1. MWCC Student Leader Cathy May Teague Selected for
DHE’s ’29 Who Shine’ Award
MAY 12, 2015
Cathy M. Teague
The state Department of Higher Education will kick off the 2015
commencement season by recognizing top students from
across Massachusetts at the fifth annual 29 Who Shine award
ceremony on May 14 at the State House. The award honors 29
outstanding public college and university graduates, one from
each community college, state university and UMass campus,
for their academic achievement and community service.
Mount Wachusett Community College student Cathy May
Teague of Winchendon will be among the students recognized
by Governor Charlie Baker, state education officials, campus
presidents and others attending the ceremony.
“I want to congratulate the outstanding Class of 2015
graduates for the recognition they have received and thank
them for their substantial contributions to their local

2. communities,” said Gov. Baker. “Each of the ‘29 Who Shine’
honorees, in addition to being an accomplished student, is
civically engaged in ways that improve the quality of life in
Massachusetts.”
“Each one of our 29 honorees is from Massachusetts and
planning to remain in Massachusetts,” noted Richard M.
Freeland, commissioner of higher education. “Through their
dedicated scholarship and deep engagement in their local
communities, these students are making good on the
taxpayers’ investment in their education.”
A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, Teague has her hands full
as a full-time student, a mother of three young sons, and
stepmother to two teenagers and a 20-year-old soldier serving
in Afghanistan. Yet she makes it a priority to carve out time to
serve fellow students as president of Mount Wachusett
Community College’s Student Government Association, vice
president of the college’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor
society, and mentor to peers who are struggling with academic
or personal issues by volunteering with the Students Serving
Our Students (SOS) program.
Teague has taken a leadership role in civic engagement on and
off campus, participating in many endeavors such as helping to
build a home with Habitat for Humanity of North Central
Massachusetts, food drives to assist those in need, and
fundraising to benefit student-centered campus initiatives and
community nonprofit organizations. As president of the SGA,
she spearheaded the college’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive,
which served more than 80 families this past year. Additionally,
she and her husband, Jason, reach out to help others in as

3. many ways as possible, for example opening their home on
Thanksgiving to veterans.
A first-generation college student, Teague participated in the
college’s Rx program, a TRIO Student Support Services
program designed specifically for health care majors.
“It became clear that in order for me to have a stable career, I
needed a college education,” Teague said. “Because of the
support, scholarships and positive encouragement I received at
Mount Wachusett, I have grown into a confident person with a
clear path.”
An outstanding student academically, Teague was recognized
this spring as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-
Massachusetts Academic Team and nominated to the All-USA
Academic Team. She has been named to the President’s List
and the Dean’s list for academic achievement and will be
recognized as a Civic Scholar at Commencement for her
extensive service learning and volunteer work. This spring, she
also was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American
Colleges and Universities.
Teague is applying to become an AmeriCorps VISTA, and plans
to continue her studies at MWCC to earn a Physical Therapist
Assistant degree to achieve her career goal of working with
children as a PTA.
The 29 Who Shine campaign asks each honoree to select a
faculty or staff mentor to accompany them to the celebration in
Boston. Teague named Elaine R. Gagne, an adjunct professor
of English, reading and first year experience. The Athol resident

4. also works as a technology teacher for grades K-6 at the
Orange Elementary School.
“Professor Gagne has given me endless encouragement
through personal and academic challenges. She helped me
unlock my potential, allowing me to grow not only as a student
but to grow into many leadership roles. She also taught me
that if my dreams don’t scare me, they are not big enough,”
Teague said.
“I am so proud of Cathy. When I had her in FYE, I knew she
was going to go far,” Gagne said.