MCC Offers Student “Life Changing” Experience

From a young age, Vanratanak Peng’s father emphasized the importance of healthcare, leading to his interest in pursuing pre-med. As an international student from Cambodia, Peng started at Middlesex Community College. At Middlesex, he is completing his general education requirements and getting early hands-on learning experience in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

“I want to serve the community by being a part of the healthcare system,” Peng said. “I chose to come to MCC for its strong and affordable STEM programs with smaller size classrooms and faculty I was able to communicate with. The faculty are all well-versed in their fields and understand students’ struggles with the material or the rigor of a course.”

Peng believes MCC faculty are teaching him techniques and tools he can use in his daily life, as well as in his studies at his transfer institution. In particular, Chemistry Professor Sophia Kazanis offered him support and helped him better understand the material. Kazanis also recommended Peng to become a tutor for MCC’s Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE).

As a tutor, Peng honed his communication, leadership and time management skills. He enjoyed the experience of reviewing concepts and finding ways to explain them to his peers. At the 2026 New England Peer Tutoring Association conference, Peng attended workshops to develop his tutoring skills, as well as presented on a topic.

“Being able to present allowed me to reflect on my own tutoring and leadership skills to deepen my understanding,” Peng said. “My experience as an ACE student leader was amazing. I was able to work with many students from different backgrounds and I was able to review material and build effective study strategies.”

At MCC’s Spring 2026 Commonwealth Honors Program Research Conference, Peng had another opportunity to present. Developing his presentation on Red Dyes: Synthetic vs. Natural in his honors courses, he created a visual slide deck and discussed his research with an audience of peers, MCC employees and community members.

Going beyond STEM, Peng is a member of MCC’s Business and Economics Club and International Club and competed in the regional DECA competition’s business ethics category. President of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society, he participates in many activities related to MCC’s Program for Asian American Student Advancement.

“We share cultures, build communities, and focus on students’ wellness and sense of belonging,” Peng said. “I like how vibrant and active the community is with all their clubs. Any student should be grasping any opportunity provided by MCC. Knowing all the resources that MCC provides is an amazing start. All the faculty and staff here are amazing and will be good for you along the way in your journey.”

With guidance from MCC’s Director of Student Engagement Maria McDuffie Clark, Peng applied for a scholarship. At the Fall 2025 ceremony, he was awarded the Northeast Association of Realtors (NEAR) Scholarship for students living in NEAR’s service area. In addition to relieving him of some tuition, receiving the scholarship allowed Peng to focus more on his studies and be an active member of the Middlesex community.

The scholarship recognition also helped grow Peng’s confidence as he looks ahead to his future plans. Feeling he has developed into a more responsible student at Middlesex, he feels prepared to transfer to a four-year college.

“My overall experience at MCC has been life changing,” he said. “MCC has pushed me academically with the support and encouragement from the staff and faculty.”