Winchendon Weekly News school newsletter - Friday, June 2

Community Happenings newsletter - Friday, June 2

Sizer Class of 2023 Receive Awards, Honors, Scholarships

On Friday, May 26, Sizer School held its 2023 Senior Class Community Meeting.

Held in the gym for high school students and their families, our middle school students watched the event live from the cafeteria. The emcees for the afternoon were Mrs. Alyson Cordio and Sizer Junior Ian Susman of Winchendon.

The event began with the announcement of several awards, honors and scholarships.

High school Counselor Roxxanna Kurtz announced the winners of the Gallo Book Award on behalf of Melanie Gallo, the founding Principal of Sizer School.

"Ms. Gallo started this book award because of her profound love of books. To use her words, 'I have loved books since I was a child. Books teach us how to live and how to love. They help develop empathy. They show us other people's perspectives. They teach us about diversity,'" explained Kurtz.

This year's recipients were Senior Enid Calderon Pabon and 8th grade student Charlotte Funk, both of Fitchburg.

Next, a group of Sizer seniors gave out their own awards, giving Think Care Act certificates to the people in their lives who supported them throughout their journeys. Those seniors included Gabby Puglisi of Leominster, Elizabeth Waite of Lunenburg, Jaiden Killion of Templeton, Yoimar Escobar-Pujols of Fitchburg, Sabrina Jaiman of Gardner, James Geehan of Townsend, Enid Calderon Pabon of Fitchburg, TJ Greenawalt of Leominster, Dominic Gionet of Fitchburg and Olly Durrett of Fitchburg.

It was announced that Senior Elizabeth Waite of Lunenburg was awarded the Fitchburg Rotary Club's Student of the Month scholarship, "a nomination for a student committed to their academics and giving back to their community," explained Kurtz.

"The Not Your Average Scholarship goes to a student who has, despite significant obstacles in their life, continued to work hard and persevere in their academics," said Kurtz.

This year the scholarship went to Olly Durrett of Fitchburg.

The Health Sciences Award went to Jaiden Killion of Templeton.

The John K. Grady Craftsperson Scholarship went to Tyler Noonan of Lunenburg.

"This year, our recipient is someone who is passionate about pursuing a career in STEM," said Kurtz.

The Sizer 6 scholarship was awarded to Yoimar Escobar-Pujols of Fitchburg. Escobar-Pujols was also presented with the Think Care Act Medal of honor by the class of 2021's Medal recipient Libbie Susman.

As Kurtz said, "This award goes to a student who we feel truly embodies our Sizer 6 principles: Community, Purpose, Responsibility, Integrity, Voice and Safety."

Junior Abigail Barto of Fitchburg was awarded the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medal.

"The RPI medal is awarded to one junior in participating high schools who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science during their time in high school," said Kurtz.

The event culminated in the Senior Cording. Every year, the Junior Class along with friends and family send off all outgoing seniors by bestowing senior cords on each individual. These cords represent academic success and time spent at Sizer. A student awarded with both purple and silver tassels is a student who has been a Sizer student since the 7th grade; 26 out of Sizer's 38 graduates received both tassels.

When the Class of 2023 procession walked out of the gym, they did so to their class song, Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. As they walked from the building, the entire middle school team of 7th and 8th grade students lined the hallways to give out high fives and congratulations!

The Class of 2023 will have their official Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, June 7 at 6 p.m. Watch it online at FATV.org.

MWCC Hosting "On the Spot" Acceptance Events in Gardner and Leominster

GARDNER, MA - Monday, June 5, 2023 - Mount Wachusett Community College is hosting three Enrollment Express events featuring on-the-spot acceptance to most non-selective programs on Tuesday, June 20 between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Leominster campus, and at the Gardner campus on Tuesday, June 27 between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and Saturday, August 19, between 8:00 am and noon.

Prospective students will have the opportunity to speak with academic advisors, explore academic programs and bachelor's degree transfer options, learn about financial aid, receive assistance filing for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and receive information about the college's wide range of student support services.

Registration is recommended and can be made online at mwcc.edu/enrollment-express or contacting the admissions office at 978-630-9447 or admissions@mwcc.edu. Students are encouraged attend early to be sure to complete the most enrollment steps in one visit.

MWCC offers more than 70 associate degree and academic certificate programs, as well as dual enrollment programs for teenagers, transfer agreements with public and private colleges and universities, workforce development training, adult basic education, and preparation for the GED/HiSET high school equivalency exam.

MWCC Graduates Join the Nursing Profession in Traditional Pinning Ceremony

GARDNER, MA - June 6, 2023 - Mount Wachusett Community College held a traditional pinning ceremony for the graduates of its Associate Degree in Nursing program on May 18, 2023 with family and friends at the Mount Fitness facility.

"On behalf of everyone at MWCC and in the communities you will serve, we thank you for choosing a caring field, and commend you on your success," MWCC President James Vander Hooven told students. "You are going out into the world to make a difference, you will touch and sometimes save lives, provide healing, and above all comfort and empathy. Congratulations to you all."

The Class of 2023 is the 50th class to earn their Associates Degree in Nursing. The class was made up of students who were enrolled in either the day nursing program or were licensed practical nurses who returned to MWCC to continue their education through the Bridge to Nursing program.

Dean of Nursing, Kim Shea, DNP, RN, addressed graduates, "It has been a long two years learning not only what is needed to become a registered nurse, but learning to do so through the tail end of a global pandemic. This curriculum and clinical schedules are demanding and extremely time consuming. Many of you faced life challenges while in the program, some you have shared, some shouldered them in silence, rest assured that your struggles have not gone unnoticed."

"You have persevered," Shea continued. "You have been challenged, and have risen to that challenge, each and every time. You have fought for this, and you have won. I, along with the faculty and staff of MWCC, am extremely proud of you all."

Each student was given the opportunity to share a few words of thanks for the love and support shown by their friends, family, and faculty through their education before receiving their pin from their chosen faculty, friend, or family member.

MWCC extends a special thank you to the clinical partners who provided learning facilities for all of the graduates over the past two years, AdCare Hospital, Athol Hospital, Baldwinville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Heywood Hospital, LifeCare Center of Leominster, Quabbin Valley Health Care, Seven Hills, Tara Vista Behavioral Health, The Highlands, The Reservoir Center for Health and Rehabilitation, UMass Memorial Health Alliance Clinton and Leominster Hospitals, and UMass Memorial Medical Center.

The class of 2023 included these local students:

Cheryl Ann Landry, Ashburnham, MA
Symantha Marie Vallee, Ashburnham, MA
Nicole-Marie Catherine Cain, Athol, MA
Christopher Michael Knickle, Athol, MA
Ashley M. Peirce, Athol, MA
Brianna L. Coburn, Gardner, MA
Cyndi M. Godin, Gardner, MA
Abby Elaine Haines, Gardner, MA
Trenequz Finese Hernandez, Gardner, MA
Rachel S. Collins, Gardner, MA
Jennifer Lee Navarijo, Phillipston, MA
Denae Michelle Hollenbeck, Westminster, MA
Kristan L. Johnson, Westminster, MA
Tracey L. Savastano, Westminster, MA
Danielle Marie Knight, Winchendon, MA