Winthrop Students Earn Academic Honors

Local Residents Receive Degrees at 151st WPI Commencement

 On Saturday, May 11, on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) campus quadrangle, 1,019 bachelor’s degrees were awarded during the university’s 151st commencement ceremony.

Joseph Bosco of Winthrop., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering with high distinction.

Thomas Chiudina of Winthrop, was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.

Sean Gillis of Winthrop, was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.

WPI President Laurie Leshin and Board of Trustees Chairman Jack Mollen presided over the celebration, at which the keynote address was given by Ellen Stofan, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

In her remarks, Stofan lauded the graduating seniors, whom she called “the next generation of STEM innovators,” before pointedly asking, “Where do you go from here?” She noted that students are graduating 50 years after the Apollo 11 Moon landing on July 20, 1969. The historic milestone was spurred, in part, Stofan noted, by the challenge President John F. Kennedy placed before Congress in an address in May 1961.

Stofan, who has more than 25 years of experience in space-related organizations and a rich background in planetary geology, also received an honorary doctor of science degree.

WPI awarded Gordon Hargrove, executive director of Friendly House in Worcester, an honorary doctor of humane letters degree for his “distinguished leadership of a vital Worcester institution, his passion for making miracles happen in the lives of others, and his inspiring example to generations of WPI students, faculty, and staff.”

President Leshin told the graduates that while she is sad to see them go, she and the campus community feel a great sense of pride in all of their accomplishments at WPI. “Over the past four years, we have all watched, and hopefully helped you discover, your passions and strengths, we’ve seen you work very hard, and we’ve seen you truly make a difference.”

Class speaker Emily Molstad, of Newington, Conn., a major in mechanical engineering with materials science and engineering, recalled for her classmates the “nine words we heard when we arrived, and over and over again throughout our four years here: Go to class. Do the work. Ask for help. These words, repeated so often, weren’t always easy to practice day to day, but once we followed them, they put us on the path to success.”

WPI, a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPI’s pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 14 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more.

On Honor Roll at BC High School

The following local students have earned Boston College High School Fourth Quarter Honors:

James Ezekiel 2020 High Honors

Rocco Cassetta 2022 High Honors

John Giorgio 2022 High Honors

Hunter Kennedy 2022 High Honors

Sean Montgomery 2022 High Honors

For High Honors a Soph., Jr.,Sr. must have at least a 3.80 quality point average and all grades ‘”C+” or higher. Freshmen need a 3.6 quality point average and all grades ‘”C+” or higher.

For Honors a Soph., Jr.,Sr. must have at least a 3.20 quality point average and all grades ‘”C-” or higher. Freshmen need a 3.165 quality point average and all grades ‘”C-” or higher.

Boston College High School is a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men founded in 1863. The school enrolls approximately 1,500 students from more than 100 communities in eastern Massachusetts.

Local Student Earns Dean’s List Recognition at Norwich University

The following students from your readership area have been recognized on the Dean’s List at Norwich University for the Spring 2019 semester:

* Owen Douglas Kelley, Winthrop

Full-time undergraduate students, who earned a semester grade point average of at least 3.40 and had no failures in the previous Fall or Spring semester are awarded Dean’s List honors. These students cannot have any pending Incomplete (I) grades. Dean’s List honors are noted on the official transcript each term earned.

Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation’s six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu

Norwich University celebrates its bicentennial throughout 2019, culminating with major events at Homecoming in September. In fulfillment of Norwich’s mission to train and educate today’s students to be tomorrow’s global leaders, Norwich launched the Forging the Future campaign in 2014. The five-year campaign, which is timed to culminate in 2019, is committed to creating the best possible learning environment through state-of-the-art academics and world-class facilities and is designed to enhance the university’s strong position as it steps into its third century of service to the nation. For information please go to: http://bicentennial.norwich.edu/.

Local Residents Receive Degree from Simmons University



The following local student recently earned a degree from Simmons University in Boston. 

* Samantha Rival, of Winthrop, earned a Master of Social Work.


Located in Boston, one of America’s most dynamic cities, Simmons University (www.simmons.edu) draws on many of the region’s cultural, historical, economic, scientific, and educational resources to offer an unparalleled student experience. Simmons has a cherished history of visionary thinking and social responsibility and a strong mission that has remained constant for over a century: to provide transformative learning that links passion with lifelong purpose. Simmons offers undergraduate programs for women in education in the arts, sciences and several professional fields and graduate programs online and campus-based open to all at the master’s and doctoral levels. Given the richness and complexity of its offerings, Simmons obtained university designation and officially became Simmons University effective September 1, 2018. Follow Simmons on Twitter at @SimmonsUniv and @SimmonsNews and on LinkedIn. 


Hariklia Bido Earns Bachelor’s of Science from Springfield College

Hariklia Bido of Winthrop, has earned a bachelor’s of science degree in General Studies from Springfield College for studies completed in 2019.

At the undergraduate commencement on May 19, 695 bachelor’s degrees were awarded. Including the degrees awarded at the graduate ceremony on May 18, a total of 1,265 degrees were awarded over the two days. At the graduate commencement, 522 master’s degrees, one certificate of advanced graduate study, five Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 36 Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees, and six Doctor of Psychology degrees were awarded.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Nearly 5,000 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

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