Student Program: Business Administration

Kaitlyn Fales

Kaitlyn Fales 2021
Kaitlyn Fales

Kaitlyn Fales came to MWCC in 2016 as a Pathways Early College Experience student. During her time at the Mount, her grades earned her membership in the Alpha Beta Gamma International Business Honor Society and the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Her 4.0 grade point average earned her the President’s Key upon her graduation, as well as the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Business Administration Curriculum Award.

Upon graduation from MWCC in 2018, Fales spent the summer giving back as a resident assistant in the Upward Bound Math and Science Summer Program in Fitchburg. The program provides support for college readiness among high school students.

Fales continued her education at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island where she will be graduating with Honors in May with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. She is a member of the Honors Program, President and Co-Captain of the Velocity Dance Team, President of the Bryant Applied Math and Statistics Association, Senior Advisory Council Member, and College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Student Advisory Council for Applied Mathematics and Statistics. She was awarded the Presidential Scholarship, Bryant University’s highest scholarship for four years in recognition of exceptional high school academic performance.

She completed the Prudential Actuarial Internship Program in the summer of 2020, a part of the company-wide internship program, in which only 2 percent of applicants earn. Her performance led to an employment offer from Prudential following graduation. However, while she was very successful at the work and enjoyed it, she knew that she wanted to continue her education, and ultimately declined the offer.

Over the past six months, Fales has been preparing graduate school applications, with the intention of pursuing a doctorate in statistics and an eventual career in the research sector. As of this writing, she has received acceptance from Rice University in Houston, TX with a full scholarship, teaching assistant position, a stipend for living expenses and additional fellowship for her promise as a scholar, as well as Penn State University, Baylor University, and North Carolina State University, all with full funding support.

“I can’t believe that it has almost been 5 years since I started in Pathways, and how far I have come since then,” noted Fales. “This program has completely changed the course of my life, and I could not be more grateful. Please keep doing the amazing work that you do because these programs make such a tremendous difference.”

“Kaitlyn’s story is such a beautiful testament of the power of our programs, and of the connections that we make with our students,” expressed Fagan Forhan, Assistant Dean of K-12 Partnerships and Civic Engagement. “Kaitlyn was able to find her passion, have a voice and choice in her classes, feel and understand the real-world connections and possibilities open to her. Stories like these are why we do the work that we do.”

“The Pathways program at MWCC truly gave me the knowledge and the confidence to go after my dreams and opened so many doors for me” added Fales.

The Pathways Early College Experience is an opportunity for motivated students to get a jump start on college. The goal of Pathways is to provide 20 high school students each year the ability to earn their high school diploma and an associate degree while completing their junior and senior years of high school taking courses at MWCC. Learn more about Pathways today.

Alan Argollo

The MWCC Business program prepared me to transfer for my bachelor’s degree and become the successful business owner I am today.

Lisa Burns

Many people at Mount Wachusett and now at Mount Holyoke have faith in me as a student, which is inspiring me to strive for even more. I can’t describe the feelings I had when I read my acceptance letter. My kids are proud of me.

Austin Seppala

When Austin Seppala enrolled at MWCC after spending a semester at a four-year college in Idaho, he was initially unsure of his decision. Seppala recalls wondering if the community college was too small. Within a week of enrolling he had met Debra Boucher, the advisor who was there to support him through the next two years while he earned his associate degree in Business Administration. “I remember thinking to myself that I couldn’t do it; it was during those moments that I would run to Deb’s office and she would talk it out with me.”

Seppala was able to take advantage of numerous services in MWCC’s Visions program. Services that helped him meet his academic and career goals included peer support, field trips, and transfer counseling. Not only was Seppala thrilled with the college’s support services, but he excelled academically, as well. “The professors at ‘the Mount’ were beyond excellent!” Seppala raves.

After graduating from MWCC in 2010, Seppala was offered admission into three institutions, and decided to transfer to Northeastern University, where he is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management concentration.

“I think it goes without saying that ‘the Mount’ is a supportive place. There is not a person on staff that I didn’t feel comfortable with,” he concludes. Debra Boucher, Seppala’s advisor, says that his story is a great example of the team approach to student success at MWCC. “Austin worked hard, very hard, to achieve his goals, but, like all students, he faced obstacles and challenges. My job as his Visions advisor was to help motivate him and support him during those inevitable bumps in the road.”

— Karen Costa