Middlesex Community College hosted a graduation ceremony for students who completed the Prepare to Attend College (PAC) program on Friday, November 7. The event provided an opportunity for graduates to share what they learned, receive certificates, and celebrate their success with their peers.
“The best part of studying English [at MCC] has been meeting people from different parts of the world and sharing our cultures, dreams and experiences during class discussions,” said Thais Bista, an MCC PAC Two student from Brazil who now lives in Medford. “It’s a universal language and opens the doors for our future.”
MCC’s PAC program is part of MCC’s English Learner Institute (ELI), which offers students the opportunity to improve their English skills. After an assessment, students are placed in level one and level two classes. Bista was one of two student speakers during the ceremony. Aminata Konate, a PAC One student from the Ivory Coast who now lives in Lowell, also spoke to share her excitement about her experience at MCC.
“Even though I was born here, I didn’t really know much about life in the U.S., so I wanted to experience it for myself,” Konate said. “I heard about Middlesex Community College from my mother, who told me it was a great place to start my education journey. She was right. Middlesex has been an amazing experience!”
During the Fall 2025 session, MCC graduated 39 students from 19 countries in the PAC One and PAC Two courses. Countries included Algeria, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Myanmar, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Vietnam.
At the graduation ceremony, students talked about the skills they learned, their plans for continuing their education at MCC, and their favorite moments from their classes. Students also highlighted their appreciation for the PAC program faculty and staff, as well as the friendships they formed with classmates.
“Our PAC program offers a strong starting point for individuals to get an education,” said Judy Burke, MCC’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Workforce Development. “At Middlesex, we are thrilled to support you on your journey of studying English. An important next step is to build upon your knowledge, whether you want to earn a certificate or degree, learn a new skill, or advance in your career. MCC offers a variety of options to get you started on your path to pursuing your dreams.”
As part of the PAC program, instructor Faithe MacElliot introduced students to MCC’s resources, highlighting the food pantries, libraries, and the Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE) for additional English practice and tutoring. Near the end of the program, MCC’s academic advisors visited the class to speak to graduates about continuing their education, including enrolling in college-level classes at MCC.
“We want students to feel ready to take the next steps,” MacElliot said. “Being able to speak English brings greater opportunities both in the employment and educational arenas. [PAC] can help students create the life they envision for themselves and their families.”
The PAC program runs two times a year, which learners complete in eight weeks. The program is free, flexible and split into two levels. The next session will run February 2, 2026 to Match 27, 2026 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“As we wrap up our 2025 PAC classes, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the students in PAC One and PAC Two on their hard work and achievements,” said Charles Zhang, MCC’s PAC Program Coordinator. “Over the years, many of our PAC students have continued to college – an impressive accomplishment that speaks to their perseverance and the strength of our program. This is what our community college is all about.”