51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Press Release

Bunker Hill Community College Holds Biomedical Careers Graduation Ceremony

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Bunker Hill Community College (51³Ô¹ÏÍø) celebrated the graduation of 18 students from the Cambridge Biomedical Careers Program (CBCP) in a ceremony that also marked the 20th anniversary of the program. CBCP is a collaborative effort between 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Workforce Development Center, the Just-A-Start Corporation and the City of Cambridge. It targets low-income Cambridge residents who complete - at no cost - a nine-month intensive 18-credit program that provides the academic background and hands-on skills needed to gain entry-level biotech jobs in the greater Cambridge area.

Gordon Gottsche, Executive Director of Just-A-Start, made opening remarks at the ceremony, held on May 9th. Dr. James Canniff, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services gave an official welcome on behalf of the College. Representative Alice Wolf (Cambridge) congratulated both Just-A-Start and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø on the success of the program.

CBCP's placement rate is more than 70 percent and has an average starting salary of nearly $36,000 and an average graduation rate of 88 percent. More than 360 51³Ô¹ÏÍø graduates are currently employed in 15 or more local biotech firms, from start-ups to well-established international companies. "The program is a wonderful example of successful collaboration between industry and education," said 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Executive Director of Workforce Development Les Warren. "It shows that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is making a contribution to the biotechnology field in what is often called 'the biotech capital of the world'."

Media Contact:
Leslie Ouellette, Executive Director, Integrated Marketing and Communications,
Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-336-5054; Email: leslie.ouellette@bhcc.edu


About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (51³Ô¹ÏÍø) is one of Massachusetts' largest community colleges, serving approximately 16,000 students annually. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers a broad range of educational opportunities throughout Greater Boston. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø fosters a welcoming and supportive learning environment for students by offering associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific programs.