The Margaret Manoogian “Open Door” Scholarship
Criteria: (award equal to one annual in-state tuition) The Margaret Manoogian “Open Door” Scholarship will be awarded to a full time, non-traditional, female student who is working to fulfill her dream of earning a bachelors degree from Worcester State University and who is a mother. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to mothers who are currently raising children.
A scrupulous planner and intelligent woman, Margaret Manoogian turned to Worcester State University in 1973 resolute about earning her undergraduate degree and helping her husband, Harry, get their young family through difficult financial circumstances.
But even she had trepidations about beginning college again—knowing she not only would have to become reacquainted with course responsibilities, but would also need to juggle them with family obligations.
Her friend Leonard Farrey, a beloved Worcester State alumnus and professor emeritus, allayed her fears. “When I knocked on his door and said I was thinking of going back to school, Len took care of me,” Margaret recalls. “He made it possible. He made it accessible to me. There were no barriers, no boundaries. That moment of acceptance that I can do it made all the difference.”
Margaret, who worked as a paralegal and at nonprofits and attended Worcester Junior College and Clark University, spent the next two-and-a-half years pursuing a degree in sociology and minor in psychology. (Her College Level Examination Program exam scores earned her credits for one year’s worth of courses.) “My main emphasis was to do well academically and take care of my family,” she says. “Women like me know this struggle.”
Margaret credits outstanding WSU professors—including Professor Emerita of Sociology Faith Zeadey and Professor Emerita of English Mary Ellen Herx—for bringing out the best in her and preparing her for a fulfilling career in workforce development and elder services. She graduated magna cum laude in 1977.
Margaret went to work as a VISTA volunteer for the Social Service Corporation for one year before joining the Worcester city manager’s Office of Employment and Training. As the Skill Training and Improvement Program coordinator, she worked with businesses to plan and coordinate programs that benefitted Vietnam Veterans and women. One initiative recruited women for training on tool and die equipment to become machinists. She gave a presentation on the program at the National Association of Counties.
To balance work and family during her children’s teenage years, Margaret started a consultant practice. She also enrolled in a graduate program at Clark University. She earned a Master of Arts degree in 1984. The committee of professors that reviewed her thesis, “Armenian Genocide: Blueprint for the Holocaust,” commended her work and encouraged her to continue her research. Soon after, she received an unsolicited offer from the Zoryan Institute for assistance in research and publication of her manuscript.
Margaret chose, instead, to take the position of director of information, public relations and resource development at the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, which she held for 10 years. There, she published the first Central Massachusetts Caregivers Guide and organized the first Caregivers Conference, which was held at Worcester State.
Margaret has continued her thesis research off and on for over 25 years.
Margaret’s community involvement has included serving on Channel 13 board of directors, the city manager’s Citizens Advisory Council, the American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters’ board of directors, YWCA board of directors, Massachusetts Human Services Coalition, and campaign chairperson for a U.S. Senatorial race.
Two of Margaret’s children, Michael and Tina, followed in her footsteps, earning their bachelor’s degrees in 1991 and 1988, respectively, from WSU. Her daughter-in-law, Dianalee, and son-in-law, Paul, also graduated from WSU in 1993 and 1994, respectively. (Tina maintains close ties with WSU as a Class Agent.)