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NECC Student Receives Scholarship

Submitted by on August 27, 2013 – 12:26 pm
NECC Student Receives Scholarship

Marie Phillips of Haverhill receives Pearson Prize Scholarship

Northern Essex Community College student Marie Phillips of Haverhill is one of 100 students nationwide to receive the Pearson Prize Scholarship, an award that recognizes students who are giving back to their community.

A graduate of Haverhill High School, Phillips is an Early Childhood Education major at NECC and will graduate in May 2014. Phillips is very active on campus and in her community. On campus Phillips is a member of the PACE Program, a federally-funded student support services program, and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is also involved in the Student Leadership Development Program, serves as a Presidential Student Ambassador and is currently the secretary of the Early Childhood Education Club. This summer Phillips is working on campus in the Student Engagement Center as a new student orientation leader welcoming new students to NECC.

Phillips is also very active in her community. She volunteers at Emmaus House in Haverhill, providing tutoring and arts and craft activities for the children there. She also works with the JumpStart program as a JumpStart Corps member working with local schoolchildren to strengthen their language and reading skills. This fall she will be a team leader with the JumpStart Program.

Phillips recalls being almost in tears upon receiving the news that she was selected for this scholarship. “As a single parent, receiving the scholarship money is amazing” says Phillips, “it gives me the privilege of being part of something so much bigger than just myself by being included in an amazing group of student leaders”.

After graduating, Phillips plans on transferring to a four-year institution to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education followed by her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Phillips hopes to one day be a kindergarten teacher.

Scholarship winners receive a $1,000 scholarship, are named a Pearson Prize Fellow, and are given leadership guidance by the Pearson Foundation over the course of the year.