Press Release — For Immediate Release

Lea Ann Erickson , Director of Community Relations
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
Email: l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

 

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 

 

MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE CELEBRATES 4OTH ANNIVERSARY WITH A WEEKLONG KICK-OFF CELEBRATION

 

(GARDNER)--A week-long kick-off celebration marks the beginning of Mount Wachusett Community College’s 40th anniversary. Events will include an alumni art exhibit, theatre events, a library open house, health fair and gala celebration at the Sheraton Four Points. (see event list below)

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration, the college will honor faculty, staff, alumni and community members who have made significant contributions to the life of Mount Wachusett Community College during the past 40 years. These “Summit Award” recipients will be announced at a gala celebration and dinner dance featuring the Stardusters Orchestra, to be held, Sat., Oct. 5, at the Four Points Sheraton in Leominster. Cocktail hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. For information or to make reservations, contact Gail Steele at (978) 630-9162.

During the past 40 years, Mount Wachusett Community College has touched the lives of countless people in the 29 cities and towns it serves:

  • About 100,000 students have attended Mount Wachusett Community College
  • Over 4,000 companies have a relationship with the college
  • Over 500,000 theatre patrons have enjoyed Theatre at the Mount productions
  • Over 90,000 people visit the campus annually for college and community events

In 1963, when Mount Wachusett Community College was founded, John F. Kennedy was in the Whitehouse, gasoline was 30 cents per gallon and the minimum wage was $1.25 per hour. Like most community colleges, MWCC began teaching students in temporary facilities. The college’s first students were welcomed to orientation in the Gardner City Hall Auditorium. Classes were held at the National Guard Armory. The first class was a typing class held at the rifle range. As the college grew, courses were held in the Elm Street School building, the Pearl Street campus (a former church), the site of the former First National Store and the former nurses’ home at Heywood Hospital.

Despite all that has changed, some things remain unchanged. “Today’s student benefits from the same commitment to small class size, dedicated faculty and superior student services,” said Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino. “The college’s close relationship with the communities it serves remains—and in fact has been strengthened. Of the over 100,000 students who have attended the Mount during the past 40 years, most still live and work here.”

Today more than 45 degree and certificate programs are offered to students on five campuses. In addition, on-line courses give students even greater flexibility. Today’s students have access to thousands of databases and other research tools in the MWCC library, which can be accessed by computer anytime, day or night.

 

40th Anniversary kick-off week events:

Sat., Sept. 28 through Sat., Oct. 19
Alumni Art and Computer Graphic Design Exhibit
East Wing Gallery
Free and open to the public

Sun., Sept. 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Special performance of the children’s classic
Stuart Little
South Cafeteria
All seats $3.00

Mon., Sept. 30 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
Music of the Past Four Decades by “Storm”
South Cafeteria
Sponsored by Student Government Association
Free and open to the public

Tues., Oct. 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Mount Night at the Movies
The Best Film of 1963 . . .
Tom Jones
Room 127
Directed by Tony Richardson
United Artists, Lopert Pictures
Host and Commentator: Edward Cronin, MWCC professor of English
Free and open to the public, free refreshments

Wed., Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Special “sneak preview” performance of
Theatre at the Mount’s 1776
Theatre at the Mount
Music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Book by Peter Stone
Free for all members of the college community and their families

Wed., Oct. 2 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.
Library Open House
MWCC Library
Library Tours will be offered at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. starting at the reference desk. database demonstrations include “It’s Academic – Searching in LexisNexis” from 12:30 –to 1:30 p.m. and “Consumer Health Information on the Internet” from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Both demonstrations will be held in the electronic classroom in the lower library. Library Jeopardy will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the electronic classroom and an adaptive computer lab tour will take place at 3:00 p.m. In addition, daylong exhibits will be on display: LexisNexis Regional Medical Library display on the main floor, “Scraps from the Past” display in room 077 and in the hallway display cases, a “Who’s That Face?” contest and much more.

Thurs., Oct. 3, at 7:00 p.m.
Alumni Art Exhibit Artists’ Reception:
East Wing Gallery
Guest Hostess: Professor Emeritus Jean Tandy, founding chair-person
of MWCC art department
Free and open to the public, free refreshments

Fri., Oct. 4.
Health Fair: To Your Health! from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The commons area and other campus locations
Free and open to the public
Sponsored by the MWCC Health Sciences Division

Sat., Oct. 5, at 6:00 p.m.
40th Anniversary Dinner Dance Gala Celebration
Four Points Sheraton, Leominster
Cocktails at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Featuring Music by: The Stardusters Orchestra
(black tie optional)
Tickets are $50.00 per person
Contact Professor Gail Steele at
(978) 630-9162 for information and reservation