This Week's Winchendon News
Three Days of Sun and Fun: It's a Big Summer Weekend in the Winch!
This long weekend, beginning with the federal holiday of Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, and including the summer solstice or "first day of summer," and Father's Day, is packed with events in Winchendon, and it looks like the weather will be pleasant for the entire three days.
Friday, June 19
Image courtesy of The HUBHUB Patio Grand Opening Celebration 5:00 p.m. at The HUB, 5 Summer Drive.
Join us for a fun community celebration as we officially open the patio at The HUB! This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of the T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program through Main Street America, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, Inc., and the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. Enjoy an evening of live music, lawn games, arts & crafts, scavenger hunt, guided tours, raffles, prizes, 50/50, free bowling for kids, and half-off bowling all day!
Featuring live music by Annie Wallflower & Julian Wagner and the Rusty Truck Saloon Band.
This event will also recognize the importance of Juneteenth, honoring freedom, resilience, progress, and the ongoing work of building a more inclusive and connected community for everyone. All proceeds from the patio grand opening fundraiser will go toward new bowling shoes at The HUB--because every step forward matters, and no one walks alone.
Come celebrate community, connection, music, and the power of coming together!
Opening Night of the Annual Strawberry Festival 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce Street.
The BBQ dinner requires tickets in advance (because the cooks had to plan the amount of food). If you have a ticket, serving starts at 5:00 p.m. If you don't, there are still "theme booths" opening at 5:00 p.m., and live music with Kilroy. Booths will be open until 8:00 p.m., and the festival closes for the night at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
Horse & Buggy Feeds 50th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Day 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Rescheduled from its original date of May 30 because of bad weather, this event will include the Pizza Diavolo Food Truck and Murdock Farm Dairy Bar Ice Cream Pop-Up from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., along with various specials and a tomato plant sale (get those babies before they climb right out of those pots!). At Horse & Buggy Feeds, 380 School Street (A Winchendon institution since 1976!)
Winchendon Farmers Market 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. At The HUB, 5 Summer Drive. Farmers Market vendors set up on the lawn in front of The HUB in good weather (inside if it's rainy, but it won't be today!). Garden plants and preserved food, crafts, bakery items and jewelry. Through the CAC, the Market can accept SNAP and HIP payment--and edible garden plants qualify! The Sunshine Cafe is open inside The HUB, and kids bowl free on Saturday mornings.
Vendors will be set up around the field by the field house, and there may be vendors on the lawn along Central Street, as well. There will be inflatable bounce-houses and slides, games, face-painting, and live music. Vendors will include crafters and local organizations and groups.
Kids' and adults' "Fun Runs" will be held--no competition, just a great way to participate with your friends and neighbors.
UUCW Summer Lawn Fair 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street. An annual tradition since 1867! Browse the stalls featuring hand-sewn USEFUL items, wood crafts, sea glass jewelry, crochet, plushies, spa products, miniatures, 3D toys for the kids, and much more. Friends of the Beals Memorial Library will be there with their gently used books & DVDs. Winchendon Garden Club and Winchendon Winds offer generous basket raffles. Grab a hot dog at UUCW's VERY affordable concession stand. Pick up a last-minute gift for Father's Day!
Main Day of the Annual Strawberry Festival 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce Street.
Major Raffle with $1,000 in cash prizes, Theme Baskets, Chinese Auction, Scratch Ticket Book Raffle (Prize $2,500), Plants, Games for kids of all ages, Live Music Entertainment in the evening. Come try the Strawberry Booth with strawberry-themed treats, Country Kitchen, and Baked Goods Booth, all filled with delicious items. Schedule Highlights:
9:00 a.m.: Bucket Golf begins
11:00 a.m.: Polish Dancers Perform on the Dance Floor
12:00 p.m.: Country Line Dancing on the Dance Floor
1:00 p.m. Bingo
2:00 p.m. Live Music by Solo Act Ryan McKenzie
5:00 p.m. Corn Hole Tournament begins
6:30 p.m.: Live Music by the Rindge Road Rockers
Sunday, June 21
Father's Day! And for those who make note of such things, the official summer solstice is at 4:24 a.m. this morning. The noon sun is the highest in the sky it will get--and the UV factor is the highest it gets, too, so don't forget that sunscreen. Happy Midsummer Day!
Last Day of the Annual Strawberry Festival 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce Street.
9:00 a.m.: Father's Day breakfast
12:00 p.m. Raffles and prize winners announced; festival ends.
Winchendon Winds Concert 2:00 p.m. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street.
The third concert in Winchendon Winds' 2026 four-concert season! This week's theme is "Ahoy!" and includes musical pieces with a nautical flavor. For details, see the article below, "Winchendon Winds Takes to the 'High Seas' for Upcoming Concert."
Ahoy! - Winchendon Winds Takes to the "High Seas" for Upcoming Concert
Aye aye matey! Collect all your dads and celebrate Father's Day with Winchendon Winds as they continue their four-concert series this Sunday, June 21, at 2:00 p.m. at the UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street. The theme for this third concert is "Ahoy!" with various musical selections relating to water. The audience can hum along to medleys from the popular movie series "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the Broadway musical South Pacific. The familiar "Russian Sailor's Dance" begins as a ponderous thematic statement and accelerates into a frenzy of excitement. "Molly on the Shore" and "Folk Song Suite" showcase Irish and British folk tunes with a nautical flair. The program will close with John Philip Sousa's rousing "Hands Across the Sea" and a delightful piccolo solo.
Winchendon Winds is a 40-piece professional level wind ensemble composed of woodwind, brass and percussion players from all over southern New England. The ensemble operates like a "festival band," in that players are hired to come together to rehearse and perform in a short, intensive and concentrated period of time. Win Winds players are hired in January-February, receive and prepare their music in May, and rehearse and perform in June. The group then disbands for the remainder of the year. Many of the players perform in other groups throughout the year. About two-thirds of the players are current or former music educators for area schools. Win Winds conductor Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant, now in her third year with Win Winds, serves on the UMass Amherst Music Faculty throughout the academic year.
Winchendon Winds concerts remain free, thanks to generous support from ten area Local Cultural Councils including the Winchendon Cultural Council, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, and various businesses and individuals. The concerts are family-friendly and young musicians are especially welcome. Refreshments will be sold before the concert and at intermission. For more information, visit their website: www.winchendonwinds.org.
Cheers, Tears, Best Wishes and Fond Memories at the 137th Murdock High School Commencement
Class Saluditorian Aden Pimenter
Image copyright Winchendon Public Schools
Class Valedictorian Holly Harris
Image copyright Winchendon Public Schools
Students, friends, family members, school staff and members of the School Committee all gathered in the Murdock High School gymnasium on Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m. for the 137th Murdock High School Graduation Exercises.
Seniors, dressed in blue gowns and mortarboard caps, filed into their seats as the traditional processional, "Pomp and Circumstance" (by Sir Edward Elgar) played on the sound system. When everyone was seated, Class of 2026 President Kylieanne Brown introduced the Murdock High School Choir, which performed the National Anthem. Ms. Brown then introduced "the dignitaries on the stage today: Vice Chair of the School Committee for the Town of Winchendon, Mr. David Iannaccone, Superintendent of Schools for the town of Winchendon, Miss Charlotte King, Director of Special Education for Winchendon Public Schools, Miss Kelsey Garcia, Principal of Murdock High School, Mr. Dave Fredette, Assistant Principal of Murdock High School, Miss Kristie Barry-Ayres, and Advisor of the Class of 2026, Miss Stephanie Rondeau."
Ms. Brown then introduced the first speaker, Aden Pimentel. "Aden was recognized as the class salutatorian, the student with the second highest GPA in the class," she said. "Aden will be continuing his academic career this fall, attending the University of Massachusetts Lowell to study electrical engineering. Aidan participated in dual enrollment as a junior and senior."
Mr. Pimentel greeted everyone, and went on, "My name is Aden Pimentel, and I'm the salutatorian for the class of 2026, and I'm very grateful today. I'm grateful for the friends, for the family, and the teachers who have pushed me to this point today, and I'm grateful for all the opportunities that I've received in order to grow, and I hope everyone else is also as grateful as I am. Because today is a huge step into our future. It is a day where we close one chapter and mark the beginning of a new one. Each of us has taken a different path to get here, but we all have in common that we made it. We couldn't have made it without all the people supporting us as well. So, I just wanted to say, thank you. Thank you for the friends, the family, the teachers, the coaches, and anyone else who made a positive impact on our lives. Thank you for believing in us and encouraging us through our journey. Thank you for celebrating all of our accomplishments and always being there in critical times.
"I also want to give a special thanks to my family, because their support is the backbone of the person who I am today. To my mother, thank you for pushing me to never settle for less than my best, and to keep challenging myself every day. To my father, thank you for teaching me to embrace and overcome adversity. And to my siblings and grandparents, thank you for your never-ending love and support throughout my life. Everything that I build will always start from the foundation of my family's support. It is so hard to believe that graduation is right here in front of us. It seems like yesterday I was just walking through these doors and starting high school. The nerves are high, and many of us were wondering what these four years had ahead of us. We came here looking to find our place as freshmen, and now we leave as seniors to build our own legacy.
When I look back just a couple years ago, I find it funny because I was pretty dumb back then, and when I reflect on that, and when other people feel the same way as me as well, when they reflect on that, they should be all proud of themselves, because it means that we've grown, we've grown from that dumb little kid that we were just a little bit ago to a slightly less young adult today. Just knowing how we have changed and grown from that fateful first day is a truly remarkable, because success is not measured solely by titles, achievements, or awards, success is measured by our growth, our ability to stand up and respond to challenges in life, and everything that we will face. Every person here today has faced these challenges, but instead of giving in, they are here taking on another challenge, one of our hardest challenges, saying goodbye. It's a difficult challenge, but it's not the first or last time we'll have to go through it, and as we leave this chapter behind and start anew, we all have different paths to follow, but one thing I can say is not to be afraid to take risks or make mistakes or to step out your comfort zone, because I was taught that growth often comes from when we challenge ourselves. So, to the Class of 2026, congratulations. Be proud of everything you've done and everything you plan to do."
Murdock High School Principal spoke next, saying, "Today we gather to celebrate not just an ending, but a beginning. Graduation is often viewed as the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, and while it's certainly true, it's also the commencement of a new journey, one that will shape the course of your lives in ways you cannot yet imagine. As I stand before you today, I'm filled with immense pride and admiration for each and every one of you. This moment represents hours of effort, sacrifice, and growth. It represents the support of families, your teachers, your coaches, advisors, and friends who have helped you along the way. Most importantly, it represents your commitment to reaching this milestone. Throughout your time here, you have exhibited resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. From the early mornings spent studying for the exams to the late nights filled with activities and laughter with friends. Each experience has contributed to the person you are today."
Mr. Fredette went on, "As you prepare to leave this chapter behind and begin right in the next one, there are three qualities I hope you carry with you, qualities that will take you far in life. The first, and what I feel is the most important, is empathy. We live in a world that often feels divided. It's easy to judge, to dismiss, or to assume we understand someone else's story. Empathy asks us to do something different. It asks us to listen. It asks us to seek understanding before judgment. It asks us to recognize that every person we encounter is carrying struggles, hopes, and fears, and experiences that we may never fully see. Empathy allows us to build bridges where others build walls. It allows us to lead with compassion, to strengthen relationships, and to create communities where people feel valued and respected. Whatever future career you pursue, maybe you become a teacher, maybe an engineer, healthcare professional, as some of you are pursuing, a parent, your ability to understand and care for others will matter just as much as any skill you acquire.
"The second quality is resilience. Life, as you soon discover, if you have not already, is not a straight path, it's not linear. There will be moments of success and celebration, but there will also be setbacks, disappointments, and failures. There will be times when things do not go according to plan. But resilience is not about avoiding failure, it's about refusing to let failure define you. It's the ability to stand back when life knocks you down. It's the courage to continue moving forward when the destination seems uncertain."
The third quality, he said, "is humility. In a world that often encounters self-promotion, humility can sometimes be mistaken for weakness. In reality, humility is one of the greatest strengths a person can possess. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. It's recognizing that no matter how much you know, there is always more to learn. It's understanding that success is rarely achieved alone. It's appreciating the people who helped you along the way today, and acknowledging that every accomplishment is built upon the support and sacrifice of others, as you achieve your goals and pursue your dreams, stay grounded, continue to ask questions, continue to learn, continue to listen, treat every person with dignity and respect, regardless of their title, position, or background, true greatness is not measured by how many people know your name. It's measured by the impact you have on others and by the character you demonstrate when no one is watching."
Following his remarks, Mr. Fredette introduced graduation senior and class valedictorian Holly Harris to play "Over the Rainbow" on the clarinet.
Superintendent Charlotte King then came forward to speak. "This is about much more than earning a diploma, it is the culmination of years of hard work, determination, growth, and perseverance," she said. "Each of you has taken a unique path to arrive at this moment. Some of those paths were straightforward, others included unexpected challenges, setbacks, and obstacles. Yet, despite those challenges, you are here today. You made it. As I look at this graduating class, I'm reminded that success is rarely about perfection. Success is about showing up when things are difficult, it's about learning from mistakes, adapting when circumstances change, and continuing forward even when the next step is not entirely clear, there's something else that makes this class special: its size. A small graduating class has one advantage that many larger schools can't offer: no one is anonymous." Ms. King spoke of the way that people in a small community know and care about each other, because they develop deep connections with each other.
"What stands out to me is not any single accomplishment," she went on. "It's the character of this class. It's the way you've shown up for one another, and the way you persevere. You've seen what happens when people show up for one another. When one person succeeds, the community celebrates. When someone faces a challenge, others step forward to help. The world is much bigger than this town. Explore it with confidence and curiosity, challenge yourselves, take risks, learn new things, and continue to grow. But wherever life takes you, carry with you the values you've been nurtured here, the belief that people deserve kindness and respect, and that we all have a responsibility to contribute something positive to the places where we live and work. Your character will be remembered longer than your accomplishments."
Vice Chair of the School Committee David Iannaccone came forward to underscore the well-wishes and thanks that previous speakers had made. Gale LaFortune then came forward to name the recipients of the 2026 John LaFortune Scholarships: Seamus Solomon and Randi Murphy.
Class Advisor Stephanie Rondeau offered a collection of "advice that you can take with you when you leave this building," including remembering to wear sunscreen, learning how to tie a necktie (gender regardless), and other tidbits. She ended with, "Wherever life takes you, be the person that makes things better when you arrive, not the person who makes things better when you leave. As you leave high school behind, remember that your legacy will not be defined solely by what you achieve, but by how you treat others."
Finally, class valedictorian Holly Harris was introduced by Ms. Rondeau, who said, "Holly was recognized as the class valedictorian with the highest GPA in the class of 4.6. Holly has served as the National Honor Society president this past year, and is a three-season athlete. Holly participated in our dual enrollment program as both a junior and a senior, and will be graduating from Murdock High School with 43 college credits. She will be continuing her academic career this fall, attending Bridgewater State University to study communication sciences and disorders."
Ms. Harris came forward to speak, beginning, "From world history quizzes to learning how to read the room with Mr. Collins, we've survived it all. Good afternoon, teachers, family, faculty, honored guests, and of course the Class of 202. I am Holly Harris, and it is my honor to stand before you all as valedictorian. I know most of you expect this from me, especially if you knew me my sophomore year. I'm not afraid to admit it. I was a nerd, honestly. I guess I still am. Back then, I would always put my work first. I would be the first person to tell someone to lock in while they're having any conversation. Looking back, I realized I should have just enjoyed laughing with my friends, but before high school and during my freshman year I was homeschooled. That definitely explains why I'm so weird. I hated it. I hated being homeschooled. I would spend my time doing anything but work. Most of my time was spent on Pinterest and not on Algebra One. Sorry, Mom and Dad.
It wasn't that I wasn't smart enough, I just had no motivation. When I got to Murdock my sophomore year, my parents proposed a deal: if I played a sport and kept my grades up, I can go back to public school. That became my motivation. As I look across the room, I see parents with a tear in their eye. My mom, of course, is bawling her eyes out. I see teachers with proud smiles and shocked faces that we got our service hours done in time, and I see you definitely placing bets on who will fall on their face--I'm kidding. Make sure your shoes are tied, guys. I'm so proud of all of us. You have all come so far since the first day we walked through that door. In basketball, my dad, or as he introduced himself to our team last year, Coach Trey, Holly's dad, would always tell me to leave it all on the court, which I never knew what it meant until it was almost over. For those who need explanation, as did I, it means to put your all into the game. This will not guarantee you a win or the title of MVP, but it will guarantee you did absolutely everything to play the best game you could. As Mr. Collins is constantly saying, we played to what?"
The room chorused back to her, "to win!"
Ms. Harris described some of the changes and challenges they had all lived through, from classes in the Cornerstone Church basement while the boiler was fixed to the departure of beloved teachers. "I urge you to leave the comfort of familiarity behind, so you can discover possibilities you have never even thought of," she said. "I hope to receive texts from all of you in a few years on how you have been put on the right track to achieve your dreams. Each and every one of you deserve it. When I was in the sixth grade, I wrote myself a letter. In my letter, I asked about those I cared about, my old friends, my brother, and music. I sadly don't talk to those friends anymore, but I miss them dearly. Yes, Quade is still annoying, but I love him. And yes, you still love music. I hope little me would be proud of how far she has come, and I hope your younger selves are too.
"I hope that years from now you will reminisce and be proud of yourselves, not because high school is perfect, but because you made mistakes. Mistakes help you grow. They make you stronger every single day. They help you know that you are always strong enough to keep going despite every single hurdle you have to jump. We aren't leaving high school as perfect people. We are leaving better than we started. So be kind, stand tall and be true to yourself. Let's leave it on the court. Congratulations, Class of 2026."
Following this, each senior was called to the stage by Ms. Rondeau to shake hands with Ms. Barry-Ayres, receive their diploma from Mr. Fredette and smile for a quick photo, and shake hands with Ms. Garcia, Supt. King and Mr. Iannaccone.
When all graduates were back in their seats, Mr. Fredette came forward to make it official, saying, "This diploma certifies that these students have completed all necessary coursework as outlined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the town of Winchendon. I hereby proclaim them as graduates of Murdock High School, on the 7th day of June, in the year 2026."
Ms. Brown returned to the lectern to cue her classmates, "graduates, you may turn your tassels." Every graduate switched their mortarboard tassel from the right side to the left, amid a shower of confetti from confetti cannons that popped around the gymnasium. The graduates then processed out to their chosen Class Song, "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac.
Class of 2026
Sophia Boisvert
Keira Brady
Colin Britton*
Kyle Brown*
Kylieann Brown* (President of Student Council)
Ava Bussiere*
Jenna Carbonella*
Jacob Case
Devin Casson
Gerlyn Celiz
Shannon Connolly
Kayce Cote
Yaleris Crespi Martinez*
Isabella Degalis
Jahzeel Diaz Otero
Tora Estes
Logan Gammel
Michael Gonzalez
Holly Harris* (Student Council Member)
Olivia Hutchings*
Paige Irons
Ashley Jean-Francois
Kaiya Jess*
Thomas Lafrennie*
Cambri Langston
Jaime Lepkowski*
Lorelei Lewis
Kevelyn Loughman-Van Why
Danny Lynch
Leah Maguy
Bailee McKinnon* (Vice President of Student Council)
Romeo Medeiros*
Deaven Merritt
Jace Morales
Randi Murphy*
Autumn Oyola
Michael Gonzalez
Abigail Paton
Colton Pearson* (Student Council member)
Aden Pimentel*
Ava Prouty
Audrina Putnam*
Alex Rodriguez
Hannah Scott
Mason Sledzik
Shamus Solomon*
Madilyn Stewart*
Gannon Sweeney
Jordan Tatro
Clayton Tenney*
Jack Varca
Kiana Walsh
Matthew Wester
Levi Woertz
* = student maintained at least a 3.0 GPA
Student Honorees, School Administration and School Committee
Valedictorian
Holly Harris
Salutatorian
Aden Pimentel
Class Officers
Kylieann Brown, President
Clayton Tenney, Vice President
Bailee McKinnon, Treasurer
Colton Pearson, Historian
National Honor Society
Kylieanne Brown
Holly Harris, President
Dual Enrollment
Robinson-Broadhurst
Worcester State University and
Mount Wachusett Community College
Colin Britton
Kyle Brown
Kylieann Brown
Ava Bussiere
Michael Gonzalez
Shannon Connolly
Tora Estes
Holly Harris
Olivia Hutchings
Paige Irons
Thomas Lafrennie
Jaime Lepkowski
Leah Maguy
Bailee McKinnon
Randi Murphy
Colton Pearson
Aden Pimentel
Audrina Putnam
Shamus Solomon
Clayton Tenney
Levi Woertz
Community Service Recognition
Kylieann Brown
Olivia Hutchings
Holly Harris
Bailee McKinnon
Michael Gonzalez
Superintendent
Charlotte King
Assistant Superintendent
Stephanie Kimber-Cayer
Principal
David Fredette
Assistant Principal
Kristie Barry-Ayres
Class Advisor
Stephanie Rondeau
Director of Special Education
Kelsey Garcia
School Committee
Mike Barbaro, Chair
Alissa Campbell
David Iannaccone, Vice-Chair
Yvonne Senecal
Greg Vine
Scholarships Awarded at Class Day and Alumni Banquet
Anthony J. LaPointe Scholarship (Lions Club)
Shannon Connolly
Kaiya Jess
Randi Murphy
Shamus Solomon
Carter Veilleux Memorial Scholarship
Bailee McKinnon
Clayton Tenney
Catherine A. Desmarais Scholarship
Bailee McKinnon
Christopher Shaw Scholarship
Shannon Connolly
Courtney Butcher Adversity Award
Kyle Brown
Dr. John E. Harrington Healthcare Scholarship
Abigail Paton
Elliott S. & Hattie M. Tucker Scholarship
Kylieann Brown
Holly Harris
Bailee McKinnon
Aden Pimentel
Audrina Putnam
Madilyn Stewart
Clayton Tenney
Ernest & Pauline Trombly Memorial Scholarship
Shamus Solomon
Eugene M. Connor Post 193
Bailee McKinnon
Shamus Solomon
Clayton Tenney
F. Leo & Irene D. Murray Scholarship
Sophia Boisvert
Kyle Brown
Kylieann Brown
Jenna Carbonello
Yaleris Crespi-Martinez
Kaiya Jess
Lorelei Lewis
Kevelyn Loughman-Van Why
Madilyn Stewart
Fred & Cora Gendron Scholarship
Sophia Boisvert
Kyle Brown
Kylieann Brown
Jenna Carbonella
Yaleris Crespi-Martinez
Kaiya Jess
Lorelei Lewis
Kevelyn Loughman-VanWhy
Madilyn Stewart
Harold Paul Memorial Scholarship
Shannon Connolly
Jan Keck Memorial Scholarship
Shannon Connolly
Mary Ellsworth Memorial Scholarship
Kyle Brown
Kylieann Brown
Mr. A Memorial Scholarship
Bailee McKinnon
Morlock Family Trust Scholarship
Autumn Oyola
Murdock Alumni Association
Kylieann Brown
Ava Bussiere
Shannon Connolly
Holly Harris
Olivia Hutchings
Bailee McKinnon
Aden Pimentel
Audrina Putnam
Madilyn Stewart
Clayton Tenney
Nickolas Roy & Scott Laverdure Scholarship
Ava Bussiere
Shannon Connolly
Aden Pimentel
Peter Ashley & Jim Bevilaqua Memorial Scholarship
Clayton Tenney
Rick Paul Scholarship
Shamus Solomon
Ronald L. Lavigne, Sr., Scholarship
Shamus Solomon
Taylor Barrows Achievement
Holly Harris
Bailee McKinnon
Walt Grace Scholarship
Clayton Tenney
Winchendon Firefighters Relief Association
Shannon Connolly
Shamus Solomon
Winchendon Police Foundation Scholarship
Bailee McKinnon
Clayton Tenney
Winchendon Teachers Association
Thomas Lafrennie
Bailee McKinnon
Randi Murphy
Clayton Tenney
Watch the Murdock Graduation Ceremonies on YouTube!
(Processional begins at 17:30 on the video)
MWCC Foundation Receives $37,000 from Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation to Support Winchendon Students
GARDNER, MA - June 16, 2026 - The Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation has received two grants totaling $37,000 from the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation, Inc., to expand educational opportunities and support student success for residents of Winchendon.
The funding includes a $22,000 grant for the College Success Academy, a partnership between Mount Wachusett Community College and Murdock High School that helps students prepare for college and careers through college readiness workshops, dual enrollment opportunities, financial aid guidance, career exploration activities, and campus visits. The grant will support another year of programming designed to help Murdock High School students successfully transition to higher education and careers after graduation.
In addition, the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation awarded $15,000 to the Winchendon Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to Winchendon residents attending MWCC. Scholarship funds help students address unmet educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, transportation, childcare, and other costs that can create barriers to college completion.
The two initiatives work hand-in-hand to create a pathway from high school to college success. According to a recent program report, 71 percent of students who received support from the Winchendon Scholarship Fund were graduates of the College Success Academy, demonstrating the impact of sustained investment in students from high school through college enrollment and persistence.
"We are deeply grateful to the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation for its continued commitment to the students and families of Winchendon," said Carla Zottoli, Executive Director of the MWCC Foundation. "These grants not only help students prepare for college but also provide critical financial support once they arrive. Together, they create opportunities that can change lives and strengthen the future of the community."
The College Success Academy was established to address persistent barriers that prevent students from pursuing higher education. Through a collaboration among MWCC staff, Murdock High School administrators, counselors, and teachers, students receive guidance on college admissions, financial aid, career planning, and academic preparation. The program also offers opportunities to earn college credit through dual enrollment courses and participate in campus visits and college fairs.
The need for financial support remains significant even with recent state initiatives that have expanded access to free community college. According to MWCC data, 74 percent of Winchendon students enrolled at the college over the past two academic years had unmet financial need exceeding $2,000, underscoring the importance of scholarship assistance for student retention and completion.
"These two grants are working very well together to encourage more Murdock High School students to pursue a college degree," said Zottoli. "Many students who once viewed higher education as out of reach are now enrolling at MWCC and building successful futures for themselves and their families."
Together, the grants reflect the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation's longstanding commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and strengthening the Winchendon community.
For more information about supporting student success initiatives at MWCC, visit www.mwcc.edu/giving.
