Posts published in “News”

(Archive February 2020) Turning Passion Into a Profession

By editorialteam on April 18, 2025

Veterinary Technology Program Advances Careers in Animal Care

By Nicholas Papini | Assistant Editor

Jessica Pelland
Photo courtesy of Jessica Pelland

The new Veterinary Technology program at MWCC may be highly competitive, but it is constantly developing and significantly better than other local competitors.

Jessica Pelland, a student in her first year of the program, said that at the age of 40 she felt that there was something missing in her life. She said that she asked herself what she might want to do and decided to pursue a career that would allow her to work with animals. The timing of this revelation happened to coincide with the new MWCC program, and she felt that the decision to apply was a no-brainer. read more

(Archive December 2019) Small Gifts are a Big Help

By editorialteam on April 16, 2025

Dobby Sock Drive Collects Donations for Local Women’s Shelter

By Maya Douglas | Observer Contributor

The Dobby Sock Drive will be held December 9^th and 10^th in the Student Center for anyone who wishes to give back as the holiday season approaches. According to Vanessa Roberto, president of the Parent Support Group, who is organizing the event, the socks will be donated to a local women’s shelter. Anyone who donates is eligible to win Harry Potter-themed prizes.

All proceeds will be donated to a local women’s shelter located in Leominster. The program provides housing for recovering addicts and young single mothers. According to Roberto, when she met with some of the women at this shelter, they told her one thing they truly needed was socks. The shelter is very similar to a group home, so items, particularly clothing, frequently go missing or get stolen. read more

(Archive September 2019) A Healthier Tomorrow

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Green Energy Advocates Talk Renewable Energy and Healthy Food

By Eliana Mello | Observer Contributor

Fresh fruit served daily at the MWCC North Cafe.
Photo by Thomas Hill Jr.

MWCC supports the environment through their own green energy facilities, classes, and through partnering with organizations in the community.

Robert LaBonte, Vice Principal of Finance and Administration, said, “It’s important that we show some leadership in initiating green energy on the campus.”

MWCC has been involved in green energy since the 1970s, using electricity rather than oil in order to help with the oil shortage during that time. A biomass facility was constructed next to the gym in order to use a renewable energy source. Wood chips are used to heat the school rather than oil. read more

(Archive September 2019) Break the Silence

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Students and Staff Work Together to Reduce Mental Health Stigma

By Casey Merritt | Observer Contributor

Student Heather Burke, President Vander Hooven, and Professor Sheila Murphy share the goal of helping students find a method to cope with their mental illness.

Burke says her illnesses held her back “from getting involved at the college, hanging out with friends, and going to the library.”

Refusing help from faculty and staff at the college, Burke’s way of coping is through a grounding exercise called The Five Senses.

“I look for five things in five colors, five for each color because it’s more private,” she said. read more

(Archive May 2019) Culture of Personality

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Annual Cultural Festival Celebrates Diversity

By Rachel Fortier | Observer Contributor

Professors Kenneth Takvorian and Lawrence Nfor converse at the Cultural Festival
Photo courtesy of MWCC

Lisa Williams, Assistant Director of Strategic Enrollment and Chair of the Diversity Committee, expressed what she believes is the true definition of diversity leading up to the Cultural Festival.

“A lot of people see diversity as just race,” said Williams. “But it’s not – it’s culture. It’s how you live, people themselves; it embraces so many things.”

This will be the fifth annual Cultural Festival and Williams’ third year running the event. About twenty students pick something they think represents diversity and make a display. The fair is set up in booths like a science fair. read more

(Archive May 2019) Showing Up is Half the Battle

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Senator Brewer Encourages Students to Stay Educated and Involved

By Aisha Schor | Observer Contributor

Massachusetts State Senator Stephen M. Brewer
Photo courtesy of MWCC

A group of students and faculty had the opportunity to meet and chat with Massachusetts Senator Stephen M. Brewer about a variety of topics and current events facing young people today.

Topics discussed ranged from environmental protection programs and habits to the importance of voting, and even why showing up to your 8 a.m. class could benefit you in the future. Though Brewer wanted to get everyone’s perspectives and opinions, he had a strong message to convey to the students in attendance. He kept coming back and reiterating the quote, “The world is run by those who show up.” read more

(Archive May 2019) Are We There Yet?

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Study Abroad Program Expands Education for Students

By Rachel Williams | Observer Contributor

A previous adventure taken by the MWCC Study Abroad Program.
Photo by Greg Clement

Tracy Betts Sarefield, Study Abroad Staff Assistant, said the new study abroad program will provide students and faculty with opportunities to travel and further the curriculum on an international level.

Sarefield explained that one reason for the new program was to give the students easier access to traveling abroad through there studies. The new program is doing its best to give the students what they are asking for to have the best ability to study abroad. read more

President Trump’s Department of Education Downsizing Concerns Students and Faculty

By editorialteam on April 11, 2025

By Princess Yeboah
Assistant Editor

Front facade of the U.S. Department of Education building in Washington D.C.
Photo by Andy Feliciotti from Unsplash

On March 20th, 2025 in office President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on the US Department of Education that will completely shut down federal funding millions of students rely on. According to President Trump his act of signing the executive order is essentially “returning education, very simply, back to the states where it belongs”. In addition to its closure, 50% of DOE staff were placed on administrative leave effective Friday, March 21st. The DOE is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy to administers and coordinating most federal assistance to education. It also assists the President in executing his education policies for the nation and in implementing laws enacted by Congress. At MWCC, where many students rely on aid from programs such as Pell grants and loans, both faculty and students feel upset and fearful about this major change. read more

Have No Fear, Childcare Programs Are Here

By editorialteam on April 11, 2025

By Jordan Chila
Editor-in Chief

The Child Watch Program center on the Gardner campus.
Photo by Tom Hill Jr.

Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) is home to many students, forty-two of which utilize the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) resources according to Ann Reynolds, Coordinator of Student Parent Supports. The campus also has additional supports such as the Child Watch Program to assist student parents while they get an education. While national statistics show that in the US, 7% of household income is used to pay for childcare, Reynolds and the team working at the Family Resource Center at MWCC have added the child watch program and CCAMPIS options and parenting students are taking advantage of them. read more

Automotive Sector Just One of Many That Will be Impacted by Tariffs

By editorialteam on April 11, 2025

By Holden Baird
Observer Contributor

Tariffs have been a major topic of discussion over the last several weeks, from national news reports to kitchen tables around the country. That is unlikely to change as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up this major piece of his economic policy, about which conversation ranges from a revitalization of American industry to the dawn of a new global recession. More recently on April 2, Trump introduced a sweeping expansion to the existing tariffs as part of his “Liberation Day” announcement, imposing elevated tariffs on more than 180 countries and territories. read more