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New collaborative Program Helps to Make College a Reality

April 2018
  • QCC Dean of Students, Terry Vecchio discusses managing college success.
    QCC Dean of Students, Terry Vecchio discusses managing college success.

A powerful and compelling program has quieting and effectively been gaining momentum. The second in a two-part series of workshops, “Be Your Best You,” was held this spring as a collaborative effort between Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester’s Workforce Investment Board. The educational seminar held at Workforce Central Career Center in Worcester, was developed to enlighten at-risk youth about the many available support services and technologies available to help them attain a college education. This came out of a need that was seen by area agencies working with high risk youth. Area agencies sent out a survey to youth to find out what they were looking for and the results were used to develop a series of workshops tailored to meet their needs.

The first event was held in the fall of 2017 and focused on items that ranged from how to choose a college major, financial aid and how it all works, to college admission steps.

This second event featured rotating workshops which highlighted managing college; achieving college success and using technology for college. QCC staff who presented the workshops included: Dean of Students, Terry Vecchio; Senior Enrollment counselor, Becky Brownstein; College and Career Navigator Joyeuse Uwamahoro. Student presenters included QCC Honors student Maggie Butrym, who is graduating QCC this May, and UMass Amherst Graduate Victor Agwu.

Both Ms. Butrym and Mr. Agwu shared their own stories, which resonated with the 18 people in attendance.

“The stories the students shared were really powerful,” said QCC’s College & Career Navigator Dawn Kiritsis. “The takeaway from this was that students who didn’t think they could go to college now realize college is a possibility and they will have support.”

Already the program is showing its success. One of the attendees from last fall’s “Be Your Best You” event enrolled at QCC this spring.

This was so successful we are going to run it again in the fall and are looking to expand this to adult learners as well,” Ms. Kiritsis added.

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