Posts published in “Profiles”

(Archive September 2018) Spin Street Cred Into College Cred in Hip Hop Class

By editorialteam on March 5, 2025

By Maurisa Weld | Observer Contributor

Photos by Maurisa Weld
Ashlaw, student/s dancing

Did you know you can “break, pop and lock” and have it count towards a degree? If you always wanted to bust a move, Street Dance/ Hip-Hop is now offered as an accredited elective with no prior dance experience required.

Choreographer and instructor Brittany Ashlaw has been dancing since she was two years old and has been teaching dance arts for 10 years. Ashlaw said teaching at the college is different than at studios because she can incorporate discussion and dance history into the movement lessons. read more

(Archive September 2018) A New President, A New Precedent

By editorialteam on March 5, 2025

By Ayana Brodeur-Edmonds | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of MWCC
President James L. Vander Hooven

It has been an eventful year for the community since President James L. Vander Hooven took office at MWCC. After a year of changes, President Vander Hooven and the community share their thoughts on where MWCC is now.

When Vander Hooven first looked into MWCC, he says that he was very impressed by the students and faculty. He “loved” the programs offered at MWCC, and said, “It [Working at MWCC] just seemed like a really great opportunity for me.” So far, his time at the college has been enjoyable. Vander Hooven has gotten to explore the community, and get a “deeper understanding” of what goes on here at the Mount. read more

(Archive May 2018) The Science of Finding Your Niche

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

By Alan Wong | Observer Correspondent

Model of a human skeleton found in the science wing.
Photo by Brianna Stevens

You never know where a path will lead you. Biology professor William LeFrancois got into science because he wanted to become a doctor when he was younger. LeFrancois was a pre-med major and tried to get into medical school, but was not selected due to lack of experience. In order to gain experience, he became an instructor. He enjoyed the school scene so much, he decided to stick with teaching instead.

LeFrancois’ favorite part about teaching is interacting with students and helping them understand concepts in their majors. He also thinks helping students is fun and said that he feels better when they understand. read more

(Archive May 2018) Criminal Justice Student Busts a Criminal

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

By Alan Wong | Observer Correspondent

The Gardner Police Headquarters, located on Main Street.
Photo by Brianna Stevens

Criminal Justice major, Nathan Oliva completed a one-semester internship recently at the Gardner Police Department for the opportunity to obtain experience he would not have otherwise gotten from being in the school.He said internships are encouraged for all Criminal Justice majors.

Oliva said, “It’s a terrific way to get into the books [at the station] and there’s a possible chance they might even remember you, which is obviously beneficial.” Oliva participated in this internship because it would be on his resume and he needed something to get his foot in the door. read more

(Archive May 2018) Clear the Hurdle of High School with Dual Enrollment

By editorialteam on February 20, 2025

By Elizabeth Jones | Observer Correspondent

Kaitlyn Fales, leading a meeting of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Photo by Brianna Stevens

When a journey comes to a fork in the road, take both paths.While this may sound physically impossible, it is exactly what high school students, like Kaitlyn Fales, are doing in the dual-enrollment program.

Fales, President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Treasurer of Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society, and a member of the Early College Student Advisory Council, has another title as well: Pathways Student.

Pathways, described as “An early college high school opportunity for motivated high school/home school juniors who would like to get a jump start on college,” is one of three dual enrollment programs along with Gateway and general Dual Enrollment. read more

(Archive April 2018) Local Artist Robert Osborne Shares Life Experience

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Christine Nelson | Observer Contributor

Artist Robert Osborne sits at his desk (where it is)
Photo courtesy of www.robertgosborne.com.

Imagine buying and selling works of art by artists such as Rubens, Degas, Sargent, O’Keefe and Vermeer.

Robert G. Osborne, a local contemporary artist from Athol, did that for 35 years in New York City and recently shared highlights and advice from his career as an art dealer, museum director, and artist.

Osborne showed slides of noteworthy artwork he bought and then later sold.

A smaller Rubens illustration (c. 1632) that mirrored the master’s paintings was sold to University of California, Berkeley. “I was very proud of this one,” Osborne said. read more

(Archive April 2018) Local Author Hosts Body Intelligence Event on Campus

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Elizabeth Jones | Observer Contributor

Dr. Joseph Cardillo Author of Body Intelligence, and inspirational speaker.
Photo courtesy of Siobhan Connally Photography

This semester, there was an event hosted by Joseph Cardillo, PHD held on campus. Cardillo is an author and inspirational speaker. He has been included as an expert in former professional football player Michael Strahan’s book Wake Up Happy.

In his presentation, Cardillo focused on ways to utilize energy on a day to day basis. These include using acupressure points, music, and positive images.

While showing the acupressure points, Cardillo had the audience participate in a demonstration on how to access these acupressure points. Cardillo also shared that his favorite was what he calls the “bubbling well” in the middle of the bottom of the foot. read more

(Archive April 2018) Dogs on Campus are Not Here to Eat Homework

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Michele Walsky | Assistant Editor

Student Michael Young’s service dog, Oscar, looks officially handsome in his vest.
Photo by Michael Young

Do you have a canine classmate? It may seem surprising but according to Amy LaBarge, Coordinator of Disabilities, there are three service dogs registered with students this semester. If you happen to share desk space with man’s best friend, remember, this is not a pet show.

As usual with schools, there are rules. Only service dogs are allowed on campus, as per Jason Zelesky, Dean of Students. Therapy dogs (and emotional support animals) are not permitted. It may be confusing to tell the difference between the two types of certified dogs. read more

(Archive April 2018) Author Tells the Story of Professoinal Female Baseball Player

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Elizabeth Jones | Observer Contributor

Author Martha Ackman at 2005 Women’s History Month Celebration, Book signing of “The Mercury 13”
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Baseball, America’s favorite pastime, has a way of bringing people together. For Martha Ackmann, it connected her to a woman who may have been left by the wayside of history. That woman was Toni Stone.

The life of Toni Stone is the subject of Martha Ackmann’s book Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League which was discussed in a presentation at the Athol Public Library on March 23 supported by the Humanities Project at MWCC. As the title suggests, Ackmann detailed the struggle Stone faced throughout her life and career as an African American woman playing professional baseball. read more

(Archive March 2018) Alumni Combats Video Game Stigmas

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Shayna Rolon | Observer Contributor

Video games, such as the *Call of Duty* games in the stack above, are often used as examples of violent games without substance
Photo by Benjamin Richard

For the longest time, video games have been perceived on the surface as unbeneficial indulgences that promote violence and demote teaching anything moral/valuable. Most people look at popular franchises such as Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros., that center around shooting and fighting and lack story, and assume that all video games are designed the same way.

Nora Gavin, an MWCC alumni who is a video game design major, wants to refute the stigma against video games and prove that they have potential to hold just as much substance as a novel and aren’t always about fighting or battling. read more