Newsletter Archive

October 2021
	October 2021 The 36th Annual HACE Awards Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders For the last 36 years, Quinsigamond Community College has partnered with leaders in the Latinx community to honor the area’s Latinx youth. On October 20, during a virtual ceremony, the annual Hispanics Achieving and Celebrating Excellence (HACE) event awarded 33 Worcester and Southbridge high school Latinx youths with scholarships. Students receive scholarships that ranged from $350 - $450 to help put... More...
	October 2021 QCC’s Biomanufacturing Pilot Program Bridges Employment Gap Through Community Partnerships Quinsigamond Community College has partnered with Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) and AbbVie, to deliver an innovative entry-level Biomanufacturing On-Ramp Workshop designed to encourage more people to enter the biomanufacturing industry pipeline. Enabling more people to join the biomanufacturing workforce is the premise behind QCC’s biomanufacturing pilot program that kicked off in early October... More...
	October 2021 President Pedraja's Keynote Address Offers Insights on Systemic Racism and the Latinx Community During Hispanic Heritage Month Quinsigamond Community College President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D. was the keynote speaker at The UMass Chan Medical School and the Diversity & Inclusion Office celebration of “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” The event was in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and encouraged people to acknowledge, honor, and reflect upon the contributions Hispanics have made in the... More...
	October 2021 DEI Corner - We All Belong Welcome to the DEI Corner - We All Belong, a new diversity, equity, and inclusion section of the Wyvern Guardian Newsletter! At Quinsigamond Community College, diversity, equity, and inclusion represent a commitment to changing institutional power structures, policies and practices that create systematic advantages for some and disadvantages for others. It is important that our College community... More...
	October 2021 United Way Community Members Tour HomePlate Food Pantry and Resource Center In mid-October, community members from the United Way of Central Massachusetts had the opportunity to preview QCC’s newly expanded HomePlate Food Pantry and Resource Center. The HomePlate Food Pantry and Resource Center has more than doubled in size and can greatly increase its services, thanks in part to United Way’s grant, which was used to fund a state-of-the-art electronic software... More...
	October 2021 QCC’s Free Course Offerings Fast Track Students to In-Demand Careers Quinsigamond Community College will begin offering close to two dozen free entry-level career training programs in the coming months. This innovative programming format is being offered through a new Fast Track Skills Academy, from QCC’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education. The Fast Track Skills Academy is designed for individuals who have been displaced from the workforce, or had... More...
	October 2021 OER Resource a Gamechanger for Faculty and Students Open Educational Resources (OER) may just be a game changer for college students who find themselves financially struggling to pay for college textbooks. OER enables faculty and students to access free educational materials that are in the public domain or released with intellectual property licenses that facilitate the free use, adaptation and distribution of resources. OER is starting to take hold across the... More...
	October 2021 QCC’s Respiratory Care Program Celebrates Respiratory Care Week The week of October 24-30 is Respiratory Care Week and in a world that needs more respiratory therapists (RTs), Quinsigamond Community College’s Respiratory Care program is doing its part to meet that growing demand. In 1983, President Ronald Regan designated the last full week in October to be Respiratory Care Week. Every year since, those working in the profession and those dealing with chronic lung... More...
	October 2021 Rising Above The Odds – QCC Alumna is in Full Bloom QCC alumna Tiana Diaz knows firsthand what it’s like to be down on your luck and feel like there is nowhere to turn for help. A series of bad circumstances and bad choices had led her to a dark place and one that she was unsure she could rise above. For some, being told you are not good enough, you won’t amount to anything would keep many people down...but not Tiana Diaz. Today the... More...
	October 2021 PTK’s Live and Learn Greenhouse Has a Bumper Crop This Season Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) students are continually tending to a variety of vegetables and plants that are already producing a bumper crop at the PTK Live and Learn Greenhouse. Everything edible that is grown, is then donated to the HomePlate Food Pantry and Resource Center. The PTK Live & Learn Greenhouse opened in July 2017 to connect people and the natural environment, and create a resource of... More...
	October 2021 Equine Therapy Brings Joy to QCC Veterans and their Families Approximately 32 of QCC's veterans and their families took part in an experience that they are hoping will be an annual event. On October 23, the group met at the Dare to Dream Ranch Military Retreat in Foster, Rhode Island for a day of multifaceted equine therapy, relaxation and some plain old fun. Director of Veteran Affairs, Paula Ogden, learned about this incredible resource for... More...
	October 2021 Meet Quin Sigamond - QCC's Favorite Scarecrow Brings Awareness to Student Hunger In mid-October QCC's scarecrow "Quin Sigamond," was on full display at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Annual Scarecrow contest, held at the Auburn Free Public Library. Quin was helping bring to light the food insecurities college students face, thanks to a group of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) students who put the man of straw together. Not only did Quin highlight the... More...
	October 2021 Wyvern Sports Corner QCC’s Men’s Soccer Team Has Stellar 2021 Season The Wyverns began their 2021 season only two weeks after the College opened full-time (after being fully remote since March 2020). They practiced with tremendous heart, while continuing to work on recruiting more soccer players. Their hard work paid off and they landed in the playoffs. On October 28, they played their last game of the season... More...
	October 2021 A Spooktacular Extravaganza Staff member Donna Harvey is a familiar figure at Quinsigamond Community College, having been at the College for many years. As the Staff Assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Engagement, Ms. Harvey is always ready with a friendly smile and a helping hand. Yet there is more to Ms. Harvey than meets the eye. Each October 31st, her home on the... More...
	October 2021 November Look Ahead Monday, November 1 – Monday November 15: VIP registration for returning/active students. Thursday, November 11: The College is closed in observance of Veterans Day. Tuesday, November 16: New student registration begins. Wednesday, November 17: College Readiness Opportunities on... More...
	October 2021 In the News October, 2021 Charlton Villager: Q is for QCC Spencer New Leader: Q is for QCC Sturbridge Villager: ... More...
	October 2021 QCC Welcomes New Staff & Faculty We are pleased to announce the following full-time staff updates: On October 3, 2021: Enrollment Management & Student Engagement welcomed Carlos Perez as Senior Financial Aid Counselor. Carlos brings to this position over 20 years of experience. Most recently, he was the Customer Care Supervisor at Better Business Bureau. Carlos earned a Bachelor’s Degree from... More...

September 2021
	September 2021 Community College Presidents Release Joint Statement on New Vaccine Policy On September 20, 2021, Quinsigamond Community College President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D., joined the other 14 community college presidents in the Commonwealth in his support of a new COVID-19 vaccine policy that will go into effect January 2022. Below is the statement issued by the 15 Massachusetts Community College presidents. “During the last 18 months, the... More...
	September 2021 QCC's HomePlate & Resource Center Takes a Bite Out of Hunger It’s Official. The QCC HomePlate Food Pantry & Resource Center has opened to all students. On September 20, the food pantry had a soft opening to get out the kinks and on September 25, it opened to all students. According to Manager of Student Resources, Bonnie Coleman, over 100 students have already found their way to the new and improved food pantry and she anticipates that... More...
	September 2021 Quinsigamond Community College Offers Free Healthcare Training Quinsigamond Community College’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education (CWDCE) is once again offering a free Medical Administrative Assistant program and a free Nurse Assistant/Home Health Aide program, in late fall 2021 and early spring 2022. Each program takes approximately two months to complete. “These free workforce training programs are one of the ways QCC is making an... More...
	September 2021 QCC Hosts Remembrance Event to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Sept. 11 At Quinsigamond Community College, a somber and thoughtful group listened as QCC Vice President of Academic Affairs, James M. Keane, Ed.D. and students Kristina Chacon and Nana Konadu Agyemang Duah, paid homage to the 20th Anniversary of September 11, 2021, when our nation was attacked and forever changed. The event was held at the College’s Peace Pole on... More...
	September 2021 Friendship and Family Describe This Special Mentor/Mentee Partnership Imagine being thousands of miles from your home, in a country where you don’t speak the language and a place where you know almost no one. Then imagine taking a leap of faith and enrolling in college classes to earn your degree to set yourself on a path to a better future. Quinsigamond Community College student Ben Maiga is a native French speaker, who today is a second year... More...
	September 2021 QCC Welcomes Back Alumna as Senior Development Director Life has come full circle for Quinsigamond Community College Alumna Felicia Riffelmacher. Ms. Riffelmacher recently came back to her alma mater as QCC’s Senior Development Director. “We are excited to welcome Felicia back to QCC. As a former student, she brings an energy and passion to this role that is unique and inspiring,” said QCC President Luis G.... More...
	September 2021 Students and Alpacas Made for a Perfect Day A few furry friends greeted students during the first week of classes, thanks to QCC’s Accessibility Services. Each year these gentle and angelic creatures visit QCC’s main campus to bring smiles and laughter to everyone. The visit is courtesy of Angel Hair Alpacas, of North Grafton and is one of the most anticipated visits each fall and spring. This event was the perfect venue for new... More...
	September 2021 Weekly Free COVID-19 Testing Available Each week QCC will offer COVID-19 PCR Testing for FREE. No appointment is necessary and students, faculty and staff can walk in to be tested during the following days, hours and locations: QCC’s Athletic Center at the Main Campus (670 West Boylston Street, Worcester) Monday: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday: 1:00 p.m. -... More...
	September 2021 Celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month October is National Dental Hygiene Month, an annual reminder to everyone to practice good dental habits. At Quinsigamond Community College, the dental hygiene students and faculty have been working together during these extraordinary times to promote good oral health to the local community. These students are part of the College’s Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Program that prepares them to enter... More...
	September 2021 Welcome Week Gets the Fall Semester Off to a Great Start QCC welcomed back its students with a week of fun and festivities to kick off the 2021 fall semester. Director of Student Life and Leadership, Ashley Givens was on hand to greet students, help make them feel comfortable, and let them know that they are an important part of Wyvern nation. Each month the Student Fuller Center hosts a variety of events to get students engaged with their fellow classmates... More...
	September 2021 Best-Selling Author Heather McGhee Gives Powerful Virtual Talk on Racism A frank discussion on the true cost of racism was the premise for a virtual talk on September 15, by New York Times best-selling author Heather McGhee. QCC partnered with the Esler Family Foundation to bring Ms. McGhee to the Greater Worcester and Massachusetts community. Ms. McGhee talked about her best-selling book, “The Sum of Us,” and addressed the devastating true cost of racism... More...
	September 2021 Veterans Club Visits USS Constitution On Saturday, September 25, the QCC Veterans Club met at the USS Constitution for a scheduled private tour. QCC students and staff also had the opportunity to view the firing of the saluting battery for evening colors. At almost 224 years old, the USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Throughout the year, the Veterans Club hosts a variety of events and provides... More...
	September 2021 Wyvern Sports Corner It's that time of year when fall sports begin to kick into high gear. Are you interested in playing a sport? Check out QCC's fall sports lineup! Men’s Basketball Have you already thought of yourself as the next LeBron James? Or maybe your more of a Jaylen Brown? If basketball is your secret passion, Coach Preziosa wants to hear from you. For more... More...