80s Class Notes

Brenda J. Court (’80 & ’98)
Carol Santora (’80 & ’85)
Jay Punt (’80)
William A. Blais (’81)
Dennis Long (’81)
Carol A. Emery (’82)
Peter (’85) and Kim Lozier (’83) McDonald
Laura Eggemann Coello (’86)
Debi Libuda (’86)
Mark Moran (’86)
Gregg Ristuben (’86)
Todd Blain (’87)
Tom Horgan (’87)
Robert Mackie (’87)
Frederick E. Spring (’88)
Norma Waters (’89)
Nancy (Wnek) Greenlaw (’89)
Julie Davis Riccio (’89)
Katie Larocque (’89)

Brenda J. Court (’80 & ’98)
Fine Arts & Computer Graphic Design
MWCC Alumni Advisory Board

Brenda is a Graphic Designer employed by The Landmark Corporation where she works as an advertising layout designer.

” The one thing that sticks with me about the Computer Graphic Design program at MWCC, is the dedicated staff. They taught a fully comprehensive series of courses using the latest software. Their reinforcement of methods and professionalism made it possible to go out into the work force and successfully attain employment,” Brenda writes.

Carol Santora (’80 & ’85)

After I was accepted into the nursing Program at MWCC in 1978, I had an interview with Sidney Goldfader.  I remember telling him I didn't know how I was going to pay for college, work and be a full time student. (I was recently divorced with a 4 year-old son to support and known, at that time, as Carol Anne Sciabarrasi.).  Following the interview, Mr. Goldfader sent me to the Financial Aid Office where I filled out many forms for assistance and was assured everything would work out. I received the BEOG Grant (Better Educational Opportunity Grant.... I think now it is like a Pell Grant).  I also received a couple of scholarships during my 2 years in nursing.  He also directed me to obtain financial assistance and medical insurance while I was in school.  Without him his intervention and assistance, I wouldn't even have been able to attend school.

Six months after graduating in 1980, I met my future husband, through a friend I had made at my nursing job.  Three years later in 1983, he encouraged me to take the art courses I had always wanted to take.  I believe Gene Cauthen and John Pacheco saw that I had untrained artistic talent when I started the art program.  They strongly encouraged me and fostered my God-given gift.  Gene recognized that I excelled in and surpassed the other students in my classes and he continued to challenge me with advanced assignments.  John pushed me to go further and try harder even when I thought I had done the best I could do.  He knew I was capable of more and better.

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Although I enjoyed nursing and had always wanted to be a nurse, my desire to become a fine artist was much stronger, which is why I continued my studies at Framingham State College, graduating in 1995, summa cum laude.  I retired from nursing in 1996 and have been creating art since 1983 and exhibiting in group shows since then.  I had my first solo show in 1997.  I create art for myself and continue to exhibit in solo, juried and group shows each year, where I have garnered numerous awards.  I teach from my studio and at the Fitchburg Art Museum and have also designed a basic art program I call the Art With Elders Program.   Through this program, I am able to go to nursing homes.  I have also received local cultural council grants to provide art classes to seniors in local senior centers... in Westminster, Templeton, Ashburnham, and Lunenburg.

To see Carol’s artwork, check out the Alumni News; or visit her web site at
www.carolsantora.com.

Jay Punt (’80)

I was a member of that infamous group of characters that lived in "The House" at 13 Elm Street.

Some of these names may ring a bell. Mark, Kelly, Dougie, Doggs, Spaz, Punt, Phil, The Bartender, Khalid and who could forget A-rab. We had our honorary members as well - Diana, Kiritsy, Cat, Mark Hanna, and the gang that lived over Casa Lagrassa to name a few. Yes we were quite a crew. We made the best of our time at MWCC and we got our degrees in various majors along the way. Although I do not hear from my former house mates that often, I often think about the two short years we shared. For me it was the best of times. A non-traditional student starting over again.

I also need to mention "Coach" Jack McNally, Nola Sapienza, Doc Rollins, Mike B, Dr. McLaughlin, Mrs. Chaplin, Dr. Welch, Guy Turcotte, Rene Dorin, Norman Tandy, Pete Trainor, and the best math teacher I have ever had the pleasure to learn from Mr. Ron Burba. These people, friends and teachers all played a role in my education. Inside the classroom and out.

After I graduated from "The Mount" I transferred to Keene State College and received my BS Ed. in Physical Education/Health. I worked in the substance abuse treatment field and fitness center management before I settled into teaching. I have been fortunate to coach from the elementary level up to the college level, and I have learned from those athletes at each stop. Today I am a Health Education teacher at Keene High School and I am working towards my Masters in Health Promotion through Plymouth State College. I currently live in Walpole, NH with my wife, my daughter and my son.

I would enjoy hearing from former classmates, house mates and faculty. It's time for a reunion. It's been too long.

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William A. Blais (Attended 1967 - Graduated 1981)
MWCC Alumni Advisory Board Member

Today Bill Blais is the Senior Production Manager for the Fabrication and High Volume PCA (Printed Circuit Assembly) Department at Tyco Safety Products, a Division of Tyco International. Bill reports that he's responsible for all production in both the High Volume Printed Circuit Board and Sheet Metal Fabrication Departments that includes all Production Scheduling, Quality, Delivery, Personal and Manpower decisions. It also includes developing and administering the Operating Budget. These areas run two shifts, five days a week and in the PCA area, a weekend shift and are staffed with over two hundred hourly, technical and supervisory employees, Bill reports.

Reflecting back on his early college days, Bill recalls playing on the MWCC soccer team and sitting on the lawn on warm spring days near the big chair at the old campus on Elm street. Another fond memory is of the Spring Bash at the Templeton Fish & Game Club.

" After graduating from High School, I did not have the grades to qualify for a four year College and I also did not really know what course of study I wanted to pursue," Bill writes. "The Mount gave me the opportunity to explore my options and develop a course of study that gave me the tools to be successful in my chosen field."

Through the Mount's association with Lesley College, Bill was accepted into their Management for Business and Industry Program, an accelerated degree program for industry professionals that takes into account job experience.

" I graduated in 1991 from Lesley College with a 3.8 GPA and a Bachelor of Science in Management degree. Without the help and guidance of MWCC, I would not have been promoted into the position that I now hold in my company or attained the success that I have had in my chosen field," Bill commented.

Dennis Long (’81)

Dennis was a Public Communications major while attending the Mount. Today, he works in manufacturing as a Quality Engineer at Delbar Products, Inc. “We make outside rearview mirrors for Dodge and GM. I help maintain and improve quality of product.”

Dennis remembers Terry Noyes, a MWCC Film Teacher saying, “ ‘It is infinitely hipper to HAVE a secretary than to BE a secretary.’ Terry would also say, ‘Film is Magic!’"

In addition, Dennis remembers “the John Lennon memorial, I Love Lucy, The Necktie Lounge, the Halloween Party at the Wax Museum, the hot air balloon TV show we shot in Boston, all ‘nighters’ in the TV studio with rock bands Image and Ray Paul and RPM...”

Dennis lives in Tennessee with 2 boys, where he’s trying to sell his original songs to Nashville record producers.

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Carol A. Emery (’82)

Carol received an Associate Degree in Allied Health and is currently employed at UMASS/Memorial Health Alliance at the Leominster Hospital Campus. She has enjoyed a 40- year career in Clinical Laboratory Profession and seen many advances in the field.

Carol writes that she enjoyed her educational experience at MWCC. “I always thought that the instructors were outstanding and very helpful to those of us who were returning to a Community College setting and taking evening and summer classes while working full time,” she said.

Peter (’85) and Kim Lozier (’83) McDonald

Kim and Peter McDonald are the owners of McDonald Real Estate, Inc., 63 Merriam Avenue in Leominster. Kim’s graduation from Leominster High School in 1979 was followed by a year of working before she realized how important an education was. She attended the college and received her Associated Degree in Human Service. During this time Peter stepped into her life and they were married in 1983.

Peter had been working in the “Home Improvement” business since his graduation from Leominster High School in 1973. He had always wished he had gone to college so this was his opportunity to accomplish his goal. He not only attended the college but was also in the beginning of his lifelong Real Estate career along with recovering from a serious illness.

“The College provided the perfect environment for an “older” returning student who was a little green in the homework department,” the McDonalds said. “Stu Shuman, who has since retired, became our mentor and friend then and is still now. He helped us gain the knowledge and confidence we share today. We always felt comfortable in and around the college. As working adults we had to adjust to a lifestyle change, carrying books and studying. Kim needed to read faster to keep up with the course load and the Learning Center helped with a speed reading course.”

As the owners of McDonald Real Estate, Inc. for over 20 years, Kim and Peter enjoy a full and successful life and are involved with many local organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Way, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, and the American Cancer Society, to name a few.

Laura Eggemann Coello (’86)

When Laura attended the College in the mid-eighties she was in the General Studies program. Today, she is self-employed in the Securities trade and lives in Montana. She describes her work as “Helping people consolidate debt, eliminate debt, and become financially independent.”

Laura remembers being in the cafeteria when the shuttle blew up. On a positive note, Laura states, “I have a flourishing herb garden thanks to Ted Filteau, Pete Trinchero, and Allan Russell.” She also mentions that she’s “a pretty good motivational speaker thanks to a speech class.”

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“I went into the Army under the Women's Army Corp. This was during the time when there was only one training battalion at Fort McClellen,” she writes. “After being in for a period of two years, the WACs became Regular Army. I spent the majority of my early years either in school or working through various nursing capacities.”

“ In 1980, I was reassigned to Fort Devens in a Combat Support Hospital. During this period, I developed a course on Ambulatory Health Care. I taught this course for 2.5 years. I was discharged from the Army in April 1985. After I was discharged, I began going to Mount Wachusett Community College and graduated in 1986.”

Debi Libuda (’86)

Debi Libuda holds BFAs in Painting and Graphic Design from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Her painting of the Heywood Factory in Gardner, MA, was displayed at the White House from 1993 to 2002. Recent works are exhibited in several galleries and hang in private collections throughout New England. As a Senior Creative Director of an internet design agency, Ms. Libuda garnered several awards for creative excellence in web site design. She is an accomplished landscape designer, and has also taught graphic design and computer illustration at Becker College.

Check out her website at www.debilibuda.com.

Mark Moran (’86)

Mark spent 4 years in the U.S. Army as a cinematographer shooting films on all aspects of Armed Forces training. After completing his obligation to the Army, he attended Mount Wachusett Community College and graduated with high honors from the Broadcast & Telecommunications Program. Following graduation, he was offered an internship with a production company in Boston and a job upon completion.

For the last 16 years, Mark has worked as a director of photography on commercials, corporate image films, music videos, and political ads. His music videos have won many awards from “The Boston Music Awards.” His political ads have won numerous “Pollies” which are awarded to the best political ad in a year. In addition, Mark sits on the Board of the largest Video equipment rental house in Boston and owns his own film 16mm film package.

Gregg Ristuben (’86)

Gregg graduated from MWCC with a degree in Broadcast & Telecommunications. Upon graduation he went to work for New England Telephone in the Television Center, starting as an engineer and then finally moving into an editing position. He was hired by Allmerica Financial in 1992 to become the staff editor/engineer for their in-house multimedia group and continues to be employed there today.

During the course of the last decade Gregg has overseen the transition from analog linear to digital non-linear media production and has incorporated the benefits of the new technologies into the company’s ongoing media requirements. He is an accomplished Avid editor as well as a compressionist, sound designer, and multimedia developer. In addition to his professional career Gregg is a lifelong musician, spending much of the last ten years as the bassist for the Eric Lilljequist Band.

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Tom Horgan (’87)

Tom majored in General Studies at the Mount. Today he’s still involved with Mount Wachusett, not the College, but at the Mt. Wachusett Ski Area as a Ski Instructor.

Todd Blain (’87)

Todd works for the Town of Pepperell as a police officer where he serves and protects the community through general patrol duties which include being on the certified bicycle patrol, the ATV patrol, and functioning as a field training officer.
Todd tells everyone that the best education he received was from MWCC. "The instructors made the educational experience feel personal. I was not just another number in the system. I feel that this experience turned a not so good high school student into a good college student."

"MWCC gave me the opportunity to start my efforts towards a college education. I did not take the SATs in high school, and I did not decide that I wanted to go to college until my senior year was almost completed. I received my Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from MWCC, and then went on to receive my bachelors degree from the University of Lowell. I worked in the Retail Loss Prevention field for several years prior to being hired as a police officer. I feel that my college education made it possible to obtain both of these jobs, which were both very competitive job markets."

"Mount Wachusett Community College was where I started my pursuit of becoming a police officer, and oddly enough I returned to the campus to attend the Municipal Police Academy in 1997."

Robert Mackie (’87)

Chief of Public Safety and Security MWCC
Chief of Campus Police MWCC

Bob attended MWCC from 1985-1987 in the Criminal Justice program and later enrolled at Northeastern University. “In 1983 I graduated from Monty Tech with my Electrical Certificate. I was unsure about a career as an electrician, so I joined the ARMY under the ‘Army College Fund’ program. During my stay in the military, I decided that I would like to pursue a career in Law Enforcement,” Chief Mackie stated.

“I enrolled at MWCC, where I found the academics to be difficult, having graduated H.S. where my focus was on my trade and then having been in the military I found studying something I really had to learn how to do.” Mackie continued. “The Mount was a great place to start, where the classes where small and where you had immediate access to faculty members. This access and small class size is something I really appreciated after attending Northeastern University where the professor rarely knows your name. I am convinced that if I had started at a large university instead of MWCC I would have never obtained my B.S. degree.”

Quick Career Profile:
1983 - 1985 U.S. Army
1985 - 1987 MWCC A.S. Degree
1988 - 1995 Digital Equipment Corporation, Security Specialist.
1994 - B.S. Degree from Northeastern University
1995 - Chief of Public Safety and Security MWCC
1996 - Graduate of Special State Police Officer Academy
2002 - Pres. Barre Patrolman (Part-time)

Frederick E Spring (’88)

Fred received his Associate Degree in Nursing and currently works as a
Registered Nurse at the Cheshire Medical Center, Keene, NH where he is a night shift charge nurse on an Acute Medical-Surgical Unit.

Norma Waters (’89)

Norma now lives in Florida and works as a High School Guidance Counselor.

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The Mount Experience
Nancy (Wnek) Greenlaw (’89)

Okay . . . this is my opportunity to tell the world about my experiences at MWCC both as a student and as an employee. Of course, I would like to share all of my experiences with the entire world but neither time nor space will allow me to do so. Permit me to introduce you to the two-year community college that has played a major role in enhancing thousands of lives. MWCC and I met approximately 15 years ago, and we have become inseparable since then. I distinctly remember making a trip to the MWCC bookstore and being captivated by the “energy” that was oozing out of several students “hanging out” in the area. It was an intellectual and social energy that enthralled me.

I was an older woman, pushing 40 years old, who decided to go back to school for two major reasons; to earn an Associate Degree in Human Services, and to “take a break” from community involvement. I had been totally engrossed in changing the world so my children, Cari and Jeremy, who were then ten and eight years old, would not be exposed to alcohol and other drugs. Yeah, right! I was trying to raise my children in a bubble. I had exhausted myself to the point where I simply wanted to hide away, become totally uninvolved and recuperate enough to fight the next battle. This time, though, I would be armed with a degree.

By the time I graduated, I had been exposed to so much more than an intellectual education. I made new friends, learned much about myself, became involved with the campus ministry, got lots of exercise fulfilling my obligations as president of my class, secretary of the Newman Association, coordinator of the Peer Information and Referral Center (PIRC), and coordinator of the Red Ribbon Campaign (anti-drug organization), and a member of the Student Senate, etc. So much for hiding away and being totally uninvolved!

All of the experiences I had at MWCC were possible only because of the professionalism of the MWCC faculty, staff, and administrators. The MWCC community had found a way to work together to provide a nurturing, yet challenging, and non-enabling environment. The faculty at MWCC was of top-notch quality as was the staff and administrators.

Even though the Mount Experience encompassed a means of preparing students to move on, graduation was bitter/sweet. Of course, we were all eager to enter the next phase of our lives, but, at the same time, we were sad to leave our haven.
After graduation, I put my education to use and began selling character-building musical tapes for children and, almost simultaneously, facilitating parenting workshops. The day came when I realized that I needed to be employed in a job with a guaranteed weekly income. I obtained a job as a childcare worker at a residential home for emotionally disturbed children. I truly enjoyed my job working with 8–14 year-old boys. Unfortunately, I could not deal with the restraints even though I had received training to do so. My supervisor and I worked together so I could overcome this obstacle, but to no avail. As disappointed as I was, I knew this was not a job for me. I would have to find another way to “change the world” and/or “make a difference”.

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Little did I know that I would become an employee of the haven that had better-prepared me to “make a difference” . . . MWCC. Actually, one of the most valuable lessons I learned at MWCC was that I could not change the world because everyone had his own opinion as to how the world should be, and not everyone shared my values. Now, that was a shock!! The people from my little world had the same Catholic values that I had, so wouldn’t everyone else be coming from the same place? Obviously not!

Well, I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I was fortunate enough to secure a part-time job as a program assistant for the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Basic Allocation Grant. The Vocational Education program was only a few months old at the time, so there was a lot of work ahead for the director of the program and myself. Ten years later, I continue to work under the Carl D. Perkins Basic Allocation Grant. The program is now called Career & Technical Education. In addition, I am in charge of all testing on campus, I work with Tech Prep students (high school students interested in Career & Technical Education), I offer support services for Non-Traditional Career students (students in career programs non-traditional for their gender), I advise several students, and I provide conflict resolution training for faculty, staff and students.

Another major lesson I learned at MWCC is that education serves as an excellent vehicle not to change the world, but to better prepare individuals to survive, thrive, and make a difference in their world. As a very special lady once said, “[We] don’t need one miracle worker, [we] don’t need one hero. [We] need everybody doing a little bit”.

I have also learned that education does not stop with a degree. Education is a life-long process. I went on to obtain my B.S. in Human Services, and my Masters in Education with a graduate certificate in negotiation and conflict resolution. I am so fortunate to be in an educational environment where I continue to learn and to be challenged every day.

By the way, my office is located across from the MWCC bookstore. I am exposed to that same energy I craved 15 years ago. I still crave that energy, because when the students are not around, the energy is so much different. I always look forward to the beginning of each semester with the hopes that I can have a positive effect on at least one student each day.

Julie Davis Riccio (’89)

Julie graduated with a Medical Licensed Technician associate degree at the College and now works at the University of Connecticut Health Center where she screens for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 21, and Spina Bifida.

Julie writes that soon after graduating she secured a lab job at an HMO. “I moved to Tufts Veterinary for almost 7 years after that, and am now working for the State of CT. And, I am currently in the Sawtelles as their drummer.” Check out: http://sawtelles.com

Katie Larocque (’89)

Katie received a certificate from the College in Early Childhood Education. As she explains, “While getting my degree from MWCC, I needed to do a practicum at a day care center. When I graduated from MWCC with my Certificate, the Day Care Center hired me on the spot. I worked there for six years. It was my first real career job.”

Today, Katie works in the field of mental health services for Employment Options Inc. as their Operations Manager. “I am responsible for the day to day operations of the clubhouse as well as supervision of the staff. A Clubhouse is a Day Program for adults with major mental illness,” she explained.

Katie also recalls, “My friends and I used to eat lunch in the cafeteria three days a week. During this time the radio station would always play Don't Be Cruel by Cheap Trick for us. We would get on the bench seat against the wall and sing for everyone. We were awful but we had a lot of fun.”