Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Profiles”

Katy Houghton

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

Maybe She’s Born with It, Maybe It’s Neighbelline

By Lindsay Mahoney | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Katy Houghton

“I love getting lost in my little fantasy worlds, I just start writing, and I melt away. I just feel like this is my home,” said Katy Houghton, a first-year student in the Professional Writing track at the Mount. Like many students, Houghton juggles work, school, and her personal life. A typical week for her includes working a physically demanding overnight shift at an Amazon warehouse from 1:30 am to 9:00 am. Afterward, she attends school in the afternoon, completes her homework, and repeats the cycle for the entire week. read more

Martha Morris

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

History Professor and World Traveler

By Amal Elkhoury | Observer Contributor

Martha Morris, an adjunct history professor at Mount Wachusett Community College and Berkshire Community College, is currently teaching three history courses across both institutions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Geography from the University of Washington and earned an MSc and an MPhil in Economic History from the London School of Economics (LSE). “LSE was my first choice for graduate school because I wanted to focus on the British industrial revolution and the earlier period of import substitution,” said Morris. read more

Supporting Every Student

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

Senior Mental Health Counselor Leeanne Hadsel’s Commitment to Student Wellness

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Leeanne Hadsel stepped into the role of mental health counselor at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) in the fall semester of last year, following a vacancy left by the previous counselor’s departure in the spring semester. With over a decade of experience in behavioral health and a background in trauma-informed care, Hadsel brings not only a wealth of knowledge in her field but also a special connection to the Mount, considering it an integral part of her personal success. Having taken classes at MWCC in the past to complete her remaining credits after experiencing difficulty at a traditional 4-year school, Hadsel stated,“The Mount provided the very-needed second chance to believe in myself and my desire to be educated. It was such a privilege that opened up a lot of doors for me. So I’m excited to become a member of the community again and work with students that have faced adversity and are trying to educate themselves and better their lives.” read more

Your Head’s in the Game

By editorialteam on February 23, 2024

Princess Yeboah’s Success

By Jordan Chila | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Princess Yeboah

Princess Yeboah arrived at the Mount in the fall semester of 2023 with the tough decision to make about whether she wanted to pursue a creative future in writing or a clinical career in nursing. Yeboah grew up in Baldwinsville and attended Monty Tech in Westminster for high school. Yeboah, a basketball enthusiast and person of faith, made her family very proud when she graduated in the spring of 2023. Initially, she had a strong desire to join their health technologies program; however, Yeboah ultimately ended up taking business technology. read more

Profile: Julian Anderson

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

The “Parking Lot Selfie Guy”

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Photos courtesy of Julian Anderson, collage by Elysian Alder

Julian Anderson is the 20 year old Media Arts and Technology (Audio Concentration) major who took the Mount’s new Student Feed app by storm when he decided to kick off the semester by posting a selfie of himself sitting on the trunk of his car. The caption? ‘Parking Lot Selfie, Day 2.’ 

“I knew at first people might approach me, asking me if I was the guy who posted selfies in the parking lot, but I wasn’t that nervous,” said Anderson. “It was more for me than it was for anyone who liked following along with my selfie journey.” read more

Santa’s Secrets

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

An Exclusive Interview with Santino ‘Santa’ Claus

By Desiree Leader | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Santa “Santino” Claus

In an exclusive interview on November 27th, Santa Claus himself took time out of his busy schedule to speak with a reporter from the Observer. This is what he had to say:

Q: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I’ve always been a huge Santa fan. How did you come to be in this position?

Well, it’s a family job. A lot of people don’t understand that, but Santa was my father, my grandfather, and my great grandfather. It goes back to the 1500’s, [and] I will pass it on to my son at some point when I’m too old to be Santa. read more

Beyond Critique

By editorialteam on December 27, 2023

Director of Assessments Amanda Henrichs’ Mission to Cultivate Joyful Learning 

By Katie Holgerson | Assistant Editor

Photo courtesy of Amanda Henrichs

Amanda Henrichs has been the Director of Assessments at the Mount for about 2 years and uses they/them pronouns. Originally from Oregon, Henrichs reflected on how different their life was in the Beaver State, mentioning that they were “milking goats and making porridge.” They explained the geographical distinctions between Oregon and Massachusetts, noting that Oregon experiences more rainfall and is “always gray,” with mountains for skiing and even a desert known as the High Desert on the other side. Henrichs recommends visiting Crater Lake, describing it as “incredible, it’s an old volcano that is filled in.”  read more

Profile: Puneet Kumar

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

A Journey of Determination from India to the USA

By Kent Yang | Observer Staff Writer

Within the diverse cultures of Mount Wachusett Community College is Puneet Kumar, a 19-year-old biology major. One year ago, when he was just 18 years old, Kumar left his home in Punjab, India and started his journey to America, bringing with him not just his cherished cultural heritage but also his profound determination to achieve his dreams of becoming a doctor, more specifically: a neurosurgeon. Kumar has always wanted to be a doctor, explaining that his reasons were “ … not just for a good standard or passion but also for love and better understanding for the people I treat. I chose neuroscience because the brain has the most complex structures which runs the whole body … I just wanted to learn the complexities of the brain and spinal cord to fulfill my dream.” read more

Profile: Arlo Caisse

By editorialteam on November 19, 2023

Gateway Student Talks ‘Opportunity’ and Community at the Mount

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Arlo Caisse has been one of Mount Wachusett Community College’s many dual enrollment students since they started the Gateway to College program in the fall of 2022, when they were just 16 years old. “I was homeschooled my whole life up until I started here at MWCC as a Gateway student,” said Caisse. Both Caisse and their sister are first-generation college students, and their sister is a former Gateway student herself. “My sister was the biggest reason I chose to go to college. I wanted to learn, and I needed to learn some important things…things I could have learned at home, but my sister encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.” read more

Profile: Khygann Hobbs

By editorialteam on October 18, 2023

Student, Writer, Self-Advocate, Lover of Halloween

By Desiree Leader | Observer Contributor

Khygann Hobbs, a 23-year-old student from Holden, Massachusetts, studies professional writing at Mount Wachusett Community College. With an interest in creative writing, especially the horror genre, there are many things that set Hobbs apart from the average student—not the least of which is her candor regarding her journey with autism. Hobbs relays how neurodiversity need not hinder you from following your dreams and is a living example of what can be achieved with an incredible attitude, a supportive family, and a lot of hard work. read more