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MWCC Gateway and Pathways Students Recognized at Graduation Ceremony

Group of dual enrollment graduates in their caps and gowns
Members of the 2017 Classes of the Pathways Early College Innovation School and the Gateway to College program graduated Friday night with their high school diplomas as well as college credits or degrees.

Over 60 students celebrated earning their high school diploma along with college credits or degrees through Mount Wachusett Community College’s dual enrollment programs Friday night.

This year’s graduates of the Pathways Early College Innovation School and the Gateway to College program were recognized during the May 19 graduation ceremony at MWCC. The programs are offered in partnership with the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District, the Athol Early College Experience and the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, Inc. Career Tech Scholarship Program. They allow students to use school choice funding to earn their high school diploma while simultaneously earning college credits, an academic certificate, or an associate degree.

Gateway to College Valedictorian Eden Shaveet left traditional school at the age of 14 and never thought she was going to get her high school diploma let alone her Associate’s degree that she earned through the program. During her speech, Shaveet highlighted the need for continued support for programs like Gateway to College.

“In the absence of such programs, I would not be where I am today and the fact that we have to fight for these programs is absurd,” said Shaveet. “Programs like Gateway to College catch us before we fall to barriers in our way… I am eternally grateful to Gateway to College and Mount Wachusett for providing these opportunities where otherwise none would exist.”

Shaveet reclaimed her education at the Gateways program and exceed all expectations, achieving recognition on the President’s List for maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her entire college career and becoming an integral part of campus life as a Student Leader in Civic Engagement. She will be attending Elms College in the fall to pursue her baccalaureate degree.

Pathways Early College Innovation School Valedictorian Faith Kurtz is graduating with a 3.98 GPA. She has been accepted to attend WPI this fall to study Electrical Engineering.

“My professors here have been kind, reasonable and understanding people who have my best interests in mind and many have gone above and beyond,” said Kurtz.

In addition to her academic achievements, Kurtz threw herself into the community and logged over 200 volunteer hours in her first six months; embracing the motto that you won’t start succeeding until you start doing. She hopes to continue giving back to her community through engineering after finishing her studies at WPI.

“Every student here deserves the success they have because they have earned it … You can’t fake what you have done,” said Kurtz. “To everyone in the audience – thank you for supporting these outstanding individuals and I would ask you to continue supporting them in whatever their next endeavor is.”

Keynote speaker MWCC President James Vander Hooven encouraged the students to listen and contemplate their interactions with others because there is no telling what words will prove influential.

“Write these things down and learn strategies by incorporating them into your life,” said President Vander Hooven.

In closing, the president added his own words of advice and encouragement to the graduates.

“Don’t over complicate your lives. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Congratulations to each and every one of you. We are so proud of you,” said President Vander Hooven.

Established in 2010 as one of the first two innovation schools in Massachusetts, the Pathways Early College Innovation School provides motivated high school juniors and home schooled students the opportunity to accelerate the pace of their academic. MWCC’s Gateway to College program, established in 2005 as the first Gateway site in New England, provides a second chance for students ages 16 to 21 who have dropped out of high school, are at risk of dropping out, or experienced a setback, as well as an opportunity for home schooled students to complete high school and college studies.

 

The Gateway to College graduates were:

 

Ashburnham

Mia DeFalco

Dustin Estelle

 

Athol

Leah Breen

Legacy Brooks

Kimberly Favreau

Sasha McCraney-Montalvo

 

Baldwinville

Joelle Austin

Melinda Martin

Dylan Tambolleo

 

Barre

Julianna Ladd

 

Clinton

Victoria DaSilva

Serena Ferri-Lima

Angela Nicoli

 

Devens

Owen Kennedy

 

Fitchburg

Benjamin Almeida

Michael Hidalgo

Julia Mangiacotti

 

Gardner

Victoria Duprey

Nicholas Kapp

Taylor Putnam

Maurisa Weld

Hubbardston

Breanna Maysonet

Eden Shaveet

Zachariah Tancrell

 

Leominster

Daniella Caetano

Sharie Melendez

Alexandria Ridlon

Zachary Riley

Scott Russo

Jareth Skelton

Andrew Wegiel

 

Lunenburg

Rachel Wyman

 

Pepperell

Sydney Hudson

 

Petersham

Sarah Haynes

Richard Tripoli

 

Phillipston

Nicholas Allard

 

Templeton

Brendon Boulanger

 

Townsend

Jonathan Blouin

 

Westminster

Rebecca Schlier

 

Winchendon

Mary Grace Daly

Sydney Jaber

Sabrina Martin

 

The Pathways Early College Innovation School graduates were:

 

Ashburnham

Cassandra Cardillo

Rachel Vargeletis

 

Ashby

Aaron Kenney

 

Athol

Cameron Raymond

 

Athol Early College Experience

Zachary Bergquist

Natasha Ledoux

Lindsey Lee

 

Barre

Gabrielle Walker

 

Clinton

Jason Tovar

 

Fitchburg

Nathan Pierce

 

Gardner

Michael Sadowski

 

Holden

Faith Kurtz

 

Hubbardston

Alison Germagian

 

Leominster

Olivia Gianakis

 

Methuen

Alicia Schiller

 

Orange

Maris Clement

Benjamin Gilmore

Rachel Lundgren

Templeton

Zoe Hammond

 

Winchendon

Natalie Chretien

Jay Pereira (Robinson Broadhurst)