As we turn the page on finals, our  Winter Commencement, and all the trappings that come with the end of the fall semester 2024, we offer a look back. 

Fitchburg State University recently held the winter ceremony of its 128th commencement exercises, conferring hundreds of graduate and undergraduate degrees. (Download the list of graduates here.)

It was the first ceremony for Dr. Donna Hodge, who joined the Fitchburg State campus this summer as its 12th president.

Yesterday afternoon, our Office of International Education honored students who've come to Fitchburg State University from abroad, as well as Fitchburg State University students who took advantage of our Study Abroad Program. Students were honored for, and shared their life changing experiences and received medals to wear during tomorrow's  Winter Commencement ceremony. Faculty, staff, and host families were also acknowledged for their contributions.

Yesterday, volunteers consisting of faculty, students and staff gathered in the Recreation center in preparation for this afternoon's Commencement Ceremony. After an event run down by Nate Corbett of Capital Planning and Maintenance, and an address from President Donna Hodge, groups of volunteers gathered to learn their assignments and perform a run through. Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) Executive Director Nathan Glenny was also on hand setting up to live stream the event, which can be viewed here. Learn more about our Winter Commencement here.

Students in music faculty member Jane Fiske's, piano class performed as part of their final in Weston Auditorium. Each student performed a classical piece - with each insisting on closing with their own version of the holiday classic Jingle Bells. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Award-winning filmmaker, Communications Media/Film/Video Concentration student, Tonia Magras defended her thesis “Do you remember me?”  in front of faculty from the Fitchburg State University Communications Media Department, students, friends and family in the Honors Conference Room in Hammond Hall. This is a deeply personal project for Tonia, who filmed portions of the film here on the Fitchburg State University campus and utilized students in the Communications Media/Film/Video Concentration to work on the project. Locations included our Falcon Hub, our Quad, our Nursing Simulation Laboratory, and more.

Fitchburg State University Police Department (FSUPD) Chief Michael Cloutier hosted his biannual de-escalation training for members of the university community in the Randall Lecture Hall. De-Escalation training is the use of communication or other techniques during an encounter to stabilize, slow, or reduce the intensity of a potentially violent situation without using physical force, or with a reduction in force.

 Recently, President Hodge welcomed Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. recently to view a presentation by students in Communications Media Professor Kyle Moody's  social media campaign class. The students spent the fall semester designing multimedia collateral for the Worcester County District Attorney’s public relations campaign to encourage safe driving for mobile phone users.

The experience was life-changing for the students and, according to District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., will also make an impact on members of the public who view their work.   

This morning saw the culmination of the Annual Care & Share Holiday Community Program, spearheaded by the Office of Student Development, Fitchburg Community Outreach Center (FCOC) & the Mckay Elementary School. Members of Student Development, Materials Management, University Police, and TRIO Program gathered in Hammond Hall to gather all the gifts collected for the Care & Share Program, donated by faculty and staff, for delivery to the McKay Campus School. For more than 45 years, the campus community has "adopted" children from the McKay school community to receive unwrapped gifts. This year, 118 Children consisting of 46 families were adopted with Athletics sponsoring 25 children.

Last evening, President Hodge hosted the inaugural edition of the Green Coat Ceremony for the university's first-ever Presidential Ambassador Program. The ceremony is a celebration of leadership, service, and the boundless potential of our students. Nine Ambassadors were celebrated  for the values they represent and the future they will help shape for Fitchburg State University. In addition to comments by President Hodge, faculty and staff, Fitchburg State University alum State Representative Michael Kushmerek gave the keynote address.