Category: All News

THANK YOU to everyone who made The QVCC Foundation’s 30th Annual Golf Tournament a HUGE success!

On September 21, 2022, the QVCC Foundation hosted its 30th Annual Golf Tournament at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam, CT. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and players, the Foundation raised over $80,000 at this year’s outing. Funds from this event will support local students attending Quinebaug Valley Community College.

Tournament Results

1st Place – Roger Noll, Jonah Dupuis, Sean Vigue, Pat Kozelka – Score of 52
2nd Place – Jim Dandeneau, Debbie Dandeneau, Ryan Dandeneau, Jon Kantorski – Score of 57 (matching cards)
3rd Place – Tom Harney, Todd Porier, Mike Durand, Alan Balavender – Score of 57 (matching cards)

Middle of the Pack – Dick Loomis, Lynn Converse, Pat O’Brien, Courtney Ravenelle

Long Drive Women – Michelle Kile
Long Drive Men – Dave Apuzzo

Closest to Pin #7 – Dennis Mills – 1 foot 9 inches
Closest to Pin #9 – Roger Noll – 1 foot 2 inches
Closest to Pin #11 – Andre Lavoie – 2 feet 3 inches

SKINS (3)
Eagle on 8 – Team Gaudreau (David Gaudreau, Tyler Gaudreau, Richard Gaudreau, Steve Kempain)
Eagle on 13 – Team Dandeneau (Jim Dandeneau, Debbie Dandeneau, Ryan Dandeneau, Jon Kantorski)
Eagle on 18 – Team Cardinal (Trevor Cardinal, Andre Lavoie, Mark Lowell, Jeremy Hendrickson)

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF 2022 SPONSORS, DONORS, & PLAYERS

On Saturday, October 15th, runners from twenty-one states and two countries will take part in Tackle the Trail™, a trail race along the scenic Airline Trail in Northeast Connecticut. Tackle the Trail™ embodies the idea of a community event with 150 volunteers supporting a course that runs through the towns of Windham, Pomfret and Putnam, CT. Celebrating its ninth year, this annual event features marathon, half-marathon, and relay team options, as well as TackleJR, a half-mile youth race that ends at the official Tackle the Trail finish line.

Individuals and up to 5-person relay teams will enjoy the quiet solitude of nature with bursts of energetic and supportive volunteers at 4 relay stations during this point-to-point race. Individual runners can choose between the marathon and half-marathon course options for a fun and challenging experience with mixed terrain including some single-track technical sections. In addition to prizes for the top runners in each event, all finishers will receive race medals, complimentary food, and free beverages from brews sponsor Michelob Ultra. Following the finish line festival, runners are encouraged to explore the quaint but lively communities of Northeast CT, including the many fall festivals that coincide with race weekend.

Tackle the Trail™ serves as a major fundraiser for the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation and benefits students attending the Danielson and Willimantic campuses of Quinebaug Valley Community College. This cause, coupled with the event’s promotion of wellness, attracts the support of many sponsors on the local and national level. Race sponsor Whitcraft Group has supported the event since its inception in 2014 and has demonstrated the company’s commitment to employee health and wellness, with over 200 employees participating in the race over the event’s nine years. Community and youth wellness is also a motivator for TackleJR sponsor the Newell D. Hale Foundation, a charitable body known for their support of access to healthy activities and education for children. Sponsor support like this ensures healthier communities and future Tackle the Trail™ runners for generations to come.

Those interested in running at this year’s Tackle the Trail™ are encouraged to sign up before the registration deadline of September 25. For more information or to register, visit tacklethetrail.org.

Monique Wolanin
Race Director
742 Upper Maple Street
Danielson, CT 06239
(860) 932-4174
mwolanin@qvcc.edu

_{The QVCC Foundation Mission is to raise funds, so all residents of northeast Connecticut have the opportunity to attend QVCC regardless of income and to support educational excellence, technological advancement, and professional development at the College. The Foundation also serves as the Regional Advisory Council to the College.}  

WILLIMANTIC AND DANIELSON, CT — Quinebaug Valley Community College is pleased to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15, with two Bomba workshops and performances by Movimiento Cultural and the Sonia Plumb Dance Company.

The first performance will be held on Thursday, September 15, from 7 to 8 pm near QVCC’s Willimantic Center at 729 Main Street during the city’s Third Thursday Street Festival. The second performance will be held on Thursday, October 20, at 12:30 – 2:00 pm on the cafeteria patio on the main campus, located at 742 Upper Maple Street, Danielson, CT.

Movimiento Cultural is a community-based nonprofit that seeks to educate people across Connecticut about Puerto Rico’s rich African-based folklore, music, dance, and other art forms, especially the Bomba, which is the oldest Puerto Rican dance and music style rooted in resistance and dating back to the days of slavery, while strengthening racial understanding and relationships. The Sonia Plumb Dance Company’s mission is to “awaken, enrich, and educate communities to diverse perspectives of our world” through the lens of modern dance.

The event is organized and sponsored by the QVCC Cultural Programming Committee.

For more information, contact Interim Academic Division Director Elkin Espitia-Loaiza at eespitia-loaiza@qvcc.commnet.edu or Jon Andersen jandersen@qvcc.edu.

Connecticut’s community college system, was ranked No. 1 in the nation by WalletHub this week, and several of the community colleges ranked among the top 15 in the country in the financial website’s reports on community colleges and state-by-state community college system rankings.

Of the 677 colleges on the list, four Connecticut community colleges ranked in the top 15 nationally:

• Naugatuck Valley Community College (10th Place)
• Northwestern Connecticut Community College (11th Place)
• Manchester Community College (12th Place)
• Capital Community College (15th Place)

The state ranking of colleges is based on an analysis of a WalletHub “2022’s Best & Worst Community Colleges”   report released this week at a time of rising inflation and individuals looking for ways to stretch their budgets while increasing educational and career opportunities. More information on the “2022’s Best and Worst Community College Systems” ranking is available here.

To determine where students can receive the best education at the lowest tuition rates, the website compared 677 community colleges nationwide across 19 key indicators of cost and quality. The data set ranges from the cost of in-state tuition and fees to student-faculty ratio and graduation rate. For the state-by-state analysis, WalletHub calculated a weighted average of the scores earned by the community colleges in each state and the number of students enrolled at each college.

Credit registration for the fall 2022 semester is in progress at the 12 Connecticut community colleges, with hundreds of degree options that prepare students for transfer to four-year degrees and transition into the workforce with programs in health care, manufacturing, information technology, early childhood education, business, and more. Most of the colleges also offer English as a second language certificates for non-English speakers looking to start on their path to an associate degree. A variety of class formats are available including on-ground, online and hybrid.

There is still time to apply and register for Connecticut’s free community college program, PACT. Prospective students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, apply and register for classes. The FAFSA can be submitted online at www.fafsa.gov. For more eligibility information and details on PACT, visit ct.edu/pact.

The 12 community colleges in Connecticut are merging in 2023 to become CT State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the country and largest in New England, dedicated to quality, access and affordability. CT State students will be able to apply once and take classes at any campus. Locations include Asnuntuck (Enfield), Capital (Hartford), Gateway (New Haven and North Haven), Housatonic (Bridgeport), Manchester, Middlesex (Middletown and Meriden), Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury and Danbury), Northwestern (Winsted), Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley (Danielson and Willimantic), Three Rivers (Norwich), and Tunxis (Farmington).

Quinebaug Valley Community College has announced the names of 169 students named to the Spring 2022 Dean’s List.

Ashford
Teagan Lynch, Eco Manso – Rich, Rachel Vertefeuille

Baltic
Adam Ritchotte

Bozrah
Hannah Goodwin

Brooklyn
Aya Ashour, Stephanie Bellows, Callista Bibeau, Andrew Blanchard, Emmanuel Blango, Jeffrey Boyette, Savannah Buisson, Kaylin Caissie, Angelique Caouette, Demosthenes Chrisovechotis, Jillian Gibeault, Diana Gonzalez Caraballo, Jennifer Greene, Madeline Guari, Caroline Hamill, Brooke Harrington, Nayomi Herring, Percy Howard, Justin Hubbard, Shawn Jordan, Heriberto Luciano, Moriah Marquis, Nicole Maxim, Logan Moyer, Abisai Rodriguez, Ricardo Roman, Afetion Sejdiraj, Emma Turner, Emily Zmayefski

Canterbury
Shayla Ames, Bernardo Barron, Emma Curtis, Bryna Ford, Chelsea Hart, Skyla Lindell, Matthew Moffitt, Stefanie Thetreault

Central Village
Haylie Bergeron, Sean Sweeney, Amy Sweet

Danielson
Jasmine Alvord, Riley Brunsdon, Lisa Cote, Angel Lewis, Jordan Mahon, Mariah McMaster, Colby O’Donnell, Bryce Pratt, Adrianna Riddick, Meagan Sullivan, Samantha Swenson, Ian Torrey, Victoria Trudeau-Mungham, Ethan Vernon, Abbigale Whitehead, Chelsea Williams

Dayville
Mandi Beckman, Sable Beley, Sabrina Berard, Sarah Brennan, Karagen Crowe, Sierra Duplisea, Hannah Kipp, Chase LeClerc, Krystal Maclure, Courtney Miranda, Colin Nadeau, Christopher Perry, Kayla Trickel, Amy Tucciarone

Eastford
Zoe Marshall

Enfield
Michele Girard

Griswold
Yvonne Dupuis, Tiffany Lee, Melissa Thibodeau

Hampton
Danielle Greene, Jessica Woody

Jewett City
Heather Emerich, Stephanie Orlinski

Killingly
Samantha Veglia

Moosup
Sarah Chamberland, Candace Ciotola, Benjamin DelleFave, Piotr Malinowski, Kennedy Shippee, Jessica Williams

North Grosvenordale
Hannah Bergeron, Jaylen Brinson, Bryan Erickson, Lindsey Houghton, Tyler Persson, Stephen Scrapchansky, Lukas Skaradowski, Gianna Stoico

Norwich
Margaret Babb

Pawcatuck
Lydia Miner

Plainfield
Michael Banning, Jesse Fultz, Emily Goyette, Elenore Jolley, Ryan Saros, Cade Wolak

Pomfret Center
Remi Benton, Iryna Huling, Ryan Lewis, Robert Manifold, Shelby Pendleton, James Phongsa, Kassidy Walden

Putnam
Eric Boucher, Joshua Brodeur, Carissa Gaugh, Anna Ionkin, Trevor Lewis, Haddijatou Mbye, Emma Nazario, Jordyn Poole, Haley Russo, Angela Sanchez, Noah Tomkins, Alison Tourtellotte, Dylan Varner, Misty Williams

Rogers
Aleksiy Ryan Lilov

South Windham
Kevin McGeary

Sterling
Hannah DeAngelis, Erin DeRouin, Maggie Fallon, Stacey Glaude, Megan Hart, Cody Jackson, Garrett Salisbury, Faith Smith, Ryan Young

Thompson
Regina Cross, Alyssa Leveille, Julia Paquette, Justine Petrella, Nicholas Prouty, Ian Rawson, Katrina Suibielski

Uncasville
Emily Mirante

Willimantic
Owen Delgado, Peter Gelinas, Maximiliano Navarro Romero, Stephanie Vellon, Patrick Walker Ayala

Windham
Katarzyna Shamshad

Woodstock
Paige Audet, Olivia Burrell, Antonia Carminati, Cody Currie, Haley Farley, Melissa Fish, Matthew Gianfriddo, Benjamin Green, Payton Peterson, Rebekah Rowe

Woodstock Valley
Tarryn Desrosiers

Dudley, MA
Brandon Johnson, Brett Spiewakowski

New Bedford, MA
Britney Cabral

Cranston, RI
Jessica Matthias

After two years of virtual and drive-through graduation ceremonies, Quinebaug Valley Community College was pleased to recognize the Class of 2022 with an in-person commencement on the evening of May 26. Nearly 200 graduates crossed the walkway of the Richard C. Berry Amphitheater, located on the grounds of the Danielson campus, to receive their degrees and certificates in QVCC’s 50th Commencement ceremony. Congratulations, Class of 2022!

CEO’s Award
Awarded to the degree graduate with the highest academic average and at least 45 credits earned at QVCC.
– Caroline Elizabeth Miano Hamill  (Liberal Arts and Sciences, 52 credits, 3.98 GPA)

4.0 Graduates
Awarded to the degree graduates with a 4.0 average and at least 30 credits earned at QVCC.
– Sumeyra Yavuz (Medical Laboratory Technician)
– Robert Manifold (Advanced Manufacturing Machine Technology)

List of Graduates

Ashford
Sarah Elizabeth Lopez, Katie Elizabeth Renaud, Rachel A. Vertefeuille

Baltic
Adam Joseph Ritchotte

Brooklyn
Aidan Erick Anderson, Laura S. Bates, Eric Anthony Borkiewicz, Angelique Marie Caouette, Emily Ann Colangelo, Kathia Nicolle Gonzalez Caraballo, Caroline Elizabeth Miano Hamill, Nayomi Rebecca Herring, Ryan A. LaRose, Devin Edward Markley, Aidan James McGennis, Alexa L. Michalski, Jesse A. Paprota, Madison Kela Rattray, Tiahma Latreece Rawls-Centeno, Robert Reaves, Afetion Sejdiraj, Adam Raymond Shinkiewicz

Canterbury
Adam Charles Exley, Chelsea Mae Hart, Colette Christina Marchand, Matthew Ethan Moffitt, Katherine Hannah Otto

Central Village
Sean Patrick O’Brien Sweeney, Amy L. Sweet

Columbia
Kelly A. Spooner

Coventry
Miranda Caroline Bragdon, Abbie Rae Bragdon

Danielson
Jasmine S. Alvord, Jenna Leigh Blanchard, Melissa S. Clark, Lisa M. Cote, Abigail Rose Duprey, Jennifer Cecile Farquharson, Renée Theresa Gates, Ibrahim Kamara, Jordan Alyse Lawrence, Jordan Phillip Mahon, Ethan Jeffrey Miller, Danilo S. Palenzuela, Ethan Charles Sheldon, Brianna G. St John, Khone S.K. Thoummany, Ian J. Torrey, Brendan Trajanowski, Evan R. Zach

Dayville
Kristina Kelly Ballou, Mandi Lynn Beckman, Stephanie Marie Benoit, Emily A. Berard, Jennifer K. Brisson, Richard John Demars, Carson Everett Hadley, Jeffery Joseph Hemmig, Hannah Elisabeth Kipp, Abigail Nadial-Reine, Dana Lee Normandie, Hannah Grace Pouliot, Jarrica Dee Rainville, Amy Lyn Tucciarone, Madisen Jean Ventura

Eastford
Amy Elisabeth Ayer

Enfield
Michele Girard, Lina M. Mistry

Griswold
Mary E. Hayden, Tiffany Lee

Groton
Amanda Lynn Abbott, Paul Robert Neville

Hampton
Emily Elizabeth Schmidt, Mackenzie Fenton Silk, Jessica Marie Woody

Hebron
Chris Jadier Carrero Concepcion

Jewett City
Maryam Arshad, Emily Renee Brown, Heather Renee Emerich, Vincent Thomas Valenti

Killingly
Samantha Marie Veglia

Lisbon
Rohankumar H. Patel

Mansfield Center
Stacie Eve Digby, Alicia E. Jimenez Vargas, Marisol Prather, Naomi J. Soderberg

Marlborough
Erica J. Troiano

Moosup
Taya Alexis Beaudoin, Bonnie Jean Chambers, Kyla Grace Kampf, Tavy Lim, Piotr K. Malinowski

New London
Rebecca Taylor Richards

North Grosvenordale
Lacey B. Allard, Rebecca Jeanne Giles, Kevin David Gomes, Sylwia Marzena Helwig, Savannah Lynn Loiselle, Jennifer Lynn Perry, Tyler James Persson, Gianna Marie Stoico, Sara Elizabeth Watson

North Haven
Sumeyra Yavuz

Norwich
Christie Lynn Hughes

Oneco
Jesse Caitlyn Gunn, Jakob Labutti

Plainfield
Alyssa Yvonne Aubin, Michael John Hattayer, Bernadette Rose Michaud, Cassandra Lynn Miller, Gianna Nicole Pellegrino, Timothy Petrides, Jennifer Lynn Spinney, Ian Hans Wichmann, Cade Michael Wolak

Pomfret Center
Sydney Colleen Feragne, Iryna Huling, Abigail Adele Kruger, Ryan Anthony Lewis, Robert John Manifold, Noah Alexander McNamara, Shelby L. Pendleton

Putnam
Jordan I. Alexander, Morgan Therese Blackmar, Selena J. Cordero, Lauren Elizabeth Deery, Patricia A. DeTorio, Victoria Dias, Darren E. Dionne, Carissa Elizabeth Gaugh, Brittany Ann Kallio, Ismail Ahmed Kiani, Heather Nichol King, Cari-Ann Palmer, Jordyn A. Poole, Dylan Richard Varner, Misty Lynn Williams, Tyson R. Winchell

Rogers
Aleksiy Ryan Lilov

Somers
Nikki Burnett

Sterling
Tyler Nicholas Adams, Erin Sue DeRouin, Sarah Faith Dexter, Stacey Ann Glaude, Cody Moon Jackson, Annastacia Harmony Schneider, Mandy Lee Shaw, Angela Parent Stone, Olivia Hayden Tetreault, Ryan Wadsworth Young

Storrs Mansfield
Steven Thomas Gagne

Taftville
Kaytlyn Marie Betters

Thompson
Maya Melynda Blair, Travis James Cournoyer, Mikenzi Rose LaBonte, Nicholas H. Prouty, Katrina Lynn Suibielski, Mary Catherine Walsh

Voluntown
Adam Dale Eaton

Waterbury
Jonathan D. Fullbright

Willimantic
Shani Alyceea Acevedo, Michelle Nair Aguayo Castro, Melanie J. Alicea Del Rio, Craig Arthur Bakke, Chiricahua Eaglewolf Cochise, Owen O. Delgado Marquina, Giselle Soe Galarza, Gabriela Kristal Lopez Barreto, Doralis Lozano-Santiago, Bryan Eduardo Martinez, Kenia Marie Morales, Jayshelly Ochoa, Eduardo Perea Hernandez, Lysette Rojas, Brandy Elizabeth Shirley, Patricia Ann Todd, Megan R. Trueblood, Patrick Antonio Walker Ayala

Windham
Milagro Velasquez-Argueta, Dylan Ryan Werth

Woodstock
Paige Anne Audet, Robert J. Baldino, Aaron Michael Blanchflower, Samantha Dawn Eddy, Aria P. Gianfriddo, Hannah G. Hagstrom, Audrey Carolyn Helmetag, Ryan T. Latour, Dylan John Martin, Jarod Ryan Martin, Molly Emeline Millix, Zachary Alan Mowry, Payton Appel Peterson, Jed Daniel Rategan

Woodstock Valley
Abigail K. Kilburn

Charlton, MA
Johnathan Scott Tucker

Dudley, MA
Jillian Mable Gibbs, Brandon C. Johnson

Springfield, MA
Erika S. Phillips

Burdett, NY
Isaiah I. Bard

Coventry, RI
Kerrie L. Karowski

Harrisville, RI
Taylor Maria Castano

Quinebaug Valley Community College will hold its 50th Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 6 pm at the Richard C. Berry Amphitheater, located on the grounds of the Danielson campus. Approximately 200 students are expected to receive degrees and certificates.

This year’s speakers will include:
• Terrence Cheng, CSCU President
• Alexa Michalski, National Anthem soloist and graduating student
• Sarah Wolfburg ’02, Alumni Speaker
• Hannah Kipp, Student Speaker
• Linda Colangelo ’03, Keynote Speaker

Michalski, who enjoys drawing, sculpting, and performing arts, is graduating with an Associate of Arts in Visual Arts and plans to attend Eastern Connecticut State University to pursue her goal of becoming an art teacher.

Wolfburg, who is a 2002 graduate of QVCC, went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. After returning to Connecticut, Sarah first worked for Villager Newspapers before becoming the first Executive Director for Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW). Sarah then returned to QVCC in 2020, accepting the Director of Alumni Relations role, twenty years after she first began studying at the college.

Kipp, who served as a member of the Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and was a tutor in the Learning Center, is graduating with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She plans to attend Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall as she works towards her ultimate goal of becoming an occupational therapist.

Colangelo, a proud 2003 QVCC graduate, is a caregiver, public health educator, skilled communicator, freelance writer, and professional vocalist. She has enjoyed a life-long love affair with northeast Connecticut, contributing her skills, time, and talent to a number of community causes and callings. She will be delivering the ceremony’s keynote address.

Steven and Marjolaine ’87 ’88 Townsend will also be receiving the Quinebaug Valley Community College Merit Award, which recognizes extraordinary service or lifetime commitment to QVCC. Steven Townsend is a nationally recognized business leader who co-founded United Natural Foods (UNFI) in Danielson, CT. A long-time member of the QVCC Foundation, in 2012 Steve was honored with emeritus status for his “extraordinary contribution to the Foundation’s mission.” Marge Townsend is an active community volunteer whose hard work and dedication has helped many from our community. Steve and Marge are both proud Putnam High School graduates and both started their college career at QVCC. Steven went on to graduate from Bryant University, earning both a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in Management and Information Systems. Marge graduated from Quinebaug Valley Community College with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts: General Studies and an Associate of Science in Accounting.

The Danielson campus is located at 742 Upper Maple Street. The ceremony will be held outside at the Richard C. Berry Amphitheater. Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets, as seating is not available. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place at The Woodstock Academy field house, located at 57 Academy Rd, Woodstock, CT 06281. Tickets will be limited to six per graduate. A decision will be made by 12 noon on Monday, May 23 if there is a change in venue. Additional information about the ceremony can be found on the college website at qvcc.edu/commencement.

Quinebaug Valley Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center (AMTC) will host a Women in Manufacturing Day, in celebration of Women’s History Month. On Friday, March 25 from 8:30am – 1:00pm, young women from area high schools will speak with a panel of QVCC AMTC alumnae that are currently working or have worked in a variety of manufacturing careers. Following the panel discussion, students will be split into groups. Each group will be accompanied by several AMTC alumnae to complete the following hands-on workshops:

• Making a brass whistle using the manual lathe and milling machines
• Making a personalized tag using the CNC machines
• Working with a 6-axis robotic arm
• Completing a 3D printer and laser engraving project in the engineering lab

Both visiting high schools are currently participating in the Youth Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (YMPI) program, which is part of the Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline. The program is a partnership between various area high schools and the Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), Electric Boat (EB), Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA), Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC), and Three Rivers Community College (TRCC).

This program offers manufacturing skills training to high school students who are interested in a career in manufacturing upon graduation. Students who successfully complete the program will also earn manufacturing credits to QVCC (or TRCC) if they choose to continue their manufacturing education.

“Women in Manufacturing is an opportunity for young ladies to learn about all the great career opportunities that wait for them in manufacturing,” said Jodi Clark, Assistant Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. “If young ladies want to save lives, they can do that through manufacturing. If they want to help change the environment, they can do that in manufacturing too. The sky is the limit. Women have a place in manufacturing! Our goal is to show the ladies that girls can do anything!”

Learn more about QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics programs at qvcc.edu/manufacturing. For more information about the event, please contact Jodi Clark at jclark1@qvcc.edu.