Friday, Oct. 21, 2005
MWCC SELECTED TO BECOME A GATEWAY TO COLLEGE SITE
By Kimberly B. Caisse
Mount Wachusett Community College has been chosen by Portland Community College of Oregon to implement a Gateway to College dropout recovery program, creating an “early college high school” at MWCC. The announcement was made a press conference in the East Wing Gallery inside the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center Wednesday, Oct. 19.
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Linda Huddle of Portland Community College hands umbrellas to MWCC Associate Dean of CAPP Pati Gregson and President Daniel M. Asquino to help them prepare for their upcoming trips to Oregon. Laurel Dukehart, the manager of Portland Community College Prep Alternative Programs, looks on. |
With $300,000 in planning and startup funding from Portland Community College, MWCC will replicate PCC’s model of the national Early College High School Initiative to serve young people ages 16 to 21 who have either stopped attending high school or are at risk of dropping out.
MWCC’s program is part of a national initiative funded and sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to launch 170 “early college high schools” by 2008. It is one of 17 schools selected by initiative intermediary Portland Community College.
PCC founded the Gateway to College program in 2000 on the premise that “all young people can be successful in a college environment,” said Linda Huddle, director of alternative programs at PCC. “We found our students are looking to rewrite their stories. We’re here to help them do that.”
MWCC’s partnership with Fitchburg Public Schools made the college stand out in the rigorous selection process, Huddle said.
“The reason why I’m excited, we’re excited, is education is the great leveler. It is the way to break the cycle of poverty,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “We’re going to turn despair into hope. This program is about dreams coming true.”
Key aspects of the program are:
• Gateway to College is part of MWCC’s College Preparation and Access Programs.
• MWCC will house an alternative high school at its Gardner campus with the first students enrolling in 2006.
• The program will serve 300 students over three years.
• Students will be enrolled in Fitchburg’s Evening Alternative School and will have to option to participate in a Fitchburg High School graduation once they earn a high school diploma.
• During the first year, students will be enrolled in groups of 20 and assigned to a resource specialist, who will follow them the entire time.
• The first semester will be dedicated to taking two college-success courses and three developmental courses to prepare them for the rigors of college.
• Students will be eligible to earn high-school and college credits for the classes they take during the second semester.
• Students will be required to pass the MCAS exams before they can receive their diplomas.
• Students can take the college courses on a full- or part-time basis.
• The students’ education will be paid for with state K-12 school choice funds.
• Students can apply for financial aid after they complete their high-school credits.
The Fitchburg Evening Alternative School was established 10 years ago to give students who drop out of high school “for myriad of reasons” an alternative way to receive their diploma, said Fitchburg High School Principal Richard Masciarelli. Gateway to College gives Fitchburg sophomores and juniors who are identified as being on the verge of dropping out by guidance counselors—and those like them around the state—the same alternative.
For more information on Gateway to College, contact Pati Gregson, associate dean of College Access and Preparation Programs, at (978) 630-9339 or pgregson@mwcc.mass.edu.
CONTEST HEATS UP AS CONCLUSION OF MWCC’S 1ST ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION NEARS
By Kimberly B. Caisse
Seven semi-finalists in MWCC’s first annual Business Plan Competition will compete for finalist and grand prize awards when they present their business plans to a panel of judges on Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gardner campus.
The finalist/category winners chosen that night will compete for the grand prize before a panel of judges Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gardner campus. Both events are open to the public.
The competition gave the 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.
“This competition shows the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in our region,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “These entrepreneurs will play an important role in helping our communities continue to thrive.”
The semi-finalists are:
Bridges Language Institute, Leominster – This business’ vision is to connect the world through language instruction seasoned with cultural awareness in order to bridge the gaps of misguided assumptions and prejudices that oftentimes exist in American culture today. The institute aims to counteract this by empowering people to achieve their dreams through language instruction and cross-cultural management.
Crystal House Clubhouse, Gardner – This not-for-profit vocational program for mentally ill citizens in the greater Gardner community has goals for expansion. The focus is to increase visibility in the community and marketing its job- placement programs as a benefit to both the members and the employers.
Friends of Sholan Farms, Leominster – This nonprofit is comprised of dedicated citizens who promote the importance of local agriculture and the stewardship of natural resources. Expansion plans include building several structures that will make the property a 12-month operation and will offer cultural and recreational opportunities to groups and individuals.
High Impact Health & Fitness Services, Fitchburg – This business is comprised of two divisions. Wellness Connection will be marketed as a national vendor for one-stop health and fitness services that allows corporations, organizations and communities to access resources for health screenings, program consultation and development, and Internet services. Premier Health & Fitness Resources will support a new website for health and fitness professionals that features a variety of educational, networking and resource-sharing materials.
Massage Therapy Business Plan, Groton – This business is a startup massage therapy practice that will evolve into a holistic wellness center with other healthcare professionals.
Pony Paths, Pepperell – This nonprofit is a therapeutic riding program in its startup phase. The founder is committed to bringing equine-assisted activities to the Pepperell area.
Speed-Demon Inc., Lunenburg – This company is a high-tech startup that has patentable intellectual property, product development expertise and a target market of 18.7 million teen drivers.
The competition’s premier sponsors are Unitil Corp. of Fitchburg and Community Builders, a partnership between the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and MWCC to promote volunteerism by inspiring, informing and educating the community. The startup sponsor is Clinton business attorney Jean D. Sifleet. Incubating sponsors are TD Banknorth Massachusetts, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Wachusett Chamber of Commerce, Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Bank and Trust Co. of Lowell, MWCC’s Entrepreneurial Resource Center, Institute for Nonprofit Development at MWCC, Rose and Marble Design of Ayer, Parkerhill Technology Group of Windham, N.H., Image Software Services of Devens and Sentinel & Enterprise of Fitchburg. Supporting sponsors are Fidelity Bank of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State College, Enterprise Bank & Trust of Lowell, City of Fitchburg, American Express Financial, Vernon Co. in Littleton, Harvard attorney Sheila C. Harrington, W.E. Aubuchon Company, Inc. of Westminster, Richard Letarte, CPA, of Leominster and Wiltec, Inc. of Leominster.
For more information, contact Lisa Derby Oden, director of MWCC’s Entrepreneurial Resource Center, at (978) 630-9548 or loden@mwcc.mass.edu.
MWCC HOLDS DAILY GAS CARD RAFFLE TO HELP STUDENTS WITH TRAVEL EXPENSES
By Kimberly B. Caisse
MWCC is randomly selecting one student a day to receive a $50 gas card through Tuesday, Nov. 22 as part of the college’s Hurricane Katrina relief initiative.
“Gas prices spiked to over $3 a gallon when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and haven’t dropped much since. This is a drain on the wallets of our students, many who work, raise families and take classes,” noted MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “We’re helping them through this in addition to supporting the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative and our local chapter of the American Red Cross.”
“I appreciate the school helping the students out with the gas cards,” said Nathan Findley, one of the winners. “It (the price of gas) hurts because I go to work and go to school everyday. I fill up my car every week. That’s $30 a week. You want to worry about your college bills and your other bills, not filling up your gas tank.”
MWCC selects the gas card winners by matching a number given by a random-number website to a MWCC student number. The college then contacts the winning student to pick up their gas card.
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AmeriCorps VISTA Amanda Landry packs boxes of supplies destined for Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative. |
Other parts of the college’s Hurricane Katrina relief effort are:
• Alice LeBlanc, assistant director of the Healthcare Pathway Program, is selling special November calendars to benefit local food pantries and the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, a network of 12 health clinics based in Hattiesburg, Miss., recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Four hundred calendars, priced at $5 each, will present 30 chances to win a home-baked item. To buy a calendar, contact LeBlanc at (978) 630-9220.
• MWCC will host a hurricane relief concert featuring The Ethan Stone Band on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at 7 p.m. (Snow date is Saturday, Jan. 14.) All proceeds will benefit the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative. The band's repertoire covers a wide range of music, from new material from Coldplay, Audioslave, Radiohead, Beck, Ben Folds, Lifehouse, Staind, to classic rock from Santana, The Allman Brothers, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and many more. The event is being co-sponsored by the Hurricane Relief Committee, the MWCC Alumni Association, the Committee for Activities and Recreation for Students and the Eagle 99.9. Tickets, which can be purchased through the Theatre at the Mount Box Office, are $15 ($10 for MWCC students). For more information, contact Melissa Sargent at (978) 630-9273.
• MWCC is offering free tuition and fees for one semester for hurricane victims through the Division of Lifelong Learning. In addition, the college will offer free tuition and fees for available slots to hurricane victims through our more than 70 distance-learning courses. Student eligibility for a second semester will be determined by the students’ status.
• As part of the state’s Sloan Semester program, four students from the Gulf Coast area enrolled in eight-week versions of MWCC’s journalism and American national government online courses. MWCC and the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at MWCC donated the textbooks for these courses. “I am so grateful to all of you at MWCC for all that you are doing to help me continue my education,” wrote Louisiana resident Lindsay Gelpi in an e-mail message. “Providing the teaching materials for the course will help out a lot, and is very generous of [MWCC President Daniel M.] Asquino.”
• The college collected 26 boxes of specific over-the-counter medical supplies for the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative. The boxes will be sent to the health center network the week of Oct. 24.
For more information about MWCC’s Hurricane Katrina relief initiative, contact Lea Ann Erickson at (978) 630-9547 or Robin Duncan at (978) 630-9293.
MWCC WINS NINE MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARDS AT CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE
The MWCC marketing and public relations team won nine awards and a Communicator of the Year Award at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 1 Conference Medallion Awards Dinner in Mystic, Conn. Monday, Oct. 17.
NCMPR is an organization for community college marketing and public relations professionals.
The college won silver Medallion Awards for the 2004 President’s Report, the new college viewbook, the Entrepreneurial Resource Center website, the publicity and ad campaign for the Molly Bish Kid Expo and a Feb. 13, 2005, op-ed by President Daniel M. Asquino published in the Sentinel & Enterprise. Bronze awards were given for the college’s new alumni radio ad series and the “Mount at Twilight” photo taken by Web Coordinator Dana Armstrong.
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NCMPR District 1 Director Judith Sciple stands with MWCC's Lea Ann Erickson after the Medallion Awards dinner. |
In addition, Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs Lea Ann Erickson received the District 1 Communicator of the Year Award. “Lea Ann Erickson’s public relations and marketing talent, commitment to Mount Wachusett Community College and a strong belief the college should set an example for community involvement are why I am nominating her for the NCMPR 2005 District 1 Communicator of the Year Award,” Vice President of Community and Foundation Development Sharyn Rice wrote. “Awareness of the college is pervasive in the north central region of Massachusetts in large part because of Lea Ann’s work.”
Upcoming Campus Events:
• Battered Women’s Resources Inc., the Worcester District Attorney’s Office and MWCC’s Paralegal Studies Program will sponsor a mock trial on Monday, Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the Gardner campus’ north dining area. The dispute will concern domestic violence and the judicial process. For more information, contact Associate Professor Jim Korman at (978) 630-9359 or jkorman@mwcc.mass.edu.
• Artist Christopher Willingham will give a lecture in the East Wing Gallery of MWCC’s Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 11:30 a.m. Willingham’s work is on exhibit through Friday, Nov. 18. For more information, contact Professor Joyce Miller at (978) 630-9221 or jmiller@mwcc.mass.edu.
• Seven semi-finalists in MWCC’s first annual Business Plan Competition will present their business plan to a panel of judges Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gardner campus. The category winners chosen that night will compete for the grand prize before a panel of judges Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gardner campus. Both events are open to the public. For more information, contact Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 630-9548 or loden@mwcc.mass.edu.
• The annual MWCC Fall Open House/Expo will be held in the commons area of the Gardner campus on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to learn about MWCC’s more than 40 majors and programs; meet with admissions, financial aid and career services counselors; speak one-on-one with program directors and department chairs; and discover how to transfer to four-year colleges and universities through MWCC’s joint admissions and tuition advantage programs. For more information about this free event, contact the Admissions Office at (978) 630-9110 or admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.
• MWCC’s Committee for Activities and Recreation for Students (CARS), Student Life office and Alumni Association will sponsor the annual Scary Karaoke Night Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gardner campus. Faculty, staff and alumni are challenged to come in costume and ready to sing. There will be snacks, door prizes and costume prizes. The MWCC Alumni Association will give away free hurricane cups filled with “Halloween Brew.” The event is open to all MWCC students, alumni, faculty and staff. For more information, contact Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252 or Melissa Sargent at (978) 630-9273.
• The North Central Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a disaster response training session at the MWCC Gardner campus on Friday, Oct. 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Molly Piscia, the North Central Massachusetts chapter’s disaster services director, at (978) 537-3339 ext. 12 or PisciaM@usa.redcross.org.
• The LIFE program’s third Wachusett Writer’s Conference will be held Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner. Friday night’s reception will include a portrayal of America’s first recorded and published female poets, Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley. The roles will be played by Patricia Cosentino and Nazaleem Smith, and they will appear in period costume. They will read from the early works of these poets. Winners of LIFE’s second annual writing contest will be invited to read their winning pieces at this event. There will be an open mic session, and refreshments will be served. The cost is $10. Saturday’s session will begin with a continental breakfast and registration at 8 a.m. The keynote speaker, Archer Mayor, a mystery writer with the Policeman Joe Gunther series, will address the audience with “A Conversation with Archer Mayor.” Morning workshops will follow with three genres: poetry, mystery and short fiction. A delicious luncheon will precede the afternoon workshops. Attendees may choose one morning and one afternoon workshop. For more information, contact Lorraine Wickman at (978) 630-9176 or lwickman@mwcc.mass.edu.
• Alice LeBlanc, assistant director of the Healthcare Pathway Program, is selling November calendars for a fund-raiser to benefit local food pantries and the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative. The goal is for the MWCC community to raise $2,000. Four hundred calendars, priced at $5 each, will present 30 chances to win a home-baked item or gift. To buy a calendar, contact LeBlanc at (978) 630-9220.
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"Alexander" is ready for his "Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day." |
• Theatre at the Mount will present one performance only of the children’s musical “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. “Alexander” is based on the book by Judith Viorst and features music by Shelly Markham and lyrics by Judith Viorst. Tickets for “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” are $4 and may be purchased at the Theatre at the Mount box office or online at http://theatre.mass.edu. The Box Office phone number is (978) 632-2403.
• Photographs by Ellie Moore and MWCC Professor Joyce Miller of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work “The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005” are on display in the East Wing Gallery through Friday, Nov. 18. “The Gates,” free-hanging, saffron- colored fabric panels suspended from gate structures, were installed around New York City’s Central Park in February 2005. For more information, contact Professor Joyce Miller at (978) 630-9221 or jmiller@mwcc.mass.edu.