This morning, President Lapidus hosted a Welcome Back & Employee Recognition Celebration at the Kent Recital Hall. Prior to the presentations,  colleagues gathered outside the Antonucci Science Complex, where they had the opportunity to reconnect after the summer, and before the start of the fall semester next week.

Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier invited our Residents Assistants, and Housing and Residential Services staff, to tour University Police facilities. Along with lunch and meeting the University Police staff, students and staff got to try out equipment, see what it's like to perform a sobriety test with "drunk" goggles, meet Odin, our therapy dog, and so much more!

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, along with other Academic Affairs Leadership, took a break from Day 1 of a two day New Faculty & Librarian Orientation - Promoting Faculty Success program, for a casual luncheon with the newest Fitchburg State University Faculty.

 Members of the Fitchburg State University Marketing & Integrated Communications department, and Director of the Crocker Center for Civic Engagement Dr. William Cortezia, visited university partner Fitchburg Art Museum this morning for an in-depth tour and luncheon meeting with Museum Director Nick Capasso, and Marketing Manager Christian Lopez. The tour included the The 86th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft, two exhibits by Fitchburg State University alums Bridie Wolejko and Betsy Sawyer. Sawyer's exhibit entitled Big Book: Pages for Peace  & Hypnagogia: Bridie Wolejko’s Mixed Media Fantasies, the always popular Discover Egypt exhibit, and Evoking Eleanor - Eleanor Norcross 1854 – 1923 :Artist, Collector, and Museum Founder. 

Head Football Coach Scott Sperone invited Director of Counseling Services/Assistant Dean, Student Affairs Dr. Robert Hynes to speak with the players at this morning's team meeting. After introducing new team members, and letting the team know that he calls the games and is the "Voice of the Falcons", Dr. Hynes and told the players about the services available to them through the Counseling Services Center.

This morning saw the last session in our Summer Orientation 2022 for Incoming first year students. Our newest Falcons, after registration, began the day with welcome remarks from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bayless, and Associate Dean for Student Development Hank Parkinson. After introduction of our Orientation Leaders, groups ventured out to the quad for some ice breaker activities, campus tours, and then on  to a day full of information sessions and activities.

Fitchburg State has long embraced the importance of supporting the city beyond the borders of campus, and this summer that included some fresh paint and a lot of artistic expression.

Several Falcons played key roles in the design and creation of a series of major public art murals that were unveiled this summer. The Community Mural Institute led the effort, which supported 12 artists in the design and creation of pieces on large public facades in the heart of the city.

There was free admission to the Fitchburg Art Museum  during this past (8/4/22), and every, Intown Fitchburg First Thursday. Among exhibits that patrons were able to enjoy for free included two by Fitchburg State University alums Bridie Wolejko and Betsy Sawyer. Sawyer's exhibit entitled Big Book: Pages for Peace is the largest book in the world dedicated to the topic of peace. It is the product of a 12-year project begun in 2004 by middle school students from the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District and Sawyer, their dynamic teacher. Hypnagogia: Bridie Wolejko’s Mixed Media Fantasies are hand-crafted mixed-media collages and objects that create dream-like images, informed by her interests in myth, magic, horror, popular culture, surrealism, architecture, and nature.

Yesterday's  Intown Fitchburg First Thursday saw the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance's  grand opening of Main Street Studios at 675 Main Street which is housed in the Fitchburg State University Theater Block. The space will offer local artists affordable studio and art gallery space. Local figures, including Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatalie and University President Richard Lapidus, welcomed the new space with studio tours, refreshments, and music preformed by local performers.

Read more about the Main Street Studios here.

At today's Intown Fitchburg First Thursday, local Farmers offered fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs and cheese, artisan breads, locally made soaps and lotions, & handmade goods at Fitchburg's Upper Common. Farms at the market today included Sholan Farms, Fat Daddy's Apiary, Deer Creek Farm, Little Jimmy's Italian Ice, and more! The Farmer's Market takes place every Thursday 3 - 6 p.m. until October 27.