---
title: State of the University Address & Fall Semester Celebration Picnic
description: State of the University Address & Fall Semester Celebration Picnic
image: https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hubfs/Image_001-Sep-04-2025-05-21-15-8446-PM.jpg
---

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# State of the University Address & Fall Semester Celebration Picnic

Posted by [Andy Cunningham](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/author/andy-cunningham) on September 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM

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It was a perfect day for our State of the University Address and Fall Semester Picnic on the main quadrangle this morning. After welcome remarks from Professor Laura Garofoli and Krysta Lopez-Acevedo, Faculty Awards, Emeriti Faculty, Staff Awards,  
and Years of Service Awards were presented by the University Cabinet. Professor Christine Dee then presented the Student Ambassadors who received their green coats from President Hodge. Last but not least, President Hodge asked the Principals of Fitchburg High School, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, along with Superintendent of Fitchburg Schools an Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia to join her and Pam McCafferty, Assoc. Vice President for Institutional Research & Planning in the signing of a [Direct Admissions](https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/admissions-and-aid/direct-admissions) Memo of Understanding between Fitchburg State University and the cities high schools. The program was followed by the Fall Semester Celebration Picnic. 

*State of the University Address*

![Image_019-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-9336-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_019-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-9336-PM.jpg?width=1052&height=759&name=Image_019-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-9336-PM.jpg)

![Image_137-4](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_137-4.jpg?width=1172&height=652&name=Image_137-4.jpg)

![Image_086-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-3351-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_086-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-3351-PM.jpg?width=1068&height=715&name=Image_086-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-3351-PM.jpg)

![Image_130-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-8903-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_130-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-8903-PM.jpg?width=1242&height=610&name=Image_130-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-8903-PM.jpg)

![Image_109-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-2930-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_109-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-2930-PM.jpg?width=820&height=1181&name=Image_109-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-2930-PM.jpg)

*Faculty Awards, Emeriti Faculty, Staff Awards,*  
*and Years of Service Awards presented by the Cabinet*

*![Image_035-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-3425-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_035-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-3425-PM.jpg?width=1424&height=847&name=Image_035-Sep-04-2025-05-04-35-3425-PM.jpg)*

*Presentation of Student Ambassadors*

*![Image_104-Sep-04-2025-05-14-35-8172-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_104-Sep-04-2025-05-14-35-8172-PM.jpg?width=686&height=1018&name=Image_104-Sep-04-2025-05-14-35-8172-PM.jpg)*

![Image_214-1](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_214-1.jpg?width=1145&height=687&name=Image_214-1.jpg)

*Direct Admissions Memo of Understanding Signing*

*![Image_006-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-8912-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_006-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-8912-PM.jpg?width=1040&height=743&name=Image_006-Sep-04-2025-05-04-34-8912-PM.jpg)*

*Fall Semester Celebration Picnic*

*![Image_001-Sep-04-2025-05-21-15-8446-PM](https://blog.fitchburgstate.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Image_001-Sep-04-2025-05-21-15-8446-PM.jpg?width=1320&height=939&name=Image_001-Sep-04-2025-05-21-15-8446-PM.jpg)  
*

 

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