Future Focus
The Future Focus program had a great year providing enriching experiences for students who recently completed adult basic education programs. On April 26, the program held its first field trip to Worcester State University. The visit was well-attended, allowing students to explore their transfer options and get inspired about their future academic goals.
Additionally, the annual End-of-Year Ceremony took place on Thursday, May 3, with over 25 students and three professors in attendance. The ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of those completing the program and acknowledged the hard work of students who finished their first semester. The atmosphere was filled with pride and encouragement as students, faculty and staff looked back on the milestones they achieved.
For more information on the Future Focus program contact Gilmarie Vongphakdy at gvongphakdy@qcc.mass.edu.
New Honor Society - Alpha Beta Gamma
QCC's held it's first induction ceremony for the new Alpha Chi Chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma (ABG) on May 16. ABG is the national honor society for business students at two-year colleges and this is the first year as an official honor society at QCC. Inductees and their guests enjoyed a celebratory lunch following a moving ceremony.
Dean of the School of Business, Engineering, & Technology Shunda Ware, Professor of Business Administration (and ABG's advisor) Jean McLean, and all the business faculty members expressed pride for the founding members of QCC's new ABG chapter. They have all demonstrated exceptional scholarship, leadership and cooperation. Some have volunteered at the college, some in their communities, and several with the VITA program under the leadership of Assistant Professor of Accounting Eduardo Rivas.
Healthcare Pinning Ceremonies
The end of the year for healthcare programs means pinning ceremonies as a celebration and right of passage for QCC healthcare students. Many students have already passed their licensure exams and secured employment. Recent pinnings included:
- Dental Hygiene- 17 students
- Emergency Medical- 8 students
- Nurse Education - 22 students
- Rad Tech- 16 students
- Respiratory Care- 7 students
- Surgical Technology - 9 students
Gateway to College Graduation
Gateway to College honored their 22 graduates last month with a ceremony that brought students, educators, staff, family and friends together for a heartfelt celebration. QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja, Dean for College & Career Pathways Carol King and Uxbridge High School Principal Dr. Michael Rubin all gave encouraging words to the graduates, who earned their high school diploma while gaining college credits.
Graduate Kyree Casey-Wright spoke to the audience about their lifelong struggle with school, especially after the loss of their biological father and struggling with identity and poor self-image. These struggles made them want to quit but they persevered thanks to support from family, friends and QCC staff and faculty.
"I had a group of people right behind me, reminding me how much I can accomplish, how important I actually am and how diligent I can be. After hearing about the Gateway to College program and being accepting, I was given back my hope and eventually my spark," said Kyree.
Other student speakers included Miranda Luz, Adrian Ramos and JuliAna Velasquez. Many thanks were given to Dean King, Administrative Assistant I -College & Career Pathways Deb Fratturelli and Program Specialist - Gateway to College & Onsite Dual Enrollment Glenda Rodriguez.