The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of June 17 to June 24, 2021

Winchendon Resident Named to Spring 2021 Semester Dean's List at Dean College

FRANKLIN, MA (06/17/2021)-- Dean College is pleased to announce that Sarah McQuiston of Winchendon has earned a place on the Dean's List for the Spring 2021 semester. Students named to the Dean's List have demonstrated a serious commitment to their studies while at Dean College.

Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private, residential college located in Franklin Massachusetts, 45 minutes from Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. Dean College offers baccalaureate degrees, associate degree programs, as well as a robust schedule of part-time continuing and professional education credit and certificate programs throughout the calendar year.

Elaina Madison Buckler Named to the President's List at Western New England University

SPRINGFIELD, MA (06/16/2021)-- Western New England University (WNE) is pleased to announce that Class of 2021 graduate Elaina Buckler (BA in History program) of Winchendon, MA, has been named to the President's List for the Spring Semester 2021. Students are named to the President's List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.80 or higher.

A model for the "New Traditional University," Western New England University is among just 13% of private (5,000 students or less) institutions ranked among US News and World Report "National Universities" and a "Top 100 Engineering Program." WNE enrolls 3,690 students, including 2,552 full-time undergraduate, in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees at its Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy & Health Sciences, and School of Law.

Buckler is one of over 460 students to achieve this mark of academic excellence.

A WNE education provides career-span agility through a curriculum grounded in professional/experiential studies, enhanced by the liberal arts, and enriched by mentored research that equips graduates to adapt and succeed in the workplace of the future.

Board of Selectmen Issue Citation for Daniel Fuller Court of Honor

The Board of Selectmen were honored to be invited to attend a Court of Honor held in recognition of Daniel Fuller and his accomplishment in obtaining his Eagle Scout. At the Court of Honor on June 12th, they presented the attached Citation. Mr. Fuller was also recognized at the June 14th Board of Selectmen's Meeting. The Town is grateful to Mr. Fuller and all his hard work in creating a fishing beach at the Winchendon Community Park, and we wish him luck in all his future endeavors.

View the Citation (PDF)

Springfield College Recognizes Dean's List Students for the 2021 Spring Semester

SPRINGFIELD, MA (06/16/2021)-- Springfield College Recognizes Dean's List Students for the 2021 Spring Semester.

Amber Mahony from Athol, MA. Mahony has a primary major of English.
James Laford from Athol, MA. Laford has a primary major of Health Science.
Reghan Hunnewell from Winchendon, MA. Hunnewell has a primary major of Psychology.

The criteria for selection to the Dean's List are as follows: The student must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework for the term, exclusive of "P" grades. The student must not have any incompletes or missing grades in the designated term. The student must have a minimum semester grade average of 3.500 for the term.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Approximately 4,100 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy - educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

Sizer School Graduates Class of 2021

Sizer School, a North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg, is proud to announce the graduates of the Class of 2021:

Christopher Erich Von Handorf - Acton
Richard Joseph Dimacale - Ashburnham
Cameron Thomas Henrie - Ashburnham
Coby Daniel Hartung - Ashby
Kayla Jeanne Rheault - Ashby
Gaviel Radame Rodriguez - Ashby
Megan Elizabeth Barto - Fitchburg
Joseph William Boire - Fitchburg
Ryan Gunnar Burke - Fitchburg
Stephanie Marie Deitzel - Fitchburg
Gregor Campbell Goodlett - Fitchburg
Dariel Guzman-Genao - Fitchburg
Olivia Mae Horgan - Fitchburg
Carolanne McKenzie MacArthur - Fitchburg
Angel Jose Maldonado - Fitchburg
Jack Thomas Rodgers Mason - Fitchburg
Sean Stephen McAndrew - Fitchburg
Ilias Hammond Niemi - Fitchburg
Orlando Omar Opio Vazquez - Fitchburg
Kaitlyn Regina Plante - Fitchburg
Anna Marie Poole - Fitchburg
Andres Arturo Rivera - Fitchburg
Francisco Malpica Rodriguez - Fitchburg
Jeremy Kane Russell - Fitchburg
Nicolas Scarpitta - Fitchburg
Aracelli Sierra - Fitchburg
Mikal Lawrence Towsley - Fitchburg
Domenic Joseph Baldassarre - Gardner
Jordan Tyler Budzinski - Gardner
Stephen Frank Leblanc - Gardner
Hunter Lee Weston - Gardner
Walker Lee Peters - Hubbardston
Gianna Gloria Tarquinio - Hubbardston
Joseph Raymond Conway - Leominster
Elsie Oduro Korankye - Leominster
Ava Grace Piper - Leominster
Nathaniel Ezekiel Torres - Lunenburg
Connor William Smith - Shirley
Richard Samuel Edwards - Sterling
Wiley Ebba Doucette - Westminster
Lucas Henry Kelley - Westminster
Kanaye Tavon Alan Young - Westminster
Taylor Jean Brown - Winchendon
Noah Lawrence Chagnon - Winchendon
Libbie May Susman - Winchendon
Max Theriault - Winchendon
Nicholas Augusto Vecchiarello - Winchendon

Awards and Scholarships Awarded to the Class of 2021 included:

RPI Medal: Odette Amoakahene;
PTSO Scholarship: Wiley Doucette;
Sizer Not Your Average Scholarship: Aracelli Sierra;
Sizer John K. Grady Craftsperson Scholarship: Libbie Susman;
Sizer Health Sciences Scholarship: Wiley Doucette;
Sizer 6 Scholarship: Stephanie Deitzel;
Principal's Award: Elsie Korankye;
Think Care Act Medal: Libbie Susman

Sizer School honored their graduates during a ceremony on Thursday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at Sizer School, 500 Rindge Rd. in Fitchburg. Student speakers included: Stephanie Deitzel, Lucas Kelly and Aracelli Sierra.

"It was beautiful to see the Seniors and their families: their smiles and their joy," said Executive Director Michelle Paranto Ed.D. All the photos from the graduation ceremony are available at www.SizerSchool.org.

Sizer School, is a free, public charter school serving students in Grades 7-12. Guided by its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, Sizer School seeks to send graduates into the world who THINK for themselves, CARE about others, and ACT creatively and responsibly.

Mount Wachusett Community College Paramedic Program Director Awarded EMS Educator of the Year by the Central Mass EMS Corporation

MWCC Paramedic Program Director honored
Southbridge Fire Chief Paul Normandin and Peter Laitinen MWCC Paramedic Program Director
Photo credit: MWCC

GARDNER, MA - June 14, 2021 - On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Mount Wachusett Community College Director of Paramedic Programs, Peter Laitinen was presented the EMS Educator of the Year award during the organization's Annual Meeting and EMS Awards Celebration.

"Peter Laitinen has been practicing compassionate care for his patients in our area for more than 30 years. His medical care and critical thinking under pressure is second to none," Tina Dixson, Executive Director of the Central MA EMS Corporation stated. "He is able to pass his knowledge and compassion on to the EMS providers that he teaches and mentors. He has never stopped his own education through formal means and self-research on best practices in the EMS field, all of which he applies to his care and shares with his colleagues. All of this along with a great sense of humor make him an incredible provider and an amazing educator."

Laitinen joined MWCC in 2017, bringing with him over 35 years of public safety experience, including 31 as a state and nationally registered paramedic and ten years of law enforcement experience. Laitinen earned his AS in Nursing at Greenfield Community College, his BS in Nursing at Curry College, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Homeland Security/Emergency Services Management. In addition, he holds an associate degree in emergency medical technology from Quinsigamond Community College.

At MWCC, Laitinen has been instrumental in the development and success of the Paramedic Technology Program, which has now graduated 17 students in its first two classes with 100% employment as paramedics within six months of graduation. The MWCC Paramedic Technology Certificate program is one of only nine such programs in the state, and the only program in North Central Massachusetts. The intensive 14-month program prepares students to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Certification Exam.

"We could not be more proud of the dedication shown by Peter," noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven during the Class of 2021 Paramedic Pinning ceremony. "I know that our students are well prepared to serve our communities as paramedics thanks to your efforts. Thank you so much for the work that you do with our students and everything you have done for MWCC."

The Central Mass EMS Corporation (CMEMSC) was designated by the Department of Public Health as the Region II emergency medical services council in 1977. The CMEMSC goal is to foster improvement and assure the availability of competent EMS services throughout the region. CMEMSC provides assistance and support to the DPH in a cooperative effort to coordinate, maintain, and improve the EMS system throughout Central Massachusetts. As the Regional EMS Council and a 501c3 non-profit, CMEMSC has been acknowledging outstanding achievement in the EMS field, like that of Peter Laitinen, at its annual meeting and awards celebration since 1995.