Winter Commencement scheduled for Jan. 25

\A longtime area educator and volunteer will be honored during Fitchburg State College's annual winter commencement ceremony on Friday, Jan. 25, in the college's Recreation Center.

Shirley Pick, of Fitchburg, will be presented with the President's Medal, an award that honors those who have made significant contributions to the state or community. Pick, a Fitchburg State alumna and a longtime community volunteer, is being recognized for her work in founding Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area (ALFA).

Commencement will begin at 6:20 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. Families and friends attending the ceremony may use any of the campus parking lots, or take advantage of a free shuttle service. The shuttle will pick up passengers at the Intermodal Center garage at North and Main streets in downtown Fitchburg. The shuttle will run continuously between 5 and 9 p.m.

Should extra space be required, the college will provide a video viewing area at Weston Auditorium. Commencement can also be viewed live on FATV or on the Internet at www.fsc.edu. FATV will also sell DVDs of the ceremony, which will include both undergraduate and graduate students. DVDs can be ordered for $17, which includes the cost of shipping. Proceeds will go to the Bob Wilson Memorial Scholarship Fund. To order, contact FATV at (978) 343-0834.

This winter, 483 students are eligible for graduation; they have the option of participating in the winter or spring ceremonies. There are 251 undergraduate and 232 graduate students currently scheduled to take part in the winter ceremony.

In the event of inclement weather, commencement will be held on Feb. 1.