Posts published in “Profiles”

(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

(Archive March 2018) Professor Donovan’s Donation Experience

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Christine Nelson | Observer Contributor

Imagine getting pricked by a needle and giving the experience a favorable rating. Dan Donovan, a professor in the Computer Science Department, recently participated in the Blood Drive and described the experience as “fabulous.”

Donovan said, “I don’t have obvious veins, so they often really prick me up. Here they are real pros; I like to have a pro doing it.” Donovan has been donating his blood for twenty years.

A senior citizen, Donovan donates to get the excess lead out of his blood and to help someone in need. And it is convenient for him as he lives in Sterling. read more

(Archive March 2018) Mobile Unit Assistant Travis James

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Alexa Nogueira | Observer Contributor

An American Red Cross “Blood-Mobile” mobile blood donation center
Photo courtesy of The American Red Cross

Travis James is a Mobile Unit Assistant who has worked with the Red Cross for seven years, assisting at mobile blood drives. Most of his job consists of handling blood by putting it on ice so that it stays fresh and transporting it to labs so that it can be tested.

On a typical day at the blood drive, James expects to see about 30 people, although that number can fluctuate based on weather conditions or the common fear of needles and donating blood.

When asked what advice to give to people who are afraid to donate, James said, “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.” He suspects that the most common reasons people don’t donate blood are because they’re anemic, afraid of the needle, or afraid of how it will make them feel afterwards. read more

(Archive March 2018) Service Learning Will Sample Sustainable Living in Peru

By editorialteam on February 4, 2025

By Michele Walsky | Assistant Editor

Shelley Errington Nicholson, Mary Remillard, Rachel Vargeletis work in the garden
Photo courtesy of Julie Cronin

Go to college and see the world! It may sound like a pipedream but for those involved in the Cultural Engagement and International Service Club’s expedition to Cusco, Peru, it is reality.

Nine students and one anthropology professor will join Brewer Center Director Shelley Nicholson, and Associate Dean of Students Greg Clement, for a nine day trip in May. Previously soaking up Costa Rica culture twice, a change of scenery and the chance to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World—the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu— were the main reasons for choosing a different destination, the coordinators said. read more