Mount Wachusett Community College Recruiting Students for Shannon Grant Senior Success Program

Mount Wachusett Community College, with generous support from the Shannon Grant, has launched a new program aiming to connect with students and provide them with support, coaching and workshops in academic, employment, and life readiness. The program is intended for high school seniors and HiSet participants or graduates who are interested in attending MWCC in the fall for either credit degree or certificate programs, or non-credit training programs.

Once accepted into the program, students will participate in various workshops including study strategy techniques, selecting college courses, completing career assessments, building self-esteem, preparing to transition to college, college admissions procedures, and completing financial aid forms.

“Through this program, I’ll be providing coaching, accountability and training to students,” noted Senior Success Program manager, local personal growth and development specialist, and MWCC outreach counselor Maria Vazquez. “I work to make sure these students are getting what they need through the completion of their senior year, on through the summer, and into their first semester at the Mount. My goal is to ensure that they are reaching their full potential.”

Students must reside in Fitchburg, Leominster or Gardner, be a first-generation college student, and meet one or more other risk factors (low-income, single parent household, etc.) in order to be eligible. Individuals interested in the program can visit mwcc.edu/senior-success to complete the application questionnaire.

About the Shannon Grant

Funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research, the Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon) is modeled after the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Comprehensive Gang Model. Shannon is a multi-sector approach used to address a community’s gang and youth violence problem. Each community receiving Shannon funding demonstrates the presence of risk factors for youth and gang violence.