Coming Events

Sierra Club Lecture to Focus on Honey Bees March 13

The Sierra Club of NJ – Central Group will present a lecture "Honey Bees: A Powerful Pollinator" by Angela Juffey on Wednesday, March 13 in SC104. The event begins with pizza at 6:15 p.m. followed by the program at 6:45 p.m. RSVP to Kipatthesierraclub@gmail.com. Staff and students welcome!

High School Horticulture Expo in Bloom at MCCC March 15 and 16

If you missed the Philadelphia Flower Show, Central New Jersey will usher in spring with a floral extravaganza of its own at MCCC during the New Jersey High School Horticulture Expo! Now in its eighth year, MCCC, the MCCC Horticulture Program and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture are partnering to host the event on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16. The event is free and open to the public. Read more here.

'Amos McGee' Comes to Kelsey Theatre March 16

"A Sick Day for Amos McGee" is presented by Virginia Rep on Tour for two shows only this Saturday, March 16 at 2 and 4 p.m. Based on the popular children's book, it is presented as part of the Kelsey Kids Series and teaches young audiences that the best medicine of all is kindness! Read more here.

Final Performance of 'Peter and the Starcatcher' at Kelsey is March 17

Ever wonder how Peter Pan and the Lost Boys ended up in Never-Neverland? The truth shall be revealed in "Peter and the Starcatcher," to be presented by The Pennington Players this weekend, with the final performance on Sunday, March 17. Read more here.

Student Restaurant Opens for Lunch March 25

If you don't have tickets for dinner at the HRIM Program's Viking Café, you're too late -- the restaurant is sold out for the semester! But there are still opportunities for fine dining at lunchtime, with two new student restaurants opening soon. The International Café will begin serving cuisines from around the world, beginning with Israeli specialities on Monday, March 25 and changing menus through May 13. The Grinning Bobcat will serve Wednesday lunch for three dates only: March 27, April 10 and April 17. See the menus and purchase tickets online here. Tickets for faculty and staff are just $10.

‘Sunset Boulevard’ Is Ready for Its Close-up at Kelsey Theatre April 5 to 14

Change has not come easily to silent film star Norma Desmond. In a mesmerizing homage to early Hollywood and the era of silent films, Playful Theatre Productions presents the Tony Award-winning “Sunset Boulevard” at Kelsey Theatre. This blockbuster musical will be performed Fridays, April 5 and 12 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, April 6 and 13 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, April 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. Read more here.

Wawa Leadership Program Info Session Comes to Mercer April 10

Are your students interested in pursuing a career in management? Wawa is looking for a few good leaders! Wawa, one of the leading convenience stores in the U.S., is seeking new members for their College Graduate Leadership Program and will be holding an information session on Wednesday, April 10, starting at 10 a.m. in SC201. Wawa representatives will be available from 10 to 11 a.m. for a meet-and-greet and for resume assistance, with a leadership program presentation from noon to 1 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Advance registration is required by calling ext. 3530, by email at thomasl@mccc.edu, or by visiting SC201. Students are asked to bring a resume.

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Current News

Tee Up For MCCC Golf League!

All MCCC employees, regardless of level of play, are invited to join the MCCC Golf League! The league has been meeting at the Princeton Country Club -- and many other courses -- for more than 30 years, playing nine holes of golf once a week from April through September, culminating with a end-of-year tournament and banquet. The league plays on Wednesdays, with tee times at 4 and 4:30 p.m. League members unable to play at those times can play other days and times, provided at least one other league member plays in the round. The cost of playing in the league is a $50 registration fee; greens fee for the weekly Wednesday tee time at Princeton Country Club are $14. For more information, contact Bill Peroni at ext. 3219 or peroniw@mccc.edu, or Jason Taylor at taylorj@mccc.edu or ext. 3214.

MCCC Pursues Local Partnerships through NJBIA

Business leaders from around New Jersey gathered at the MCCC Conference Center on March 6 for an event that sought to create new partnerships between educational, public and private institutions. Organized in conjunction with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA), the collaboration operated under the theme of “Building New Jersey’s Future Workforce by Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships.” Read more here.

Discounted Faculty, Staff Tickets Available for Scholarship Fundraiser

There's less than a month to go before the MCCC Foundation's premier scholarship fundraiser, "Spring Into Student Success" -- and college employees can attend at a discounted rate! With the theme "A Night in Old Havana," this year's fundraiser will be held on Friday, April 5, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Stone Terrace in Hamilton, with all proceeds to support student scholarships. The night includes a formal dinner, hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, coffee and desserts, live music by the Renaissance Orchestra, and a silent auction. You and your guests can attend the celebration for $150 per ticket, a $75 discount. To make reservations, visit the MCCC Foundation’s secure webpage here (scroll down for special employee discount tickets). If you prefer, contact Radhika Jaisimha (jaisimhr@mccc.edu or ext. 3607) and make your reservations in person. See you in Old Havana!

Horticulture Display Scores Silver Medal at Philadelphia Flower Show

A display featuring the Trenton skyline, created by MCCC Horticulture, Graphic Design, and Art students, scored a silver medal in the educational category at the 2019 Philadelphia Flower Show. Read more here.

MCCC Soccer Player Honored on National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Taylor Mastropasqua, a sophomore on the women’s soccer team, was selected as the college’s 2019 representative for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports Day. Now in its 33rd year, this annual awards ceremony was held at Seton Hall University on Feb. 3. This year, the event operated under the theme “Lead Her Forward,” which honored the ways in which sports pushes female athletes to reach their full potential. Read more here.

Softball Team Eyes Another Post-Season Run in 2019

The MCCC softball team has been a post-season staple for the better part of the last two decades, with a record of 429-162-1 since Head Coach Ryan Zegarski took the helm in 2005, a span that includes three appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 2 World Series. And even though this year’s team is dominated by freshmen, Zegarski says: "There is no doubt in my mind that we can compete this year.” Read more here.

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Reminders

March 24: Dedication of Robert Pugh Fitness Center. The dedication of the Robert L. Pugh Fitness Center will be held Sunday, March 24 at 12:30 p.m. in the PE Building. The center is being refurbished and renamed in honor of Bob's 45 years of service and dedication to MCCC. Approximately $50,000 was raised for the project. To RSVP, email Patti Richards at richardp@mccc.edu. 

March 27: Health Professions Info Session. Current and prospective students interested in learning about health profession degree programs, requirements, employment opportunities, career paths, the application process, and more can do so at information sessions on Wednesday, March 27 at noon in MS172 and Thursday, April 11 at 5 p.m. in MS172. Questions? Contact Cindy Matyas at ext. 3596 or matyasc@mccc.edu.

Through March 28 and May 31: Scholarship Portal Now Open. The MCCC Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for new, continuing, and graduating students. NEW scholarships have been added this year. The application deadlines are March 28 for graduating students and JKC scholarship awards, and May 31 for fall scholarship awards. More information about the AwardSpring application process is available here; the application web address is www.mccc.edu/apply4awards. See the brochure for current students here and for high school students here.

April 5: Foundation Hosts 'Spring Into Student Success' Fundraiser. Break out the straw fedora, white sport coat, or the floral print dress and get ready for “A Night in Old Havana,” the theme for this year’s MCCC Foundation scholarship fundraiser, “Spring Into Student Success.” Now in its 30th year, “Spring Into Student Success” will be held on Friday, April 5, from 6 to 11 p.m. at The Stone Terrace, 2275 Kuser Road in Hamilton. All proceeds will support student scholarships. Mark your calendars! Read more here.

Through April 10: Tax Prep Assistance. MCCC, in cooperation with United Way of Greater Mercer County and the IRS Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, will offer free tax return preparation on Wednesdays through April 10 in SC104, 2 to 6 p.m. (No session during Spring Break.) To learn more, see the flyer here.

Silent Auction Donations Requested for Spring Scholarship Fundraiser. The MCCC Foundation is requesting silent auction donations for this year’s Spring Into Student Success Fundraising Gala, with all proceeds directly benefiting student scholarships. Please consider contributing a silent auction item, with the most requested items being wine and spirits, gift cards from local merchants, and interesting experiences. In addition, the SISS committee is in need of items such as baskets and decorative display , containers, for presentation of donated silent auction items. Drop off donations at AD112. For more information and to view silent auction guidelines, visit www.mccc.edu/siss. Questions? Contact Madison Storcella at storcelm@mccc.edu.

Training and Development Calendar on M-Link. From Monise Princilus, Executive Director of Human Resources and Compliance: As part of our Strategic Plan, the college committed to investing in organizational and professional effectiveness, and we are continually looking for ways to maximize our internal resources to bring you opportunities for training and development. A new Training and Development Calendar has been created. To view, click here. If you see any course that interests you, please register. More courses will be added as they become available.

Through Summer: Camp Registration Underway. From June 17 through Aug. 16, MCCC will once again open its West Windsor Campus to children and teens ages 6 to 17. Registration is currently under way for a diverse list of camp and workshop offerings designed to pique the interests of just about every child. Read more here.

Exercise Classes for Spring: Exercise classes for the spring semester have begun. Yoga is held on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in PE225 and on Wednesdays, from noon to 1 p.m. in the gym. Zumba classes are on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in the gym. Presented by Student Life and Leadership, classes are free and open to both students and staff. No classes will be held during Spring Break.

Continue to Spread the Word about Free Tuition Through New State Program (CCOG). As active ambassadors for MCCC, all employees are asked to continue to spread the word to family and friends about the state's new Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG). Also consider passing this information along to churches and community organizations for their newsletters, announcements, and information racks. Hard copies of the flyer are available in the AD Executive Suite, at the Information Desk at the JKC Student Commons, and at the Admissions and Financial Aid suites in the Student Center. Or, copies can be printed by clicking here. More information about CCOG is available by calling (609) 570-3795, e-mailing admiss@mccc.edu, or by visiting http://www.mccc.edu/free.

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Mercer in the News This Week

Trentonian

MCCC display featuring Trenton skyline scores silver at Philadelphia Flower Show

Times of Trenton (NJ.com)

Theater: ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ at Kelsey Theatre through March 17

Insider NJ

New Jersey Reacts to Governor Phil Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

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