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MWCC TRIO Student Support Services held its annual award ceremony on Tuesday, recognizing the hard work and achievement of graduating and continuing students in the Visions Program and RX Program.
The ceremony recognized high achieving and hard working students in both programs. Students who will be graduating from MWCC on May 23 were recognized for their hard work and persistence in gaining their degrees. It is this hard work and perseverance these students should be proud of, said MWCC Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Paul Hernandez as he addressed the gathered students at the ceremony.
“You’re the one who comes in here day in and day out regardless of what you face on a daily basis to put in the work to get to where you need to get to. That’s something you should be proud of. That’s something you should keep in mind when you’re having those moments when you feel like you can’t move forward,” said Hernandez.
Students who will be graduating after receiving services from TRIO programs this year will be receiving 129 degrees and certificates, with 47 transferring. They will be attending schools including UMass Amherst, Fitchburg State University, Worcester State University, Anna Maria College, and Nichols College. Hernandez encouraged the students who are transferring and those who will be studying at MWCC next year to draw upon their experiences with the TRIO Program and keep pushing themselves forward.
“What you’re doing is a long term investment and don’t forget that. There are going to be a lot of times when you come in here and say it’s not worth it. You want to go home or get paid now. But I promise you that it will come back tenfold. Whatever that means for you, whether it is success or it means money or time with your family, the route you’re taking is the one that gets you there,” said Hernandez.
TRIO Student Support Services is a federally funded program. TRIO programs grew out of a commitment to the ideal of providing equal access to higher education to all Americans, regardless of their backgrounds or economic circumstances.
For more than 30 years, the Visions Program has been dedicated to fostering the success of students at Mount Wachusett Community College. The program is designed for students from families where neither parent has earned a four-year degree, who come from limited-income backgrounds or who have documented disabilities. The program offers services including counseling, tutoring and seminars.
The Rx Program is a TRIO program funded by the United States Department of Education that helps students reach graduation in health science programs and assists those who wish to transfer to a four-year institution. The program is designed for students from families where neither parent has earned a four-year degree, who come from limited-income backgrounds or who have documented disabilities.