leading the efforts to implement a performance management system across AstraZeneca's operations functions.
Rick worked in a variety of positions during his 17 years at Digital Equipment Corporation (Manufacturing Technician, Training Manager, and Quality Consultant). He has also held positions at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Simplex Time Recorder. Rick earned his Bachelors degree in Education from Fitchburg State College and his Associates degree from Mount Wachusett Community College.
Trent Blanchard, M.A. (MWCC Class of 1990), is a Life Coach and author of "Triple A’s for the Soul: Your Pathway to Personal Freedom," which went on sale in December.
Trent assists people in removing the obstacles that get in the way of living a life of fulfillment, joy and peace. He does this through individual Life Coaching, writing, workshop facilitation and public speaking engagements.
He received his Associates degree in Business from Mount Wachusett Community College, his Bachelors degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Massachusetts- Boston and spent over a decade in New York City in various Human Resource functions for major corporations. Trent holds a Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and has a certificate in addiction studies. He is also an ordained Interfaith Minister.
In his private practice, Trent works with clients mainly in Palm Springs and Los Angeles. However, as a result of his popular workshops, Trent works with individuals all over the country and with at-risk youth.
Trent resides in Palm Springs California where he is actively involved in his community.
While at Mount Wachusett, Trent was actively involved in student life. He participated in student government and was a student trustee for the year 1989. Trent believes Mount Wachusett gave him a wonderful start in his education, and because of his academic excellence and extra curricular stature, he received a full two-year scholarship to the University of Massachusetts-Boston. MWCC well prepared him for the successful life that he is now living!
Trent will be in Massachusetts for two book signings - Bruce's Browser in Athol on January 23rd, and Michelle Mercado Studios in Boston on January 24th.
To learn more about Trent and his book, visit www.TrentBlanchard.com.
Mount Wachusett Community College Alumni – Keeping it in the Family
Shirley (Wilder) Martin, a Human Services major graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College back in 1976. A single mom, she worked her way through college with hopes of making a better life for herself and her two children. She transferred to a four-year institution and is now working as office manager for Francis Holistic Medical Center.
Years later her daughter, Lisa Marie Wilder, attended the Mount earning an associate degree in business administration in 1990. She is currently employed by National Grange Insurance as LPCS Claims Representative and is licensed in 17 states to process auto and injury claims.
Why stop there! Lisa Marie’s daughter, Mallory Wilder, is currently studying at Mount Wachusett Community College. A business administration major, she plans to earn an associate degree, then transfer into a baccalaureate program at a four-year college.
Shirley Martin’s son, Nathan Alan Wilder also attended Mount Wachusett Community College in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He transferred to a four-year school to pursue a bachelor degree in business administration and graduated with honors. In 1997 he enlisted in the United States National Guard, then earned an MBA in 2004. Nathan recently returned from a 12-month tour of duty in Iraq as Commander of the 1st 101 Field Artillery Unit from Brocton, MA. There were 155 men in his unit; three returned home with minor injuries, but all 155 returned home alive!
Shirley Martin is worked with the Family Readiness Group 101FA to plan a welcome home dinner for the 155 men and women of Nathan’s unit and their families. In an effort to offset some of the cost for running this sizeable event, Shirley had created a beautiful quilt, shown above, which was raffled off in December.
Brian Gelinas realized a lifelong dream in September 2006 with the publication of his first fictional novel, American Odyssey. Brian states, "The book weaves an engaging tale of three less-than-fortunate teenage boys who run away from their troubled lives in a depressed New England factory town to seek what they feel is the justice in life they deserve. A tumultuous cross-country journey ensues that affects each one in unexpected ways, forever changing their lives. It’s a straightforward story based on today’s countless headlines of teenagers either in emotional trouble, on the run or committing any number of crimes."
According to Brian, the book is written to appeal to both adults and mature young adults. It was published through Outskirts Press Inc., which is based in Parker, Colorado.
A two-time Mt. Wachusett Community College graduate (Liberal Studies, 1998; Computer Information Systems, 2000), Brian is a published author and newspaper reporter. He currently lives in Athol, Mass., where he was born and raised. Instilled early on with a desire to write, his first success came in 1997 when a creative commentary piece titled "Something of Worth" was published in Worcester Magazine. That piece was written in a creative writing class at MWCC the same semester that it ran in WM. In 2001, he won the Louis P. Shepherd Award in Creative Writing while a student at Fitchburg State College, where he was enrolled in the school's Professional Writing program.
Brian's first news article was printed in the Athol Daily News in 1983 when he was a junior in high school and a member of the school newspaper staff. Through the efforts of the staff advisor, he attended the movie premier of Robert Cormier's I Am The Cheese at the then Sacks Theater in Leominster. He was in on the press conference prior as well, and had the opportunity to meet and talk with Mr. Cormier. His coverage of the event ran in the ADN. At MWCC, he had creative writing pieces published in iMagazine, and articles and opinion columns he wrote were printed in FSC's student newspaper, The Point. One article intended for The Point was submitted to and printed in Sentinel & Enterprise instead, at the suggestion of his journalism professor. That article was on local medical missionaries who had gone to the Dominican Republic to help the poor. Since April 2004, Brian has worked as a full-time news reporter and feature writer for the Athol Daily News. He is currently working on his second novel while continuing to promote and market the first.
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"Break Time," 65" x 70" - watercolor, tissue paper & ink on 2-sided, 4-panel antique wooden folding screen This painting won the Popular Prize Award at the Fitchburg Art Museum Annual Regional Show 2002. |
Carol Santora received an associate degree in nursing from the Mount in '80. She returned three years later to graduate with an associate degree in fine art in '85, and received a BFA, summa cum laude, from Framingham State College in '95. Today she is an accomplished artist who has focused her painting on wildlife and feline conservation. She has developed a unique perspective of wildlife and through various painting styles portrays the spirit, beauty, majesty and individual personality of the animals as well as the wildlife preservation message in her art. A portion of her 'big' cat painting sales is donated to feline conservation. She also paints marine art and florals.
Carol is also recognized for her wildlife photography. In 2001 and 2002, she was a finalist in the National Wildlife Federation's annual "National Wildlife Photography Contest" and has garnered over four-dozen awards for her work, which is displayed in corporate and private collections in the United States, Canada and Europe. She teaches classes & workshops at the Fitchburg Art Museum, from her studios in Maine and Massachusetts, as well as at local nursing homes & senior centers.
Shari Hammerman, Class of 1990
Shari is the editor for the popular Rocket Science Laboratories “reality” TV show, Joe Millionaire, featuring a construction worker searching for true love while passing himself off as a millionaire. Her next assignment is to edit NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Past productions have included Fox’s Boot Camp and Celebrity Boot Camp; the Discovery Channel health talk show, Berman & Berman; TLC’s documentary, Destination Future: Space; LIFETIME’s Intimate Portrait: Jane Seymour; and the FOOD Network’s Wolfgang Puck.
How did Shari accomplish so much in such a short amount of time? Shari earned her Associate Degree in Broadcasting & Telecommunication from MWCC in 1990; and then went on to Emerson College for a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication, graduating in 1992. Though her official career title is “Television Editor," Shari confides that what she actually does is to breath life into hours of footage by adding music, drama, comedy, tension, or whatever is necessary.
“ I left high school a year early. I had satisfied my high school (Oakmont) requirements enough to spend my senior year in college classes that interested me. I had grown out of high school, and felt I needed more from my education.
If you attend a big college or university, typically a first year student isn’t allowed to use the TV studio, nor are they given an opportunity to edit. Instead, they are busy taking introductory courses and general requirements.
Hands-on training in your first year of school is instrumental in finding the excitement that will motivate you to go further. At the Mount, we took Introduction to Broadcasting at the SAME TIME as our hands-on classes. In addition, the professors insist you learn what to expect from life in broadcasting. Time is crucial. You need to get to work on time, so the TV program can be aired at the right time. If you were late for Vincent Ialenti’s classes, he marked you absent - not fun, but very preparatory.”
In terms of advice Shari would give to individuals
considering the Broadcasting and Telecommunications
program at the Mount, she said,
“ If you don't like it, change majors. This is a tough business. It takes
a lot to get in the door, and the hours spent in production for film & television
are long and hard. Expect 12 to 16 hour days. Sometimes there are no days off,
other times you have months off at a time. Learn how to budget your money now,
because freelancing is stop & go.”
Alum’s Daughter Skates for Gold
Leanne Greb is a team player on a winning streak. As a member of the Colonials intermediate team of Massachusetts, she and her teammates have won the 2003 U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championship, sponsored by the U.S. Figure Skating Association. It was the first intermediate national gold medal for the Colonials, a team that includes members from Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
Leanne, a 14 year old from Westminster, is the daughter of MWCC Alum Diane Greb, director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at the College. “I feel so fortunate to have a daughter who has worked hard and sacrificed most, if not all, of her free time over the last 7 years to skate competitively and pursue a dream of winning a national gold medal. I asked her what her next goal would be … to win a gold at Worlds,” Greb said.
White House Painting Returns Home to Mount Wachusett Community College
by Nichole Moreau
A painting of the Heywood-Wakefield building in Gardner is back home at Mount Wachusett Community College after hanging in the White House and other locations since 1993. Painted by Debi Libuda, 1986 MWCC art program graduate, the painting was loaned to Gardner Native Mark Gearan for his White House office when he served in the Clinton Administration. He served as deputy chief of staff, assistant to the President Clinton, and director of communications.
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Debi Libuda, ’86, with her painting |
Gearan first saw the painting during a visit to the college’s art gallery. The painting had become part of the college’s permanent collection since it was completed in 1986. “We originally obtained the painting to add to our collection of work by art program students,” said Gene Cauthen, art department chair and gallery curator. “The painting was loaned to Mark Gearan after he expressed interest in purchasing it.”
The artist and other college representatives were
invited to the White House for the painting’s
debut. “There aren't words for how I felt,” said
Artist Libuda, about the visit. “My first reaction
was disbelief. I'm not sure it really hit me until
I stepped foot in the White House and saw the president
and my painting on the wall.”
The painting followed Gearan to his later posts as director of the Peace Corps
in Washington, D.C. in 1995 and then as president of Hobart and William Smith
Colleges in New York in 1999.
After eight years, Gearan generously returned the painting to MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “We are very proud of this painting and having our student’s work exhibited by Mark Gearan at the White House, in Washington D.C., and in New York,” said Asquino. “The painting has an impressive history and we are very excited to have it back at the college. It demonstrates another success of the college’s art program.”
Artist Libuda, formerly of Holden, has stayed connected to the college since graduating. Now a resident of Newburyport, she is currently exhibiting her Recent Paintings at MWCC. After graduating from MWCC’s Art Degree, she transferred to Southeastern Massachusetts University, now UMASS, Dartmouth. She graduated with a BFA in Painting and in Graphic Design, finishing her degrees in 1989. Since then, Libuda has worked as art director for Corporate Graphics, an instructor at Becker College, a creative director at AGENCY.COM, and privately as a creative artist.
MWCC’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
by Genevieve Cora Fraser, Alumni Affairs
In a 1986 interview prior to his retirement, Dr. Arthur Haley, then president of Mount Wachusett Community College stated, “The best days of my life were the initial days of the college. I used to sing coming to work. We started in the deserted, condemned Elm Street School. Actually, we started in Perry Auditorium in City Hall—1st class, 250 students—best class we’ve ever had because I was the one who recruited the first class.”
“The first course was held in the National Guard Armory until the Elm Street School was ready for occupancy,” Haley continued. “After the move to Elm Street, we rented a building on Connor Street, which is now the City Library, and a burned out church on Pearl Street, which now houses a day care center,” Haley said.
The first issue of the college’s newspaper, The Claymore, (December 18, 1964) recounted: “With obstacle after obstacle put before them, the administration and student body of MWCC opened the new college Sept. 29 with orientation facilities provided at Gardner’s Fred E. Perry Memorial Auditorium.”
“Classes began Monday, Oct. 5 for 247 “stout-hearted” students,
under almost impossible circumstances. Some classes
contained as many as many as 200 students and teachers
had to shout at times in order to be heard, due to
the poor acoustics.”
Many from that first class retain fond memories. “Reflecting on what I
learned during my first days at the Mount, I recall how Dr. Haley greeted us
warmly and encouraged us to explore all the opportunities we could to enhance
our learning experience,” Norma (Piermarini) Marshall (’66) recently
said.
“Because this group was the first in attendance at the college, we boldly needed to step forward to create a Student Council, a college newspaper, and other key organizations that helped inform, educate and expand the minds of the students in attendance and the professors who graced the classrooms,” Marshall said. “And what a group of professors we had! To this day, I am unsure of how Dr. Haley and the Board of Trustees found such illustrious instructors.”
The December 1964 issue of The Claymore also featured an article with the imposing headline, “Dress Standards Re-Emphasized.” The article began with a quote from the college president, Dr. Haley that read: “I have yet to hear of anyone dying of suffocation from wearing a necktie.” According to the anonymous writer, “ His remarks came as the result of discussion about the dress regulations at MWCC; these regulations require that all male students wear suit-coats and ties and all female students wear nylons and shoes. The regulations further require that students remain neatly dressed at all times.”
“Wearing suit coats and ties is a good preparation for the future,” Dr. Haley is reported to have said. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and should prepare themselves accordingly. Executives are expected to wear ties; now is a good time to practice.”
At the time of the first commencement in 1966, the class officers were Thomas Edward Hause, president; James Charles Eacmen, Jr., vice president; Jane Marie Osborn, secretary; and Douglas Lawrie Cringan, treasurer. Both Hause and Eacmen received associate of arts degrees with highest honors. Eacmen also received the President’s Key presented by President Arthur F. Haley, Jr. The editor-in-chief of the college’s first yearbook, Inscape ‘66, was William C. Singleton from East Pepperell, MA. Sadly, his sister reports that her much loved brother passed away in 1994 but he always retained fond memories of his days at the college.
The college’s first Student Council president was Richard Starr of Lunenburg. Donald Allain of Gardner was the 2nd president of the council, followed by a direct descendant of the fourteenth President of the United States, Franklin Benjamin Pierce. Paul Pierce entered the Mount during the spring 1965 semester. His organizational talents were soon obvious to the administration and faculty, particularly Dean John Hogan.
Paul remembers Dean Hogan’s amazing insight into young people's lives. Dean Hogan had “the ability to help slow learners and give them a second chance in making the grade. He was a remarkable man and mentor who saw an individual’s hidden abilities and could unlock talent in athletics and scholastic ability.” He was a friend to all whose door was always open to students, Pierce recalls.
Dean Hogan spotted organizational ability in Pierce.
He soon put him in charge of orientation for the first
undergraduate class at the college. According to The
Claymore, “The Orientation Period began on September
13, 1965 and lasted for three weeks,” during which
time the freshmen went to the Polish American Country
Club for an outing. “A ‘talent’ contest
and a dance, with music supplied by the Bristols headed
the list of activities.” Orientation rules included
wearing the MWCC beany at all times during the initiation
period. Infractions ended up in Beany Court where freshmen
defendants were tried and convicted and ordered to
polish cars, roll quarters around the lounge, and eat
raw eggs for punishments.
Hogan also recruited Paul Piece for President Haley’s “President’s
Hour” which featured speakers such at the Pulitzer Prize winning poet
Archibald McLeish, an ESP expert Russ Burgess and actor John Carradine, father
to Kung Fu actor David Carradine. Pierce also organized the Winter Carnival
featuring Judy Collins in concert. He served as the Student Council president
in 1967 and 1968 and was elected the president of the Massachusetts Student
Government Association. Today he is a retired minister and webmaster for an
interdenominational Christian Web site in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
Brian Bjurling (’66) and Betty Moore (’68) became involved with the Alumni Association in 1980. “It lead me to meet Brian, who led me down the aisle in May of 1982. An extra bonus I never expected MWCC to give me,” Betty explained. “For Brian, being part of that first class was like being part of a family. It was a small group. That experience helped him move on to Bentley College and on to completing his BS in Accounting. MWCC holds a special place in Brian's heart. For me, MWCC was a great opportunity to grow and develop more self-confidence.”
“We both feel MWCC is a tremendous resource for our area. It can help fresh high school graduates mature, correct any scholastic inadequacies they may carry from high school and give them the opportunity to define and reach a future goal. MWCC also offers adult learners the opportunity to fill in gaps in their education, change careers, and just keep the old gray matter growing and evolving. Basically MWCC fills a niche that a four year college can't quite fulfill,” Bjurling stated.
1977-79 Mount Experience
by Joanne H. (Hodgman Newton) Beckman
When I first entered as a student through the (then) orange doors of the arts wing at Mount Wachusett Community College, I had misgivings about being there. It was not my first choice for a college. It was affordable, however and since I was footing the bill that was where I had decided to go to get my Liberal Arts degree. Later when I pursued my English Bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the bargain received at MWCC became apparent: Small class sizes, easy access to professors instead of teaching assistants, close parking, and one building for all courses.
On the days I arrived early and could afford it, I watched the kitchen staff and learned how to make French toast (all egg, no milk, made with Pepperidge Farm cinnamon raisin bread) and sat down with my teacup to talk with Shirleen Smith and Doug whose last name I no longer remember. We’d commiserate on our lack of sleep, jobs, families, significant others, money, the world at large, and sometimes homework. While attending MWCC, I wore my gray uniform while working for the diner-like Friendlies, labored for a few weekends at an all-night-gas station, waitressed at the Corner Kitchen Restaurant in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, cashiered at the A&P in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and dated the same guy (we started and parted company at the same time I started and departed the school).
The three of us regular breakfasters had met in Monsieur Trudeau’s French class. The Professor would tell us about his being thrown into a French-only speaking Canadian private school as a kid and starving for several days until he learned how to say “Passez le pain, s’il vous plait.” His methods with us weren’t nearly as Draconian; rather, they were dramatic, humorous, cajoling, and endearing as he dashed around the classroom. During our last semester with him, he had little patience with our inept and not always well thought-out attempts at translating “Le Silence de la Mer,” a book that is still gathering dust on my shelves.
Shirleen and I also shared World History with Dr. Bassett, a barrel-chested man who could easily have been an admiral on a masted-ship as he menacingly peered over his dark-rimmed glasses at us. For a while we thought he read his notes to us from behind his podium, but one day he arrived without briefcase or papers and carried on with the long list of names, dates, and places. We rapidly filled our notebooks. It was in his class that I first really learned how to take and make better-organized, outlined notes. Second semester he changed his 8 a.m. attendance policy and pointedly mentioned me by name in his opening delivery of his classroom rules: 3 lates counts as an absence, 4 absences and you fail or something like that. In order to go see the King Tut Egyptian exhibit in New York City with my mother, he said I could only have an excused absence if I wrote a report on what I’d seen. He was tough, but I liked him well enough that the following year I took Economics, pronounced with the emphasis on the “E”, as he insisted. When he retired I sent him a note telling him how much I enjoyed his teaching and he wrote back stating he hoped he had also inspired a life-long interest in history. He did and I reviewed his notes in my mid-twenties before going backpacking in Europe. I wonder if the library still has those big brownish comfy chairs near the large windows where I often rested my eyes when studying my history notes?
July 2000 was when I last visited MWCC’s theater. My brother was working the lights for the play A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Sam Payne was playing one of the gray-haired characters, Lycus (I think), which meant I must be older too, as he played the part of the young Miles Glorious when I was a student. We had also been in chorus together under Fred Frabotta. The play brought back a memory of my early days at MWCC when I was briefly a member of the Drama Club and took a bus trip to see Romeo and Juliet in Amherst. Gary Yakstis another MWCC acting regular was my seatmate. The play had the first nude scene I’d ever encountered and it was an interesting introduction to my future alma mater.
Mount Wachusett Community College was a bridge. In 1977 when graduating from high school, my thought was that if I did not go to college right away, it would never happen. As I look back now with my University of Pittsburgh Master in Education degree, I still think I was right.
