On Friday, May 2, Middlesex Community College held an awards ceremony for student leaders who worked for the Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE). The event was an opportunity to recognize the students’ important work and celebrate their accomplishments throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.
“The ACE Leadership Ceremony is more than just a formal event, it’s a meaningful celebration that brings student leaders together to recognize and honor their efforts, dedication, and the leadership skills they contribute to the ACE department,” said Eangpheng Ea, an MCC business administration student, of Lowell. “I believe in the value of shared experiences and being there for others – whether it’s through guidance, encouragement, or simply listening– so they feel more confident and capable in their academic journey.”
For Ea, his time working as a student leader in writing for ACE helped him develop on both a professional and personal level, as well as made his time at the college more meaningful. Grateful for the experience, he felt he has made a positive impact on his classmates.
A business administration student, of Ayer, Dania Farah became a student leader for statistics after benefitting from attending previous sessions. Realizing she could make a difference in the community, Farah found a sense of purpose in supporting students, encouraging them through challenges, and celebrating their progress.
“ACE has not only helped shape my academic journey, but it’s also inspired me to keep giving back wherever I go,” Farah said. “My experience at MCC has been nothing short of incredible. The professors genuinely care about student success, and programs like ACE have helped me discover confidence I didn’t know I had. Being part of MCC has strengthened my academic skills and helped me grow as a leader and person.”
Learning about ACE through professor, Elizabeth Mood, an MCC English student of Lowell, became a student leader for writing and honors writing. Having grown more confident in her studies and on a personal level through her peers’ encouragement, she found her experience to be “rewarding.”
“My proudest moments are when our sessions help build a student's confidence,” Mood said. “I like to encourage students to realize that their ideas are worthwhile, their voice is important, and work on techniques to help them get their thoughts onto paper. I try to make it my mission that if a student tells me they're overwhelmed or nervous, that they leave the session feeling more in control.”
George Exarchopoulos, a business administration student, of Lowell, wanted to support his peers as a student leader for statistics and pre-calculus. Calling the experience “amazing,” he was proud to attend the leadership ceremony and recognize the work completed throughout the year by his ACE classmates and staff.
“[The ceremony] is a special moment to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished this semester and to come together one last time,” Exarchopoulos said. “Being at MCC truly makes you feel like part of a community, and I really enjoyed it. I’m proud of the progress many of the students I worked with made throughout the semester.”
After 14 years away from education, ACE helped Amanda Connors, an MCC cybersecurity student, of Westford, find connections with classmates. A student leader for computing system fundamentals, they pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and found a community of support that led them to be a stronger overall student.
“The Leadership Ceremony means the culmination of a lot of hard work,” Connors said “This was my first semester working with ACE, and it has been a really rewarding experience. I was excited to see my peers' presentations, and to celebrate everyone's accomplishments.”
The event included awards, certifications, and student leader of the year recognitions. MCC’s ACE is approved through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) to provide three levels of certification to the student leaders, according to Christine Bell, MCC’s Director of Academic Support Programs. In Fall 2016, the MCC Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program was also the first community college to be certified by the International Center Supplemental Instruction (ICSI).
“The CRLA is an internationally recognized credential for tutors and represents a significant accomplishment,” Bell said. “CRLA certified peer tutors engage in extensive training in learning theory, tutoring best practices, and conflict management making them well prepared to provide high quality support for all our students. SI Leaders are recommended by their faculty member to sit in class the following semester, be a role model for the students in class, collaborate with the faculty to identify the difficult concepts each week and provide collaborative group study sessions outside of class each week. SI Leaders serve as an additional support for students and the faculty member, they are the go-to person for the students, and a huge help in the class and lab.”