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OCTOBER 2013

On October 2, QCC hosted the 28th Annual H.A.C.E. Youth Awards and Recognition Reception. The HACE Committee consisting of Senator Harriett Chandler, Minerba Santos Cordero (Intel Corp.), Solange Figueroa (Intel Corporation), Hilda Ramirez (from WSU), Kirsh Donis (WSU) Iris Cotto (from Worcester Public Library), Eric Batista (Worcester Mayor’s Office, Maria Addison, Olga Lopez Hill (WCDC), Brenda Safford (YWCA), Billy Ayala (QCC alum), Dolly Vazquez (Centro Las Americas) Maria Lopez (Community Advocate), Susan Laprade, Nancy Chosta and Déborah L. González planned and organized the annual event.

The event recognizes Worcester’s Latino youth for achievements in the areas of Academics, Arts, Athletics, Community Service, Political/Civic Engagement and Leadership.

The Olga Lopez-Hill scholarship, available to students who either plan to

continue their education at Quinsigamond or to transfer to another educational institution in the amount of $500 was presented to Tomas Aponte, a General Studies major from Worcester planning to transfer to UMass Amherst.

Twenty-nine students were awarded $300 scholarships. Students were nominated from South High Community School,

Burncoat High School, North High School, University Park Campus School, Claremont Academy, Worcester Technical High School, Doherty Memorial High School , Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, and R & R Gymnastics.

Keynote speaker was Edmund Araya, from Intel Corporation; additional speakers and presenters included Dr.

HISPANICS ACHIEVING AND CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE (HACE) EVENT

Thomas Aponte receives scholarship from Dr. Gail Carberry

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Melinda Boone, a proclamation by Mayor Joseph M. Petty, and Invocation by Rev. Sarai Rivera and José Encarnación.

Students and families enjoyed a reception with live guitar music by George Muñoz and appetizers donated by GOYA foods. The QCC Family also helped with the scholarships by their generous donations.

Veteran Affairs Office Staff Alba Rivera, Paula Ogden, and David Lauzon

Paula Ogden with Paul Kapteyn, Telegram and Gazette Photographer

Lisa Eckelbecker with Dadbeh Bigonahy and T&G photographer, Rick Cinclair in Physics II.

HACE CONTINUED

QCC PROGRAMS SHINE!Local media coverage of several of QCC’s

successful programs has been front and

center recently. On October 24, Lisa

Eckelbecker from the Telegram and Gazette

met with Professor Dadbeh Bigonahy,

Coordinator of the Engineering program,

for an opportunity to sit in on his Physics

II class and conduct interviews with him

and his students.

The focus of the interview was the huge

success of the Engineering program’s

ability to transfer students to national

colleges and universities for completion of

a four-year engineering degree. Not only

is the transfer rate astonishing but the fact

that most of the students perform so well at

QCC that they receive scholarships - many

receive full scholarships that include their

entire tuition, room and board, an expense

that can easily exceed $50,000. Two former

students of Professor Bigonahy’s, currently

enrolled at WPI, visited the class and spoke

about the challenges involved with QCC’s

demanding program.

Professor Bigonahy regularly receives

communications from peers at colleges such

as Cornell and Stanford praising his transfer

student’s preparedness. (See related story

on page 6.)

On October 24, Elaine Thompson, also

from the Telegram and Gazette interviewed

Paula Ogden, Director of Veteran Affairs.

Ms. Thompson also interviewed David

Lauzon, QCC student veteran and part-time

employee in the Veteran Affairs office for

her piece. The origins of the new office were

highlighted as were the uniqueness of the

wrap-around services provided (the only one

of its kind nation-wide) and the activities

and events provided for the student veterans.

(See related story on page 4.)

Ms. Eckelbecker’s piece on QCC’s

Engineering ran on the Cover of the

Telegram and Gazette’s Business Section

on Sunday, November 3 and is available at:

http://www.telegram.com/article/20131103/

NEWS/311039993/0/SEARCH. Elaine

Thompson’s piece on the new Veteran

Affairs Office, “Vets Flocking to Higher

Education” appeared Saturday, October 26

and can be viewed at: www.telegram.com/

article/20131026/NEWS/310269904/1242/

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The Office of Institutional Research and Planning, with

the College’s Executive Team, announces that proposals

are now being accepted for the fall round of Strategic Plan

Implementation Funding. The deadline is Tuesday, November 12!

Based on the focus of the Vision Project and the College’s

Strategic Plan, proposals should have a positive impact on

retention and student success at QCC.

The schedule for the Spring Semester proposals will be the

following: Proposals due on or before: November 12

All reviews completed on or before: December 6 (Proposals

are reviewed by a Steering Committee lead by Ingrid Skadberg

and ultimately reviewed with E-Team)

Awards granted: On or before December 17 (awarded before

end of Fall Semester)

If you are unable to meet the above dates, we will have the same

RFP process occur in the spring ’13 semester.

For more information contact the Office of IRaP, Room 101A.

STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION FUND – SPRING PROPOSALS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

BE AN ANGEL In the spirit of the Holiday Season, QCC Counseling Services invites all QCC Family to the annual:

Holiday Open HouseWhen: Monday, December 2Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Location: Room 107A

QCC Family are asked to “Be An Angel” and bring a new, unwrapped toy for a QCC Feed a Family Child. Your toy will delight a child and register you in the holiday raffle. Home baked goodies and a light lunch will be served.

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will be present for a Q & A session and admission is free.

A second guest speaker, Theresa Jackson, a Clark University psychology doctoral student, will present her research involving girls experiences with puberty and their transition to womanhood from noon to 1 p.m. at the Hebert Auditorium, also free of charge.

Psi Beta will be inducting new members on December 4.

OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK Walk to Save LivesQCC’s Psi Beta National Honor Society in Psychology and the Psychology Club participated in the annual American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk on September 21. The Walk is a nationwide event to raise money for AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide, save lives and raise awareness about depression and suicide, as well as provide comfort and assistance to those who have lost someone to suicide.

This year, the walk began at East Park on Shrewsbury Street. Psi Beta and the Psychology Club participated not only in fundraising, but in staffing the tables at the walk, as well as cheering on the walkers at various points along the route. Psi Beta and the psychology Club have been involved with the walk for four years, when it was originally held at Clark University and managed by Clark and QCC students. It has grown considerably

and estimates are that several hundred walkers participated and over $43K was raised by the walk.

MOVIE AND GUEST SPEAKERS On November 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Psi Beta and the Psychology Club will be hosting a movie on addictions called “Anonymous People” at the Hebert Auditorium. Athena Haddon, Program Director at Spectrum Healthcare’s Everyday Miracles Peer Recovery Center

QCC PSI BETA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY/PSYCHOLOGY CLUB NEWS

Vice President Emily Sanchez (left) and Michelle Miles of QCC’s Psi Beta National Honor Society

SPECIAL POPULATIONS NEWS Paula Ogden, Director of Veteran Affairs, was recently nominated by Rhode Island’s Governor Lincoln Chafee, to serve as a Local Board member for the Selective Service System. This nomination was made under Federal Law and the regulations of the Selective Service System in the interest of our national defense.

The Transition Center for First-Year Students is once again offering the campus-wide Drive-Thru Workshop Series. In order to reach the first-year millennial student, the concept of the traditional workshop was condensed into a 10 minute take-away, one to one interactive experience, with the intention to disseminate key first-year success skills and campus specific information.

This series utilizes the HLC living room between 11:30-12:30 in which peer educators and staff engages students in a short conversation and share a one-page tip sheet.

These workshops are held in Worcester and Southbridge concurrently. Last year these workshops serviced 1,467 students. This year we are offering raffle prizes for those who complete a 6 question survey about their Drive-Thru experience.

TOPICS• October 16/17 — Do You Know

Your Mid-term Grades? • October 30/31 — Registration 101 • November 13/14 — Countdown to

Finals• December 4/5 — What is your

stress level?

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PTK NEWSPTK thanks the QCC Family for their generous support of the annual Charity Cook-out on October 9; over $3,000 was raised and donated to the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

Reminder: It’s that time of year again! Holiday cards are now on sale! Hand-drawn by the children from Sherry’s House and 10/package for $12.00, they are available to order in the PTK office. All proceeds benefit Sherry’s House, a Worcester Based non-profit organization created to help Central New England families cope with childhood cancer.

Please Participate in PTK’s Food Drive: From the end of October until mid-December, PTK will be collecting non-perishable food items and canned goods for Why Me and Sherry’s House Pantry. (In 2011, QCC Family helped PTK orchestrate the largest food drive in Sherry’s House history!) Donation boxes will be placed throughout the campus and PTK members will volunteer for weekend collection tables at various locations in the local area.

One CAN make a Difference! On November 11 and 28 (Veterans Day and Thanksgiving), PTK will assist Worcester Men and Women’s Veterans Shelter to cook and serve hot-meals to local members.

Save the Date: On Monday December 9, 2013 PTK will host Staff/Faculty Appreciation Day from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For more information contact Bonnie Coleman at BColeman@qcc.mass.edu or stop by the PTK Office, 154A.

STUDENT PROFILE: SAMUEL OFFEI

QCC graduate Samuel Offei is no stranger to cultural barriers and he is no victim to their challenges. Mr. Offei is an Italian native who traveled to the United States to pursue an education. He graduated from QCC in May 2012 with a 4.0 GPA, Phi Theta Kappa recognition, and an Associate degree in Business Administration. He received the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship in April 2012, a national scholarship that honors excellence in community college students.

He gladly credits his time and experience at QCC as an aid to his success. “I was faced with a great challenge coming from Italy, but I knew I wanted to get into an Ivy League college. QCC was a great starting point for me coming from a different country.”

Mr. Offei was extremely active on campus and founded the Intercultural Club. “The Intercultural Club was a way to reach out to students and understand how they think. My motive was to bring all cultures represented on campus together.” During the monthly meetings, members of the club were randomly selected to present and inform other club members of their cultural backgrounds, their perspectives, and how others perceive their culture. Mr. Offei also had a role in student government and served as a school ambassador and an English tutor – yes, an Italian native tutoring English!

Mr. Offei not only evolved as a leader at QCC, but also was challenged by a rigorous Honors course load. He explains he would

not be where he is today without teachers like Margaret Wong, whom he describes as “one of the greatest teachers on campus,” or Paul Albright, to whom he gives thanks for his accounting passion.

Mr. Offei just completed his senior year at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he is diligently working toward his goal of becoming a CPA. “I want to become a CPA and then I want to pursue my MBA.” Mr. Offei hopes to attend Harvard or Stanford University for his master’s degree.

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From September 25 through 28, Professor

Dadbeh Bigonahy attended the 2013

Biomedical Engineering Society’s (BMES)

Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA.

At the meeting, Professor Bigonahy

networked with national colleges and

universities, gathering information

on transfer opportunities for QCC

Professor Bigonahy at BMES QCC’s listing on BMES’ membership signage. Note: QCC is between Purdue and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

QCC FACULTY ATTENDS BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SOCIETY’S ANNUAL MEETING

HOW DO YOU READ THE E-NEWSLETTER?Take a brief survey to let us know your reading preferences.

Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

students, attended lectures, presentations

and conferences. The colleges and

universities that Professor Bigonahy talked

to were surprised at the course offerings at

QCC for Biomedical Engineering students,

saying that they would happily take any

QCC Engineering transfer students.

BMES has over 7,500 members. QCC

is the only community college that is a

member.

For more information on BMES, visit:

http://bmes.org/vision_mission

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NEW STAFFAdministrative Services is pleased to announce the return

of Katie Hamilton to Quinsigamond Community College

and to her former position as Assistant to the Vice President

of Administrative Services. Ms. Hamilton returns after

a brief hiatus and will rejoin Administrative Services on

October 7, 2013.

Ms. Hamilton earned a Bachelor of Science in Business

Administration from Emmanuel College, brings over ten

years of administrative experience to the college, providing

support to senior executives in technology, defense,

automotive and real estate industries in the private sector.

Strategic Enrollment Development and Student Engagement

is pleased to announce the appointment of Robyn

Butterfield as Associate Director of Financial Aid, effective

October 7, 2013.

Ms. Butterfield, who has most recently served as Interim

Associate Director of Financial Aid was also previously a

Senior Financial Aid Counselor in the College’s Financial

Aid Office for two years. In addition, she brings six years of

experience as the Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid

for WPI. Ms. Butterfield earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree

in Psychology from Castleton State College in Vermont.

QCC WELCOMES...

The QCC Family welcomes Ms. Hamilton and Ms. Butterfield to their new roles!

SMOKING CESSATION WORKSHOP SERIES –FALL 2013QCC has been SmokeFree since the start of the current Fall semester and

is pleased to announce that a “Smoking Cessation Workshop Series,” is

being offered to support faculty and staff members who are interested in

tobacco cessation.

Each session will provide participants with information, support, and

resources related to nicotine dependence and smoking cessation.

The meetings will be held in Room 110A, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., on

the following Tuesdays:

• October 29

• November 5, 12 and 26 (Note: there will not be a session on November

19th)

• December 3 and 10.

All sessions are drop in – no pre-registration is necessary. Please feel free to

bring your lunch.

Welcome to ourSMOKEFREE Campus

smokefree

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EEK! Donna Kilgore, Room 120A, has MICE!

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE WYVERN?

Never fear, the Wyvern is HERE!

QCC IN THE NEWS � www.telegram.com/article/20131028/NEWS/310289977/1116

� www.telegram.com/article/20131020/NEWS/310209937/1116

� www.telegram.com/article/20130927/NEWS/309289969

� www.telegram.com/article/20131021/NEWS/310219927

� www.golocalworcester.com/news/quinsigamond-community-college-to-celebrate-manufacturing-day/

� www.telegram.com/article/20131020/NEWS/310209930/1101/newsrewind

� www.mass.edu/newsclips/quinsigamondcc.asp

� www.telegram.com/article/20131103/NEWS/311039993/0/SEARCH

VISIT THE WYVERN MEDIA PAGE TO LEARN MORE!

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Veterans’ Day Parade Monday, November 11, 2013

Meet on Grove St and Glennie @ 9:30 a.m. Worcester, MA

RAIN OR SHINE! Look for the QCC Banner!

Enjoy a FREE breakfast on this day! (Contact Veteran Affairs for more info.)

Supported by: Veteran Affairs Office, QCC

Members of the QCC community interested in showing support for our Veterans and Active Duty Military Personnel are invited to march with us in the Veterans’ Day Parade.

Contact our office (125A) to RSVP: 508.854.2721 or veteranaffairs@qcc.mass.edu

WE WANT YOU! Join Veteran Affairs in supporting all Veterans

The One Film Project Committee Announces:

CHINA BLUE A film shot clandestinely in China under difficult

conditions, this is a deep-access account of what both China

and the international retail companies don’t want us to see

– how the clothes we buy are actually made. China Blue

takes us inside a blue-jeans factory, where Jasmine and her

friends are trying to survive a harsh working environment.”

Monday, October 21st, 3-5 pm, Center for Academic

Excellence

Viewing and discussion - China Blue

Tuesday, October 29th, 2-3 pm, Center for Academic

Excellence

Workshop: “How to Use Film as a Tool to Teach Analysis

Skills,” lead by Professor Mark Bates