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MWCC Foundation Honors Patrick L. Muldoon as 2013 Citizen of the Year

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Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation Executive Director Carla DeFosse; President Daniel M. Asquino; 2013 Harold E. Drake, Jr. Citizen of the Year Award recipient Patrick L. Muldoon; Jay Davis Drake, former chair of the MWCC Board of Trustees; and Richard Mohnk, chair of the MWCC Foundation Board of Directors

Patrick L. Muldoon, president and CEO of HealthAlliance Hospitals and Central New England Health Alliance, was recognized as the 2013 Harold E. Drake Jr. Citizen of the Year by Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, Inc. The Princeton resident was honored during the foundation’s annual dinner on May 2 at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner.

Muldoon contributes his time, energy and expertise serving the North Central Massachusetts community. His leadership, particularly in the areas of healthcare and development, benefits the residents of the region in numerous ways, President Daniel Asquino said.

“Today our college, our communities are stronger because we sail together, we move forward, we do not quit and we tact where we must in order to get to our destination,” the president said noting the honoree’s interest in sailing. “Today all of our lives have been improved because our honoree exhibits the fine characteristics of good citizenship, of sacrifice way beyond self-interest and of volunteerism.”

Jay Davis Drake, past chair of the MWCC Board of Trustees, presented the award in memory of his father, Harold Drake, treasurer and former president of Royal Steam Heater Co. and Lynde Hardware & Supply, Inc. The award recognizes community members who exemplify Mr. Drake’s extraordinary commitment to the North Central Massachusetts region.

Muldoon accepted the award on behalf of the HealthAlliance team. Collaborating with physicians, employees and the community, Muldoon initially led a financial turnaround at HealthAlliance Hospital in 2005. Since that time, the team has led the hospital to rank as one of the top 10 performing hospitals in Massachusetts. In 2012 and 2013, HealthAlliance Hospital was ranked #1 in Massachusetts for patient safety by Consumer Reports.

Among his community activities, Muldoon serves on the Board of Trustees for Workers’ Credit Union and the Spanish American Center, currently as treasurer, the advisory board of the Regional Economic Development Institute at Fitchburg State University and the SHINE Initiative. He previously served for many years on the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, including as past campaign chair.

Muldoon also serves on the Board of Trustees of Massachusetts Hospital Association and was elected in 2012 to serve as chair-elect of the board after serving as the chair of its Standing Committee on Finance. He has also served in several leadership positions with the American Hospital Association and The Joint Commission. He and his wife Eileen, a professional photographer and educator, have two adult children, Lindsey and Shannon.

During the event, the foundation also recognized Senior Vice President Sharyn Rice, who is retiring this month after 30 years at MWCC.

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Student speaker Lawrence Nfor

Lawrence Nfor, a business administration major with a concentration in accounting, was the student speaker. He shared the story of how he and his wife, Elizabeth, made the difficult decision to leave their home in Cameroon, West Africa, to move to the U.S. to seek a better life for themselves and their four young children.He thanked the foundation and the many college supporters attending the event for their commitment to MWCC and its students, calling them a “community of people who value education.”Elizabeth recently completed prerequisites and will enter the college’s dental hygiene program this fall. Lawrence will complete his associate degree in December and plans to continue on for a bachelor’s degree in business in MWCC’s 3+1 program with Nichols College.

“If you have never seen some of the fruit of your financial support to this college, here is an example. You can feel free to follow us and see what we become and how the future will be shaped in the lives of our children. Your donations make all the difference in the values passed down through the staff of the Mount and into the lives of the students and their families.”