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, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 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.
鈥淎fter an employment gap that lasted years 鈥� through both my girls鈥� Type 1 diabetes diagnoses 鈥� my knowledge base had shifted along with my employability,鈥� said Paul Heerlein, an 麻豆果冻 Pathmaker Program graduate. 鈥淎n 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.鈥�
Ten 麻豆果冻 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.
鈥淚 really enjoyed this course, it鈥檚 an interesting program,鈥� Michel said. 鈥淎ll 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.鈥�
This is 麻豆果冻鈥檚 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 Rodr铆guez, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Provost & Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e done a lot of work, earned your credentials, and broadened the opportunities for your future,鈥� Rodr铆guez, said in her address to the graduates. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great to see this program develop into what it is, which is connecting talent with opportunities,鈥� said Tyler Cissell, VP U.S. Manufacturing, Insulet Corporation, in his address to the graduates. 鈥淲e are rapidly growing, we provide a life-saving, life-altering device to diabetics, so you鈥檙e part of a great mission, you鈥檙e 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鈥檚 amazing what you鈥檝e done and accomplished here.鈥�
麻豆果冻鈥檚 program also provides students with professional development and career training. This includes access to career counseling, resume review, interview preparation, tutoring, and the college鈥檚 student support services. Students are also connected to career resources from MassHire Lowell.
鈥淲e 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鈥檚 not just training,鈥� said Amy Veillette, Assistant Manager, MassHire Lowell. 鈥淭he goal is for them to work with Insulet, and it鈥檚 great to have a company onboard helping 麻豆果冻 with the curriculum. We don鈥檛 have any other programs like this where there is a company helping with curriculum and it has made a huge difference.鈥�
Over eight weeks, 麻豆果冻 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.
鈥淲e are so proud of all our students,鈥� said Katy Gentile, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Assistant Director of Corporate Education & Training. 鈥淭his 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 麻豆果冻, have been an integral part of the program鈥檚 success. The connection between 麻豆果冻 and the MassHire Lowell Career Center, is another reason this program succeeds. The students benefit from the support of the 麻豆果冻 faculty and staff, in addition to these phenomenal partners.鈥�
The next session will take place in Fall 2025. Learn more about 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Pathmaker Initiative or email Gentile for more information.