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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)