MWCC's weekly e-newsletter

Friday, Aug. 5, 2005

OVER 100 DONORS, SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE MWCC’S GROUNDBREAKING

FOR GARRISON CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

AND MOLLY BISH INSTITUTE FOR CHILD HEALTH AND SAFETY

By Kimberly B. Caisse

More than 100 people gathered on Mount Wachusett Community College’s back courtyard for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Garrison Center for Early Childhood Education and Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety on Thursday, Aug. 4.

	Some children from the MOC Child Care & Head Start center at the Gardner campus play in the sand as college officials and donors break ground for the new Garrison Center for Early Childhood Education.

“This center is about hope and opportunity. It will provide hope and a nurturing environment for the students enrolled in our Early Childhood Education program and it will provide space to house the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino.

The new building, to be built on the back lawn, will double the size of the current childcare facility run by MOC Child Care & Head Start services and provide observational classrooms for Early Childhood Education students. MOC and the Early Childhood Education Program officials have dreamed of this type of center for 10 years.

The Garrison Center for Early Childhood Education is the first project funded in part by MWCC’s first-ever capital campaign. The state also has allocated $900,000 toward the $1.6 million project. The campaign, which has raised $2.5 million to date from community and corporate donors, also will fund renovation of the college’s library, the college’s civic engagement initiative through the Center for Democracy and Humanity and endowment for scholarships.

“It is so good to have so many of our friends and supporters with us as we celebrate the first of many successes that we will experience because of your generosity during the capital campaign,” said MWCC Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Darlene Morrilly.

The $300,000 contributions of Leo P. LaChance, the capital campaign chair, James Garrison, the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation and Sterilite Corp. were acknowledged by MWCC Foundation Board Chair Dick Flannagan as “the four gifts that jump-started this campaign and culminated in today’s celebration.”

“Jim Garrison, a member of our Board of Trustees, has been passionate about this initiative,” Asquino said. “A leader in our business community and in the philanthropic community, Jim ensured that our capital campaign was successful in meeting the goal of funding the child care center.”

As the home of the Molly Bish Institute, the facility will be a clearinghouse for information for families on child health and safety. Molly Bish was abducted and murdered in 2000, and her parents now work tirelessly to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other children and to give parents the information they need to keep their children safe and healthy. “Her love of children will be felt everyday,” Magi Bish said of her daughter. “It is with great honor and pride that our family humbly thanks you for giving our Molly a place for her light to shine on.”

Since the Bishes first came to MWCC two years ago to distribute child I.D. kits, John Bish said, they have made more than 100,000 at college events, including two Molly Bish Kid Expos. From the start, MWCC and the Bishes “shared a concern for the well-being of children,” he said. “MWCC is well on its way to being recognized for its dedication to the safety and well-being of children and families.”

State Sen. Stephen Brewer, a close friend of the Bishes and strong supporter of legislation to protect children, said, “It is the sacrifice of those families (like the Bishes)…that make our world safer for children.” Brewer has secured two rounds of $50,000 from the state Department of Public Health for the Molly Bish Institute. “This Legislature is now looking at the most comprehensive sex offender legislation in North America. Anything less would be a disservice,” he said.

State Rep. Brian Knuuttila told a story of a herd of elephants scaring crocodiles out of a waterhole to protect the young calves and the rest of the herd. Once the elephants took over the waterhole, other non-threatening animals in the area joined them. “The Garrison Early Childhood Education Center, and Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety, is going to be our waterhole, where children can come and be protected while they learn,” he said.

In addition to donors, area legislators and politicians, many other campaign donors, community leaders and college faculty and staff attended the groundbreaking and picnic.

For more information on the “Where Learning Never Ends Capital Campaign,” contact Darlene Morrilly at (978) 630-9276 or dmorrilly@mwcc.mass.edu.

MAY AND NGUYEN SWORN IN AS MWCC TRUSTEES

By Lea Ann Erickson

	From left, MWCC Board of Trustees Chair Jay D. Drake, First Justice of the Gardner District Court Patrick A. Fox, newly sworn-in MWCC Trustee Lance May and MWCC Student Trustee Tuan Nguyen, and MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino in Judge Fox’s chambers at Gardner District Court.

Lance May of Lunenburg and Tuan Nguyen of Leominster were sworn in as college trustees recently by First Justice of the Gardner District Court Patrick A. Fox at Gardner District Court.

The board has 11 members who serve five-year terms. A student trustee is sworn in each year. “We are very fortunate to have such dedicated trustees,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “Both of these trustees have demonstrated a real commitment to their local community and to make giving back a priority.”

Nguyen, who is also a member of the MWCC Student Government Association, expects to graduate in the spring of 2006 and pursue a career in orthopedics after attending UMASS Medical School. “I want to be able to help students and the college,” said Nguyen. He said, in addition to working on his coursework, he plans to be active in the college’s food drive again this year.

May, who is serving his second term on the board, is a graduate of MWCC and is active in civic and governmental affairs. “Mount Wachusett Community College has made significant strides in higher education by expanding its degree programs outside of Gardner and into Devens, Leominster, Orange and a new dental hygiene program in Fitchburg. I look forward to continue working with the administration, faculty and board of trustees over the next five years,” May said.

Upcoming Campus Events:

• Children can learn basic self-defense during a r.a.d.KIDS course sponsored by the MWCC Campus Police. Classes for 5- to 7-year olds will be held Monday, Aug. 8 through Thursday, Aug. 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. Classes for 8- to 12-year-olds will be held Monday, Aug. 22 through Friday, Aug. 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. The r.a.d.KIDS program educates children with the tools, knowledge and power to recognize and avoid danger as well as to resist and protect themselves from physical abuse. r.a.d.KIDS was founded by a dedicated alliance of educators, law enforcement professionals, personal safety experts and concerned parents. r.a.d.KIDS is a comprehensive, foundational safety education program for children aged 5-7 and 8-12. r.a.d.KIDS focuses on seven core areas: home safety, school safety, out-and-about safety, vehicle safety, stranger tricks (including physical defense against abduction), personal safety (including good, bad and uncomfortable touch) and self-realization of personal power. For more information, contact Campus Police Officer Melissa Garneau at (978) 630-9150.

• Theatre at the Mount presents the Rodgers and Hart musical “Babes in Arms” for six performances beginning Friday, Aug. 12. This quintessential “Hey, kids, let’s put on a show!” musical boasts one of Rodgers and Hart’s greatest scores with tunes that have become standards like “Where or When,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “The Lady is a Tramp.” Performances of “Babes in Arms” are Friday, Aug. 12, Saturday, Aug. 13, Friday, Aug. 19 and Saturday, Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or purchase tickets online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu.

• The MWCC Entrepreneurial Resource Center’s first annual Business Plan Competition is

underway. Applications and final business plans are due Monday, Aug. 29. The competition gives the North Central Massachusetts region’s innovators—in the business and community involvement sectors—the opportunity to submit business plans that will vie for up to $13,000 in cash as well as in-kind prizes. Three semi-finalists and a single finalist will be chosen in four categories: startup and growing businesses, nonprofits, community involvement and Fitchburg “Main Streets” businesses. The semi-finalists will compete for the finalist awards. A grand-prize winner will be selected from the four finalists. Competition guidelines and applications are available online at http://erc.mwcc.edu. For more information, contact ERC Director Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 630-9548 or loden@mwcc.mass.edu.

Lea Ann Erickson
Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322 Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
lerickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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