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Mount Wachusett Community College student Wren Stoddard will host a Community Health and Wellness Fair on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the South Café of the Gardner campus as part of their work as a 2025–2026 Newman Civic Fellow.
The event is designed to connect community members with healthcare resources, wellness organizations, and nursing students in an interactive and supportive environment focused on improving community health and expanding access to care.
“As a nursing student, health and wellness are always at the front of my mind,” said Stoddard. “I wanted my Newman Project to reflect my studies and future goals, so hosting a Health and Wellness Fair was the obvious choice.”
A key feature of the fair will be a student-led vitals screening station organized in partnership with the Student Nurses Association. Nursing student volunteers will create a mock clinical “office” environment where community members can receive basic health screenings, including temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart and lung sound checks.
The initiative will allow nursing students to strengthen essential clinical and interpersonal skills while building meaningful connections with members of the community they may one day serve professionally.
“By volunteering, community members will have the chance to meet their future healthcare workers as well as be a part of their educational journey,” Stoddard said.
The Health and Wellness Fair will also feature a Walgreens Pharmacy vaccine clinic offering walk-in vaccinations for COVID-19, shingles, pneumonia, and other immunizations. In addition, community organizations, fitness programs, clinics, and specialty medical facilities will provide educational resources, demonstrations, and information about local wellness services and programs.
Stoddard, a nursing student at MWCC, was named the 2025–2026 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education. The fellowship recognizes student leaders committed to creating positive social change through civic engagement, leadership, and service.
“I am passionate about helping underserved communities,” said Stoddard. “I always start by finding and reaching out to those who can assist me in making change. I gather like-minded peers together to develop exactly what we want achieved, what steps we need to take to achieve it, and reach out to those in power who can help us achieve our goals.”
As part of the Newman Civic Fellowship, fellows participate in leadership development opportunities, mentorship, networking, and civic learning experiences throughout the year. The program also provides opportunities for fellows to apply for mini-grants supporting social impact projects and connect with a nationwide network of engaged student leaders.
“Wren’s dedication to community advocacy and health equity reflects the mission of the Newman Civic Fellowship and the values of Mount Wachusett Community College,” said James Vander Hooven, President of MWCC. “This event will provide meaningful learning opportunities for our nursing students while offering valuable health resources to the community.”
Stoddard plans to continue their advocacy work through a career in nursing focused on health equity and supporting underserved communities.
The Community Health and Wellness Fair is on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the South Café of the Gardner campus and is open to the public. Email sstoddard1@mwcc.mass.edu with questions.