QCC Helps Students Connect to a Lifetime of Success

For over 15 years Quinsigamond Community College has played a large role in helping Worcester high school students get a taste of college, improve their MCAS score (a Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment system test needed for graduation), and work at QCC in paid internships on campus through the Worcester Public Schools College Community Connection Program.

The program, offers students not only academic support and mentoring, but also paid internship opportunities for two weeks during the summer. Any Worcester high school student entering his or her senior year, who has not passed the MCAS, is eligible to apply. Students are chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“In the summer students are often forced to choose between working and learning.This program combines the two, providing an invaluable resource to our most at-risk students,” said Stephanie Stockwell, Worcester Public Schools Secondary Summer School Coordinator.

All students in the program will be starting their senior year in the fall and will have the opportunity to retake the MCAS in November. Students who do not pass the MCAS will not earn a diploma.

This year, QCC was host to 11 Worcester high school students from five area high schools: Burncoat, Doherty, South High, North High and Worcester Technical high School.  Many of the students are originally from other countries such as Nepal, Liberia, Central African Republic, Haiti and Ghana. 

The program’s instructor, James Kett, has been part of the College Community Connection program at QCC since the college partnered with Worcester Public Schools. A math teacher at Worcester Technical High School, Mr. Kett has seen both large and small groups of students take part in the program, depending on the year.

“We have many students who have a language barrier when it comes to taking the MCAS,” he said. “Very rarely are we dealing with English as a first language.”

Acknowledging this could be part of the reason why students have not passed the MCAS, he spends the mornings working with the students on their math skills  and ESL skills before they go to various departments in the college for their internships.

South High student Alina Tamang said she did not like math before coming to the program, but that has changed. She said the program and teaching style of Mr. Kett has been very helpful.

“It’s good to learn something new and it was fun,” she said.

This has been a positive experience for sure,” said QCC’s Site Coordinator, Donna Harvey. “This is a great partnership for the students and for us. Each department enjoys having the students and they learn a lot.”

The high school students worked in Admissions, the Athletic Center, Media Services, Student Life and the Maintenance Departments.

According to Ms. Harvey and Mr. Kett, a lot of students who went through the program have gone on to higher education, with some attending QCC after they graduate.

“This program gives them a chance to be familiar with QCC,” Mr. Kett said.

“QCC is a wonderful partner in this program. The Worcester Public Schools value this long-standing partnership,” Ms. Stockwell said. “The students love being on a college campus and getting real work experience through the internships.”