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Posts published in “Slider”

It’s Official: The MWCC Devens Campus is Closed

By editorialteam on May 16, 2024

But Wait, There’s More…

by Kevin Hayes | Observer Contributor

Photo by Kevin Hayes

They say ‘Time Flies.’ It seems like only yesterday that MWCC closed its Devens campus. According to an April 25, 2023 memo issued by James Vander Hooven, President of MWCC, the closure coincided with the end of MWCC’s lease at the Devens location at the end of 2022, which the college chose not to renew. Vander Hooven was unavailable for comment; however, Sandra Quaye, vice president of Finance and Administration, confirmed the closure’s official status when questioned on Friday, April 19, 2024. read more

Profile: Lorie Donahue

By editorialteam on May 16, 2024

A Mentor and Friend to Many

by Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Lorie Donahue

Lorie Donahue, a retiring English Professor at Mount Wachusett Community College, has been teaching at MWCC since 1989. Although she got her master’s degree from Boston College, her educational journey actually began right here at the Mount.

One colleague, Professor Michelle Valois has worked alongside Donahue for 22 years. Valois mentioned that with her history of the school as both a student and a professor, Donahue “holds an abundance of institutional knowledge” that goes beyond her subject matter. “She has a lot to share with her students,” she said. read more

Profile: Jordan Chila

By editorialteam on May 16, 2024

A Lifelong Journey

by Princess Yeboah | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Jordan Chila

Jordan Chila, a hardworking, independent, headstrong mom and student, grew up in the bustling town of Boylston, Massachusetts. Chila has ambitions to be a writer one day, and this passion graces her with endurance as she tackles her studies at MWCC, studies that challenge her to improve her writing skills. She has had a lot of support when it comes to her academic success, including support from her fiancé whom she met in elementary school; the pair got engaged in fall of 2020. Chila’s mother is another important supporter of hers, having not only supported her with schooling, but also being her backbone as she navigated motherhood. read more

Creatures of Earth

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Celebrating Earth Day with Student Photos of Wildlife

Photos by Gary Brayboy

Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Mexican Water Lilies (Nymphaea mexicana)
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Candy-Striped Leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea)

Photos by Kent Yang

Jaguar (Panthera onca)
The eye of a Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)
Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Tufted Globetail (Sphaerophoria contigua)

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Aging HVAC System Disrupts Budget as Well as Student Focus

By Kevin Hayes | Observer Contributor

Photo by Tom Hill Jr.

With an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that has sections more than fifty years old, facilities management and students are both quick to acknowledge the daily in-classroom consequences that the current HVAC infrastructure at the Mount presents. In terms of dollars, the financial implications could be staggering. However, there is also a cost for students, inhibiting their potential ability to focus in the classroom, which could put pressure on the college to move sooner rather than later. read more

PFAS Pollution

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Forever Chemicals Threaten Westminster

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

In February of 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) found that private drinking water wells in homes along Bean Porridge Hill Road in Westminster had PFAS levels 50 times what state regulations consider safe to drink. “PFAS have been found in at least 169 public water systems in 95 cities and towns, and most of them have exceeded the state’s legal limit,” explained Madison Latiolais, a community organizer working for Community Action Works, an environmental nonprofit based in Boston that provides training and resources to communities and individuals with environmental concerns. “Westminster has some of the highest levels of PFAS in Massachusetts,” she added. The contamination concerns in Westminster prompt the question: How does Mount Wachusett Community College address water safety? read more

From Pain to Page

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Profile: Alessandro DiVito

By Kevin Hayes | Observer Contributor

Photo by Kevin Hayes

Alessandro DiVito, a 20-year-old student at MWCC majoring in English with a concentration in professional writing, shows promising talent as a writer. DiVito, who works as a youth mentor over the summer, is already well on his way, having three books currently in progress. Centered on sci-fi and time travel, their titles are: The Adventures of Jerry Rodger, Tyrone’s Multiversal Adventures and Mabel’s Uncharted Adventures.

But DiVito didn’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I think I’ll be a writer or mentor young people someday.’ His passion stemmed from his experiences with adversity. DiVito persevered through childhood bullying and a horrific stalking-like encounter with an older student when he was in the seventh grade, DiVito was in search of some way to deal with this trauma. Fortunately for DiVito, he has a close, supportive family. He also stumbled into a program called Thriveworks, which he found out about through the THRIVE Center at the Mount.  read more

E-Waste Disposal Made Easy

By editorialteam on April 26, 2024

Properly Disposing of Electronics

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Since the early twentieth century, electronic waste has existed alongside technologies such as telephones and radios, which utilized vacuum tubes. However, at the time, there wasn’t much concern for the environment regarding electronic waste. It wasn’t until 1976, when the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) went into effect, that the disposal of e-waste into landfills became illegal. The purpose of the RCRA was to protect the environment and human health from the toxicity and hazards of waste disposal. read more

Faith, Compassion, and Determination

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

The Values of MWCC Student Sabrina Alonso

By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Sabrina Alonso

Sabrina Alonso, a 29-year-old student majoring in human services at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC), is driven by her passion for helping others. “Ever since I was younger, I always naturally had compassion for people,” said Alonso. “I love to make people’s lives easier as much as I can, even if it is something simple like listening to them.”

Originally from Uruguay, South America, Alonso moved to the United States at the age of 7, bringing with her a strong sense of determination and empathy instilled by her mother. “The most influential woman in my life is my mother because 22 years ago, she came to the U.S., leaving her birth land behind to give me a better future,” she shared. “She’s the most influential woman in my life and my best friend.” read more

Need Input!

By editorialteam on March 22, 2024

LaChance Library Prioritizes Student Experiences for Library Services

By Cody Mercarter | Observer Contributor

Photo by Tom Hill Jr.

The LaChance Library is the go-to place for a quiet study spot, with chairs and tables scattered throughout and shelves towering over even the tallest people at MWCC. Students seem to have no say in what books come in or what they need the most. But that is soon changing.

According to Robert Koch, Assistant Dean of the Collaborative Learning Commons, “We’re going to come up with a user experience board at the entry to the library. When you come in, there will be survey questions and opportunities to tell us more about what you need, not just in terms of the books, but in terms of the space and the services.” Koch has only been with MWCC since November of 2021, but he has always tried to put the students first, and this experience board demonstrates that. read more