Associate Director of Student Development & Commuter and Volunteer Affairs Shane Franzen continued the tradition of decorating the Hammond Hall vestibule for the Christmas holiday. As you can see, a focal point are the trees Shane sets up on the Hammond Hall landing.

Students in Professor Petri Flint's Introductory Painting work on projects in the Conlon Fine Arts. The course studies the basic problems of form, color, and texture as understood in oil. Consideration is also given to the nature and use of the oil painting materials. 

Our Nursing Simulation Laboratory assists nursing students in learning critical thinking and clinical judgment skills in preparation for their healthcare careers. The “manikins” act as lifelike patient simulators, wherein instructors provide real-time feedback via a control center, giving students as close to a hospital scenario as possible.

Late last week, Dean of The School of Health and Natural Sciences Dr. Jennifer Hanselman and Engineering Technology Department faculty welcomed local business partners to the  Fitchburg State University Engineering Technology Department's Industry Advisory Board (IAB) meeting. Included on the agenda was an opportunity for students to present their work to the partners in attendance.

Members of our Admission Staff, along with our Student Ambassadors/Tour Guides, eagerly welcomed three groups to the Fitchburg State University campus Friday. We were delighted to host seventy students from Narragansett High School, twenty students from Boston Prep Charter School, and twelve transfer students. Each group attended Information session, toured our beautiful campus, and then had lunch where they were able to ask current students about the university. 

The Fitchburg State University Campus Center was abuzz today as the university hosts the American Moot Court Association's Eastern Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament. Student teams and coaches from as far away as California and Louisiana registered for the event this afternoon. Event coordinator, Economics, History and Political Science Professor Paul Weizer, welcomed volunteer judges, as well as the competing teams. This competition will span this afternoon and all day tomorrow.

Some Fitchburg State alumni Moot Court National Competition Winners were on hand to assist and reminisce with Professor Weizer. Good luck to all competitors!

Co-Producer and Director alumnus Graham Suorsa '02 screened his HBO Max documentary The Fastest Woman on Earth yesterday afternoon in Kent Auditorium. Mr. Suorsa gave a poignant and powerful introduction to the screening, recounting how his days at Fitchburg State University, and interactions with his faculty, formed him into the filmmaker he is today.  One mention of note was Communications Media Professor Gunther Hoos, whose daughter, and Director of Alumni and Family Relations, Tanya Hoos Crowley MS '21 spearheaded the event, and introduced Mr. Suorsa. In particular, Graham mentioned how Professor Hoos took a chance on him, allowing him to do his own production one summer. At that time, Professor Hoos gifted Graham a new director's  slate saying, "Now you're a Director, you need a slate." That slate has appeared in everyone of Mr. Suorsa's productions as an homage to Professor Hoos. Also noted were the love and support of his parents, Fitchburg State friends, and relatives that were in attendance. 

The filmmaker also hosted a Q&A, along with an informal "Pizza with Graham" chat session after the screening to connect with Fitchburg State Falcons past and present.

This afternoon, the Fitchburg Activities Board (FAB) gave students the opportunity to repot a succulent - get it, "succs"- and get their photo taken with their succulent in it's personalized new "home."

Students in Biology and Chemistry Professor John Ludlam's Invertebrate Biology Lab are studying feeding efficiency in the hornworm. The process involves meticulously weighing & recording natural and artificial food sources, along with the worm, and its waste. The results will give a better idea of how the different food sources are used by the worm. 

This afternoon, students got a little break from classes, tests and projects this afternoon by spending a little time with Zelda, Moka, Nellie and Penny in the Hammond Maine Lounge, These therapy dogs were a welcome respite from the stress that comes as the semester progresses. Keep your eyes on University Events for future visits.