MHS Students Partner to Wrap Up Goodie Bag Donation Project

by Keith Kent, Winchendon Courier Correspondent

In a continuation of Murdock High School student efforts in working together for a greater purpose, members of the classes of Mrs. Frye and Mrs. Ellis jointly assembled fifty goodie bags for fellow children and students in foster care in other communities, through the Leominster organization Fostering Change. They also organized a large donation of supplies for the MHS food pantry for students in need, to help make their world a better place.

Following the previous story in the Courier ("Murdock Students Collect Hygiene Supplies for Those in Need" in the December 9-16 2021 edition of the Winchendon Courier), the assembly of the collected donated products into bags was delayed as MHS was temporarily closed on December 15 due to a large COVID viral outbreak affecting the school population at that time. With the school reopened after the holiday break, efforts were back underway to complete the project undertaken by the MHS Sociology and Civics class of Ms. Frye, with the welcome assistance of students from the class of Mrs. Ellis.

Donations were collected from businesses around the town of Winchendon, including Unique Dental, the Clark Memorial YMCA, Not Just Produced, and even at the High School during the month of November, 2021. Unique Dental contributed a large donation of toothbrushes to add to the charitable cause, with Ms. Frye adding her own collection box assisting the effort. Students in Frye's class had also sent out the call on their personal Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook social media accounts, along with getting the word of the cause out on the High School's own Youtube channel, Blue Devil Weekly. With the combined efforts of many hands and big hearts, donation supplies came pouring in from all directions.

Packaged and sorted goodie bag items ranged from hair care products to razors, shaving gels, deodorants, face cloths, hand sanitizers, nail clippers, tissues, hair ties, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and much more. The donated and collected items and proceeds were targeted for both the Murdock Food Pantry and the Fostering Change organization to help children and students in the North Central Massachusetts foster care system.

Morgan Pace, a student in Mrs. Ellis' class, who was happy to participate, said, "I have been working with my teacher for a long time, and my friend Noah and others in class helped with making the bags. I wanted to do this because I care, it means a lot to me. My parents were happy for me that I helped do this."

From Ms. Frye's class, Danielle Sroczynski added, "With this project we got to work with members of Mrs. Ellis's class, when we usually may not have had that opportunity." Fellow classmate Victor Perez followed with, "I think it's really great that we were able to help present [Ellis's class] a task for them to help people out, and they were so willing to do it, and would do it again if we asked them to, and they might want to even do more work with us which would be great." Student Hailie Laffennie said, "For the students in Mrs. Ellis's class putting the individual items in the bags is part of the skills they work on in their class so it was something that helped them as well." Perez closed with, "The students in the class that worked with us didn't really see it as an assignment, but more as fun work and had genuine happiness while working on the project with us as well."

If you are interested in learning more about the organization Fostering Change which helps students in foster care across North Central Massachusetts with school supplies, it is located at 197 Spruce Street, Leominster, MA. For more information, call 978-987-1333, email fosteringchangema@gmail.com, or follow Fostering Change Inc. on Facebook at @FosteringChangeMA.

United Way Meets Youth Changemakers' Mobile Café

by Liz Latoria
Last week, Murdock High School and Winchendon School Students, Camille Hart, Angelina Dellasanta, and Abigail Bradley, along with recent graduate, Jeremy Diaz, presented a very detailed and well-planned fund raising idea to a panel made up of Winchendon leaders and community members. These Youth Changemakers were awarded $500 by the United Way Youth Venture of North Central MA to create their Mobile Café. These outstanding students put together an impressive business plan to use their Mobile Café to raise money to support teen mental health, skills building and local businesses by creating a youth-led sustainable community café. The United Way Youth Venture of North Central MA graciously provided funding for this dynamic team to see their plans come to life. Keep an eye out for the Changemakers' Mobile Café at community events this Spring!

Photos courtesy of Liz Latoria

Winchendon Resident Named to Fall 2021 President's List at Dean College

FRANKLIN, MA (01/19/2022)-- Arianna Dibble of Winchendon has earned a place on the President's List for the Fall 2021 semester. Students named to the President's List have demonstrated a series 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.

Nobaleigh Laraba of Winchendon, MA, has been named to Clarkson University's Dean's List

POTSDAM, NY (01/20/2022)-- Nobaleigh Laraba of Winchendon, MA, a freshman majoring in biology, was named to the Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester at Clarkson University.

Dean's List students must achieve a minimum 3.25 grade-point average and also carry at least 14 credit hours.

As a private, national research university, Clarkson is a leader in technological education and sustainable economic development through teaching, scholarship, research and innovation. We ignite personal connections across academic fields and industries to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. With its main campus located in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the New York Capital Region, Beacon, N.Y., and New York City, Clarkson educates 4,300 students across 95 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, the arts, education, sciences and health professions. Our alumni earn salaries that are among the top 2.5 percent in the nation and realize accelerated career growth. One in five already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.

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

SPRINGFIELD, MA (01/19/2022)-- Springfield College Recognizes Dean's List Students for the 2021 Fall Semester.

Springfield College has named Amber Mahony from Athol, MA to the dean's list for academic excellence for the 2021 fall semester. Mahony has a primary major of English.

Springfield College has named Reghan Hunnewell from Winchendon, MA to the dean's list for academic excellence for the 2021 fall semester. Hunnewell has a primary major of Health Science.

Springfield College has named James Laford from Athol, MA to the dean's list for academic excellence for the 2021 fall semester. Laford has a primary major of Health Science.

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.

Mount Wachusett Community College Holds Pinning Ceremony for Newest Paramedic Graduates

GARDNER, MA - January 19, 2022 - On January 5, 2022, Mount Wachusett Community College held a pinning ceremony honoring the six graduating students in Paramedic Class 3. The ceremony was held for a limited in person audience, and on the college live stream for friends and family.

The Paramedic Class of 2021 are Joseph Bernardini of Fitchburg, Edward Coulter of Winchendon, Michael Flood of Barre, Sarah Lyon of Brookfield, Patricia Levasseur of Templeton, and Robert Walters of Rutland.

"We are proud of you and the incredible amount of work that you have done to complete such a difficult program during a difficult time," noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven. "You are going to make a huge difference in our region, in our communities, and for people who are in desperate need of you, your knowledge, caring, and compassion."

"We are here to recognize your accomplishments and reflect with gratitude upon the choices and actions that have led you to success, and the support you have received from your faculty, family and friends," reflected Margaret Jaillet, DPT, Dean of Health Professions, Public Service Programs and Social Sciences. "We are thankful beyond words that you have decided to continue to serve this community as a paramedic."

Guest speaker, John Breshnahan, MPA, EMTP and Clinical Coordinator of the Paramedic Degree program, highlighted the character of the six members of Class 3, who consciously made the decision to enroll in the program during the pandemic, knowing they would encounter a COVID patient each day. He enumerated the students' achievements; the six students of Class 3 completed 382 12-leads, conducted 270 airway managements, 946 adult patient assessments, and 326 pediatric patient assessments, issued 791 medications, started 1,116 IV's, and completed 212 EMS Patient Care Reports. They completed 1,564.5 hours in the field, and 3,776 hours in clinical rotation.

"You have been a pleasure to work with. I am so proud of you," stated Peter "I enjoy watching the classes come together as strangers and leave as friends and colleagues. Your class has been such a cohesive group supporting each other and I will miss you."

Vice President of Class 3, Robert Walters, noted how the class has grown together as a group and as individuals. "Peter, John, Gary and the rest of the faculty - you have provided us with not only the tools to become paramedics, but you have enabled us to achieve what was once thought not possible. You have given us experiences and friendships that will last us the rest of our lives," Walters said in his address.

Program Medical Director Dr. Daniel Wilson added, "One of my most prideful joys is teaching you in this program. We have come a long way, you have seen a lot, learned a ton, and now you can put the rubber to the road. You are ready to step into any situation, you have the ability, the acumen, the talent to go forth and make a difference. You have already made a difference amongst your colleagues and at this college, and you will make a difference in patients' lives. You will be acting on our behalf, taking the first steps to make people who need you well. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait to see you in the field!"

The MWCC Paramedic Technology Program, is in its fourth year and has now graduated twenty-three students in its first three classes. 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. Learn more at mwcc.edu.