Thanks to the vision and dedication of Gregg ’86 and Pam ’87 Rosen, campus partners have united to support a critical mission: fighting cancer through education, community action, and direct relief.
The Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund (RCAF) serves as a beacon of hope across the Worcester State community, driving efforts that expand awareness, inspire action, and support those who need it most. Our work is felt across campus in profound ways:
The Rosen Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Worcester State provides students with rare, hands-on research opportunities early in their academic careers. This premier program builds critical confidence, sharpens complex problem-solving skills, and directly prepares students for competitive graduate schools, medical programs, and top-tier careers in the sciences. Just as importantly, it elevates Worcester State’s reputation by offering undergraduate research experiences that rival those at elite private universities.
Funding provided through the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund allowed our 2024 summer research team to secure two major assets:
These two vital enhancements have already provided extensive, daily benefits to our core research teams and a much broader audience of students throughout the academic year.
The new cell counter and advanced software license have had a broad, significant impact across multiple science majors, expanding the depth of cancer-related inquiry while elevating academic output.
The Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund plays a vital role in advancing Worcester State’s commitment to preventative health education and early detection.
Annual sponsored events, such as the energetic Athletics Pink Out games, do much more than just raise money; they spark organic conversations and create unique opportunities for Worcester State students to step up, take the lead, and become active advocates in the fight against cancer.
In February 2025, the Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Teams came together to support Evan Armit ‘28 and his family as he underwent cancer treatment. With the help of the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund, the teams designed special black jerseys to wear during designated games, encouraging donations and bids prior to the event.
All proceeds from this initiative were directed to The Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund, and a donation was made to Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Care Center in Ontario in honor of the Armit Family. Additional funding helped the family transport Evan’s truck back to Canada as well as officially retire his number 11 jersey.
The outstanding engagement from our student-athletes, their families, and friends, coupled with the support from coaches, contributed to making this event a significant success in both fundraising efforts and raising awareness.
Evan demonstrated incredible strength, courage, and grace while battling cancer, inspiring many through his resilience and commitment to raising awareness and support for others. This fall, student-athletes from various teams have organized several games in his memory, showcasing the strong sense of community at Worcester State and the effect Evan had on so many.
Student Profile: Heyttor Nunes ’28
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Aspirations: Law Enforcement
Heyttor Nunes is an industrious Worcester State sophomore who spends his summers working for his local police department on Martha’s Vineyard, dreaming of a lifelong career in law enforcement. However, his family recently faced an unexpected crisis when his father, Fabio Nunes, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
While Fabio underwent a successful surgery to remove the tumor, grueling chemotherapy treatments have left him unable to work. Heyttor is one of three children, and his mother, Meiroka—a dedicated social and community activist for the local Brazilian ommunity—suddenly became the family’s sole provider through her grueling work as a housecleaner.
Ursula Arello, Director of Leadership Giving at Worcester State, learned of the family’s situation through a mutual friend and Worcester State alumna, reaching out to see how the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund could help.
“Heyttor insisted he didn’t need anything and was very grateful to be asked. When we met, he was incredibly sweet and appreciative. While we spoke, he opened his laptop to look something up, and I noticed a large crack slicing right across the screen, which he brushed off nonchalantly. At that moment, I realized exactly how we could help!” — Ursula Arello, Director of Leadership Giving
“Heyttor insisted he didn’t need anything and was very grateful to be asked. When we met, he was incredibly sweet and appreciative. While we spoke, he opened his laptop to look something up, and I noticed a large crack slicing right across the screen, which he brushed off nonchalantly. At that moment, I realized exactly how we could help!”
— Ursula Arello, Director of Leadership Giving
Thanks to the immediate intervention of the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund, Heyttor was provided with a brand-new laptop. He had a vital 13-page research paper due the very next week; with the new technology in hand, he completed it successfully and finished his sophomore year on a high note.
Jonathan Tomashefsky ’26 has no interest being defined by his three bouts with leukemia. Having graduated from Worcester State with a degree in communications, he’s instead focused on becoming an advocate for cancer patients and their families.
“Along the way in my own journey, I realized my story could help others,” he said. “So I want to be a beacon of hope for people going through what I’ve been through. I want to be someone patients can talk to and also become a champion for healthcare accessibility and cancer awareness.”
Tomashefsky has already begun this work as a student at Worcester State, serving as the Rosen intern in the university’s office of advancement. In the role, Tomashefsky has provided vital support in coordinating a variety of cancer awareness events, early detection initiatives, and fund raising work across campus. His impact has been especially felt in the athletics department.
For example, throughout the spring 2026 semester, Tomashefsky lent a helping hand in organizing and coordinating a number of “pink out” games, where athletes wear pink jerseys to raise awareness of certain cancers. He’s particularly proud of the work he did helping to coordinate the event that established the Evan Arm it #11 Fund. Armit was a fellow Worcester State student and men’s ice hockey player who tragically lost his own battle with cancer in 2025.
“Being a communications major, I just love to talk to people,” Tomashefsky added. “Helping to promote these events, attending and talking about this work that’s so important to me was a great opportunity. The work has also aligned with what I hope to do after graduation. This internship, and Worcester State itself, really means everything to me.”
Tomashefsky’s journey is a powerful testament to the ripple effect of philanthropy. While helping to alleviate the financial burden of his education, the Rosen Internship empowered a future leader to find his voice. And now, Tomashefsky is graduating as a skilled advocate, ready to pursue a life of public service that will benefit patients and families for years to come.
As part of a commitment to student success, the fund hosts a sponsored professional photo booth on campus.
For undergraduates and recent graduates, a high-quality professional headshot is one of the simplest yet most impactful tools for building a strong personal brand. When you are early in your career and navigating a competitive job market without a long list of traditional experiences, how you present yourself online—especially on platforms like LinkedIn—becomes a critical piece of how potential employers, recruiters, and networking contacts perceive you. The RCAF Photo Booth ensures our students look the part as they take their next steps into the professional world.
From their original, singular vision just a few short years ago, the Rosen Family has built a powerful, living legacy of impact. Inspired by Gregg’s personal journey, the Rosens have expanded awareness, advanced complex research, promoted early detection, and supported families in their moments of greatest need.
Their extraordinary generosity touches countless individual lives and strengthens the very fabric of Lancer Nation. We are profoundly grateful to the Rosen Family for bringing this fund and their enduring commitment to our community, and we look forward to exponential future impact.
The Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund is committed to supporting students beyond the classroom. Contributions to the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund continue to support key initiatives such as:
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