Worcester State Magazine – Spring 2025

Help Us Build the Lancer Network Nationwide Lancer Nation is spreading across the country! The Worcester State Alumni Association was thrilled to host Regional Reconnects in Washington, D.C., and Florida this winter. Now, we’re planning our next stops, and we want to visit your area.  These gatherings are a fantastic way to reconnect, network, and […]

Celia Johnston Blue ’00 is creating lasting change through public service, mentorship, and advocacy. By Alyssa Haywoode Photo by George Annan ’21 Celia Johnston Blue ’00 loves leadership.  “I love developing people and watching them go on to higher levels,” Blue said, “because as a leader, that’s what you want your folks to do.” There […]

Above: Samantha Paradis ’20, M.S. ’22. Photograph by Bethany Paradis. Samantha Paradis ’20, M.S. ’22, owns Sam’s Stems, a floral boutique in Central Massachusetts that works with local flower farmers to source fresh, sustainable blooms and preserve their beauty, and that offers flower-arranging workshops. We caught up with Paradis to talk about her business, her […]

Meet The New Hall of Famers Worcester State inducted five former student-athletes, one coach, and the 1972 men’s outdoor track and field team into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame on September 27. Above: The individual inductees are, clockwise from top, Thomas Moore, head coach of men’s basketball from 1989 to 1994; Courtney (Salisbury) Peloquin […]

Above: The Alumni Association’s Advisory Board awarded grants to 14 campus groups this year, including the Asian Cultural “Boba” Club. Here, the K-pop dance group Thrice performs at the club’s Lunar New Year celebration. Photo by Nancy Sheehan. Every year, the Alumni Association’s Advisory Board invests in the campus community by awarding grants that bring […]

Above: Emmy Forde ’28 and Louise make a jump at an October meet. Members of the Worcester State equestrian team compete on new horses at every event. In the process, they learn to trust and adapt—and to communicate across species. By Rebecca Cross   Photos by Ellen Pechinsky ’27 Compared to each of the other […]

Dear Alumni and Friends of the University, For 150 years now, a Worcester State education has helped individuals scale the ladders of economic success and social mobility.  When founded in 1874 as the Worcester Normal School, we offered a no-cost, two-year program for those seeking to teach in the growing public schools. Teaching was an […]

Above: Hurynowicz (Number 10) came a bit closer to 1,000 career points when she made this shot in November against Wellesley College. Women’s basketball star Katie Hurynowicz ’25 leads by example on and off the court. In January, she achieved a rare milestone. Photos by Frank Poulin Resilience and dedication have defined Katie Hurynowicz ’25’s college […]

Ted Hebert ’74 started as a gopher at a swimming pool company at age 14. Today, he owns his own pool company and is a respected community philanthropist. By Alyssa Haywoode   Photo by John Lenis Ted Hebert ’74 is made of stories.  There was the time he had the jitters during a hot air […]

Above: FROM LEFT: Aspen Zheng ’24, Gregg Rosen ’86, Zoe Kalaijakis ’24, and Peter Spylios ’24. Zheng, Kalaijakis, and Spylios are among those who’ve been helped by the Rosen Fund.  Gala raised $300,000 for the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund By Deborah Alvarez O’Neil Photos by Matt Wright ’10 Few thought they could truly make it […]