WORCESTER, MA – November 14, 2025 – Quinsigamond Community College recently celebrated the official launch of the Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In collaboration with The Cliff & Susan Rucker Foundation and Auxilium Worcester, the center provides mentorship, workshops and support for students and alumni to launch and grow businesses.
“Community college students come here with dreams, and our job is to empower them,” said QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja. “This center is going to provide the resources to make that happen, thanks to the support of the Rucker Foundation and the support of our community.”
QCC received an official Massachusetts state citation and certificate of achievement from the city of Worcester during the ceremony and local leaders, including Worcester Vice Chairman & Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King and Tim Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Joseph Petty, praised the center as a catalyst for economic development.
“This is a great program,” said Mayor Petty. “The key to economic development here in the city is the small businesses.”
The Auxilium Center will serve as a hub for students and alumni across disciplines, offering guidance on business planning, financial literacy, and access to community networks. The initiative aims to level the playing field for those who may lack traditional support systems.
Entrepreneurs and alumni shared personal stories about launching businesses and the importance of having a network of support. Harolyn Castillo, a QCC alum and founder of Verde Events, expressed the challenges of starting a new venture after 18 years of being a nurse, and how she found a network of support at the college.
“QCC is family for me. It was my first college and where I learned English. Having mentors around is very helpful,” Castillo said.
Rocky Knight, director of the Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship at QCC, noted that there are a variety of opportunities for community members to be involved in the center, such as hosting a workshop or providing mentorship.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Kathy Rentsch highlighted the center’s role in experiential learning and acknowledged QCC’s appeal that attracts a wide range of ages and backgrounds.
“We provide a unique opportunity that combines experience with academic grounding and social capital,” said Rentsch.
For more information, visit QCC.edu/auxilium.