Fitchburg State University will welcome alumni, students, families, and friends to campus for Homecoming 2025, running Thursday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 5. The weekend celebration will feature a wide array of events, including athletic contests, the Homecoming Carnival, Casino Night, and an Admissions Open House for prospective students and their families. President Donna Hodge said Homecoming is one of the most meaningful traditions at the university. “Homecoming is more than a weekend of events. It is a living tradition that reminds us who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. When alumni, students, faculty, staff, families, and neighbors fill this campus with their energy, we see the full picture of what it means to be a Falcon. That spirit—the pride, the connection, and the momentum we create together—is what carries Fitchburg State forward.” Highlights include a campus Pep Rally on Thursday, Oct. 2, Casino Night on Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday’s packed lineup of tailgating, football, men’s soccer, and the Homecoming Carnival. The football team will host Framingham State at noon at Elliot Field, followed by men’s soccer taking on Salem State at 5 p.m. The university will also host a Fall Open House on Saturday, Oct. 4, giving prospective students and families the chance to tour the campus, meet faculty, coaches, and staff, and experience Fitchburg State’s vibrant community in action. Athletic Director Matthew Burke said the weekend is one of the most exciting times of the year. “Nothing energizes our student-athletes more than a packed stadium. This Homecoming, let's give our Falcons a true home-field advantage. Come back to campus, reconnect with Fitchburg State, and fill the stands to support men’s soccer and football.” Full schedule and registration details are available at fitchburgstate.edu/homecoming.

Fitchburg State University has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for supporting the upward social mobility of its students in the publication’s annual rankings of colleges and universities. In addition to being named among the best regional universities in the North and among the top public universities, Fitchburg State was ranked among the highest performing institutions in Massachusetts for social mobility. This category measures how well institutions succeed at enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students. “Recognition in social mobility goes to the heart of who we are as a university,” said Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge. “As a first-generation student myself, I know what it means to have access to an education that changes the course of your life. For 132 years, Fitchburg State has opened doors for students who might otherwise be left on the margins, and that mission continues with urgency and pride today. Our work is not just about degrees—it is about fueling opportunity, strengthening families, and shaping communities across the Commonwealth and beyond. These rankings affirm the momentum we are building, and they underscore our commitment to making sure higher education remains a powerful engine of equity and possibility.” U.S. News & World Report has published annual rankings of colleges and universities since 1983. Details on its methodology are available on the publication’s website.

Academics change lives. That’s the theme of this year’s Presidential Ambassadors Program at Fitchburg State University. The program fosters leadership development among students by providing unique opportunities to design and implement projects that strengthen communities. The Presidential Ambassadors Showcase will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Hammond Hall Main Lounge from 4-5:30 p.m. "This showcase is more than a celebration of student projects; it is a reflection of who we are as a university," President Donna Hodge said. "Our Presidential Ambassadors embody the momentum and mission of Fitchburg State. They take the lessons learned in the classroom and bring them to life through service, leadership, and innovation. Their work reminds us that education is not only about personal achievement, but also about building stronger communities and opening doors for those who will follow. I am proud of the example they set and grateful for the energy and vision they bring to our campus and beyond." This event highlights the projects of President Hodge's Presidential Ambassadors, recognizes campus community contributions, and honors the transformative power of education. “The Presidential Ambassador Program exemplifies who we are at Fitchburg State,” said Dr. Christine Dee, Professor of History and Special Assistant to the President, who will supervise the ambassadors this year. “We love to learn, to build, and to move forward. The ambassadors combine their academic interests with project management skills to enact positive, meaningful change. Dr. Hodge empowers all students at Fitchburg State to chart their own educational path. This program is an example of the student-focused opportunities the president has created at the university.” This year’s Presidential Ambassadors are: Veronica Barton, Kole Broderick, Alexis DeSimone, Priscilla Fordjour, Geybrell Liriano, Sophia Moore, Sydney-Amelia Nortelus, Peter J. Norton, Alexis Sandmann, Reshawn Stewart, Aidan Thompson, Matthew Gill and Julia Arena. Arena and Gill are returning Presidential Ambassadors. “We are excited to work with these talented and diverse students,” said Dee. “Together, they are a powerful team that serves our campus with distinction.” At the State of the University Address to kick off the start of the year, President Hodge honored this year’s group of Presidential Ambassadors, who are bold representatives of the university’s spirit, service, and momentum, with green blazers. The Ambassadors volunteer at high-level campus and community events, they meet alumni and legislators, and they tour special guests around campus. They do it all with poise, humility, and a deep love for Fitchburg State. “These students represent the best of who we are and the best of where we’re going,” Hodge said.

The Richard Kerris Photography Exhibit 1.0 Opening Reception will take place at the Fiorentino Foyer and Sanders Hallway on Thursday, September 25, from 4-7 p.m. The Gallery is sectioned into three parts, each reflecting a style appropriate to the subjects and places captured. The three chapters are: Breath - "The movement between stillness and flight. Images that inhale and exhale with life." Poise - "The tension held in performance, where control and emotion intersect." Moment - "A captured instant suspended in time — fleeting, honest, and whole." Kerris, a 1983 alumnus, says that Fitchburg State holds a special place in his heart. “It was here that I was first encouraged to explore beyond the obvious—to take risks, to create,” Kerris said. “My internship filming music videos in Boston nightclubs lit the spark that grew into a production company and eventually carried me through careers at Pixar, Apple, Lucasfilm, and now NVIDIA. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to work at the intersection of media and technology, but it all began with the encouragement and faith of the faculty and friends at Fitchburg. To be invited back, decades later, to share my photography in Breath, Poise, and Moment feels like completing a circle—returning to the place where I first learned that with the right guidance, we are all meant to soar.” Kerris’ photography style is all about capturing emotions and creating lasting stories through his lens. “Whether it’s the raw energy of a live performance, the true essence of a portrait, or the breathtaking beauty of a landscape, I strive to go beyond the surface and capture the feeling of a moment,” he said. This exhibit is made possible by The Clementi Family Lecture Fund. Photo: A Richard Kerris photo of The Rolling Stones on tour in 2015.

As a first-generation college graduate, Eliezer Rivera knows all about the fears that high school students have about higher education, the college application process and the financial obligations of going to college. Rivera, a 2017 Fitchburg High graduate and two-time Fitchburg State University alumnus - completing degrees in 2021 and 2024 - parlayed his education into the biotech industry, then as a high school teacher and now as assistant director of admissions at Fitchburg State. “I am so excited for this role not because of the traditional admissions process, but because of the presence and impact it will have on the local students and community, being a Worcester County and Fitchburg kid myself,” said Rivera, who earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s in educational leadership and management. “I understand how hard, challenging and scary that process can be for first generation and low-income students, having been one myself.” Rivera worked in biotech for several years before becoming a science and math teacher at St. Bernard’s Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg. Now, at Fitchburg State, he hopes to be a helpful resource to high school students looking to attend college and helping their families fully navigate and understand that higher education is a real possibility, regardless of obstacles they think might stand in the way. Rivera’s coverage area will be centered around the city, including Fitchburg High, Sizer, St. Bernard’s and Monty Tech, but including area towns of Lunenburg and Leominster, extending from Gardner to Littleton. But Rivera will have direct contact with students at Fitchburg High with an office inside his alma mater. “I’m excited to have space in Fitchburg High,” Rivera said. “Being from the same background of the majority of the Fitchburg Public Schools – being low income, first generation, Hispanic/Latino male, I think with that I experienced a lot of miscommunications and a lot of language-barrier issues on my parent’s behalf that did affect how I went to college and my brother. My brother didn’t go to college because he wasn’t informed on the dynamics of the college application process. My parents never went to college, so he ended up having issues with his financial aid and he was not able to go, so he ended up joining the military and his professional career looks a lot different than what he thought it would look at the end of high school. “Having experienced that and seeing it firsthand in my household, I want to be that bridge that brings Fitchburg State and Fitchburg High together,” he said. Pam McCafferty, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success, said the university is very fortunate to have Rivera back on campus and serving in this important role. “He brings such a wealth of experience and commitment to the community and students that he serves,” McCafferty said. “Additionally, having a dedicated office space within Fitchburg High School will allow Eli to be an accessible resource for students as they navigate their college decision journey. We’re thrilled to have him on the team recruiting the next generation of Falcons.” Rivera fully understands that there are so many questions and worries during the college process. “Whether it’s a lack of communication, understanding or presence, that puts a limit on youths’ minds and it causes them to think that they can not be one of those people, or that another path is better,” Rivera said. “It almost causes them to turn away from education.” Rivera is all about sharing information, building trust and opening up the lines of communication to help educate students and families about higher education. “I want to connect and ease their worries about the college application process, affordability and what that looks like long term,” said Rivera, who said Victor Rojas from Fitchburg High’s GearUp program was that person for him when he was in high school. “It’s not as scary as it all seems. There is financial support out there to make college affordable. I think a lot of the miscommunication is from the financial aspect of it.” Rivera, 26, was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He moved to Fitchburg when he was 2 years old, but moved back to Puerto Rico in the fifth grade up until his sophomore year. “There was a language barrier because I was not fluent in Spanish,” Rivera said. He eventually moved back home to Fitchburg – on Day Street, a short walk from Hammond Hall – and graduated from high school and then college in Fitchburg. “I knew I had to consistently challenge myself if I wanted to be able to do great things and succeed,” he said. The passion to help has always been in Rivera’s heart. “I want to motivate and inspire them to do something better with their lives and make the most of the opportunities their parents are giving them,” he said. “I want to be a role model for those students. I know where they come from and what it looks like, so being able to show them that if they take advantage of an opportunity being given to them, their life can look different.” Rivera said his comprehensive education at Fitchburg State was life-changing. “It gave me an opportunity that a lot of people don’t get,” he said. “It gave my life a type of direction where I wanted to go. It changed my perspective on education. It was an opportunity to become a lifelong learner. It’s been the best investment that I’ve been able to make in my life,” he said. “Education changed my life in all ways from being a student, a leader, to being a husband and a father, and setting that standard in all areas of my life.”