WHA Names Quinsigamond Community College Community Partner of the Year

​WORCESTER, MA—August 30, 2018—On August 25, Quinsigamond Community College was honored by the Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) as the Agency’s Community Partner of the Year at the 2018 Great Brook Valley Block Party, held at the Worcester apartment complex. On hand to accept the award was QCC Assistant Vice President for Workforce Readiness and Innovation Kathy Rentsch, QCC Director of Community Bridges Dr. Deborah Gonzalez and QCC Director of College and Career Pathways Carol King.

“We are honored to have been chosen to receive this prestigious award. We recognize that higher education is the pathway to self-sufficiency and have taken a proactive approach to helping those who are historically under-served in our communities,” said QCC President Dr. Luis G. Pedraja. “We are thrilled this partnership with the WHA has been so successful. Learning of the positive changes that residents are making in their lives by utilizing our programs and support services is gratifying.”

For the past two years QCC has worked to help support WHA residents in obtaining their High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), helping them become more proficient through English as Second language (ESOL) classes. In addition, last month the college opened a Community Learning Hub at 35 Freedom Way in Great Brook Valley, where current QCC students can go to study, have access to computers, a Wi-Fi connection and printers. QCC Community Learning Hubs are an initiative by QCC President Dr. Luis G. Pedraja to bring the college to the communities it serves.

“We are very appreciative of QCC’s willingness to partner with us to create a better life for our residents by assisting them in their education and employment goals, thereby enabling them to be self-sufficient,” said WHA Alex Corrales. “We look forward to our continued partnership and our work together to make possible that our residents can obtain a world-class education that will enable them to provide a better life for themselves and their families.”

“Our collaboration with the WHA providing pathways to careers, job training, higher education and student support is a win-win for everyone. This is a perfect example of what the mission of Quinsigamond Community College is - access to higher education for every resident in this thriving City,” said Dr. Gonzalez.

For more information about QCC, contact Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508.854.7513 or jmartin [at] qcc.mass.edu