Student Chosen as Christa McAuliffe Scholar Names QCC Professor As the Reason for her Success

WORCESTER – Quinsigamond Community College Professor Mary Newman was honored at a reception for former QCC student and Westborough native, Carolyn McGrath, who was named a Christa McAuliffe Scholar at Framingham State College.

From 2003-2005, Carolyn McGrath was a student at Quinsigamond Community College, where she first met Professor Newman as an Applied Arts major. Upon graduation, she transferred to Framingham State College (FSC) to continue on to her Bachelor’s Degree. Due to her high academic credentials and achievement in other non-academic areas, McGrath was recently named a Christa McAuliffe Scholar for the academic year 2006-2007, for which she won a $1,000 scholarship.  As part of her application for the award, McGrath had to write an essay describing a teacher, at any level of her education, who had a major influence on her life.  McGrath chose QCC Professor Mary Newman.

“I was 31 and returning to college at QCC, so it was a tough first semester. But because of Professor Newman, for the first time in my life I loved school,” McGrath stated.  “She was my teacher for just two years, but she will be my friend and inspiration forever. It’s because of her that I will become a teacher myself.”

The Christa McAuliffe-Challenger Center for Education and Teaching Excellence on the FSC campus held an awards ceremony, at which Professor Mary Newman was also honored.  Newman is now listed on the “Christa Teachers” honor roll at the Christa McAuliffe-Challenger Center.

“It was a great honor while I stood next to Christa McAuliffe’s mother and Carolyn while she read her winning essay,” Newman added.