Fitchburg State University held the winter ceremony of its 126th commencement exercises at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 in the university’s Athletics and Recreation Center.

The ceremony included the conferral of graduate and undergraduate degrees. University President Richard S. Lapidus delivered the commencement address.

Also offering remarks were Graduate Student Leadership Award recipient Spencer D. Fuller, who completed a master of science degree in criminal justice, and undergraduate valedictorian Helen “Hallie” Dyer of Westwood, who is completing a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. Both student speakers were enrolled in the university’s police program.

The ceremony was streamed live on FATV, and can be viewed here.

Earlier this week, our Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness treated students to ice cream sundaes, and a French fry bar - offering breaks during finals week. The events were welcome breaks from the stress of finals.

Monday afternoon, members of the Fitchburg State community were invited to the Fall 2022 Game Studio Post Mortem for this semester's completed game. The game, Goblin Gunner, is a result of a full-time, semester-long experience in which students in our Game Design program work as a team to plan, design, develop, test, and prepare for publication a significant game project. The Post Mortem included a showcasing of the final version of their game, discussion of their development process (including regular meetings with the game company Rockstar New England), and a Q & A with the audience.

This afternoon, Student Development hosted a Pop Up Popcorn Finals Frenzy on the G-Level of Hammond Hall. 

Yesterday afternoon, students got a little break from classes, tests and projects this afternoon by spending a little time with Daisy, Mischief, Penny and  Fitchburg State University Police's own Odin in the Hammond Maine Lounge, These therapy dogs were a welcome respite from the stress of finals season.

Director Tanya Hoos Crowley, and Staff Assistant Jasmine Yang of Alumni and Family Relations were on hand in G-Lobby yesterday to offer students a respite during finals, offering a hot cocoa bar and some Fitchburg State University branded swag. Students were eager to get a boost and a break.

Towards the end of the semester, students in Professor Michael S. McCutcheon's Criminal Investigation course  put to use what they learned in the classroom earlier this semester to test as they sought to lift fingerprints from glass, wet surfaces, and soft surfaces.  

Early this week, a small group of Education Majors were immersed in a Mursion virtual reality simulation training session at the McKay Campus School. In this particular scenario, students worked with virtual parents and grandparents, as if they were having a 1:1 session, discussing their student's success or lack thereof. The experience was quite realistic with one student saying "I'm sweating" after their session. This is just one of the many tools that Fitchburg State University  uses to aid their Education students in mastering instructional moves, and in fostering social emotional learning.

Whether the first, second, third or fourth floor, no matter the major, alone or in a group, students are busily studying for their finals in the The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library. Good luck on your finals!

The Nursing Department faculty and staff treated our Nursing Students to a break before the holidays with their homemade treats and cocoa. A welcomed break before the finals begin.