MxCC Foundation Announces Results for 11th Annual Scholarship Road Race

The results are in for the 11th Annual Scholarship Road Race, held on Saturday, October 25 at Middlesex Community College. The 10k race champions were Tom Liedke of Bristol (44:06) and Gradys Alcedo of Wallingford (52:11), and the 5k race champions were Stephen Frayne of Woodbury (18:38) and Emily Sienna of (21:30). These are the new record times for these courses which were completely redesigned for this year.

“It was a picture-perfect day for runners and walkers with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures, helping bring in so many participants,” said Jay Keiser, chairperson of the MxCC Scholarship Race Committee. “Each year this race gets more popular, more challenging and more rewarding. We are thankful for our sponsors and supporters and look forward to seeing everyone return next fall.”

Major sponsors for the event include the Peach Pit Foundation, ConnectiCare, People’s United Bank, Whelen Engineering Company, Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Kelly Family Orthodontics, Hunter Ambulance, Mahoney Sabol and Pieper-Olson Veterinary Hospital. Significant sponsorship support was made in memory of Dr. Paul M. Baldyga and Colonel Trenton Wright, USAR.

Additional sponsors were the Administrative and Residual Employees Union, AFSCME, American Eagle Federal Credit Union, Anne Cassady, Connecticut Eye Physicians, Kaman Precision Products, Dr. Michele Kleiman, Technical Education Solutions, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, Orthopedic Associates of Middletown, Middlesex Hospital, Tower Laboratories, White Way Laundry, World Instructor Training Schools, Arborview Dental, Victor Advertising, CT Employees Union Independent, Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs), CT Makes A Difference, Guilmartin, DiPiro and Sokolowski, Illiano’s Pizza, Killingworth Lions Club, Sykes Family Chiropractic, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Brew Bakers, and The City of Middletown. Proceeds from the race benefit students and programs at MxCC.

Founded in 1966, Middlesex Community College (www.mxcc.edu) is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. In all it does, Middlesex Community College strives to be the college of its community. By providing high quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, the college enhances the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. MxCC, recently named a “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education, offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs at the main 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, and online.

Connecticut Broadcasters Association Awards Scholarship Funds to MxCC Student

The Connecticut Broadcasters Association has selected an incoming Middlesex Community College student as one of its annual scholarship recipients. Cobi O’Connell of Essex received the award because of her proven talents and desires to pursue a career in broadcasting. She will formally enter the Broadcast-Cinema associate’s degree program at MxCC in the fall.

O’Connell recently graduated from Valley Regional High School. During her senior year of high school, she has earned college credits at Middlesex Community College by taking a course in computer graphics through an articulated class at Valley, known as the College Career Pathways program.

“I chose to join the College Career Pathways program to expedite my college career by earning college credits while I am still in high school, which will get me into the industry sooner,” said O’Connell. “I’m really excited to be coming to Middlesex and I am honored that I received this scholarship.”

O’Connell already has a head start in the industry. She currently works as a private contractor for Paulson Training in Chester where she edits training videos and she directs two public access shows in Westbrook. After graduating from MxCC, O’Connell’s ultimate career goal is to direct a broadcast in Connecticut.

“Cobi O’Connell was one of 10 Connecticut Broadcasters Association scholarship awardees, selected from more than 110 impressive entries from all over the state by a judging panel of Connecticut radio and TV station managers,” said Don DeCesare, president and general manager at WLIS-AM and WMRD-AM, and a past chairman of the Connecticut Broadcasters Association. “Cobi is an exceptionally impressive young woman. She's already completed numerous college credits during her high school years and enters Middlesex Community College able immediately to concentrate on study in her chosen field, which is broadcasting and communications," added DeCesare. “We are so pleased to assist her financially as she moves toward a career in Broadcasting." DeCesare also was the 2014 Commencement speaker at MxCC.

In 2012, another Connecticut Broadcasters Association scholarship honoree, Shavandalice Davis of New Britain, selected MxCC to pursue her studies toward a career in broadcasting.

This year, the Connecticut Broadcasters Association (www.ctba.org) presented $50,000 in scholarship funds to students pursuing a career in broadcasting, communications, marketing, engineering, or electronics. Awards are made to Connecticut residents who are entering their first, second, third or fourth year of study in a broadcasting-related area at any university and college in the country.

Founded in 1966, Middlesex Community College (mxcc.edu) is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. In all it does, Middlesex Community College strives to be the college of its community. By providing high quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, the college enhances the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. MxCC, recently named a "Great College to Work For" by “The Chronicle of Higher Education,” offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs at the main 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, the shoreline, and online.

Since its establishment in 1955, the Connecticut Broadcasters Association has been a respected industry leader in legal, governmental, education and community issues on both the State and National levels. Members include broadcast TV stations, radio stations, vendors and companies with a business interest in broadcasting, educational facilities, and individuals with involvement in the broadcasting industry. Member radio and TV stations also participate in Connecticut Broadcasters Association public service campaigns supporting the work of the Connecticut National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Connecticut Department of Public Safety’s Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications – Emergency Alert System (EAS) and AMBER Alert programs, among other efforts. For more information about the Connecticut Broadcasters Association and its annual Scholarship Program, visit www.ctba.org or call (860) 305-2038.

Kiwanis Scholarships 2012 & Upcoming Golf Tournament

Middletown Kiwanis Awards Annual College Scholarships On May 23rd, the Middletown Kiwanis Club conducted its annual scholarship presentations. The Middletown Kiwanis through its Foundation each year gives a graduating senior from each of Middletown's four high schools a $2,000 college scholarship. A $500 scholarship is also awarded to a local high school senior attending Middlesex Community College in the fall. Of the fore-mentioned recipients one is selected to also receive the A. Merton & Arline W. Bozoian $500 scholarship. The event MC was Kiwanis Vice President Rick Starkey. Each student was accompanied by a school representative who described the qualities and accomplishments of their schools recipient. Kiwanis President Christopher Conley then made the scholarship presentations.

Cable Advisory: Scholarships, Grant to Oddfellows PSA, Comcast Move

Last night the Northern Middlesex Cable Advisory Board got to see the result’s of its $2,500 grant to Oddfellow’s Playhouse. Oddfellow’s Director Matt Pugliese expressed his jubilation with the results of the 3 public service announcement’s that Oddfellow’s was able to shoot using the funds donated by the Board. Puglieses came armed with a ipad to show the 12 members one of the 30 second professionally directed PSA's that will be used in commercial campaign’s to attract new student’s to the youth theater program. Pugliese said “ In 2009 about a third of our student’s received some sort of scholarship help based on financial need, this past year that number is almost half. We at Oddfellow’s will never turn a child away because of inability to pay; but to be able to do that we need to be able to attract donors, get grants, and attract new students who are able to pay full tuition to be able to offer that cost. The building collapse last year really hurt us financially, and I cannot thank the Board enough for this contribution. With it we were able to make 3 PSA’s – two 30 second spots and a 4 minute long historical overview of Oddfellows. We will be using these on our website, and in the future possibly be using them for TV air time. Thank you all.” A number of board members expressed their eagerness to continue to help Oddfellows and expressed the desire to incorporate the PSAs as commercials aired during their personal cable access shows on Comcast. Pugliese said he would make the PSA’s available and they are now also available for the public to see on Oddfellow’s YouTube channel.

Board member William Wilson discussed plans to create a scholarship in honor of longtime Comcast cable access volunteer and Middletown resident Justin Hinze who passed away two days before Christmas in 2010. “ He was a wonderful person that was bullied at school, but learned to be himself around the Comcast set. He found his place on camera and developed his own show. Making a scholarship that his mother will have input on that’s available to students in all 5 towns that this board serves is a true honor to his memory.” The scholarship will be available to residents of East Hampton, Middlefield, Middletown, Portland, Meriden & Cromwell student’s graduating in 2012. The Board hopes it can make the scholarship offering an annual event. The Boards is currently developing the criteria for which a student will qualify for the scholarship and plan to distribute it to all the high schools where it will be offered.

John Barrow, general manager at Comcast gave his report and invited the public to attend an Open House January 31^th at the new Comcast studio location. Anyone wishing to have his or her own cable access show is encouraged to come to the open house as well. Comcast previously located on Tuttle Rd. in Middletown has moved to a brand new facility on Willowbrood Drive in Cromwell. Barrow discussed the new features of the facility that were not available at the old location. The new Comcast Service Center & Studio has a state of the art lobby with 4 TV’s where customers can try out 3D TV and HDTV viewing. There is also a kiosk which customer’s can use like an ATM and directly pay their bill with cash or credit cards in person. There is also a service desk with staff where customer’s can address their cable & Internet issues if they are unable to resolve their needs by phone. The new studio is a huge upgrade from the previously aging studio in Middletown. New features include but are not limited to direct intercom from director to on set, fully functioning digital sound, and inputs for digital media from laptops. Previously any media that an access show’s producers wished to air had to be manually transferred by cd or sometimes vhs tape. The new studio is available to for the public access productions.

CA Board chairman Jon Pulino expressed what was on many of the member’s mind that evening and has been a topic of discussion at almost every meeting for over a year. When will AT&T Uverse have the public access channel? Barrow’s said, “Corporate is working on it but still in negotiations.” Barrow’s later reminded the Board that for other CT town’s some negotiations had gone on 2 years. Treasurer and the most tenured member of the Board Middletown resident John Schilke explained to me after the meeting that the negotiation is out of the hands of the local Board and local Comcast branch, it is something that the national At&t corporation and Comcast have to reach. Currently, Comcast airs Common Council, BOE and P&Z ,and other municipal meetings on the cable access channel, an agreement that has yet to be reached would allow At&T Uverse subscribers to have this channel also. I asked Schilke, retired director of Video & Digital Communications at Yale, what about the possibility of live internet streaming and archiving of these sessions, and he said as far as available technology it is certainly in the realm of possibility of as a service that Comcast could offer if it chose to do so. The Board cannot mandate what services are offered, but citizens can come before the Board to make suggestions or ask questions.

The meeting closed with a motion to move the public session to the front of the meeting, which passed unanimously. Resident’s with issues with their Comcast cable or internet service who have exhausted trying to resolve their billing or service problem by phone can appear before the Board and speak with the Comcast liaison directly to resolve their issue. The Board, as mandated by the FCC acts as advocate for the five surrounding towns.

Open House New Comcast Studio & Service Center –Willowbrook Drive, Cromwell

January 31, 2012 at 6:00 pm.

The Oddfellow’s PSA made possible by the Northern Middlesex Cable Advisory Board

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KesntGFtWmY

9TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP 5K RACE AND KIDS’ FUN RUN HELD AT MXCC ON OCTOBER 29

Runners and walkers can still register for the ninth annual MxCC Foundation Scholarship 5K Road Race – either online at http://www.mxccfoundation.org or in person on race day (beginning at 8:30 a.m.). The race will be held at 10 a.m. this Saturday, October 29 at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Rd., Middletown.

For the first time, the race will feature a pace car, a Jeep Liberty, driven by Garrett Birdsey, MxCC Foundation treasurer and manager of Liberty Bank’s Higganum office. He will be introduced at the starting line and then start the race about 50 yards ahead of the runners.

There will be a “Kids’ Fun Run” at 9:30 a.m., with medals for first place boy and girl, and ribbons for all other participants. Cost is $5 for children and $18 for adults. Proceeds from the race benefit student scholarships and programs at MxCC. Post-race activities include a raffle prize drawing, performance by the Pratt & Whitney Screamin’ Eagles Jazz Band, as well as an awards ceremony with light food and refreshments. For more information please contact Race Director Trenton Wright at twright@mxcc.commnet.edu or 860-343-5708.
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9TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP 5K RACE AND KIDS’ FUN RUN HELD AT MXCC ON OCTOBER 29

The ninth annual MxCC Foundation Scholarship 5K Road Race for walkers and runners will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Middlesex Community College, 100 Training Hill Rd., Middletown. There will be a “Kids’ Fun Run” at 9:30 a.m., with medals for first place boy and girl, and ribbons for all other participants. Runners and walkers may register now by accessing forms on the Events Page at http://www.mxccfoundation.org, or on race day beginning at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $5 for children and $18 for adults ($15 if registered before October 14). Proceeds from the race benefit student scholarships and programs at MxCC. Post-race activities include a raffle prize drawing, performance by the Pratt & Whitney Screamin’ Eagles Jazz Band, as well as an awards ceremony with light food and refreshments. For more information please contact Race Director Trenton Wright at twright@mxcc.commnet.edu or 860-343-5708.

Kiwanis of Middletown Scholarship Golf Tournament

Kiwanis 9th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
August 23rd, at Lyman Orchard Golf Course in Middlefield.
All proceeds raised go to benefit the Kiwanis of Middletown Scholarship fund which gives scholarships to students at all 4 local high schools; Mercy, Xavier, Vinal Tech, and Middletown High. Registration is at 8 am and shotgun start at 9 am. Prizes and many raffle items. $125 per person to play includes lunch, or $40 for lunch only. Sponsors needed for holes.
For more information contact Kiwanis of Middletown at : kiwanis.club.middletown@gmail.com

Kiwanis Golf Tournament Scholarship Fundraiser- Sponsors, Players needed

Middletown Kiwanis is having a golf tournament at Lyman Orchard Golf Club in Middlefield on August 23, 2011. Rain or Shine. $125 per person to play & have lunch ( see whats included in the forms attached) and $40 for lunch. Prizes and awards will be given, as well as a variety of raffles will be taking place. The tournament will benefit the Kiwanis Scholarship fund of which money is awarded annually to students from Middletown High School, Vinal Tech High School, Mercy and Xavier High Schools. Last year $9,000 was fundraised. Gift certificates ad raffle items are needed at this time to make this event as special as last year. Sponsors are also needed- $50 minimum for a sign bearing your name, the name of your business etc. at the entry of the course and sponsorship packages to have your own hole is detailed below for higher amounts. Registration must be completed and sent to the P.O Box listed below by August 15th. Click forms to enlarge below. email: kiwanis.club.middletown@gmail.com

SIXTEEN MIDDLETOWN RESIDENTS RECEIVE MXCC SCHOLARSHIPS

Sixteen Middletown residents have received scholarships from the Middlesex Community College Foundation, Inc. Heather Eng received the Dr. Jeff & Sonya Madoff Scholarship in honor of Thomas Melbert; Halima El idrissi and Susan Van Ness both received the Gandhi Scholarship; Jaelyn Kateches (pictured here) was awarded the Hartford Courant Scholarship; Robert Harrison received the James Shapiro Scholarship; Rosemond Agyei received the Jesse J. Salafia Nursing Award; Izabela Wiktor-Yachaina won the Liberty Bank Foundation Scholarships; Bennett Nocera, the Maxine L. Thumim Scholarship; Krzsyztof Pawlikowski received the MxCC Foundation Scholarship; Leeanne Deleon received the Nihla & Bob Lapidus Foundation Scholarship; Tanya Cretella and Enzo Futia were awarded The Paul L. Jones Foundation Scholarships; Steven Kovach received the Philip Wheaton Annual Scholarship; Sam Chichester (pictured here) received the Rotary Club of Middletown Scholarship; Ryan Czesak and Audrey LaRosa both earned the Rowland and Ruth Beaulieu Business Administration Scholarship. Twenty-eight different awards valued at more than $40,000 were given to 77 students total during the annual scholarship reception event.

“We are pleased to offer very important support to these deserving students,” said Roger Brewer, chairman of the Foundation Scholarship Committee. “I am moved by their qualifications, their personal stories and their hopes for the future. I am also grateful for the generosity of donors who make these scholarships possible.”

“It is such a pleasure to see the tremendous dedication and hard work of our students rewarded with financial support from our community,” Dr. Jonathan M. Daube, president of MxCC, said. “The MxCC Foundation’s Scholarship Reception is one of the highlights of the academic year for our students, faculty, and donors.”

Founded in 1966 as a branch campus of Manchester Community College, Middlesex Community College (www.mxcc.commnet.edu) is an independent member of the Connecticut Community College System. The school offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs on its three locations: the main, 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, and the shoreline in Old Saybrook. The college promotes understanding, learning, ethics, and self-discipline by encouraging critical thinking. Current enrollment exceeds 2,950 full and part-time students, and 1,600 continuing education students.

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MxCC STUDENT RECEIVES NASA TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP

MxCC Biotechnology/Forensic Science student Nicole Mendes of Cromwell was awarded a $500 NASA merit scholarship from the Epsilon Pi Tau (EPT) Honor Society. The award was given at the EPT induction ceremony of new members which was held at Manchester Community College on April 15.

The scholarship is given to technology students who have demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to pursing a technology career. Mendes plans to use the award to help pay for tuition at the University of New Haven’s Forensics Science program, where she will transfer next fall to earn her bachelor of science degree. She is the first MxCC student to take part in the college’s new Forensic Science transfer program with UNH, and will focus her studies on DNA analysis and forensic anthropology.

“Our Forensic Science track is one of the most comprehensive introductions into this tremendously popular career, and Nicole certainly has excelled while meeting its challenges,” said Dr. Jonathan M. Daube, MxCC president. “We are really celebrating three achievements here – Nicole’s scholarship, her acceptance in the EPT Honor Society, and her honor at being the first transfer student into our new agreement with UNH. All three are testaments to Nicole’s hard work and MxCC’s exceptional efforts to fully prepare students for their next academic or professional step.”

Technology students are nominated for membership in Epsilon Pi Tau after they have completed 30 semester hours in prescribed courses and maintained a grade point average of 3.25 or higher. As an academic and professional honor society, Epsilon Pi Tau encourages academic excellence of technology students, faculty and administrative leaders in higher education, and promotes the values and contributions of professionals in technology.

Founded in 1966 as a branch campus of Manchester Community College, Middlesex Community College (www.mxcc.commnet.edu) is an independent member of the Connecticut Community College System. The school offers more than 50 degree or certificate programs on its three locations: the main, 38-acre campus in Middletown, the downtown Meriden Center, and the shoreline in Old Saybrook. The college promotes understanding, learning, ethics, and self-discipline by encouraging critical thinking. Current enrollment exceeds 2,950 full and part-time students, and 1,600 continuing education students.

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Miranda Trowbridge Quast Wins Prestigious Congress-Bundestag Scholarship

New York, NY - Miranda Trowbridge Quast, of Middletown, CT and a student at Hartford’s Classical Magnet School, has been awarded the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship, which covers a year of study and cultural immersion in Germany. 

Miranda was one of only 50 students chosen to receive this award, sponsored by the US Department of State and administered by AFS, a worldwide nonprofit high school student exchange organization. Miranda will serve as a Youth Ambassador from the United States while participating in special educational, cultural and political events, including receptions and meetings with both German and American government officials.

The Congress-Bundestag program begins September 7th with a pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C., where Miranda will visit her representative to Congress, Rosa L. DeLauro, and participate in a diplomacy workshop with other scholarship winners organized by the U.S. Department of State, whose Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs supports CBYX.

While in Germany, Miranda will gain firsthand experience of German life and culture by living with a host family, attending high school, and participating in the community. The purpose of the scholarship program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, is to strengthen the U.S.-German relationship through ties of friendship and cultural understanding. Dedicated supporter Senator Richard Lugar (IN) calls CBYX “an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the world, gain a deeper understanding of people and issues, build lifelong skills, and expand horizons.”

AFS-USA has year, semester, and summer programs for high school students in 42 countries around the world, with special programs for graduates 18-24. In addition to sending students abroad, AFS-USA welcomes approximately 2,500 outstanding students from other countries into communities across the United States every year. To learn more about study abroad, scholarships, hosting an exchange student, or becoming an AFS volunteer in your community, call 800- AFS - INFO or visit www.afsusa.org/usa

AFS is a worldwide, nonprofit organization that has been leading international high school student exchange for more than 60 years. Each year, AFS-USA sends more than 1,400 US students abroad, provides approximately $3 million in scholarships and financial aid, and welcomes 2,500 international high school students who come to study in US high schools and live with host families. More than 6,000 volunteers in the US make the work of AFS possible.

Submitted to the Middletown EYE by:

ARTFARM

119 Highland Ave.

Middletown, CT. 06457

Tel: 860.346.4390

info@art-farm.org

www.art-farm.org

Theater. Simple Living. Activism.

New Allied Health Lab at MxCC in Meriden Made Possible by Grants From Three Community Foundations

MERIDEN– Nurse Assistant students at Middlesex Community College’s downtown Meriden Center will soon benefit from The Meriden Foundation Allied Health Lab, thanks to a $12,537 major gift from The Meriden Foundation, plus significant $3,000 contributions from both The CUNO Foundation and the James H. Napier Foundation.

The new lab will enhance MxCC’s Certified Nurse Aide Program there and will be ready for the CNA class that begins Sept. 15.

The lab will house two patient care areas complete with hospital furniture, manikins, blood pressure and phlebotomy simulation trainers, and patient care equipment. Patient and bed linens were donated by Middlesex Hospital.

“The college, its students, and the community at large all benefit from the generosity shown by The Meriden Foundation, the CUNO Foundation, and the Napier Foundation,” MxCC President Wilfredo Nieves said. “We are extremely grateful to the community-minded foundation trustees who supported this effort.”

Diane Bordonaro, R.N., Allied Health coordinator at the college, said, “Developing a nursing lab is an exciting addition to our classroom facility at Meriden. The new lab will enhance the student experience by helping develop students’ clinical skills prior to their clinical placements. Improving the nursing skills of our students strengthens our CNA Program and raises the level of success our graduates achieve.”

Middlesex Community College has offered credit and non-credit classes in Meriden for more than a decade.

“Our growing presence in Meriden shows a college clearly committed to a community, especially to the ethnic minority populations that account for 44 percent of our Meriden enrollment,” Nieves said. “MxCC Certified Nurse Aide graduates have been very successful in securing employment in the healthcare industry.”

The Middlesex Community College Foundation, Inc. was charged with seeking external resources to fully fund the project.

The Certified Nurse Aide Program, which is approved by the State Department of Public Health, provides an opportunity for students to enter the healthcare field. Middlesex Community College offers five sections of Certified Nurse Aide training each semester (fall and spring) with additional sections during the summer. Classes are held in three different locations - Middletown, Meriden and Old Saybrook.

The program graduates 170 Certified Nurse Aides each year. Students are taught to care for people who need help in caring for themselves. Theory lectures are enhanced by clinical training which is held at a local nursing home. Students develop nursing skills used in basic patient care and are required to demonstrate competency in these skills in order to pass the course and achieve State of Connecticut C.N.A. certification. As the elderly population increases so does the demand for nurse aides. Middlesex Community College Certified Nurse Aide graduates have been very successful in securing employment in the healthcare industry. Nurse Aide Certification is also a great stepping stone for a career in nursing.