Massachusetts College Application Celebrations (MCAC) were held December 13-22 at various high schools across Worcester. MCAC events help students apply to college and celebrates each acceptance. At the events, students who have not yet done so, can receive assistance in applying to a variety of institutions, be interviewed by college reps, receive instant acceptance and financial aid offers just prior a school assembly where all students who have college acceptances are celebrated with cheers, music and the ringing of cow bells similar to the fanfare given student athletes. The event began with 50-80 Massachusetts GEAR UP students being celebrated at a few schools and now involves more than 5000 students across the state - similar events were held in Springfield and New Bedford where MassEdCO has partner agencies.
In Worcester, 770 students applied for and were accepted to college during this year's 10-day event. For weeks leading up to the MCACs, teams of college access professionals from MassEdCO, high school staff members and community partners worked to prepare for the local celebrations. Maureen Binienda, superintendent of schools in Worcester, was solidly behind the effort and all high schools participated. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette published an article on Christmas Day about the Worcester celebrations.
