Middlesex Community College held a graduation ceremony for the Pathmaker Program on Wednesday, June 18. Helping to build job training opportunities for in-demand careers within Massachusetts, MCC’s program assists in filling gaps in the life sciences workforce through funding by the Mass Life Sciences Center Pathmaker Initiative and in partnership with Insulet Corporation and MassHire Lowell Career Center.
“After an employment gap that lasted years – through both my girls’ Type 1 diabetes diagnoses – my knowledge base had shifted along with my employability,” said Paul Heerlein, an MCC Pathmaker Program graduate. “An Omnipod customer, I realized that Insulet would understand and appreciate my experience and be supportive of raising [children who are] Type 1 diabetics. As someone who has been interested in robotics since childhood, the program seemed custom made for me. With the knowledge I attained, my confidence in myself was regained. It would be meaningful to apply it toward making a life-changing difference in the lives of people like my family.”
Ten MCC students completed the most recent program, including Heerlein. The other graduates include Carter Brice, Jonathan Hall, Teharly Jean, Carl Keopadith, Emmanuel Lafontant, Molin Nuth, Sokmara Than, Ken Vantha and Cherlevens Michel.
“I really enjoyed this course, it’s an interesting program,” Michel said. “All instructors are amazing. This program helps me to change my career that I really wanted to do. I thank all the staff for contributing on my new path.”
This is MCC’s third training cohort to complete the program since partnering with the Mass Life Sciences Pathmaker Initiative. The collaboration has served 31 students overall. During the graduation ceremony, students received a certificate and heard from guest speakers, including Arlene Rodríguez, MCC’s Provost & Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs.
“You’ve done a lot of work, earned your credentials, and broadened the opportunities for your future,” Rodríguez, said in her address to the graduates. “We congratulate you all and thank you for trusting Middlesex with your education. Thank you also to the organizations who partner with us, Mass Life Sciences, Insulet and MassHire. This is the perfect collaboration between public and private education and industry to be able to move forward and create economic success for these individuals.”
The goal of the program is to prepare Mass. job seekers for life sciences careers with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment and industry-relevant curriculum. Graduates may be eligible to interview for positions at Insulet, visit a local advanced manufacturing facility, and network with hiring managers and program alumni.
“It’s been great to see this program develop into what it is, which is connecting talent with opportunities,” said Tyler Cissell, VP U.S. Manufacturing, Insulet Corporation, in his address to the graduates. “We are rapidly growing, we provide a life-saving, life-altering device to diabetics, so you’re part of a great mission, you’re part of a great story in helping individuals, and you get to work with some of the most advanced manufacturing automation on the planet. All our factories are 100 percent automated, and it requires the talent that comes out of this program to keep advancing it forward. It’s amazing what you’ve done and accomplished here.”
MCC’s program also provides students with professional development and career training. This includes access to career counseling, resume review, interview preparation, tutoring, and the college’s student support services. Students are also connected to career resources from MassHire Lowell.
“We help facilitate a lot of special training programs, but this one with Middlesex and Insulet is probably my favorite because it really helps people get a job, it’s not just training,” said Amy Veillette, Assistant Manager, MassHire Lowell. “The goal is for them to work with Insulet, and it’s great to have a company onboard helping MCC with the curriculum. We don’t have any other programs like this where there is a company helping with curriculum and it has made a huge difference.”
Over eight weeks, MCC offers trainings in Advanced Manufacturing with Robotics and Automation. Students receive 120 hours of in-person learning and 30 hours of remote learning with Tooling U. Sessions discuss the most current industry topics, from lean manufacturing and industrial electricity to robotics and mechatronics.
After completing the program, students received their Certified Manufacturing Associate credentials through Tooling U and OSHA-10 certification.
“We are so proud of all our students,” said Katy Gentile, MCC’s Assistant Director of Corporate Education & Training. “This program could not happen without the support of Mass Life Sciences and all partners involved. We know that working together in unity and with a passion for helping people really helped to make our graduates successful. Our partner employer, Insulet Corporation and the staff working on this program with MCC, have been an integral part of the program’s success. The connection between MCC and the MassHire Lowell Career Center, is another reason this program succeeds. The students benefit from the support of the MCC faculty and staff, in addition to these phenomenal partners.”
The next session will take place in Fall 2025. Learn more about MCC’s Pathmaker Initiative or email Gentile for more information.