Worcester State Magazine – Spring 2023

Ethel Abramoff ’93 July 2, 2022 Veronica E. (Shaw) Adams ’61 June 23, 2022 Janelle C. Ashley, PhD October 7, 2022 Kirsten M. Backlin ’92 July 7, 2022 Paul K. Bitter ’69 MDiv, LPC October 13, 2022 John P. Borci ’63, MEd ’69 October 17, 2022 Mary-Ellen Boyle, MEd ’62 August 25, 2022 Dorothy A. […]

Friends, classmates, and alumni come together again More than 1,000 alumni, students, and families gathered at Worcester State University to celebrate Homecoming Weekend 2022. Under sunny skies, many said they were just happy to see friends, classmates, and fellow alumni come together again. Family Day offered a festive carnival-like atmosphere for more than 700 students, […]

University community honors half a century of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Homecoming Weekend was capped by a semi-formal celebration that drew 175 attendees to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The event paid tribute to OMA leaders Sidney Buxton, Marcela Uribe-Jennings ’82, MEd ’91, Laxmi Bissoondial ’02, and the student-led […]

Hitting the greens in support of Worcester State Athletics The inaugural George H. Albro ’65 Memorial Golf Tournament drew more than 100 participants, all in support of Worcester State Athletics. The event was named in memory of Lancer legend, educator, coach, and mentor George Albro. Save the date on August 7 for the 2nd annual […]

A celebration of donors and students who receive their gifts More than 250 students and donors connected this year at the annual scholarship brunch, an event that brings together donors who fund scholarships with the students who receive them. The University Advancement tradition fosters intergenerational friendship, support, and networking. Each year the Worcester State Foundation […]

Judith Hoyer ’65 shares her love of poetry with a new generation. When Judith Hoyer was a student at Worcester State in the 1960s, poets like Robert Frost, Randall Jarrell, and Archibald Macleish were household names. Hoyer, who had loved poetry her entire life, attended every reading she could and saw all three poets when […]

Poliana Alarcón Bustos’ journey of language, literature, and connection When Poliana Alarcón Bustos, MA ’18 attended her first day of English-language class at Worcester State in 2015, she realized she was surrounded by students who didn’t speak a common language. At first, they found ways to communicate without using spoken language. As the semester went […]

To be competitive in the life sciences workforce, college students need to be trained on the latest scientific equipment and processes. Worcester State University received a $658,000 grant last summer that has allowed the Biology and Chemistry Departments to purchase state-of-the art equipment to increase student lab skills and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The grant from the […]

From his first Big Idea to the tech startup that landed him on Forbes 30 Under 30, Derek Canton ’15 is seeing years of hard work pay off. Best. Year. Ever. What else to call 2022 for tech entrepreneur and CEO Derek Canton ’15? In March, his startup company Paerpay hit an exciting tipping point […]

Rocco’s Doughnut Company, founded by Joe Astrella ’91, has an apt company motto: “Just a family bringing people together, one doughnut at a time.” The variety of doughnut flavors and the company’s social media following have grown quickly with the help of Rocco’s children, who have all been key to his success: his son, Vincenzo Astrella […]