Posts published in “Profiles”

(Archive December 2011) Student Profile: Carly Gagne – SGA Member

By editorialteam on August 21, 2024

By Nicole Hilerio | Observer Contributor

Photo by Ericka Pultorak

Always greeting everyone with a smile and sharing a word of encouragement, Carly Gagne, a Health Major at Mount Wachusett Community College, is a delightful member of the Student Government Association (SGA).

When originally approached with the idea of becoming a part of the SGA, she was slightly uneasy about taking on unknowing tasks. Now, in her third semester as a member, she has gotten the hang of it, seeing it as a part of her college experience.

As an active member, she became more aware of what is going on around campus; she knows the annual events and so she is able to schedule around them and make time to help organize the events. Knowing ahead of time what is going on makes the time easier; a few things are mandatory but mostly its volunteer work that is encouraged and enforced by the members. read more

(Archive December 2011) Club Review: Active Minds

By editorialteam on August 21, 2024

By Benjamin Allen | Observer Contributor

Active Minds, a new club at MWCC, has been created to raise awareness of mental health in students. The goal of this club is to inform students of healthy ways to deal with stress.

Another goal of Active Minds is to remove the stigma or negative attitudes and beliefs associated with mental health issues and to encourage students to seek help as soon as problems arise. The main focus is on mental health not mental illness.

According to Michelle Brennan, the president of the club, many students drop classes due to stress and mental health issues. She said, “Active minds will offer the tools to navigate through the stressful periods.” read more

(Archive December 2011) Professor Profile: Welcome Molly Jarvi

By editorialteam on August 21, 2024

By Christopher Kyprianos | Observer Contributor

Molly Jarvi and Bruin
Photo by C. Kyprianos

Molly K. Jarvi will be joining the Mount Wachusett Community College family in the spring of 2012 as an adjunct Professor and will be based at the Leominster satellite campus. She brings with her a strong desire to serve the academic community, a robust educational background, and a hardy dose or real-world experience.

She received her MBA in Management from Fitchburg State College 2009 after having received her BA in Communication Studies from Bridgewater State College in 2006. Subsequently, Jarvi accepted an AR specialist position with SimplexGrinnell, based in Westminster, Mass. Since that time, she has made several progressive moves within the company and in April 2010, progressed into a Senior Sourcing Specialist position. read more

(Archive November 15, 2011) Who Keeps MWCC Clean?

By editorialteam on August 20, 2024

By Christopher Kyprianos | Observer Contributor

Eleanor Gauthier (left) and Chelsea Coppenrath (right) keeping the doors clean.
Photo by Christopher Kyprianos

First impressions count. Everyday those who walk through the doors at Mount Wachusett Community College immediately notice how nice, clean, fresh and orderly everything is, especially when it comes to the first floor of the main building. The reason behind this is because of two very special women who take to heart the services they provide MWCC. Their faces are familiar to most everyone who attends or works at the college, but few know their stories. read more

(Archive November 1, 2011) Members of Math Club Tutor Fellow Students

By editorialteam on August 10, 2024

By Luiz Arduini | Observer Contributor

Raising awareness of mathematics on campus is the Math Club’s main purpose. “We want to show students that math is not as bad as it seems”, said Alan Gogue, President of the Math Club. According to Gogue, when students face the reality that math is a subject they must grasp, understand, and not avoid, they are more apt to learn. That is when students can then take advantage of the Math Club community service tutoring.

The Math Club meets in room 349, between 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Mondays to help students with their homework. “It’s an hour of my day dedicated solely to math”, said Carly Cagne, a student who has been attending every tutoring session. “It’s a time and place that gives me the motivation and discipline to just do the work. Usually students from your own class will be helping you out, which, when you mess up a lot, is a lot less intimidating than a professor.” read more

(Archive November 1, 2011) United Way Youth Venture Gets Kids to Help Communities

By editorialteam on August 10, 2024

By Marie I. MacDonald | Observer Contributor

On October 20, over 500 young people from across Massachusetts descended on The Mount to participate in the United Way Youth Venture (UWYV) program of North Central Massachusetts. Aptly titled “Dream It. Do It,” UWYV works with 23 partner sites including 18 area schools and additional community organizations to encourage young people to initiate and create positive lasting change in their communities.

Co-sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Humanity at MWCC, Ashoka’s Youth Venture, and the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, this annual event gathers young people from across the Commonwealth and works to inspire them to come up with original ideas and awards each approved team up to $1,000 in seed funding to launch their project within their community. read more

(Archive November 1, 2011) Alpha Beta Gamma is a Bunch of “Go-Getters”

By editorialteam on August 10, 2024

By Christopher Kyprianos | Observer Contributor

James “Kevin” Finch
Photo by Christoper Kyprianos

James “Kevin” Finch wears many hats, which now includes being the President of the Alpha Beta Gamma Honors Society at MWCC. Finch’s goal for the 2011/2012 scholastic year is to guide the club’s community service and fundraising efforts while focusing their main attention on this year’s two elected charitable organizations, the House of Peace & Education in Gardner and National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS) in Princeton.

“We are a community service oriented group. Our membership is full of Go-Getters!” Finch said. read more

(Archive November 1, 2011) Help Desk Helps Students to Connect

By editorialteam on August 10, 2024

By Marie I. MacDonald | Observer Conributor

Luis Rivera
Photo by Matthew Cohen

MWCC – Are you having trouble with your laptop? Can’t figure out how to connect to the WIFI system at school? Trouble logging in to iConnect from home? Who should you call? You should call or visit the Help Desk, located on the lower level of LaChance Library.

On a recent visit to the Help Desk, I needed help working with my laptop at the school. I couldn’t seem to figure out why the WIFI was not connecting. I dropped in to visit the Help Desk and was greeted by Luis Rivera, a Help Desk Specialist. He helped me figure out the best way to use WIFI. When asked why we don’t log in to the system individually, Mr. Rivera explained that a new, simpler WIFI system was implemented over the past summer. A new Guest Network was added to make it easy for students to connect. Most computers have the ability to automatically detect a WIFI signal and implementing a new, easy to connect to system was important to the college. read more

(Archive November 1, 2011) A to B and Beyond Saves Students Money

By editorialteam on August 10, 2024

By Benjamin Allen | Observer Contributor

Rivera Limari
Photo by Matthew Cohen

Business students at Mount MWCC can save money on their bachelor’s degrees by enrolling in a program called the A to B and Beyond with Nichols College. Nora LuQuer, the liaison between Nichols College and MWCC, said, “in today’s turbulent economic climate, the A to B program provides a clear pathway to an associate’s/bachelor’s degree with three-quarters of the costs…’”

LuQuer said participants can complete their first three years at MWCC and finish their senior year in Nichols’ evening and online programs. Courses are offered by Nichols’ professors at the MWCC Devens campus, Quinsigamond Community College, and Nichols College. Students also have the option of full day classes and living on campus. Sixty-nine students are currently enrolled in the program and eleven students have already graduated. read more

(Archive October 18, 2011) Faculty Profile: Lisa Williams

By editorialteam on August 6, 2024

By Brienna Lahti | Observer Contributor

Lisa Williams
Photo by Cheyne Ordonio

Lisa Williams, Assistant Director of Strategic Enrollment here at Mount Wachusett Community College, dreams of one day opening and running an art gallery or a cultural development center. Williams is currently enrolled at UMass Amherst for a degree in art management.

“Do what you love” is the advice she would give to students who are just starting out in education and careers. This is also the advice she seems to be following. Williams has held a variety of titles at the college over the past twenty years but insists that they are all just jobs, something to help provide for her family, rather than a career. She enjoys getting to work with the students while she is here, but she still considers it just a job. read more