The memoir of an Italian-American woman’s journey from Campania to the U.S. will be the focus of a virtual book club discussion sponsored by the Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State University. The discussion of Such Is Life: A Memoir (2010) by Leonilde Frieri Ruberto, and translated by Laura E. Ruberto will be led by Fitchburg State Professor Teresa Fava Thomas of the university’s Economics, History and Political Science Department at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15. The event may be joined online at http://meet.google.com/jck-rbdj-ekm or by phone at (US) +1 336-948-0154, PIN 909 227 699#. The program, which explores a personal account of the Italian-American immigrant experience, is presented as part of the Center for Italian Culture’s series Il Libro Italiano. The event is presented in collaboration with the university’s celebration of Women’s HERstory Month. To learn more about the Center for Italian Culture, please visit fitchburgstate.edu/cic.

An enduring partnership between Fitchburg State University and Fitchburg Access Television is creating learning opportunities for students and supporting community service for an important local resource. For the past several years, FATV has hosted the university’s multi-camera television production course, wherein students leave the main campus and head for the station’s Kimball Street headquarters. “Being active is a great way to learn,” said Professor Kevin McCarthy of the university’s Communications Media Department, who taught the course for the second time last fall. While his own professional background has been more focused on documentary film, McCarthy said the overriding principles transcend media forms. “It’s all storytelling,” he said. “There’s the technical side you have to learn, but then there’s the question of, what are you going to do with it?” FATV Executive Director Nathan Glenny said the collaboration has been beneficial for his organization as well as the university. “I’m thankful for the strong relationship and continued partnership FATV enjoys with Fitchburg State,” Glenny said. “Education is key to the foundation, but when coupled with hands-on experience within real-life settings, you’re more than likely going to see a well-rounded graduate ready to hit the ground running for a career in the media industry.” Alyssa Fields, a sophomore from Chelmsford majoring in communications media with a concentration in film/video, said she was grateful to be taking courses in-person after her first-year was compromised by the pandemic. The multi-camera class at FATV built on her first impressions of Fitchburg State as an institution that valued hands-on learning. “Within the first week or two we were already in the studio, moving the cameras around,” she said. “We were learning about being on a set, and being able to adjust on the fly.” Beyond her class time in the studios on Kimball Street, Fields also embraced the course requirement of volunteering additional time with FATV.  “The community service gave me exposure to a variety of different styles,” she said, from talk shows to political debates.  Fields cited the patience and encouragement of FATV Education Coordinator Jarrod Roberts, himself a 2018 graduate of Fitchburg State, for contributing to the positive experience of the class. “Jarrod always made me feel comfortable in the studio and allowed it to be very hands-on,” she said. “He’s always very receptive to the students.” Fields’ collaboration with FATV extended beyond the semester; she joined the station as a part-time employee this spring. Moritz Vetter hails from Germany and is studying at Fitchburg State this year as part of an exchange program with Stuttgart Media University. Vetter said there is nothing comparable to community access television in Germany, so the opportunity to learn and create with state of the art equipment was eye-opening.  “I had never considered myself a TV person, but I really enjoyed it,” he said, noting his ambitions gravitate toward film production. As an international student, Vetter said the community service component helped increase his understanding of the U.S. through projects like covering football games, including running the instant-replay camera. “I knew the basic rules (of football), but I got the hang of it after the first quarter,” he said. Vetter lent his own athletic skills to Fitchburg State, playing on the Falcons’ men’s soccer team in the fall. That was also a treat, he said, as German universities don’t typically offer scholastic athletics.  Vetter will be studying in the U.S. until May, and looks forward to traveling in addition to completing his classes at Fitchburg State this semester.  The community service aspect of the class was part of its composition when the course was developed several years ago by Professor Ann Mrvica, now retired. For McCarthy, that collaboration is key to the success of the class. “Collaborating with FATV provides students with an experience working in a broadcast environment,” said McCarthy, noting many students intend to pursue career paths in the multi-camera arena. “The course is an intersection of technical knowledge and storytelling, and connecting with the community. That’s something I don’t always get to do on-campus.” Glenny agreed the collaboration creates meaningful opportunities for all involved.  “As enrolled students, they have access to an 1,100-square-foot studio and its control room, editing suites and equipment for on-location recording to utilize for their class projects,” Glenny said. “In addition, FATV is highly engaged with the community through broadcasts of studio talk shows, local events and sports, which in turn allows the students to further develop job relevant skills that employers actively seek. This collaboration with the students has created opportunities for our station to cover more in the community and with dynamic coverage through multiple camera angles and higher production values.” The multi-camera television course will be offered again this fall.

A major bequest to Fitchburg State University will support music education and help prospective music teachers pursue their professional and artistic goals. The Helen E. Hornsey Music Education fund will benefit all aspects of music education at Fitchburg State, including individual and community lessons and music education that develops excellence in teaching and creative practice among teachers and community workers in the discipline of music. Helen Hornsey died on April 30, 2021 at the age of 106. Born in Brookline in 1914, Hornsey had a lifelong love of music. She studied at the Juilliard Music School in New York City and was an avid singer and pianist. She was also devoted to helping others and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel with the Salvation Army in her adopted community of Fitchburg. The Hornsey Music Education Fund was created to ensure private instruction is available for students, faculty, alumni and community members, and tomorrow’s music teachers have expansive knowledge with which to guide their students. The fund will provide support for music lessons for promising band members and tuition assistance to students participating in the music education concentration. The fund will offset costs for performances on campus and help students to: Develop advanced skills in teaching, particularly in the areas of pedagogical practice, music technologies, and performance; Enhance content knowledge in the student’s field of licensure; and Obtain skills and certification necessary to seek a student's professional licensure through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “We are honored and gratified to accept this generous gift from the Hornsey estate, and know it will have a positive impact on generations of music students,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “Her gift will endure and support music education for years to come.”

Fitchburg State University announced today that it has earned the 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School designation. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard. The 2022-2023 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. “We are honored to once again receive the Military Friendly® designation,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “Our campus community is committed to supporting those who served their country as they pursue their academic goals, and we welcome the diverse life experiences that student veterans bring to our institution.” “Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®. “Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.”  For more information about Fitchburg State’s student veteran programs, visit their website at fitchburgstate.edu/veterans.  About Military Friendly ® Schools The Military Friendly ® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. About Fitchburg State University Fitchburg State University public institution located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, dedicated to integrating high-quality professional programs with strong liberal arts and sciences studies. Founded in 1894, the university has more than 30 undergraduate programs and 22 master’s programs. About Viqtory Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.viqtory.com.