In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition – Wednesday, November 17 – Discover Central MA is hosting a job fair with employers from the hospitality industry, Quinsigamond Community College announces the 36th Annual HACE Award Winners, Mechanics Hall hosts the Firefighter of the Year Awards, deadline for nominations for the next Worcester’s Youth Poet Laureate extended to December 1, and Apprenticeship Week opens with state grants for six central Massachusetts organizations.
Discover Central MA Hospitality Job Fair on Wednesday
Discover Central MA will host its first ever Hospitality Job Fair today from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the DCU Center. Representatives from area restaurants, convention centers, function venues, retail stores, cultural attractions, sports teams and more, will be on-site.
The companies expected to attend are:
The 36th Annual HACE Award Winners Announced
Quinsigamond Community College announced its 36th Hispanics Achieving and Celebrating Excellence [HACE] award winners on Tuesday, November 16.
The HACE awards honor those students who have excelled in arts, academics, athletics, community service, leadership and civic/political engagement.
Three students received special awards this year:
- Olga López-Hill Community Leadership Award winner: QCC student Merari Alvarado. This $600 scholarship is available to QCC students who plan to continue their education at Quinsigamond or to transfer to another educational institution.
- Marlyn Reyes Memorial Community Leadership Award winner: Southbridge High School student Yarelis Diaz.
- Dolly Vázquez Cultural Award winner: Nathaniel Hernandez, Arts/Music Police Partnership.
HACE awards were presented to 33 33 Worcester and Southbridge high school students which include scholarships ranging from $350 to $450.
Those students are:
- Nairim Cespedes Rivan, University Park Campus School
- Katherine Farfan Picon, South High Community High School
- Ashley Gonzalez, Burncoat Senior High School
- Ivori Hidalgo, Bancroft School
- Nicole Quinones, North High School
- Ailany Rivas, Claremont Academy
- Karla Rodriguez, Southbridge High School
- Bernard Santos, Bancroft School
- Marcy Suarez, Saint Paul Diocesan High School
- Madeline Zafon-Whalen, Doherty Memorial High School
- Aailyah Aponte, Southbridge High School
- Raven Falcon, North High School
- Jasmarie Henriquez, Worcester Technical High School
- Nathaniel Hernandez, Arts/Music Police Partnership
- Seleniz Matias, Doherty Memorial High School
- Erika Morales Lopez, Worcester Technical High School
- Elizabeth Nivar Chavarria, Claremont Academy
- Stephanie Ribeiro, Burncoat Senior High School
- Nicole Duran Rodriguez, North High School
- Ana Giraldo, Worcester Technical High School
- Victor Manuel Canenguez, University Park Campus School
- Maria Panta, Burncoat Senior High School
- Zaylee Ramos, Saint Paul Diocesan High School
- Cristina L. Rodriguez Velez, Claremont Academy
- Michael Vazquez Guaman, Doherty Memorial High School
- Erickson Adon Suero, University Park Campus School
- Yarelis Diaz, Southbridge High School
- Jailimar Montanez, Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School
- Rafael Muniz, North High School
- Ella Rivera, South High Community School
- Corey Rondeau, Saint Paul Diocesan High School
- Nicole Sarmiento, Doherty Memorial High School
- Paula Sofia Sierra Vargas, Burncoat Senior High School
Firefighter of the Year Awards at Mechanics Hall
Mechanics Hall at 321 Main Street in Worcester hosts the 32nd Annual Firefighter of the Year Awards on Tuesday, November 23, at 10 AM. State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and other officials will recognize heroic acts of bravery by Massachusetts firefighters.
Seventeen individuals and four groups representing the departments of Attleboro, Brewster, Brockton, Carver, Dartmouth, Harwich, Kingston, Lynnfield, New Bedford, Springfield, Saugus, Somerville, Sutton, and Worcester will be recognized.
Guests will include family members, previous award recipients, elected officials, fire chiefs from across the Commonwealth, and members of the public safety community.
Application Deadline for Worcester Youth Poet Laureate Extended
The Worcester’s Cultural Development Division searches for Worcester’s next Youth Poet Laureate. The person selected serves a two-year term, from January 2022 through December 2023 and receives an annual honorarium of $500 and a one-time $2,500 scholarship.
The objectives of the City of Worcester’s Youth Poet Laureate Programs are to:
- Enhance the presence and appreciation of poetry and literary arts in Greater
Worcester - Celebrate the spirit of the people and special qualities of Worcester, the City of
Innovation - Raise awareness of the power of literature, poetry, and the spoken word
- Provide a forum for collaborative art forms
- Engage and support an emerging generation of poets and spoken word artist
- Provide access to poetry and literary arts to all sectors of the community
- Encourage the reading and writing of both poetry and the written word
Applications are available at the City of Worcester website, and must be submitted or postmarked by Wednesday, December 1. Those interested may be nominated by an outside source or choose to self-nominate. Applications can be submitted online, emailed to [email protected], or mailed to: Cultural Development Office, Attn: City of Worcester Poet Laureate Program, 455 Main Street, Room 409, Worcester, MA 01608.
Apprenticeship Week Celebrated with State Grants to Local Organizations
Governor Charlie Baker’s office announced $2.7 million in new grant funding to 19 organizations supporting expanded apprenticeship programs across Massachusetts. The programs provide critical workforce training and boost employment opportunities for residents.
Quinsigamound Community College received $100,000 and two locations of Family Services of Central Massachusetts received $100,000 each.
In Auburn, Aimtek received $90,000 and A-Tech Turbine received $95,000. The Blackstone Valley Education Hub also received a grant for $25,000.
