On Wednesday, May 1, Middlesex Community College hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony
for the new, state-of-the-art Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) skills lab. Efdjeen
Cineas, from Haiti and now living in Methuen, represented the program as the student
speaker at the ribbon cutting.
“It was an honor and pleasure to be asked to speak at the ribbon cutting,” Cineas
said. “I shared the truth, talking about what happened and what it means for me to
be here and start everything new. I hope to continue my journey and see if I can become
what I want to be. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am going to embrace it and
keep going.”
A doctor and pharmacist in Haiti, Cineas was nervous about starting over in the United
States. Led to MCC’s CNA program by the International Institute of New England, she
took the opportunity as a sign for a new start.
Cineas enjoyed learning in the college’s skills lab. After completing the program
and passing her certification exam, she returned to assist the instructor in the lab
to help other students. In September, she plans to start in the college’s Medical
Assisting program.
“It was an honor and pleasure to be asked to speak at the ribbon cutting. I shared the truth, talking about what happened and what it means for me to be here and start everything new. I hope to continue my journey and see if I can become what I want to be. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am going to embrace it and keep going.” - Efdjeen Cineas, MCC Student
Run by the Community Education and Training division, MCC’s CNA program provides individuals
with comprehensive, hands-on training opportunities to directly enter this in-demand
field. The program covers everything students need to pass the Massachusetts CNA certification
exam and enter the workforce.
The new four-bed working lab prepares students to attend clinicals and be well-equipped
to work in the field. Highlights include hospital beds, mannequins, wheelchairs and
canes, and blood pressure cuffs and machines.
“Having a lab fully dedicated to the CNA program means we are able to train more students
and prepare them to enter an in-demand workforce that trusts us to prepare employees,”
said Caitlin Campopiano, MCC’s Director of Workforce Programs and Professional Education.
“The combination of the equipped lab and strong industry partnerships has also allowed
us to add more advanced skills training based on employer feedback, including medical
and surgical care and pediatric acute care.”
The ribbon cutting event took place at 3:30 p.m. in the lab located in MCC’s Derby
Building in Lowell. MCC President Phil Sisson was in attendance with administrators
and employees throughout the college.
Joining them were alumni of the program, community partners, advisory board members,
MCC Trustee James Campanini, Rep. Rodney Elliot, Rep. Vanna Howard and Senator Edward
Kennedy.
“The amount of support at the event was amazing,” Campopiano said. “We have many people
who are so supportive of our programs.”
Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/careertraining/ for more information on MCC’s CNA and Community Education and Training offerings.