By Natalie Boutiette ’25

For a brief time in the 1960s, mustaches were banned at Worcester State. In 1970, a little-known band called Fleetwood Mac performed in Sullivan Auditorium.   

Both of these details are gleaned from the new digitization of Worcester State’s student-led newspapers. As the university marks its 150th anniversary this year, this newspaper archive is available to all at libguides.worcester.edu/archives/newspapers. Led by university archivist Ross Griffiths, the digitization project was made possible by Worcester State’s membership in Digital Commonwealth, a nonprofit managed by the Boston Public Library. 

Newspapers exist to inform audiences, and, in the process, they create community and a collective memory. They also preserve history. Founded in 1874 as a commuter school, Worcester State at first struggled to foster a sense of community, Griffiths said. Starting in 1942, the first student-led newspaper, The Acorn, became a resource for students to learn about upcoming club and organization happenings. The Acorn, in other words, helped campus life emerge at Worcester State. 

The Acorn and its successor publications also offered professional experience and bonding opportunities as student journalists raced to meet deadlines in the newsroom. “It was as serious a newspaper as the Telegram & Gazette, with students tracking down sources and meeting tight deadlines,” Griffiths said.  

Today, the papers offer a retrospective look at student life. For example, the mustaches: They were banned because the administration was worried about Worcester State being associated with hippies. And the Fleetwood Mac performance? The paper reported that the 1970 Winter Carnival would feature Fleetwood Mac, Butterfield Blues Band, and Mountain, noting that “Butterfield is the better known of the three groups.” It’s an interesting reflection for today’s reader: Fleetwood Mac became one of the most popular bands of the 1970s.

Browsing the digital archive, today’s reader also learns about policy and cultural changes in higher education. Between 1967 and 1970, students protested for more independence on campuses nationwide. They wanted to be treated as adults. That’s reflected in The Acorn’s 1967 name change to The Student Voice. “The newspaper became adversarial with the administration,” said Griffiths. “Students fought to make campus more democratic.”

The Student Voice had a long and successful run—through the 2012-13 academic year, when it published its last edition. A year earlier, student journalism at Worcester State had joined the digital age with the online news and literary magazine the New Worcester Spy. 

Published for more than a decade, the New Worcester Spy became dormant at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. Its faculty advisor, Associate Professor of English Cleve Wiese, said, “There’s always rising and falling engagement” in student groups. But in this case, the digital paper reemerged soon after as the Wormtown Herald, which is now thriving in its first year on campus.

Reporters from the Wormtown Herald took a recent field trip to meet Griffiths and explore the earlier student papers. “It was eye-opening to see the evolution of student-led publications over time,” said Associate Professor of English Jamie Remillard, who, with Wiese, is faculty co-director of the Wormtown Herald. Seeing the old papers informed the student journalists’ understanding of how the Wormtown Herald fits into the history of newspapers on campus. It also helped them understand how to create a publication that meets the needs of today’s students.

Today, the Wormtown Herald publishes at wormtownherald.com and on social media. When asked about the reality of shortened attention spans among modern readers, Remillard replied, “We can’t combat those challenges, but we can adapt to them. The fact we have student journalists on campus who are curious and care, and are willing to write journalism, is giving hope that students will feel compelled to read those stories despite short attention spans. Humans are social creatures who love narratives. That doesn’t change if it is an Instagram post or a feature story.”

The Wormtown Herald has provided editor in chief Dakota Gelinas ’25 with a sense of community. “I feel more involved as a commuter now, being a part of the paper, than I was as a resident,” she said. 

While it was not a conscious choice for the start of the Wormtown Herald to coincide with Worcester State’s 150th, it’s an appropriate one. The Wormtown Herald marks the “beginning of a really golden age of newspapers on campus,” said Wiese. “It is the right time for a vibrant paper to take hold. There is a lot of energy on campus and people want to participate.”  

Natalie Boutiette, a student writer in the communications office, graduates this May with a business degree in marketing and a minor in writing.

Voices Across the Decades

1942

1942
First Issue of The Acorn

The staff held a contest to name the newspaper and chose The Acorn. Its tagline: “Big oaks from little acorns grow.”

1952

1952
Predicting the Year 2000

A (presumably) satirical article anticipated cars that go 1,000 years on a “single charge of atomic energy” and “nutritional cigarettes” to replace meals.

1961

1961
Student Illustration

This issue had a front-page drawing by staff cartoonist Pat O’Grady and interviews with “married senior women.”

1967

1967
Goodbye to The Acorn

This edition introduced The Student Voice, which aimed to cover the “vast unexplored world” instead of merely looking inward.

1970

1970
Fleetwood Mac Plays Campus

The band was less well known than Butterfield Blues Band, which also played the Winter Carnival that year. 

1994

1994
Farewell to Kurt Cobain

The death of Nirvana’s frontman hit college campuses hard. “Kurt wrote from his heart and touched the hearts of millions,” said the paper.

2009

2009
In Full Color

The paper began printing in full color in 2009. Fittingly, this issue introduced the new visual and performing arts major.

2012

2012
Last Digitized Edition

The archive ends with this issue, but student journalism continues. In 2024-25, the online-only Wormtown Herald published its first issue.

The post The Power of the Student Press appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

When Worcester State was founded in 1874, the world was in the midst of rapid change. The United States was grappling with the aftermath of the Civil War, which had ended just nine years prior, and expanding into the “Wild West” via the first transcontinental railroad, completed only five years earlier. Industrialization, which had helped build cities like Worcester, reached its zenith in Massachusetts. Still, very few homes in the United States had a flush toilet, and none had electricity or telephones.

Since the university’s founding, women gained the right to vote, two world wars were fought, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, and the Internet was invented. As we look to the future, we take a look at how far we have come, together.

1874-1932
Worcester State Normal School

Worcester State Normal School, Main Building, 1899

1874
State Normal School at Worcester opens its campus on St. Ann’s Hill. On Sept. 15, 1874, 69 students begin classes in English, history, geography, music, science, and teaching theory/practice taught by five faculty. Students intending to teach in Massachusetts attend for free; students intending to teach in other states pay $30 per year. All students pay $2 in fees for the year. Free tuition for in-state students continues into the mid 1930s.

E. Harlow Russell

1874-1909
E. Harlow Russell is first principal.

1875
Enrollment is 122.

1880
Apprenticeship program that placed Worcester State students into city schools for training and observation is introduced.

1880
Graduates’ Association, the parent organization of all current alumni activities, is founded.

Stoddard Terrace Dining Room, c. 1910

1891
First dormitory, Stoddard Terrace, housing 20 female students and faculty, is built on the St. Ann’s Hill campus.

1893
Worcester State is featured along with other state normal schools in the Massachusetts Public Schools exhibit at the Chicago World’s Fair.

1894
Gymnasium built on the St. Ann’s Hill campus. Three more faculty members are added. Courses now include Latin, French, German, mathematics, physiology, drawing and art, and literature and grammar.

1900
Enrollment is 206.

1901
A year in the dorm costs $38.

1906
Telephones are installed at the Normal School.

1909-1912
Francis Ransom Lane is second principal.

1912-1940
Dr. William B. Aspinwall is third principal; later, the position title is changed to president.

1915
Enrollment is limited to women. 63 men had attended prior to this year.

1921
A 4-year bachelor’s degree is introduced as an optional program. The 2-year and 3-year degrees are phased out by 1935.

1931
A year in the dorm costs $325.

1932-1960
Worcester State Teachers College

Students pose with the college’s sign, c. 1935

1932
School reopens at its new location on Chandler Street as Worcester State Teachers College.

1932
The oak leaf is adopted as the emblem of the school.

1935-1942
The Quarterly Review, a student-run journal, is published.

1935
The first yearbook is published.

Important historical events during their time at Worcester State, according to the Class of 1940

1938
The Great New England Hurricane causes significant damage to Worcester State’s campus.

1940
Male students are admitted for the first time since the 1910s.

1940-1941
Women’s Athletic Association is formed.

1940-1946
Clinton E. Carpenter is the fourth president.

1941-1942
Men’s Athletic Association is formed.

1942
The Acorn, the school’s newspaper, is first published. It is later published under the names The Student Voice and the New Student Voice from 1967 until 2012. The current student newspaper, The Wormtown Herald, launched in spring 2024.

1945
Enrollment is 100. The graduating class is 16.

1946
Dr. Albert Farnsworth becomes acting president following Carpenter’s death.

1947-1970
Eugene A. Sullivan is fifth president.

1949
First master’s degree is awarded.

1949
Enrollment is 315.

The new Gymnasium

1950
Men’s Basketball and Baseball become the first varsity sports at Worcester State.

1954
Tuition is $100 for in-state students and $400 for out-of-state students.

1958
The new Gymnasium is completed. The building also provides library services and has a cafeteria.

1960-2010
Worcester State College

1960
Receives State College designation. The school is officially the State College at Worcester for a period before becoming Worcester State College.

1963
Enrollment is 1,100.

1965
Sullivan Academic Center is opened as the campus’s science building. Sullivan Auditorium, a 1,100-seat, raked theater opens.

Rendering of the Sullivan building, 1963

1967
Women’s Basketball begins its first season. It is undefeated.

1970
Fleetwood Mac performs at Worcester State’s Winter Carnival.

1970-1975
Robert E. Leestamper is sixth president.

1971
The Learning Resource Center opens.

Chandler Village, 1973

1973
Office of Multicultural Affairs is established.

1973
Chandler Village student residence halls open.

1973
Jane Fonda, actress and activist, speaks on campus.

1974
In-state tuition is $300 annually while out-of-state tuition is $600. Chandler Village residents pay $750-850 in housing costs annually, depending on accommodations.

1975-1982
Joseph J. Orze is seventh president.

1978
Student Center opens.

Student Center, 1978

1978
Pop band Orleans performs.

1982
Enrollment is 4,000.

1982-1992
Philip D. Vairo is eighth president.

1990
Dowden Hall opens.

1992-2002
Kalyan K. Ghosh is ninth president.

1994
First Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Breakfast.

1994
Worcester State Foundation is established.

2000
The Ghosh Science & Technology Center opens.

2000
Actor Danny Glover is Commencement speaker and special guest at the 125th anniversary gala.

2000
The Latino Education Institute (LEI) is founded.

2000
Enrollment is 5,500.

Janelle C. Ashley

2002
Janelle C. Ashley becomes first woman president of Worcester State.

2004
Wasylean Hall opens.

2005
Sullivan Academic Center gets a $14.6 million renovation.

2007
Campus Parking Garage opens.

2010-Now
91´ŤĂ˝

2010
Renamed 91´ŤĂ˝.

2010
Dowden Hall is expanded.

2011
Barry M. Maloney becomes eleventh president.

2014
Sheehan Hall opens.

2016
The Gene J. and Julianne DeFeudis Wellness Center opens.

2020-2021
Worcester State moves all classes online during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023
Largest incoming first-year class.

2024
Most diverse incoming class in history, with 39% of students identifying as ALANA/BIPOC (African, Latine, Asian, Native American and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color).

The post 150 Years of Worcester State appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

Story by Taryn Plumb ’04
Photos by Matt Wright ’10

College is a gateway to new opportunities, discovery, and the next phase of life.

However, navigating into higher education can be challenging and confusing for many young people. Pathways for underserved groups and those who are first in their family to attend college can be unestablished, resources can be scant, and the whole idea of college may seem unattainable. Meanwhile, some students who do successfully enroll may find the experience far more overwhelming than they ever expected. 

Over the decades, 91´ŤĂ˝ has worked to establish strong college pipelines to help students in Central Massachusetts gain access to higher education—and, just as importantly, succeed once they get in. The pipelines begin early—all year round, elementary school children visit the campus for a variety of activities from Math Madness with the women’s basketball team to working in the Worcester State Teaching Garden. High school students take part in numerous activities including National African American Read In & ALANA Preview Day and summer STEM programs.

Time on campus can be pivotal for high school students who are beginning to explore their education career possibilities. But the education system can be complex, and many Latine students—particularly those from low-income backgrounds or immigrant families—struggle to find their way. The Latino Education Institute (LEI) helps students overcome these obstacles by actively engaging with local high schools.

“Our programs offer students opportunities for academic enrichment, personal development, and community engagement, ultimately empowering them to succeed in school, college, and beyond,” said LEI Executive Director MarĂ­a A. Juncos-Gautier. 

LEI has been collaborating with local high schools for 25 years and has two initiatives tailored to Latine students’ unique needs and challenges: Latinos Involved in Discovering Educational Resources (LIDER) and the Youth Civics Union (YCU). LIDER provides students and parents with year-round activities aimed at increasing access to and enrollment in higher education. Participants get personalized support and guidance on college readiness, financial aid, and the college application process. 

YCU is a youth-led leadership program that aims to increase post-graduation readiness through advocacy and community engagement. They become involved in youth participatory action research projects that investigate and address issues in their communities. They then present their findings and recommendations at YCU’s annual Youth Summit celebrated every year at Worcester State’s Student Center.  

LEI has shown great success over the years. According to Juncos-Gautier, roughly 80% of the high schoolers the institute serves annually have enrolled in college over the last 10 years, and roughly 33% have applied to Worcester State each year. Similarly, the university has had a high acceptance rate for LEI-affiliated applicants, with 81% of applications accepted annually.

Supporting Latine students who predominantly come from immigrant and low-income families is of “utmost importance,” said Juncos-Gautier. Worcester State has recently been designated an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and it is on the way to becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution.

“Education, as we all know, is a potent tool for social mobility and economic empowerment,” said Juncos-Gautier. LEI’s approach can help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty within the local community, said Juncos-Gautier. Just as importantly, she added, “increasing the representation of Latine individuals in higher education enriches our society, fostering innovation, creativity, and understanding.”

Easing the transition to college 

For many new students, college can be a bit of a culture shock. Whether they’re living on campus or commuting, it is an entirely new experience. Worcester State’s Upward Bound program helps to ease this transition—serving as a sort of college preview. Students participate in educational courses as well as a range of self-confidence boosting activities and events, collaborative sessions, college visits, and trips to cultural sites. 

Coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), Upward Bound offers two different avenues: a five-week summer residential academy and 22 Saturday sessions throughout the academic year. Both are offered at no cost to Worcester Public Schools students, typically ninth and tenth graders who are first generation, low income, and/or African American, Latin American, Asian American, or Native American. 

“Students come here and are exposed to what college is going to look like,” said Eriberto Mora Carrera, assistant director of OMA. “They get the chance to build their critical thinking skills, their problem solving skills.”

Upward Bound programming covers English, STEM, performing arts, and other subjects. “We expose them to course material as sort of an excerpt, so that they can be prepared and excited,” said Laxmi Bissoondial, director of the OMA (who herself is an Upward Bound grad). 

Students also participate in sessions around college admission, academic and financial aid, career counseling, and skill development, as well as more broad-reaching concepts around self-awareness, collaboration, and interpersonal skills. And, to give them an idea of the different college experiences and what might work best for them, they live on campus half the time and commute the rest. During their weeks on campus, students are involved in different programming, workshops, and social and after-hours events, and they have access to peer mentors.

Worcester State assistant professor Anne Armstrong works with local public school children to explore the world of Massachusetts pollinators during the Avanza STEM Expo in April.

Throughout the five weeks, they visit a variety of colleges and universities throughout New England, both private and public, to gain an understanding of the differences, and they have the opportunity to ask questions of recruiters. To explore cultural differences, students are taken on trips to sites such as the New England Peace Pagoda in Leverett, Mass., and the African American Heritage Trail on Martha’s Vineyard. 

Bissoondial explained that the recruitment process is elaborate—and for good reason. Students need to set specific goals and make a strong commitment to the program. Their support network must also be on board; their parents, teachers, and guidance counselors must all fill out questionnaires. 

“We want to know that all of these folks around you are committed to your goals,” said Bissoondial. “It’s really centered around the students and their learning experience.”

The second element of Upward Bound—the 22 academic-year workshops—is designed to build on academic skills, Bissoondial explained. They participate in exercises aimed at increasing their problem solving and critical thinking, self-awareness, time management, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, and group dynamics. They also learn about career development from guest experts. 

“Many of our students have learned that sometimes school can be boring, or it can just be a pathway to get a job,” said Bissoondial. “We want them to be excited about learning and be able to visualize themselves in a profession—and not just a job.”

Earning early college credits 

Some high school students can’t wait to get to college—while many are also (understandably) concerned about cost. 

Early College Worcester addresses both of these scenarios, offering free college courses to high school students through spring, summer, and fall sessions. The program is a partnership of Worcester State, Quinsigamond Community College, and Worcester Public Schools. It is part of a state initiative launched in 2017 by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and is extended to all Worcester Public Schools students. 

“This is a program that aligns perfectly with Worcester State’s mission, and that is to provide an opportunity for every member of the Commonwealth to earn a degree,” said Sara Grady, associate dean of Graduate and Continuing Education. 

Early College Worcester offers several pathways, from computer and IT to healthcare, elementary education, and criminal justice. Courses are also wide ranging—personal health, financial accounting, the basics of Python programming, statistics, general psychology, computer science, and introduction to business, to name a few. 

Biology assistant professor Luis Rosado leads students through a demonstration with an Oculus Quest Head-Mounted Virtual Reality headset during the Avanza STEM Expo.

Subjects are informed by student demand and need as well as feedback from local schools, explained Ryan Forsythe, vice president for Enrollment Management. “There’s some variety that hopefully catches everybody’s interest,” he said. 

One of the most attractive things about Early College Worcester, he said, is that many courses satisfy high school graduation requirements (senior English, for instance). And they transfer to two or four-year public universities to satisfy prerequisite courses. “Now you have credits already in the bank, you have less financial obligation,” said Forsythe. 

Typically, students amass an average of 12 credits through Early College, although they can certainly earn more—one particularly ambitious participant, for instance, is set to enter college with 45 college credits, Forsythe noted. The program largely recruits 12th and 11th grade students, but there are also some 10th graders and even the occasional freshman. 

Beyond the pure educational element, students can participate in college preparatory workshops and bootcamps and various social engagements. Ultimately, the program “improves their confidence in entering college,” said Forsythe. 

[See image gallery at www.worcester.edu] The university offers Early College-like programs beyond Worcester, too, Forsythe explained (these are not designated by the state). He estimated that the college offers so-called dual enrollment programs to 20 different school districts across the state. “It won’t be long before we are enrolling thousands of students in the programs that we call ‘early college,’” said Forsythe. 

Eligible high school students can participate in a range of courses, and they are also connected with “near-peer” mentors who act as a support system, checking in with them throughout the semester to make sure they’re on track and not getting overwhelmed by the experience. 

“We’re able to encourage them not only to be successful in the early college program,” said Forsythe, “but to see themselves as likely college-going students in the future.” 

Top image: Worcester State associate professor of physics Nabin Malakar works with students from Worcester Public Schools during LEI’s Avanza STEM Expo in April, one of numerous programs that bring local middle and high school students to campus.

The post Building the College Pipeline appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

SHAUGHNESSY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (A)

Helen G. Shaughnessy Administration Building
Helen G. Shaughnessy ’43, a beloved alumna and esteemed professor and administrator, was an active member of the Worcester State community for more than 60 years. She enjoyed a notable career as an elementary school teacher, elementary supervisor, Worcester State associate professor, administrator, Foundation Board member, and volunteer. She established an endowed scholarship for education majors in 1999. Pledges and gifts of over $1.2 million from Shaughnessy’s classmates, students, friends, and colleagues—including her friend Albert J. Pilon Jr., who gave $1 million, and Phillip M. Wasylean II ’63, who gave $200,000—made the 2010 naming of this building possible.

The George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Theater
The George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation awarded Worcester State College a $500,000 grant in 2006 to renovate the theater. This gift was instrumental in the preparation of a new bachelor of arts degree in visual and performing arts. The Fullers have supported Worcester State in many other ways, helping to fund the construction of the Wellness Center, supporting the Latino Education Institute, numerous scholarships, and academic programming.

SULLIVAN ACADEMIC CENTER (B)

Sullivan Academic Building
The former Science Building was rechristened the Sullivan Academic Building in 1980 to honor fifth president Dr.  Eugene A. Sullivan, who presided over a period of unprecedented growth.

Barbara (Hickey) O’Brien Department of Education
Alumni couple Robert K. O’Brien ’58 (1934-2023) and Barbara (Hickey) O’Brien ’57 (1936-2015) were devoted and active members of the Worcester State community their entire lives, and among the university’s first major donors. Barbara spent 34 years as a special education teacher in the Worcester Public Schools. After Barbara passed away in 2015, Bob created a new endowment for the Department of Education to honor her years of service as a teacher. Over their lifetime, the couple contributed nearly $1 million dollars to Worcester State, supporting students with eight endowed scholarships and founding the Robert K. O’Brien Next Big Idea contest.

John F. Eager Auditorium
The Class of 1957 commemorated its 50th class reunion in 2007 by dedicating this education classroom for late professor John F. Eager, their class advisor. Eager was the basketball and baseball coach from 1950 to 1957 and was instrumental in the development of both varsity sports. He also served as chairman of the Biology Department, associate director of Continuing Education, and an advisor to student veterans.

Dennis Brutus/Merrill Goldwyn Center for the Study of Human Rights
The center was co-founded in 1982 by late Professor of English Merrill Goldwyn (left) (1931-2012) and Worcester resident Rev. Paul Ferrin. Dennis Brutus (1924-2009) was a South African poet and anti-apartheid activist. In 1982, he delivered the inaugural address for the new center and later gifted to Worcester State an extensive collection of his  papers and letters.

GHOSH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING (C)

Ghosh Science and Technology Center
This prominent 110,000 square foot science building built in 2000 with state support was named for President Dr. Kalyan K. Ghosh, who led the university from 1992 to 2002. He invested in technology to facilitate computer-based learning and create a campus-wide network. Dr. Ghosh also launched the non-profit Worcester State Foundation in 1994 to attract philanthropic support for the university.

Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery
Alumna Mary Cosgrove Dolphin, M.Ed. ’57 (1931-1992) taught art at Worcester State for more than 30 years, until her retirement in 1986. Many public school teachers took her classes, and through them, she made an impact on students throughout the region. She is the artist who created the university’s centennial logo marking Worcester State’s first 100 years. Two of Dolphin’s closest childhood friends, Elizabeth “Betty” Mahan, M.Ed. ’56, Ed.D., and Marilyn Miller Pula, Ed.D., together with the Worcester State Class of 1953 Reunion Committee, donated the funds for the art gallery.

Dr. GB and Lexi Singh Simulation Center
The university dedicated the simulation center, which trains nursing students in the care of patients in a realistic environment, to Dr. GB Singh and Lexi Singh ’85 in recognition of their contributions to the Dr. Lillian R. Goodman Department of Nursing. The Singhs have also endowed a Nursing Faculty Development Fund to assist faculty seeking advanced degrees. Lexi Singh is a 1985 graduate of the nursing program, and their daughter, Suzie (Singh) Nebelung, received a master’s degree in education in 2000.

Imoigele P. Aisiku, M.D., ’92 STEM Center
Dr. Imoigele Aisiku, M.D., ’92, an emergency care physician, gave a $1 million gift in 2017 to establish the center and support Worcester State students competing for top STEM graduate schools and careers. The center advances research in science, technology, and health fields and hosts the Aisiku Interdisciplinary Research Team Program, which provides undergraduates the opportunity to engage in pre-graduate-school research.

Lillian R. Goodman Department of Nursing
As founder of the Nursing Department in 1973, Dr. Lillian R. Goodman (1923-2018) built a visionary program renowned for graduating outstanding baccalaureate nursing students, many of whom go on to be leaders in the field. Her talent for teaching and mentoring was unparalleled, and she inspired countless graduates to reach their full potential. Early nursing program graduates Ellen Gaucher M.S.N. ’76, Anne Bourgeois ’77, Ed.D., and Jean Campaniello ’77, Ph.D. initiated the efforts to name the department for Goodman.

RESIDENCE LIFE HALLS (D)

Wasylean Hall
The first of his family to attend college, Phil Wasylean ’63 (1941- 2020) credited Worcester State Teachers College for giving him the foundation to succeed in his 42-year teaching career. In his lifetime, Wasylean donated more than $1 million to benefit students. The university commemorates his legacy each year in November with “Phil Day,” celebrated on National Philanthropy Day.

Dowden Hall
This residence life building is named for the late Vera Dowden Baldwin ’34, M.Ed. ’53 (1912-2009), who graduated from Worcester State Teachers College. She was an elementary school teacher and assistant principal before joining the Education Department faculty in 1957. In 1963, she was named Dean of Women and, in 1970, became the college’s first dean of students.

Sheehan Hall
After a successful career in the U.S. Marine Corps, Lt. Col. James F. Sheehan ’55 (1933-2016) used his math and business skills to embark on a second successful career as a venture capitalist. He was one of our most generous benefactors, sharing $4.5 million to benefit students and faculty. Sheehan’s support underwrites scholarships, the undergraduate Academic Excellence Awards, the Lt. Col. James F. Sheehan ’55 Honors Program, and international study.

WELLNESS CENTER (E)

Gene J. and Julianne DeFeudis Wellness Center
With lifetime gifts of over $1 million, the DeFeudises have supported 17 different programs, including scholarships that have benefitted more than 250 students. They were instrumental in the fundraising efforts for the construction of the Wellness Center, raising $1.6 million to build it with their generous $250,000 matching gift during the capital campaign in 2016. The center has since become the campus hub for health and fitness, special events, and athletic training and competition.

George and Lillian Albro Lancer Room & George H. Albro Memorial Golf Tournament
In honor of George Albro’s 70th birthday, his wife, Lillian Albro, ’65, M.Ed. ’68, friends, and family raised money to dedicate the first-floor Lancer Room when the Wellness Center first opened its doors. The room serves as a favorite gathering place for everyone on campus and is home to the campus Starbucks. George Albro ’65, M.Ed. ’68 (1943-2021) was a beloved alumnus, local educator, and coach. A tireless Worcester State ambassador, he was a member of the Lancer Hall of Fame and served as a member of the Foundation Board for many years. He and Lillian were both graduates of the Class of 1965, and Lillian remains an active member of the Worcester State alumni community. The annual George H. Albro ’65 Memorial Golf Tournament every August was founded in 2022 to raise money for Athletics.

Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund
Created by Gregg ’86 and Pamela ’87 Rosen, this fund supports a variety of cancer detection and prevention programming, health education, and wellness activities. Through the fund, the university launched a Wellness Expo in 2023 that drew more than 50 exhibitors and hundreds of students, faculty, and staff in 2024. In addition, the Rosen program underwrites the annual pink out games by Worcester State athletics teams to raise cancer awareness. As generous and active members of the Worcester State community, the Rosens have given multiple gifts over the years, including gifts to support scholarships, a new photo booth in the residence halls that enables students to create a professional headshot for career purposes, and the Distinguished Alumni Awards Wall, located on the ground floor of the Administration Building. They also purchased a building at 535 Chandler St. and gifted it to the university for use as the Latino Education Institute headquarters.

John Brissette Competition Court
When John Brissette ’88 joined the Board of Trustees in 2002, he made one of his goals to help Worcester State secure funding for a new first-class fitness center. This center now exists, in part, because of Brissette’s vision, effort, and effective leadership. The 1,500-seat competition court hosts student-athletes competing on the university’s NCAA Division III teams or intramural teams and special events throughout the year.

OUTDOOR ATHLETICS (F & G)

John F. Coughlin Memorial Field home to Lancer football, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, and women’s lacrosse teams was dedicated at Homecoming 1986 to John F. Coughlin Sr. (1919-1986), the first and most successful hockey coach in Worcester State history. He was posthumously inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.

The Kevin D. Lyons Baseball Diamond at Rockwood Field was dedicated in 2012 in honor of the late Kevin D. Lyons, ’65, ’71 (1943- 2008), the first baseball player inducted into the Worcester State Hall of Fame in 1986 and a lifelong supporter of local youth and interscholastic athletic teams.

STUDENT CENTER (H)

Fallon Room
The Fallon Room in the Student Center was dedicated in 1983 to the late Walter Carroll Fallon, who served as the college’s alumni association director from 1970 to 1972. His wife Mary Fallon serves on the Foundation Board to support efforts Walter began during his tenure.

Foster Room
This conference room is named for Dr. Elizabeth V. Foster, who taught at Worcester State College from 1937 to 1965. She was responsible for improving the pre-service and in-service training of teachers throughout the Commonwealth. Through her work, she impacted educators for decades. She was known for encouraging her education students remain “Firm, Friendly, Fearless, and Fair.”

Thea’s Pantry
The pantry provides food and other essentials to students, staff, and faculty in need. It is named after alumna Thea Aschkenase ’07 (1923-2019), a Holocaust survivor who was liberated from the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945 and was a life-long advocate against hunger. Aschkenase graduated from Worcester State with a degree in urban studies in her early 80s and was a beloved friend to many in the Worcester State community.

The Honorable John J. Binienda Center for Civic Engagement
Alumnus and longtime 17th Worcester District State Rep., the late John J. Binienda, ’70, D.P.A., h.c. ’14, donated $100,000 to 91´ŤĂ˝ to support and expand its Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement. The center allows students to experience the rewards of giving back and civic responsibility—values that Binienda (1947-2014) exemplified. In 2016, the university honored the family with the naming of the Binienda Family Green at the Wellness Center.

Memorials

Captain Ross A. Reynolds ’17 Memorial
This 2,000-square-foot plaza and meditative cast-iron kettle fountain erected in front of the Sullivan Academic Center in 2024 was designed to create a welcoming space that honors the life of U.S. Marine Corps. Captain Ross A. Reynolds ’17, who died in an Osprey accident in 2022. During his time at Worcester State, Reynolds was a Presidential Student Ambassador and NROTC member and touched the lives of many in the Worcester State community.

Vanessa Dunn Memorial
John Dunn spent a year and a half fundraising to create a memorial to his sister and best friend Vanessa Dunn, who died in a tragic Christmas Eve car accident in 2009 just five credits short of earning her degree in criminal justice. The granite table bearing her carved resemblance, with four benches, sits quietly underneath a tree adjacent to the Sullivan Building. Worcester State awarded her a bachelor’s degree posthumously and honored her place in its 2010 graduation ceremony with an empty seat holding only a red rose. Vanessa was the beloved daughter of Jack and Debbie Dunn. The family also established the Dunn Family Memorial Scholarship for criminal justice majors to honor Vanessa and her father Jack, a retired Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Colonel who passed away in 2022.

Robin Kaplan Memorial
Alumna Robin Kaplan ’90 died on 9/11 when the plane she was flying on, American Airlines Flight 11, was hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center. The Worcester State Foundation established the Robin Kaplan/TJX Scholarship for Worcester State students who are economically disadvantaged and are of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds who demonstrate both need and academic merit. This park next to the Wellness Center was named in her honor. The Class of 2002 contributed two stone benches to the park, and the Student Government Association made a donation toward the park’s plaque.

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Photos by Matt Wright ’10

Every college campus tells a story, in part, through its artwork, gifts, and unique features. Worcester State’s iconic Tiffany Gates along Chandler Street welcome everyone to campus. Here are the stories of some of the other treasures you will find in our buildings and on our grounds.

Lake Ellie

The picturesque “Lake Ellie” adjacent to Coughlin Memorial Field is less of a lake today and more of a retention pool that collects rainwater runoff. It is believed to be an old farm pond that survived from the old Willow Farm, which stood on the site before 1932. It appears in photos from at least the 1940s, before the campus was really developed. Today, with its fountain, vegetation, and footbridge, it is a popular spot to reflect. The lake is named for Eleanor Nordberg ’66, who worked at the library and fed the ducks in the pond. A 1965 Acorn newspaper article indicates that university custodian Tony Wolochowicz honored Eleanor’s kindness by naming the water body for her and posting Lake Ellie regulations: “No fishing, trapping, speed boats or water skiing.”

Dinosaur Tracks

Sitting on the lawn outside the Student Center are genuine dinosaur footprints mounted on a concrete slab. The fossilized footprints were collected in East Holyoke, Mass., by the late geo-biologist Dr. Allen P. Russell ’68, a Worcester State College alum, former faculty member, and lifelong science educator. Russell, born and raised in Worcester, had a lifelong interest in paleontology and collecting fossils and donated them in 1969. The dinosaur tracks were made by an anchisaurus, a small dinosaur averaging just over six feet and 60 pounds from the early Jurassic Period. Russell collected the sample in 1969 and later gifted it to Worcester State.

Joan of Arc

Presented by the Class of 1902, this large plaster-cast Joan of Arc, a patron saint of France canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1920, sits on the second floor of the Helen Shaughnessy Administration building. As the 47th class gift in school history, the statue is a prized relic; many of the other gifts from that era, though well documented in the university archives, wore out from use or were damaged or lost. The plaster cast is a replica of Henri Chapu’s Jeanne d’Arc Ă  DomrĂŠmy, a marble statue crafted in the late 1800s that is one of the most widely reproduced images of Joan of Arc.

Johnston Terrestrial Globe

Former professor Tim Hagopian discovered this treasure in 2006 on the fourth floor of the Shaughnessy Administration Building. When the building was the only one on campus, the fourth floor served as the library. It is believed that the 30-inch globe belonged to the Worcester Normal School and was moved to the library when the campus relocated in 1932. Hagopian arranged for its restoration with one of the nation’s few antique globe restorers, and today it sits within a glass case in the lobby of the Ghosh Science and Technology Building. The globe was made in England in 1903 by the British company W. & A.K. Johnston, one of the premier globe manufacturers of the time.

Socrates

The six-foot-tall granite statue of Socrates, crafted by the late artist and local stonemason Aldo Gatti, was gifted to Worcester State College by members of the city’s Greek community. It was unveiled in front of the Sullivan building in September 1988, with the cover of the event program reading “Virtue is Knowledge.”

Replicas of Ancient Assyrian Artworks

The Helen Shaughnessy Administration Building houses two replicas of ancient gypsum wall reliefs showing hunting scenes with Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II, who ruled from 883 to 859 BCE. The originals, held by Harvard, are from the Palace at Kalhu in Nimrud, Iraq, and date from the late 9th century BCE. These replicas, cast from the originals, are gifts from the Worcester State Class of 1900.

Lancer Oak

Sitting right at the heart of campus, the Lancer Oak and its sprawling branches are difficult to miss. The name was given to this magnificent, sturdy oak in 1999 as part of Worcester State’s 125th anniversary celebration. An exact age of the tree has never been agreed upon, but the tree appears in photographs of the area dating back as early as 1938. The Lancer Oak was likely standing tall before the Worcester Normal School even relocated to Chandler Street.

Sundial

Need to check the time on your way to class? The sundial, located in front of the Shaughnessy Administration Building, might be able to help, provided that the sky is not too cloudy. Set inside a stone pedestal, the rudimentary timekeeping device was gifted to the first principal of the Worcester Normal School, E. Harlow Russell, in 1900 by the Worcester State Graduates’ Association to mark his 25 years of service. First placed on the original Prospect Street campus, the sundial moved around quite a bit as the school expanded and even disappeared for a time to undergo some restoration. It was placed on the Chandler Street campus some time after 1932.

1796 Royal Standard English Dictionary

The late Robert Mullin ’53, M.Ed. ’56, was a generous benefactor of his alma mater for his entire life. When he passed away in 2021 at the age of 91, he left one more gift: his Manhattan apartment and its contents, which included a collection of six rare books. One book in the collection was a 1796 Royal Standard English Dictionary—what university archivist Ross Griffiths called “our superstar.” The dictionary was published in Worcester, Mass., on the press of publisher Isaiah Thomas, who established Worcester’s first newspaper and founded the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester. On July 14, 1776, Thomas delivered the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Massachusetts—memorialized with a star in front of Worcester City Hall. “Part of what makes this a great item is that Isaiah Thomas was a very significant person in the history of the Revolution and the history of printing,” said Griffiths. “It is a real piece of Worcester history.” It is kept in the Library’s Special Collections.

Top image: Lake Ellie. Photo by Matt Wright ’10.

Anchisaurus image by Getty Images/Warpaintcobra. All other photos by Matt Wright ’10.

The post Worcester State’s Treasures appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Chandler Street sits a small patch of greenery that is a local hub for education and community engagement. Established in 2011, the Worcester State Teaching Garden is a beloved space used by members of the university and its surrounding neighborhoods.

The Teaching Garden is run by the Urban Action Institute, a division of Worcester State’s Urban Studies Department that focuses on outreach and community action. The Urban Action Institute provides students with various opportunities for field-based learning, and the garden is one of their main programs.

“We aim to educate everybody and anybody about urban gardening,” said garden manager Isabel Bartlett, a graduate student studying biotechnology. Bartlett has been involved with the teaching garden since 2019 and is in her second year as manager.

The quarter-acre garden is located across the street from the Ghosh Science and Technology Center and DeFeudis Wellness Center parking lot. It is active almost all year long, with the only slow season during the dead of winter. Even when there are no formal events going on, something is always growing, and there is always work to be done. “We always have something going on there. I would say the absolute busiest time is late summer into fall,” said Bartlett.

In the fall, the Urban Studies Department offers a practicum that lets Worcester State students earn credits by getting their hands dirty in the garden. As part of the curriculum, they work with students from the adjacent Chandler Magnet School to teach lessons on urban gardening, health and nutrition, sustainability, and more. “The students from Chandler Magnet absolutely love it,” said Midaly Carrasquillo Delgado, assistant director of the Urban Action Institute. “They could spend all day out there just playing, planting, exploring.”

There is a wide range of fruits and vegetables grown within the garden, including bok choy, onions, tomatoes, and various herbs. “When the garden’s in full swing, there is so much weeding, watering, and harvesting to do,” said Bartlett, “and it’s really difficult to stay on top of everything.”

Many of the crops grown in the garden are shared among members of the community. In the past, particularly large harvests have allowed the Urban Action Institute to make sizable donations of fresh produce.

“One year, we had a very, very big tomato harvest,” said Carrasquillo Delgado. “I was able to donate a lot of tomatoes to a food pantry in my hometown. We brought some over to Bet Shalom last year, too.”

To celebrate Earth Day, the Urban Action Institute invites community members to visit the teaching garden and help prepare it for the busy planting season. At this year’s annual cleanup, students, staff, and faculty all chipped in to pull weeds and clear debris from the lawn and garden beds.

English major Crispin Mooney was one of the students pitching in at the Earth Day cleanup this year. Mooney visited the teaching garden for a class he previously took at Worcester State and has enjoyed spending time there ever since. “It’s a nice place to hang out when it’s quiet.” “We welcome students to come here, relax, study, or prepare for that presentation coming up,” said Danielle Morales, assistant professor of urban studies and acting director of the Urban Action Institute. “It’s a space for everybody.”

The post Worcester State’s Urban Oasis appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

As 91´ŤĂ˝ celebrates its 150th anniversary, a restoration project has turned back the hands of time to unveil the magnificence of a university landmark that stands as a testament to the loyalty of its alumni.

In early spring 2024, the university embarked on a project to bring back the glory of its historic Tiffany Gates, the towering 110-year-old wrought iron gates that mark the official entrance to Worcester State.

Installed in 1914 at the Worcester State Normal School on St. Ann’s Hill, the gates were moved to their current spot along Chandler Street when the school relocated to the west side of Worcester in 1932. That year, the school changed its name to Worcester State Teachers College.

“They are a physical link to our origins, and that’s important,” Sandra Olson, assistant vice president for Facilities, Operations, and Planning, said. “There have been countless pictures that graduates in their caps and gowns have taken at those gates with their families. We wanted to preserve that continuity of year after year and class after class enjoying them.”

The graceful gates are a visual centerpiece on campus and a favorite symbol of the university. They have withstood the test of time and are the inspiration for the university’s 150th anniversary logo.

Over time, rust and decay threatened their timeless beauty. Restoration became imperative if the gates were to endure much longer, Olson said. The gates are unusual because not only were they designed by Tiffany, as other iron gates often were, but also they were made by the highly regarded craftsmen in the company’s studios in Corona, Queens, N.Y.

The studios were founded by renowned decorative artist Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), son of the founder of the famous New York jewelry store. Best known for stained glass, including beautiful art nouveau lamps, Tiffany Studios also produced metalwork including wrought iron, though only for a relatively brief time, which makes the gates even more distinctive.

Restoring them preserves their artistic and cultural value, Olson said, and also ensures their structural integrity and longevity.

After a lengthy search, the university last spring turned to Hammersmith Studios of Canton, Mass., a highly regarded metalworking firm, to breathe new life into these gatekeepers of history.

Olson chose Hammersmith because she wanted a restoration company that had experience working on similar projects, and Hammersmith had an outstanding reputation for their ironwork for prestigious institutions like Harvard and Yale. Their special expertise made them the right choice for the restoration project, she said.

“It was important to fi nd a restoration company that understood the value and craftsmanship of the gates and would be able to restore them to their original condition,” she said.

At a cost of $1,100, the gates were a gift of the Worcester Normal School’s Graduates’ Association, an alumni organization that launched a fundraising eff ort in 1911, according to a history of the association in the university’s archives. At a meeting of the class secretaries on March 25, 1911, it was decided that adding iron gates to the campus, as was the style at other institutions of higher education back then, would be a fitting way for the graduates to express their gratitude to their alma mater.

Once that decision was made, a fundraising letter was sent to association members, stating in part:

The northeast entrance to the grounds is the approach used by all comers by car, by carriage, or by automobile, and in the case of a stranger the first impression of the institution is gained at this place.

A handsome gateway there, to cost in the neighborhood of a thousand dollars, would add greatly to the dignity and attractiveness of the grounds; if it grounds; if it should be placed there by the alumni and suitably inscribed it would stand as long as the school endures, a proof of the generous devotion of the graduate body.

We number almost fourteen hundred loyal souls, and the experience of the past indicates that they will rally to the support of their Alma Mater… A contribution of a dollar from every member would provide, and more, the necessary amount… Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel.

They finally reached the required sum and even went beyond it, with $1,120.78 raised. There were many delays before the order could be satisfactorily placed, however, and then there were unexpected difficulties setting up the gates, the Association history states.

So, although the tablet posted at the gates bears the date 1913, it was really the spring of 1914 before they were in place, and their presentation was made part of the exercises of the 40th anniversary celebration that September.

At the dedication, Miss Arabella Tucker, a founding faculty member who graduated from Worcester Normal School in 1876 and served as secretary of the Graduates’ Association, described the gates as the college’s “everlasting doors.” She urged then-principal William B. Aspinwall to guard well the gates in service to mankind, according to a 1975 newspaper article written by the late Professor Emeritus Robert F. McGraw ’63, who taught history at Worcester State until 1991.

By 1974, the gates had been damaged by a snowplow and were in need of repair. The Alumni Association under the leadership of political science professor David Twiss led a fundraising effort as part of the school’s 100th anniversary, and the gates were repaired and reinstalled in 1975.

“Today a whole new Worcester State exists, growing, vigorous, and optimistic,” McGraw wrote. “Much has changed, yet as the gates symbolize, much remains. The gates once more stand proudly as the formal entrance to the college and the world of learning.… More, they are visible proof that the alumni promise of old, that the gates shall stand evermore, has been fulfilled.”

As the university looked ahead to its 150th anniversary, the gates were again in need of restoration and preservation to maintain their intrinsic value to the university, and by last spring the project could no longer be delayed, Olson said. About 17 years ago, Olson invited the international auction and appraisal firm Skinner & Co. to inspect the gates. Skinner said it would cost somewhere between $26,000 or $56,000 to replace them. However, Olson said the value of the gates is not in their monetary worth, but in their historical and sentimental value as the first alumni gift to the institution.

The Hammersmith team working to restore the gates was led by master blacksmith Carl Close Jr., who said he appreciated their historical significance and the provenance of Tiffany Studios. “Tiffany started the iron part of their business around 1910, and these were completed in 1914, so it was fairly early in their career,” he said. “They stopped making ironwork in the 1930s during the Depression after Tiffany developed health problems and passed away, so they are fairly rare.”

Close said he approaches the restoration process by trying to understand a piece’s original craftsmanship. “First, I try to get inside the head of the person who made it, and from there, you can kind of reverse engineer it with the repairs to get it back to the way it was when they first made it. I’ve developed a good feeling for it just from doing this type of work for almost 40 years and seeing a lot of old ironwork and how it was made.”

The gates needed a lot of work to restore their structural integrity and ensure their longevity, Close said. The consequences of decades of water infiltration was one of the main challenges Hammersmith faced. The water had made its way inside the gates where extensive rusting had created large holes in some areas. The rust was so severe in spots that only the many coats of paint that had been applied over the years were holding parts together.

“It’s like if you owned a 1972 Buick, and over the wheel wells, it looks okay, but you put your finger on it, and it actually goes through it. That’s kind of the way it was with these in places,” Close said.

The biggest surprise, perhaps, was damage from animals: birds and other critters had made nests inside the gates, and the acids and salts from their waste further damaged the metal.

“It’s almost like opening an onion,” Close said. “You start to see all the layers of paint and repairs and things that shouldn’t have been done, and finally when you get to the bottom of it, you see where the real problem was, and most of the time it’s because of water infiltration and delayed maintenance.”

Water and other environmental factors accelerate the natural tendency of metals to revert over time to the ores they originally were before being transformed in the forging process, he said. “Most of the time when you start repairing things, you notice that the problems are caused by the environment because metal naturally wants to turn back into dust,” he said.

That natural process of decomposition over time now has been set back a hundred years by the restoration project. The Tiffany gates have been restored and were reinstalled in April 2024 in time for spring Commencement.

“This restoration project is a testament to Worcester State’s commitment to preserving its rich history and heritage,” Olson said. “The gates have been restored to their former glory, ensuring their preservation for future generations.”

The post Making a Grand Re-entry appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

Late 1800s-early 1900s

Students have been playing sports at Worcester State for more than 100 years. The university’s archives contain photos of women’s basketball from 1897 and women’s volleyball from around 1920. In the 1910s, women played in softball tournaments. These early athletics activities began as physical education before expanding into clubs such as the Men’s and Women’s Athletics Associations that hosted both weekly and intercollegiate competition.

1940s

In the 1940s, athletics grew thanks to the efforts of World War II veteran Al G. Fotiades ’50 and several of his fellow Lancers. As a freshman at Worcester State Teachers College, Fotiades along with nine other students formed the 1946-47 men’s basketball team. The team played their home games in a standing-room-only gymnasium that was located on the first floor of the Shaughnessy Administration Building and went 8-1 in their inaugural season.

1950s

Baseball started in 1951, the second varsity team at the college, and has had an impressive record in its nearly 75 years. From 1966 to 2022, the team had 561 wins and, under the leadership of Coach Dirk Baker (1996-2022), went to the NCAAs six times.

By 1953, Worcester State Teachers College was in need of a better logo and identity for the players. At the time, uniforms simply read “State,” but most of the teams they played were also state colleges and had the same word on their uniforms. John Mockler, the first athletic director and catalyst for most of the men’s sports at Worcester State, studied the Massachusetts state seal for some inspiration and landed on “Lancers,” based on the arrow in the state seal. He commissioned an artist at the school newspaper to draw the first Lancer. Everyone loved the horse-mounted lancer, and the first athletics logo was born.

1960s

The 1960s were years of rapid expansion. Men’s ice hockey started in 1966, and women’s basketball followed in 1967. In the late 1960s, the university started indoor and outdoor men’s track, men’s cross country, and a men’s tennis team.

Football had been played at Worcester State College since 1969 as a club sport for the first decade and a half of its existence. It was a successful club sport, too; both the 1980 and 1984 club football teams took home the National Collegiate Football Association championship. After an 11-0 season in 1984 that culminated in a dramatic victory against the two-time national champion Bentley College, the team’s continued success could no longer be denied. A varsity football program was established the following year.

1970s-1990s

Field hockey at Worcester State first began as a varsity sport in 1970, and the program quickly established a winning culture. In only their second season, the team began a run of three straight Massachusetts State College Tournament titles from 1971 to 1973, the first ever 3-peat in the history of Worcester State athletics. Hall of Fame inductee Debra (DiPadua) Tambeau ’74 anchored the team as their goalie, with her 15 shutouts in 34 games helping them maintain dominance over that three-season span. The 2023 Worcester State field hockey team holds the honor of winning the sport’s first ever MASCAC post-season championship under the leadership of first-year coach Sophia Monopoli.

Led by legendary head coach John Coughlin Sr., men’s hockey went on a historic run in the 1970s that began with the 1971-72 season. The team won the first of three consecutive ECAC championships and set numerous records that have yet to be broken by any Lancer men’s hockey team since. Their single-season record of 21-3 remains the best in program history, as does the team’s win percentage (.875) and total goals scored (252). To commemorate their performance that season, the entire 1971-72 men’s ice hockey team was inducted into the Worcester State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. (Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the print edition which states the team did not win a championship.)

The Lancer women’s basketball team earned national recognition for their dynamic victory of the 1980 AIAW National Championship. Led by longtime women’s basketball head coach Donna Devlin, the team finished with a record of 24-2 and won the first national championship in Worcester State history. The championship game was a closely contested matchup against Wisconsin-La Crosse that finished with a final score of 76-73. The women’s basketball team returned to the AIAW tournament the following season, falling short in the Final Four.

The 1983-84 men’s golf team tied for third place in the 1984 NCAA Division III tournament and enjoyed a successful year from start to finish. The softball team went 21-3 in 1987, capturing the MASCAC Championship and making its first NCAA appearance.

In the 1990s, men’s basketball star Al Pettway ’94 reached unprecedented scoring heights during his time as a Lancer, leading the Lancers to the NCAA Tournament in 1994. His 2,205 career points are still the most in program history by a wide margin, and he remains high on the list of scoring accolades such as points per game, field goals made, and three-point shots made. In 2024, Worcester State Athletics welcomed Pettway back home as the new men’s basketball coach.

The 1990s closed out with a remarkable accomplishment for the Lancer history books. Track and field athlete Elke Aun ’97 was the first Worcester State College athlete to receive an NCAA $5,000 postgraduate scholarship. Considered the best female track and field athlete in Worcester State history, her achievements include the 1996 NCAA Division III National Championship in the heptathlon, four-time All-American, All-ECAC 13 times, All-New England 18 times, ECAC Champion in four events, and New England Champion in two events. She remains the Lancer record holder in the 50-yard hurdle and the 400-meter, 500-meter, 600-meter, 800-meter, and 1,000-meter in running.

2000s

The 2001 men’s soccer team made history by capturing the program’s first-ever MASCAC title before stunning #3 Williams College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The squad tied a program record that season with 15 wins, finishing at 15-3-3.

The mid 2000s were a time of dominance for the women’s soccer team, which won four straight MASCAC championships from 2004 to 2007. The team’s 16 wins in both the 2006 and 2007 season are tied for most in program history, and several standout players from this era have since been enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame. In the final year of this stretch, the team made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament, the farthest postseason run of any Lancer women’s soccer team to date.

Another track and field star followed Elke Aun to became a national champion in 2013. Terrence Gibson ’16 was the first Worcester State male athlete to win a national championship when he won the 60-meter hurdle at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Volleyball player Amari King ’19 was named 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year after she led the Lancers to a perfect 7-0 mark during conference play. King was a standout player, leading the team to back-to-back MASCAC Championships and NCAA appearances. In 2024, she returned to Worcester State as the assistant volleyball coach.

In the 2021-22 season, Worcester State established its first women’s ice hockey program. After Becker College closed in 2021, Worcester State recruited 13 members of its women’s ice hockey team, along with head coach Eliza Kelley, to play in the Lancers’ inaugural season. The team wasted no time making their presence known, winning their first ever game 5-0 and finishing the season as the 2022 ECHA champions. They have now won three straight ECHA crowns.

In 2022, during her 28th season as head coach of the women’s basketball team, Karen Tessmer reached the milestone of 350 games won. Tessmer coached her first season of Lancer women’s basketball in the 1994-95 season, and she still leads the program today. Her 350th victory was an emphatic win against Fitchburg State University that the Lancers won by 36 points.

Worcester State saw two ice hockey athletes selected to represent Team USA in international games between 2022 and 2023. Max Roth ’22 was selected to represent Team USA at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, an event that runs every four years and is open to participants of Jewish faith from around the world and Israelis of any faith. Israel hosted the 21st games with over 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries, and it was one of the most widely attended sporting events of 2022.

In January, Lancer graduate student Clare Conway ’22 represented Team USA in the 2023 International University Sports Federation World University Game in New York. In addition to playing ice hockey, Conway was an outstanding lacrosse player during her time at Worcester State.

The men’s basketball team, led by Coach Tyler Hundley, finished the 2022-23 season with a conference-best 22-6 record, defeating Westfield State in a rematch to claim the MASCAC title and reach the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 1994. The Lancers went on to repeat as MASCAC champions the following year, earning their second straight NCAA tournament berth.

Top image: Worcester Normal School students played softball.

The post Great Moments in Athletics History appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

By Mallory Dupuis ’26

Photos by Nancy Sheehan and Matt Wright ’10

As far back as 1891, 91´ŤĂ˝ had a mission to make on-campus housing a reality for students. The first residence hall on the original St. Ann’s Hill campus was known as Stoddard Terrace and housed 20 young women and faculty until 1931. Today there are four residential areas occupied during the academic year and by visitors over the summer.

Faith Boutin finishes end-of-year schoolwork in her room in Sheehan Hall.

“I think the most important thing that our residential community now offers is a sense of community,” said Kristen Nelson, Worcester State director of Residence Life and Student Experience. “They have all been built with the intention that community space is available, lounges are comfortable, study space plentiful, and that our students have places that they feel comfortable and safe. Our main goal is to create spaces that bring a feeling of home.”

First opened in 1973, Chandler Village offers townhouse-style living for students. There are 26 townhouse-style buildings for a total of 63 apartments that can hold between four and 11 residents. It was built to be close to academic buildings but far enough away to maintain a sense of independence.

Junior nursing student and Chandler Village resident Michaela O’Brien says that living there gives her the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of being on campus while maintaining a feeling that she lives off campus in a neighborhood-style community.

“As a nursing major I spend the majority of my time in the library, and being able to wake up, walk three minutes, and be there is something I am very grateful for. It brings ease to studying in a way,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien also found a home in Dowden Hall during her first year at Worcester State. Built in 1990, it offers traditional corridor-style living specifically for first-year students—the type of hall you see in the movies. Dowden Hall offers an immersive environment for students who are new to living on their own and/or with a roommate. It is a building that is built on community.

Students Ava Favreau, Jadah Stokes, Alison Manley, and Jenna Niemczyk hang out in Sheehan Hall.

“I lived in Dowden my freshman year, and I wouldn’t change it for anything,” O’Brien said. “I met my best friends on the third floor of Dowden, simply by embracing it as a building full of people in the same spot as me—a first-year. On move-in day my roommate knocked on so many doors just to be able to meet people, and it was so cool to have the opportunity to do that.”

Current first-year student and Dowden resident, Jessica Forbes plays for the women’s soccer team at Worcester State. As a result, Forbes enjoyed the advantage of moving in two weeks earlier than the general student body and said that living in Dowden made the transition that much easier.

“Most of the freshmen live in this residence hall, so it was super easy meeting people at the beginning of the year that were in the same boat as you,” Forbes said. “Another thing I love is the Dowden Market that is just an elevator ride or staircase away from my room, when wanting a late-night snack. The rooms in Dowden are also pretty spacious and have nice big windows, when you’re wanting a bit of sunshine.”

Students in the residence halls celebrated the end of the academic year with games, food, prizes, and fun in May 2024.

In 2010, Dowden was expanded to include a convenience store, now known as Dowden Market, common rooms, private study spaces, and a fitness center. It’s an active place, with students utilizing its amenities and stopping to chat with each other. Resident assistants (RAs) also make sure to offer lots of programming opportunities as a way to encourage students to participate in activities while meeting new people and getting out of their comfort zone.

Dowden RA Annalease Marino likes to make sure there is something for everyone to enjoy. “It’s just reaching out to every different resident that you could,” Marino said. “Kids who like doing arts and crafts and kids who like doing sports. Last year I did the Lancer Cup, and that included all sports activities, and that gave kids who don’t really like arts a chance to come outside and do things.”

Marino has taken pride in being an RA at Worcester State, especially as one for first-year students. Her main goals as an RA are to bring a sense of community and be there for her residents. She acknowledged how intimidating college can feel as a first-year student, so cultivating a safe space is most important to her.

“I see my role as someone who is a bigger sister to all of these residents who are freshmen who come from all different backgrounds. And some people have no idea what it is like to live alone. And I love being that person who can be someone they can talk to and just make sure that they’re all safe and they have a home to come home to,” Marino said.

Worcester State residence halls ease the transition not only for first-year students but for transfers as well. Sophomore Ava Speidel transferred from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont after one year and now finds home in Wasylean Hall, built in 2004. An apartment-style residence hall, it is six stories and houses 348 students. Wasylean offers the first opportunities for students to try apartment-style living which includes a kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and a bathroom.

“Wasylean Hall offers a logical next step towards independence. ‘I’m living in an apartment, I’m kind of on my own, but I’m still walking through a lobby through security, so that feels comfortable and safe,’” said Nelson.

Speidel says that even though the lounges and study rooms in Wasylean are nice, she most enjoys having her own kitchen and living room to hang out with friends. “I love cooking and baking, so having that option rather than having to go to the dining hall is amazing! Also, having our own living room. It’s somewhere everyone can hang out together rather than hanging in a study room on one of the floors or cramming into one room,” she said.

The newest residence hall, Sheehan Hall, was built in 2014 and is named after university benefactor USMC Lt. Col. James Sheehan, who graduated from Worcester State in 1955. It is a six-story building that houses 400 students—200 first-year residents and 200 sophomores and juniors. Sheehan Hall includes the Residence Life offices, Health Services, multi-purpose spaces, a game room, fitness area, community kitchen area for residents, lounges, and the 575-seat Sheehan Dining Hall, a hub of campus life. Nelson said that the presence of the dining hall is a convenience for residents of Sheehan. “It’s a huge asset to our Sheehan Hall residents because they don’t ever have to go outside if they don’t want to,” she said.

Sophomore and Sheehan RA Kody Osborne has enjoyed residing in Sheehan Hall, saying it offers everything it can in terms of basic living. With several common spaces available, there is never a dull moment in Sheehan Hall as both campus-wide and resident-only events take place there.

“We just have a lot of people coming through for the events, like ‘The Price Is Right.’ And then recently we had an event inspired by Squid Game. The other ones we have are random photo ops such as the JCPenney photo shoot,” Osborne said. “There’s so many different things. I just really love when everybody’s together.”

Students say being an RA at Worcester State offers many benefits, from making new friends and building communities to training for real-life situations and learning to navigate college life. For Osborne, being an RA has been one of the best ways to be involved on campus.

“It’s probably the number one way you can feel integrated into the system around Residence Life and the halls themselves,” they said. “You learn everything about everybody, and you end up meeting everybody in some capacity. If you have trouble being social, then being an RA is one of the biggest ways to mitigate that.”

Even if you are not an RA, living on campus at Worcester State offers just as much, from lessons learned to memories made. Speidel says that learning independence is key, as is holding yourself accountable, while Forbes says she has learned that everyone has different lifestyles, and that is okay.

“Living on campus is a way to make new friends, create many memories, and learn how to live in the real world and take responsibility for things in your life,” Forbes said. “I have learned that not everyone has the same living conditions as yourself. Some people are tidy, some are very messy, some are loud, while others are very reserved and quiet. I have learned to just go about my business, and let others live how they want.”

Students in the residence halls celebrated the end of the academic year with games, food, prizes, and fun in May 2024.

When describing life in the residence halls at Worcester State, the most commonly used word used by students is “community.” Students say the memories created in each hall will last a lifetime, from movie nights in Wasylean to “Friendsgiving” celebrations in Chandler Village.

“The day before a snow day, me and all my roommates had a huge movie night. Then we found plastic bin covers and went outside to use them as sleds. Also birthdays are big in this suite. Everyone goes all out, and we decorate the rooms,” Speidel said as she reminisced on her fondest campus memories.

O’Brien went on to describe her favorite memory, which was a celebration she and her roommates put together right before Thanksgiving break. They described it as “Friendsgiving,” which entailed cooking their own Thanksgiving meal and dessert together. “This is still one of my favorite nights on campus because it was filled with just so much laughter,” she said.

As the director of Residence Life, Nelson aims to ensure that every student has resources available to them for any situation, whether they are struggling with classes or a difficult living situation. She wants students to be ready for the real world through intentional support.

“I really want them to learn and grow while they’re here and in that space, be allowed to make mistakes, but also be able to learn from them. And then, when they leave, to remember how awesome it was and how many friends they made and how comfortable they felt and how successful they were.”

Top image: Students in the residence halls celebrated the end of the academic year with games, food, prizes, and fun in May 2024 on Wasylean Patio.

Students Ava Favreau, Jadah Stokes, Alison Manley, and Jenna Niemczyk hang out in Sheehan Hall.

The post A Place to Call Home appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.

Photos by Matt Wright ’10

A bumpy dirt road off June Street in Worcester winds past houses with yards and dogs before it eventually opens up to Patch Reservoir, a 31-acre lake just southwest of 91´ŤĂ˝. In the early morning hours, while Worcester residents are heading to work, the reservoir comes alive as wildlife, from dragonflies to waterfowl, start their morning feedings. Out here, the sounds of traffic fade into the distance, overtaken by the croak of bullfrogs, the calls of songbirds, and the splash of water going over the spillway.

At the reservoir, it’s easy to forget you’re in a city. The water is encircled by densely growing pines and alders, clusters of bull lilies with bright yellow flowers, and patches of blue forget-me-nots and vivid purple irises. Worcester State professors Allison Dunn and Laura Reynolds, both in the Department of Earth, Environment, and Physics, have logged many hours at Patch Reservoir with their students, collecting samples as part of a collaborative effort with the city to monitor and preserve its waterways. On this May morning, they are out on the water, pointing out the small changes that only scientists would notice in this tranquil oasis.

One of the big problems Worcester’s waterways experience is the proliferation of invasive species. From her canoe, Reynolds reaches into the water and pulls out a frail, bright green plant. “This is water chestnut,” she explains, holding out the plant. “It’s an invasive species with spiky seed pods that can last in the sediment for years.” The plant has been a problem for the reservoir, but concerned community members are fighting back. “People from the Friends of Patch Reservoir organize pulling parties to remove as much as they can,” Reynolds says.

The data that Dunn, Reynolds, and their students are collecting will help the city maintain the delicate balance of these ecosystems. Patch Reservoir is part of the Tatnuck Brook Watershed, which begins in Holden and feeds Cook’s Pond, Patch Reservoir, Patch Pond, Coes Reservoir, and Coes Pond in Worcester, eventually flowing into Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.

Dunn points to a pair of swans that left their nest and are feeding in the middle of the reservoir. Between the mated pair is one downy, gray cygnet. “It’s unusual to see just one baby,” Dunn says. That’s what happens when raptors, which eat cygnets and ducklings, are active in the area.

“In one way, it’s sad,” Dunn says. “But it’s also a sign of a functioning ecosystem.”

Map: Complex Stories

Scientific collaboration
In a city with more than 20 lakes, Worcester’s Lakes and Ponds Program has a lot to monitor—a responsibility made challenging by budget and personnel constraints. Jacquelyn Burmeister, the city’s senior environmental analyst, says the solution was to form partnerships with area colleges and universities. “It really takes a village to get this work done,” she said.

Worcester State’s collaboration with the city started in 2018, when the university received a grant from Campus Compact to create a course that incorporated community-based elements. With that seed money, Dunn and the city’s Department of Public Works and Parks developed a pilot program to look at some preliminary indicators of water quality in Tatnuck Brook.

The city has a strict monitoring program with quality control and quality assurance protocols that require a certain amount of training for all sample takers. Following that training, in fall 2019, students in Dunn’s Hydrology course went to two sites—an upstream site near Camp Kinneywood and a downstream site near the university’s campus—every week to measure water conductivity, which would reveal salt ion levels. The data collected over the course of a year showed that conductivity was significantly higher in the more urbanized area downstream, and the difference was more pronounced in the winter months, leading to the conclusion that road salt appears to be washing into the brook and affecting the water quality.

That research proved how vital the university’s contribution to the city could be. In 2022, Reynolds and other Worcester State faculty Diana Sharpe, Dunn, Bill Hansen, and Meghna Dilip spearheaded a project funded by an Aisiku Interdisciplinary Grant from the university’s Imoigele P. Aisiku, M.D., ’92 STEM Center to monitor water quality in Cook’s Pond, Patch Reservoir, and Coes Reservoir. Every two weeks, from May to November of that year, students took water samples from all three sites to determine temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and levels of phosphorus, nitrates, ammonia, suspended solids, and E. coli.

Worcester State was an ideal partner for the city, Burmeister says, partly because of its location in the headwaters of the Tatnuck watershed. Burmeister says that the city knew there were nutrients and pollutants coming from upstream, but it was not able to devote the resources to measuring them. The university’s involvement in the project allowed the city to get data on two lakes—Patch Reservoir and Cook’s Pond—they did not have the resources to monitor themselves.

Urban waterways experience numerous threats, including an excess of nutrients and sediments, industrial contaminants, salt loading, increased temperatures, and invasive species, all of which threaten the native species in the ecosystem and can affect drinking water quality and recreational activities. Cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae found in most aquatic ecosystems, can, in warm, nutrient-rich lakes and ponds, reproduce rapidly and create blooms that lower oxygen levels in the water, killing fish and other organisms. Extremely large blooms of certain species can release toxins that are harmful to humans and pets.

Another problem occurs when rainwater picks up pollutants, including oil, fertilizers, nitrogen, and phosphorus, from roads and walkways and flows them into waterways, supercharging the growth of harmful bacteria. Rainwater also forces sediment into waterways, making them shallower and creating an opportunity for invasive plants to grow, displacing the native aquatic life.

Dunn says the data they are collecting provides important insights to the scientific community about less studied urban aquatic systems. “These are some of the systems where we’re seeing a lot of changes.” Many lakes and waterways have a lifespan where they evolve slowly from pristine, clear lakes to eutrophic lakes—greener, shallower, and with more plants. This process happens naturally, but in urban areas, humans, cars, and buildings make the process go faster.

Burmeister says one of the city’s goals is to slow down that process. “It’s healthier for recreation, it’s healthier for our wildlife, and it’s ultimately going to allow our lakes to exist for a longer time.”

She says Worcester State has taken their scientific partnership with the city and run with it. “The university has provided an amazing amount to this partnership,” she said, praising the project’s “really excited students who have been a joy to work with.”

“I can’t stress enough how the success of this program is based on the fact that it’s a mutually beneficial project,” Burmeister said. “We’re not just trying to bring on students to do what we want them to do. We are shaping the program to meet both the needs of 91´ŤĂ˝ and the City of Worcester. We’ve gotten better at that through the addition of other projects piggybacking onto the Worcester State projects. There’s data being collected at the water bodies monitored by Worcester State that we’re not even doing as a city at the other water bodies.”

In addition to working with Worcester colleges and universities, Burmeister works with community organizations like the Tatnuck Brook Watershed Association and the Indian Lake Watershed Association, composed of residents who are passionate about protecting the waterways.

Reynolds regularly attends association meetings, and now several Worcester State students have attended. At these meetings, students hear what residents are experiencing in their watershed and share data gathered at these sites so community members can feel comfortable about the way they interact with their waterways.

“The students get a chance to experience what these different groups in the community care about and what they’re interested in,” Dunn said. “And they also just get to meet a lot of people, which are all positive experiences.”

Community partnership
One of these community members is Elsie Uffelmann, a member of the Tatnuck Brook Watershed Association who has been involved in water preservation for more than 40 years.

Growing up, she spent a lot of time on the water. After she graduated college, she wanted to move somewhere new. “I looked at a map and saw a bunch of lakes and colleges,” she said, and decided to move there. That place was Worcester. She has lived here since 1981.

She now lives with her husband in a house near Cook’s Pond. From her deck, she has a front-row view of the pond’s myriad wildlife, including great blue herons, muskrats, beavers, merganser ducks, eagles, geese, bace, wood frogs, and bullfrogs, though there was a period of about 10 years when the frogs disappeared.

“Frogs are like the canary in the coal mine,” she said, “because they’re the first to be affected by pollution.” She remembers when construction on a housing development built in the 1990s started, pouring pollution into the pond. “We didn’t hear frogs after that for 10 years,” she said. Fortunately, they’ve since made a comeback. “It’s so nice to hear them again,” she said.

Cook’s Pond is under threat again. Every time it rains, some of the fertilizers people use on their lawns flow into catch basins that drain into Cook’s Pond. The fertilizers nourish the weeds in the pond, and then chemical treatments are needed to kill the weeds, which can give an advantage to algae growth. All these activities can disrupt the chemical balance of a pond.

To combat this, the Tatnuck Watershed Association has organized a speaker series and other educational efforts. One of the things that helps the association educate people is the data that Worcester State is helping to gather.

“Our affiliation with Worcester State is huge,” Uffelmann said. “It’s exciting for us to collaborate with students and help them learn. We have this perfect setup here. We can see how water changes through an urban environment. We are happy to share our resources and happy that Worcester State is willing to share theirs. The data they are gathering help guide our management decisions. Now Worcester State will be sharing information with the Blackstone River Coalition and vice versa. We’re happy that Worcester State reaches out to the community. They are willing to exchange knowledge and not stay in an ivory tower.”

WSU Field Research at Patch Reservoir in Worcester, MA.

WSU Field Research at Patch Reservoir in Worcester, MA.

WSU Field Research at Patch Reservoir in Worcester, MA.

WSU Field Research at Patch Reservoir in Worcester, MA.

A natural laboratory
While the collaboration between Worcester State and the City of Worcester benefits the community, it has also benefited the university. There’s nothing like field-based learning, Reynolds says. “The fact that we have this natural laboratory right out our back door to do it is amazing,” Reynolds said. “Not every university has that.”

Since 2022, the university has had an agreement with the Greater Worcester Land Trust to use their Patch Reservoir Environmental Field Station on Breeze Drive. In addition to providing easy access to the reservoir, the agreement gives the program a place to store its gear—10 canoes, two kayaks, oars, life jackets, anchors, microscopes, sampling instruments, and a refrigerator for sediment samples. Before the agreement, students and faculty had to schlep their gear from the university to the reservoir.

The students who work on the project gain a deep knowledge of these systems. They get hands-on experience measuring parameters of water quality, working with waders and in foul weather, and applying textbook knowledge to their own landscape. They are trained in modern scientific methods, using real tools that they would be using in jobs. After this experience, many have gotten internships and jobs where they are using those same or similar tools.

While many of the students doing this field work are environmental science majors, some are not. The hands-on scientific experience gives all students, from psychology majors to communication majors, a great introduction to the scientific method and increased scientific literacy.

“Students see these different processes happening all around them,” Reynolds said, “but they might not notice. One of my personal goals is I want students to start being distracted by those things and start noticing them outside the classroom, too.”

Dunn and her students talk about what they expect the water to look like as it flows through an urban area. Then they collect the water samples, test them, and evaluate that against their initial thoughts.

“We can see if our results mesh with our prior thinking, and if they don’t, that’s interesting too,” says Dunn. “I think one of the most important things they can learn is how scientists evaluate conflicting or surprising evidence and then change their view of the system. If they understand that science is this process and not this magical arrival at a hypothesis, it helps them better assess whatever they are reading in the media. They understand it is a process of observing, questioning, measuring, and reassessing. Any major can benefit from that. It’s a process you can apply to life, not just scientific questions.”

The post Protecting Worcester’s Lakes, Ponds, and Streams appeared first on Worcester State Magazine.