MWCC lauds 592 graduates of Class of 2022
GARDNER — Mount Wachusett Community College celebrated the academic achievements of its graduates during the college’s 57th commencement on May 18. A total of 592 students graduated, with 474 associate degrees and 164 certificates being conferred.
In addition to the 2022 graduates, eight students from the Class of 2020 and 28 from the Class of 2021 also marched in the first in-person commencement since 2019.
“It feels amazing to be back here with you tonight. We have waited for three years to be back in this space for this event together,” MWCC President James Vander Hooven said during his welcome address. “You represent the epitome of perseverance. You have risen to and overcome all the challenges placed before you to be here tonight. The importance moving forward, establishing and re-establishing human connections, relationships and partnerships, in your future work and in your future education, must go forward with you.”
“To commence means to begin, to move forward,” he continued. “While your educational journey with the Mount is coming to an end, it is just a beginning. This beginning comes with responsibility, the responsibility to use what you have gained for the betterment of your communities and your families.”
Student speaker Jennifer Gariepy, who was receiving her associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences, told her fellow graduates, “From here on out, I want you to stand tall with your head held high, because we earned more than a degree or certificate. We earned self-respect, self-love and self-confidence, because our perseverance overcame the obstacles that tried to get in our way. We are starting the next chapter of our lives stronger than we were before.”
The theme of perseverance was continued by keynote speaker Chris Gabrieli, chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, “Every ceremony is full of pride and joy, but this one is extra special to us all because we have been through so much to get here.”
More: This year's Mount graduation will include more than the Class of 2022
Gabrieli noted that the MWCC commencement was particularly special for him because of the college’s leadership in the early college movement, a program that has been a touchstone for him through his time at the Board of Higher Education.
“The Mount was a pioneer in this field far before I got involved, and it’s a shining star now, taking full advantage of taking what the state offers to support early college,” Gabrieli said. “I am proud and grateful to the Mount for stepping up, as they do so often and so well, to be a leader in imagining and executing on new ways students of every age can benefit from college and the learning offered here at the Mount.”
The graduates of the Class of 2022 from the Greater Gardner region are:
MASSACHUSETTS
Ashburnham
Associates: Samantha Nicole Bertrand, Amber Rose Gagne, Steven Gorrell, Toby LaRoche, Neil L. O'Donovan
Certificate: Katie L. O'Brien, Edwin Alberto Perez
Athol
Associates: Jasmine Nicole Alvarez, Danelle Marie Cassarino, Christine Ann Gallant, Kendra Hough, Olivia K. Luchock, Josephine Rose Ludwig, Autumn McCollor, Hannah S. Paul, Jack Allan Robinson, Hannah Rose Sotto, Kailie Alyssa Spofford, Cody James Vitols, Emily M. Woodard, Destiny Rose Wrigley
Certificate: Theresa K. Davis, Lindsay J. Williams, Kendra Hough, Hannah Rose Sotto, Destiny Rose Wrigley
Baldwinville
Associates: William Michael Braccini, Christopher Read Divoll, Nicholette Ann Roy, Julie L. Wilkinson
Certificate: Joshua G. Duval, Patricia A. Magane
Barre
Associates: Allison Rose Beane, Courtney Marie Blanchette, Laurie Ann Johnston, Robert A. Milkman, Sarah Jane O'Sullivan
Certificate: Michael Peter Flood
East Templeton
Associates: Taylor Lynn Stewart
Gardner
Associates: Annastasia Anderson, Linda S. Bedinger, Terrence Edward Bennett, Natasha Marie Boudreau, Hannah Moon Burns, Robert L. Chilcoat, Nayeli Cuevas, Chloe F. Despres, Hannah Elizabeth Elbourn, Salsabil Ximena Hartley, Daniel Alejandro Hidalgo, Briana Rose Higgins, Kelly A. Johnson, Jacqueline Kyna Hobbs, Mikyoung Kim, Damary Laboy, Felicia Marie LaValley, Danielle Jane Lehtonen, Shea Mallet, Sydney Mario, Leslie Zuel Cruz-Martinez, Jose Mateo, Julianna Melko, Rachael Ann Neuhaus, Christopher P. Ouellet, Danielle Nicole Pelletier, Isabelle Marie Alexandra Poulin, Sara A. Rich, Cynthia Roy, Hannah Meghan Sadler, Sarah Beverly Savoy, Bryce A. Scott, Lindsey Taylor Smith, Charlie J. Stellato, Ian S. Stewart, Giovanni Antonio Toledo, Emily Katelyn Ulrich, Lizza Y. Vega
Certificate: Stefani Barton, Tianna Marie Caisse, Rachel Erin Courtemanche, Lisely Brianna Gracia, Justina May Johnson, Kelly A. Johnson, Felicia Marie LaValley, Leslie Zuel Cruz-Martinez, Mary L. Miller, Aimee Elizabeth Ouellet, Meredith A. Stewart, Giovanni Antonio Toledo, Myriam Vogne, Susan M. Wilson
Hubbardston
Associates: Elizabeth L. Afonso, Rebecca Lynn Aubie, Sarah Elizabeth Demboske, Anna Kate M. Kinnear, Emma Kathleen Kinnear, James M. Nason
Petersham
Associates: Phoebe L. Burch
Phillipston
Associates: Hannah Mikayla Bean, Ryan Michael Bussiere, Amy Lee Cooper, Madeline Rose, Sydney Rose Wilga
Certificate: Amy L. Cooper, Danielle McDonald-Bourbeau
Princeton
Associates: Isabella Grace Ervin, Candace Mia French, Adam E. Shenk, Brittany Elaine Smith
Sterling
Associates: Carmen Michelle Belville, Zoe B. Coomey, Kelly Anne Devillers, Amanda DeLeon-Guimaraes, Benjamin N. Hayward, Andrew L. Vettese
Certificate: Kelly Anne Devillers, Abigail Sarante
Templeton
Associates: Lauren Noel Arsenault, Sebastian B. Coscia, Jordan Rose Dickhaut, Connor Michael Green, Mallory A. LeBlanc, Noella Rosealee Maki, Amber L. Menard, Adelia Lynn Sampognaro, Vincent Cornelis Sampognaro, Anissa Sargent, Jared J. Shepard, Joshua Ryan Surrette
Certificate: Christina Jeffers, Noella Rosealee Maki, Lauryn A. Mattson, Anissa Sargent
Westminster
Associates: Ryan E. Coleman, Stephen Wayne Elliott, Nicholas S. Grossi, Bobbie Jo LeBlanc, Philippe D. Olson, Kailyn Parker, Clayton James Perior, Rebecca D. Schlier, Ivan M. Underwood, Jonathan M. Winn
Certificate: Vanessa Lee Gallant, Nicholas S. Grossi, Zachary M. Leblanc, Samantha Anne Schultz
Winchendon
Associates: Jacqueline Louise Bussiere, Krissiauna Shanea Chartier, Isabelle Jordan Costa, Meagan N. Cucchiara, Mollie Rebeccah Decosta, Kiley Donahue, Casey Drouin, Andrew M. Forest, Nicole A. Leeper, Emily Meyer, Matthew Ryan Perenzin, Rebekah Sawicki, Mansi Sureshkumar Prajapati, Greyson T. Suppa
Certificate: Jacqueline Louise Bussiere, Edward Bruce Coulter, Amy Marie Fasulo, Linda Hofhaug, Trevor Courtland Holland, Rubin Metellus, Emily Meyer, Joyce Rodriguez, Rebekah Sawicki, Samantha Leigh Thiers, Breanna Bethany Whittier
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Fitzwilliam
Associates: Nathan R. Cornwell, Desiree Marie Santaw
Jaffrey
Associates: Erick Lee Colston, Jacob A. Dunton, Alyssa J. Snow, Colin Sweetland
Rindge
Associates: Mia Elizabeth Caron, Jessica L. Huntington, Natalie L. Leveille, Katie Elizabeth Marsh, Megan Ann Perez, Brandi Leigh Pugh, Sarina Marie Weideman
Certificate: Jacqueline Toini Lundsted, Alyssa L. Patnaude, Magnus Jon Stowell
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: MWCC lauds 592 graduates of Class of 2022
