Nichols College

Senior James Singletary is a man of distinction who has become a powerful contributor to the life of the Nichols College campus and surrounding community.

Nichols College political science, business, and leadership students helped approximately 120 high school and college students register ahead of the Oct. 17 registration deadline to vote in the Nov. 6 mid-term election. Nichols professors Erika Cornelius Smith, Ph.D. (political science chair) and Libba Moore, Ph.D., (human resource management chair) brought a group of 14 Nichols students to Nipmuc Regional High School in Upton Oct. 10-11. There, they helped register approximately 40 students. Additionally, 80 Nichols students were registered over the course of two events on campus, in the Fels Student Center, Oct. 10 and 17. The Institute for Women's Leadership at Nichols also assisted in the on-campus registration effort. The Nichols students represented the College's Model United Nations (UN) organization, Emerging Leaders Program, International Business Club, and Professor Smith's political science courses. Nipmuc teacher and Model UN advisor Brian Moloney helped coordinate the voter registration activity, and Upton Town Clerk Kelly A. McElreath stopped by the registration table on Oct. 10. "As both political science Ph.D.s, Professor Smith and I believe that our current political times call for an energetic democracy," explained Professor Moore. "We started the effort in my hometown of Upton, since I know the principal and teachers at the high school. We were welcomed with open arms. Having college students promoting voter registration to the high school students is a tremendously effective way to organize the drive. Peer to peer. We faculty and the Upton town clerk stood off to the side, and watched the dynamic interactions among the young people." Students were registered onsite, online, using Apple iPads and laptop computers. Nichols first-year student Nicole Chignola of Shrewsbury, Mass., created a QR code that high school students could scan with Snapchat on their smartphones. The code took registrants directly to the Massachusetts voter registration website. Those wanting to register were told to bring their valid state-issued identification card. Nichols students from outside of Massachusetts were also assisted with respect to their home states. "I was really impressed with the presence of the Nichols students," said Moloney. "These wonderful young people made a connection with the Nipmuc students. It was great to see the Nichols students walk around the cafeteria and explain the importance of voting." It's vital to register the 18-year-old high school students, because, according to Professor Moore, young people are a major subset of the electorate, and typically have low voter participation. "When young people vote, they are more likely to do so when they are older," said Dr. Moore. "Getting young people to vote early is key to raising a new generation of voters. The Nichols College students were excited to do the hands-on work of helping empower other young people. To gather at a high school, in the cafeteria during lunchtime, was the perfect atmosphere, allowing for dialogue and education about the voting process. It was meaningful for all, and fun." This young generation has a strong chance of making a powerful impact on the midterms-only if they show up at the polls-pointed out Professor Smith. "Democrats are winning over younger voters by huge numbers, but as a highly contentious, voter turnout-dependent mid-term election inches closer, there's a serious question of whether young Democrats will come to the polls," she said. "In the 2014 midterms, when Democrats lost control of the Senate, only 23 percent of young voters participated, according to the U.S. Census, which considers young voters as aged 18 to 34. A recently released poll from the Public Religion Research Institute and The Atlantic conducted in June showed only 28 percent of young adults ages 18 to 29 say they are 'absolutely certain' they'll vote in midterms, compared to 74 percent of seniors. There are other surveys with varied results; a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago found that 32 percent of young voters would certainly vote. Another poll, by Cosmopolitan magazine and Survey Monkey, found that 48 percent of young voters were 'absolutely certain' they'd vote in the midterms." In terms of academic value for the Nichols students registering their peers to vote, Professor Smith noted that the experience was an excellent first-hand, experiential lesson in the hard work of democracy. "Nichols College students had to learn the process of registering someone to vote, as well as the challenges of motivating young potential voters to get registered," she said. "In fact, many of the Nichols College students themselves were not registered, and they worked first to complete their own registrations to prepare for helping high school students. By the time we drove home from the high school, many of them were texting the Massachusetts online voter registration website to friends and family, and helping those individuals register as well. Several of the students are also now reaching out to high schools in their hometowns to see if similar programs are available, or if they can start one going forward. "They also had to think about why voting is important to them as individuals in order to express the importance to potential high school voters," added Dr. Smith. "They experienced, first hand, the amount of time, knowledge, and energy it takes to participate in a democratic electoral system." Nichols sophomore Euleidys Rodriguez-Rosario said: "It is very important for young people to register to vote, because if we don't, then we are letting someone else speak for us, and sometimes that is not the best thing. It's better for us to lead our country to a better, balanced place, rather than having division and internal chaos. Not everything is perfect, but if we have more people, particularly young adults, vote, maybe we can fix problems. Every vote matters." The following Nichols College students helped register students at Nipmuc Regional High School and their peers at Nichols: MacKenzie Bourgault of Fairhaven, Mass., first-year student; Bridget Canavan of Dudley, Mass., a sophomore international business major; Nicole Chignola of Shrewsbury, Mass., first-year student; Dailaine DosReis of Framingham, Mass., a senior economics major; Joseph Lamonica of Everett, Mass., a first-year marketing major; Alexandra Masley of Oxford, Mass., a senior international business major; Taylor McIntosh of West Babylon, N.Y., a senior finance major; Vincent Murphy of Rochdale, Mass., a sophomore economics major; Sara Painchaud of Dudley, Mass., a first-year management major; Euleidys Rodriguez-Rosario, a sophomore; Rachel Rowe of Webster, Mass., a first-year management major; Javon Scarlett of Marlborough, Mass., a senior psychology major; Peter Shoemaker of Old Lyme, Conn., a sophomore international business major; Kelvin Vasquez of Silver Spring, Md., a first-year marketing major; Noah Villella of Berlin, Conn., a sophomore economics major and political science minor ABOUT NICHOLS COLLEGE Nichols College is a college of choice for business and leadership education as a result of its distinctive career-focused and leadership-based approaches to learning, both in and out of the classroom. Founded in 1815, Nichols transforms today's students into tomorrow's leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols serves students interested primarily in a comprehensive business education that is supported by a strong liberal arts curriculum. MEDIA CONTACT Lorraine U. Martinelle Director of Public Relations and Social Media Nichols College Email: Lorraine.Martinelle@nichols.edu

Nichols College has recognized over 500 students who achieved Dean's List status for their academic work during the fall 2017 semester.

23 Nichols College student-athletes are on the Nichols College Golf team for the fall 2017 season.

The 16 members of the Nichols College Women's Tennis Team for the fall 2017 season won on Oct. 21, 2017, its second straight Commonwealth Coast Championship tournament. Nichols College congratulations these fabulous student athletes!

Nichols College in Dudley, Mass., is pleased to announce that 431 students are enrolled in the Class of 2021.

Nichols College graduated over 300 students on May 6, 2017, at the DCU Center in Worcester. Former California Closets President Marty Allen, a 1975 graduate of Nichols College, delivered the Commencement address.

Nichols College has recognized 470 students who achieved Dean's List status for their academic work during the spring 2017 semester.

Twenty Nichols College Students have been recognized as Orientation Leaders during summer 2017 for the incoming Class of 2021. These students introduce new first-year students to Nichols College and the community by leading them through team activities and helping them acclimate to the college lifestyle.

18 Nichols College students are members of the 2017-2018 Student Government Association.

21 Nichols College student-athletes were on the Field Hockey team for the fall 2016 season.

On February 25, 2017, the Nichols College men's basketball team won the CCC Championship against Endicott College.

Nichols College has recognized 469 students who achieved Dean's List status for their academic work during the fall 2016 semester.

19 Nichols College student-athletes are on the Men's Basketball team for the Winter 2016-2017 season.

11 Nichols College student athletes are on the Women's Basketball team for the Winter 2016-2017 season.

30 Nichols College student-athletes are on the Men's Hockey team for the Winter 2016-2017 season.

22 Nichols College students are members of the 2016-2017 Student Government Association.

25 Nichols College Student-athletes are on the Women's Ice Hockey Team for the Winter 2016-2017 season.

Nichols College graduated 456 students on May 8, 2016, at the DCU Center in Worcester. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker delivered the keynote address.

Nichols College has recognized 460 students who achieved Dean's List for their academic work during the spring 2016 semester.

Twenty Nichols College Students were recognized as Orientation Leaders during the Summer of 2015 for the incoming class of 2019. These students introduced new freshmen students to Nichols College and the community by leading them through team activities and helping them acclimate to the college lifestyle.

During the Summer of 2015 Sarah Bombara studied abroad at Westminster University in London during the summer of 2015. Students can choose to study abroad starting junior year. They gain valuable classroom knowledge while experiencing different cultures.

During the fall of 2015 Amanda Racicot will be studying abroad in London at Regents University. Students can choose to study abroad starting junior year. They gain valuable classroom knowledge while experiencing different cultures.

Tori Wolter, who is starting her sophomore year at Nichols, has been named one of four grand prizewinners and the recipient of a $500 scholarship award in a national public speaking contest sponsored by online learning company Cengage Learning. Cengage asked contestants to pick a presentation that they had already given over the past year. Wolter submitted her entry from Nichols' annual Elevator Speech Competition last April.

Nichols has recognized 454 students who achieved Dean's List for their academic work during the spring term.

Nichols College, celebrating its Bicentennial, graduated almost 500 students on May 9th in Dudley, Massachusetts. Roger Berkowitz, the president and CEO of renowned restaurant chain Legal Seafood, delivered the commencement address.

Nichols College, celebrating its Bicentennial, graduated almost 500 students on May 9th in Dudley, Massachusetts. Roger Berkowitz, the president and CEO of renowned restaurant chain Legal Seafood, delivered the commencement address.

Four students are serving as captains for their respective teams during the Spring 2015 season. Together, these students have guided their teams to success on and off the playing fields by acting as leaders and role models for teammates.

Nichols has named Samantha MacMillan as the valedictorian for the Class of 2015. The valedictorian has the highest GPA in the graduating class. Earlier this year, MacMillan also presented a research poster during the Student Poster Session at the 2015 Joint Mathematics Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. The annual conference is the largest gathering of math professionals in the world.

Sixteen Nichols College students and members of the Bison Football team have been placed on the New England Football Committee Academic All-Conference team.