QCC Faculty and Alumna named ‘40 Under 40’ Award Recipients

Quinsigamond Community College is delighted to share some special news with its QCC family. Our very own Gilmarie Vongphakdy has been chosen as a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Worcester Business Journal (WBJ).  However, that’s not all! QCC alumna (and daughter of QCC staff member Liz Hanlan), Kara Wiersma, was also chosen as an award recipient! This is the 20th year of this prestigious event, which honors an elite group of Central Massachusetts professionals under the age of 40. These are the men and women who have been making an impact on the region's economy and community.

Gilmarie Vongphakdy

Ms. Vongphakdy has been the Coordinator of the Future Focus Program at QCC since January 2016. In her role, she provides wrap-around support services that help adult students transition from adult basic education programs (and English language learners) into community college. She works closely with these students to better understand the unique challenges they face and assists them in successfully enrolling and completing college.

“Gilmarie’s impact on the Worcester community, most especially its under-privileged, under-served population is life-altering for many students (and often their families), who have gone on to four-year institutions or into lucrative careers,” said Carol King, director of College and Career Pathways.   

Ms. Vongphakdy attended North High School in Worcester and at age 15, she became part of the outward bound program at Clark University. She worked in a variety of different jobs during those summer months. It was through this program that she applied and was accepted as an intern for six weeks at the Latino Education Institute. According to Ms. King, it was there that she was noticed for her maturity, capability, academic achievement, and ‘future focus.’

Today she holds both an undergraduate degree from Boston College; a Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit Leadership from Assumption College; and works tirelessly to advocate for higher education for all.

“Gilmarie has brought Future Focus into contact with other agencies that have never before sent students to this transition program. She enthusiastically engages with people, seeking to build connections and collaborations, opening doors for her students and others who may not even know that college is an option,” Ms. King said.

Kara Wiersma

 Ms. Wiersma graduated from QCC in 2003 with a degree in Graphic Arts. From there she worked in the graphic design industry for a short time, while also working in banking. It was during this timeframe that she fell in love with banking and began taking a night business course at Worcester State University, while working full-time during the day. After a few semesters, she decided this was the industry she wanted to be in and was accepted into the Business Program at Boston University (BU). The program was geared towards students who were working full-time, but wanted to finish their degree, which was the perfect fit for her.

Ms. Wiersma went to BU full-time in the evenings, while also working during the day, eventually graduating Magna Cum Laude. Today she works as vice president, learning and development manager at Fidelity Bank in Leominster, working to grow Fidelity’s employee training and development program. She has also made community service a part of her life, and along with her career and family, she  coaches her two daughters’ Under-4 soccer team with her husband. Last year she volunteered as a QCC mentor (along with her mother), and this year she is not only volunteering to be a QCC mentor again, but has also requested to take on two mentees this fall.  

“Kara has worked hard to both earn her education and advance her career, all while growing a family with her husband. I am incredibly proud and look forward to see what else Kara will accomplish in the coming years," Ms. Hanlan said. 

Thank you Ms. Vongphakdy and Ms. Wiersma for being shining examples for our students and the QCC community!