NECC Graduation
View video on the NECC YouTube Channel.
NECC Celebrates #NECC2020 Commencement Virtually
On Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 11 am, we celebrated the Northern Essex Community College Class of 2020 with a Virtual Commencement Ceremony.
The program included many traditional elements as well as recognition for each graduate; greetings from faculty and staff; and videos and photos from the celebration package pickups that were held on our campuses in June.
The entire ceremony can be viewed above or you can view by section on the Virtual Commencement Ceremony page.
Thank You for Sharing your Photos on Social Media
We received close to 70 submissions for the #NECC2020 Social Media Contest and it was difficult to choose our winners. Thanks to all who submitted and here’s a link to the winning photos. Each winner received a basket brimming with NECC swag.
Consider Walking Next Year
We know that what’s planned this year won’t replace the experience of walking across the commencement platform and receiving your diploma, which is why next year’s commencement ceremony will celebrate both the classes of 2020 and 2021. The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 11 am on the Haverhill Campus.
Have Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services, 978 556-3974 or registrar@necc.mass.edu
2020 Commencement Photos
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Graduation News
Professor of English and ESL Receives NECC’s Social Justice Award
Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn presented the college’s Social Justice Award to Paula Richards of Salisbury, professor of academic ESL and English, at the college’s virtual commencement ceremony for the class of 2020.
Created last year, the award recognizes individuals, groups, departments, and initiatives that promote values such as a commitment to equity and diversity or the advancement of human rights and social justice. It comes with a cash prize of $1961—in honor of the year the college was founded—that the recipient can use to enhance social justice initiatives at the college.
Richards was nominated for the award by the college’s ESL faculty based on two initiatives she has led: the ESL Fusion Pathway for ESL learners and Service Learning.
The ESL Fusion Pathway, which Richards implemented at NECC based on a model created at the Community College of Baltimore County, gives English Language Learners the opportunity to progress in their education more quickly.
Up until the pathway was started in 2013, English Language Learners had to complete their Academic ESL courses before enrolling in English Composition I. With the new model, students can take their last ESL writing course concurrently with English Composition I, saving time and money.
Richards is also responsible for championing Service Learning at Northern Essex, which gives students the opportunity to participate in service projects that are connected to what they’re studying in the classroom.
In her ESL and linked ENG101 classrooms, students have collaboratively engaged in projects that address community needs, such as housing and food insecurity.
She says one of the most rewarding service learning projects was the biographical interviews her students conducted with seniors in assisted living facilities. “These interviews re-affirmed for them that this country is indeed a national of immigrants, and that they are not alone in this experience.”
After seeing how well these projects worked for her own students, Richards became a leading advocate for service-learning college-wide, developing a Blackboard training course for faculty.
In announcing the award, President Glenn said “Paula, because of your creativity in introducing new practices that promote equity and your commitment to engaging your students in service in their communities, it is my great pleasure to present you with the 2020 Northern Essex Community College Social Justice Award.”
Here’s a video of Richards accepting the award.
Richards joined the college as an adjunct faculty member in 2000 and has been a full-time faculty member since 2008.
Number of Commonwealth Honors Grads Increased this Year
This year, there was an increase in the number of students graduating from Northern Essex Community College’s rigorous Commonwealth Honors Program, which gives motivated students an enhanced learning experience including the opportunity for research and presentation.
While the college typically has three to four students graduate each year, the class of 2020 includes seven Honors Experience/Commonwealth Honors Scholars. The program was started in 1998.
Professor Ginger Hurajt, coordinator of the Commonwealth Honors Program at Northern Essex, attributes the increase to the addition of new introductory courses with the honors designation. “Students can now take Honors English Composition I and/or Honors Introduction to Psychology their first semester at Northern Essex,” says Hurajt. “By starting early, they have more time to complete the requirements.”
The Commonwealth Honors Program is challenging. Students must have a B+ average. They must commit to completing two honors projects or honors courses, participate in a community service project, enroll in the Honors Seminar, maintain a 3.3 GPA, and earn at least a B in designated honors courses. Students can do honors projects in online courses or evening classes.
“Honors students receive an honors notation on their transcripts,” says Hurajt. “That impresses transfer colleges and employers. There is also an award for honors graduates from the NECC Foundation, and we find our Commonwealth Honors Program grads receive generous scholarships from transfer colleges and universities.”
One of the most compelling arguments for enrolling in the honors program is that upon completion, students can transfer into the honors program at any Massachusetts state university, a statewide collaboration unique to Massachusetts.
This year’s Commonwealth Honors Program graduates include: Michael Bushway of Lawrence, Liberal Arts Philosophy; Kristina Gelinas of Plaistow, Business Transfer; Daniel Huppe of Georgetown, Business Transfer; Dan Keating, Groveland, Business Transfer; Hygina Mathurin, Haverhill, General Studies Health Specialization; Ella Pellegrino, Nashua, NH, Liberal Arts; and Wasan Rajab, Methuen, Liberal Arts.
The honors program is ideal for students who are independent learners, who have motivation and perseverance, as well as the passion to pursue an honors level project, says Hurajt. Interested students can do just one honors course or project without committing to the honors program. That course receives the honors designation on the transcript.
For more information on the Commonwealth Honors Program at Northern Essex, contact Hurajt, ghurajt@necc.mass.edu.
COVID-19 Didn’t Derail this Business Grad
Northern Essex Community College Business Transfer Graduate James Batista lives in a multi-generational home in Lawrence with his mom, his brothers, his grandma, his aunts and his cousins. In April, COVID-19 spread through his home, infecting all of the adults in his family.
Batista was impacted the worst, experiencing a week and a half of high fevers, loss of smell, and other symptoms.
Keeping up with his full-time course load while sick was a challenge but, thanks to deadline extensions from understanding faculty, he completed the semester, earning all A’s and one B+ (that B+ in Astronomy still irks him).
Batista is used to managing challenges. He works full time as a direct care provider with adults with aggressive behaviors and attends college full time. While financial aid covers all of his college costs, he’s working to cover his living expenses.
With a houseful of family members finding a quiet place to study isn’t easy. “Sometimes I’d go to the basement where I could work interrupted and I’d often have to wait until everyone else was asleep to do homework,” he says.
He’s graduating with a 3.79 GPA and plans to transfer to UMass Lowell to pursue a bachelor’s in business administration with a focus on accounting.
This will be his second time at UMass Lowell. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 2015 and started at UMass that fall, but found he lacked focus. After working full time, he was ready to get his education back on track and decided to start at Northern Essex.
Batista chose accounting for a few reasons. “I like numbers and organizing spreadsheets. I also like saving money,” he says with a smile.
Batista’s story proves that there are second chances and also that hard work gets you where you want to go. His advice for others balancing college with work and other responsibilities? “I try to take online classes and I keep on top of my homework every day, chopping it up and doing it when I have the time.”
Join Us for NECC’s Virtual Commencement on August 8
On Saturday, August 8 at 11 am, Northern Essex Community College will host its first virtual commencement ceremony, a tribute to the 600 graduates of the class of 2020, who received or will receive associate degrees and certificates from over 60 academic programs. Produced in partnership with HC Media, the ceremony will be streamed on HC Media’s website and on the college’s Facebook and HC Media’s Facebook pages.
The ceremony will include many traditional elements such as a student speaker, Public Health Major Rosanna Lara of Lawrence; a featured speaker, Rosalin Acosta, Massachusetts secretary of labor and workforce development and a former Northern Essex parent and trustee; and the singing of the national anthem by Early Childhood Education major Emily Forisso of Haverhill. The ceremony will also include greetings from faculty and staff and a virtual diploma for each student.
“Their last semester was a challenging one, and I couldn’t be prouder of this year’s grads,” said Northern Essex President Lane Glenn. “We can’t celebrate this class as we usually do, but we are trying our best to give them the recognition they deserve.”
In June, graduates came to the Haverhill or Lawrence Campus to pick up a celebration package which included their cap, tassel, diploma, and special gifts from the college’s Alumni Association and Student Government Association. It was a festive celebration with music, balloons, the NECC Knight (NECC student trustee and 2020 graduate Courtney Morin), and lots of cheering staff and faculty.
The college has also announced that they will host a joint celebration on Saturday, May 15, 2021 for the classes of 2020 and 2021, giving members of the class of 2020 the opportunity to cross the platform in their caps and gowns.
Here’s where you can learn more about Northern Essex’s plans to celebrate the class of 2020.
Married Couple Graduate from Nursing School Together
Amanda Assenza and her wife Jennifer of Wilmington, MA have a lot to celebrate this year; both are graduating with degrees in nursing from Northern Essex Community College.
During the virtual graduation ceremony on August 8, Northern Essex President Lane Glenn will share their story, which is an inspiring example of commitment to career and family.
The parents of three-year old twins and a five-year old, both Amanda and Jennifer have been employed as CNA’s while attending nursing school full-time.
When the pandemic struck in March, the dementia unit which Amanda had been working on at the Veterans Hospital in Bedford was transitioned to a COVID-19 unit.
She was now exposed to the virus daily, caring for her elderly patients on an isolated ward—sealed off by zippered doors. For protection, she wore sanitized hospital issue scrubs, an N95 mask, goggles, and a face shield for up to 16-hour shifts.
Jennifer’s parents live with the couple and because Amanda didn’t want to risk exposing her family to the virus, she made the difficult decision to move out of her home. For three months, until the end of May, she slept on an air mattress in an empty office at the Veterans Hospital.
Visits to her children were restricted to outside play, socially distanced and wearing masks. To this day, her children are still asking “Are your hands clean?” and “Do you have the canoli virus on you.”
Thankfully, she never contracted the virus, although she was tested three times.
While caring for her patients, many of whom she comforted as they died separated from family, and trying her best to maintain a relationship with her family, Amanda was also finishing her last semester of nursing school, now offered remotely, due to the virus.
Because of spotty Internet at her temporary home, Amanda made her car a mobile office. She would park in her home driveway for hours at a time to participate in class and take proctored exams.
Amanda is graduating with honors and she credits her wife, the top student in this year’s nursing class, with “making me a better student.”
A former combat medic, who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, and the daughter of an ICU nurse, Amanda is confident about her decision to be a nurse, saying “it’s what I always wanted to do.”
After taking their nursing boards this summer, Amanda plans to continue working at the Veterans Hospital and Jennifer will pursue her dream job as a labor and delivery nurse at a Boston hospital.
The two met at Northern Essex, enrolled in the nursing program together, and took every class together. Their commitment to education will continue in the fall when they begin their bachelor’s in nursing online at UMass Boston.
Learn more about the virtual commencement ceremony on August 8 here.
Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Each year, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.
NECC 2020 Graduate: Tyler Sheltry
Name: Tyler Sheltry
Major: Laboratory Science
Hometown: Andover
High School and Year of Graduation: Essex Agricultural and Technical High School in 2013
Did you attend another college or university before enrolling at NECC? If so, did you earn a certificate or degree? I went to University of Maine at Machias as a marine biology major, but only for one year.
What brought you to NECC? The school had a degree program that interested me, was not far from home, and was affordable
Why did you choose your major? I have always been good in science and math classes, so being a chemistry major seemed to make sense
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at NECC? I was assistant stage manager and worked the tech booth as the light board operator for the 2019 production of A Christmas Carol
What are you planning for fall, 2020? I am planning on getting a job in field, and am currently trying to get an internship started at Pfizer
What did you appreciate most about NECC? The community feel from the students and staff
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? There are two, Alisa Bucchiere, who helped to push me out of my comfort zone and encourage me, and Marguerite White-Jeanneau, who told me that she felt I was going in the right direction when I was questioning if I was cut out for this program and career path.
What surprised you most about NECC? How open and inviting all of the faculty and staff are to answering questions and helping.
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman? If you have a question ask it, whether it be in class, someone in the offices, or walking around campus they want to help you.
What would people be surprised to know about you? As part of my high school environmental science program I was HAZMAT certified.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree? Balancing school, work, and personal life.
What are you long term career/education plans? I want to get a job in field, work for a a year or two then continue to a bachelors degree
NECC Class of 2020 Picks Up Diplomas and Celebration Packages
Three-hundred Northern Essex Community College 2020 graduates came to the Haverhill Campus on Monday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to pick up their diplomas, celebration packages, and Class of 2020 yard signs.
They were greeted by balloons, music, cheering Northern Essex faculty and staff, and the NECC Knight mascot (student trustee Courtney Morin), who happily posed for photos. Social distancing was practiced including the wearing of masks. The celebration packages included an NECC sweatshirt blanket, an NECC mask, an alumni decal, celebration photo sticks, and other goodies.
The youngest grad was likely 17-year old Jack Gilmore of Topsfield, MA, who earned an Associate Degree in General Studies: Individualized Option, thanks to the Early College Program. Gilmore, who also earned his high school diploma from Masconomet Regional High School this spring, will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, where he will study mechanical engineering. His proud mom reported that he will begin college as a sophomore, and graduate at least a year early with his bachelor’s.
Kaileigh DeCosta of Merrimac and her aunt Adina Sulesky of Plaistow, NH arrived together to pick up their diplomas and packages, making it a family affair. DeCosta, a 2017 graduate of Amesbury High School, earned her degree in General Studies: Individualized Option and will transfer to Becker College in the fall. Sulesky, who graduated from Haverhill High School in 1996 and is graduating with high honors from Northern Essex’s Criminal Justice Program, wants to take some time off before continuing her education. “It took five and a half years to earn this degree, so I’m ready for a break,” she said with a smile.
Omayra Gonzalez of Lawrence arrived on her own two feet to pick up her diploma, having been dropped off at the entrance to the campus. She graduated with a Liberal Arts: Psychology degree and will transfer to UMass Lowell to continue her studies.
The graduates shared their plans to transfer to UMass Lowell, Merrimack College, Southern New Hampshire University, Northeastern, Regis, Cambridge College, and many more, as well as excitement about new jobs with Mass General, Brigham’s & Women’s Hospital, Lawrence General, and Lowell General.
Northern Essex President Lane Glenn greeted many of the graduates personally. “This has been a challenging semester due to the impact of COVID-19,” said Glenn. “I couldn’t be more proud of this class. They’ve been through so much but they didn’t quit. They are truly an amazing group.”
For those who couldn’t make it, the college will hand out diplomas and celebration packages on the Lawrence Campus on Thursday, June 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot area of the Dimitry Building at 45 Franklin Street.
Also planned, with help from HC Media, is a commencement ceremony on Saturday, August 8 at 11 am. While it’s being offered virtually, the ceremony will include many traditional elements. Early Childhood Education Graduate Emily Forisso of Haverhill will open the ceremony with the national anthem. Rosanna Lara, a Public Health major from Lawrence, will deliver the student speech, and Rosalin Acosta, Massachusetts secretary of labor and workforce development, will give the commencement speech. Also, the college’s Social Justice Award and the Gift from the Class of 2020 will be announced.
Each of the 600 graduates is being asked to submit a photo which will be shown as part of the ceremony, along with a virtual diploma.
2020 Graduates will also be invited to participate in next year’s commencement exercises, which will recognize both the class of 2020 and the class of 2021.
Visit the commencement website to learn more. If you have questions, contact Enrollment Services, 978 556-3974 or registrar@necc.mass.edu
NECC 2020 Graduate: Jeurys Santiago
Name: Jeurys Santiago (founder of Minds with Purpose)
Major: Business Transfer
GPA: 3.22
Hometown: Lawrence
High School and Year of Graduation: First three years at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics and senior year at Lawrence High School – 2017 .
What brought you to NECC? NECC seemed like the perfect spot for me to start my college career for the reason that its affordable and had the exact program that I wanted to get into. It was also close to home which was a huge advantage.
Why did you choose your major? The reason I chose my major is that I want to have a career in the business field and become an entrepreneur.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at NECC? Yes I was part of the PACE Program, the Civic Scholars program , the Alpha Beta Gamma business honors society , the internship program , and also part of a marketing team that helped with projects going on in school.
What are you planning for fall, 2020? For fall 2020 I am planning on transferring into a four- year institution if schools open up because I want to live in a dorm. If not, I plan on growing my business and learn new skills.
What did you appreciate most about NECC? The staff and faculty are amazing , each and every single one of them are super helpful. Also, there are many student support programs, extra curricular programs and clubs, and career and job fairs.
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? Yes , Professor Sheila Muller . She was super helpful. She believed in one of my ideas and after that happened it sparked something inside of me to put more of my ideas out there and she was always there along the way to help me out in any way she could. She connected me with the correct individuals at times as well.
What surprised you most about NECC? What surprised me the most about NECC is how resourceful it turned out to be and how much I ended up learning about myself. Without NECC I would not be who I am today .
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman? Some advice that I would give an incoming NECC freshman is to be themselves and to not be afraid to ask for help because everyone at NECC is super helpful. When I say to be themselves, I mean to speak out and not hold things back because of fear.
What would people be surprised to know about you? People would be surprised to know that I love learning and that I love playing chess and dancing ballroom. .
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree? The biggest challenges that I faced during my pursuit were consistency , I felt like if I didn’t go hard on myself and take 4-6 classes per semester than I wouldn’t finish.
What are you long term career/education plans? My long-term career/education plans are to build my own business from the ground up to be a company that helps locals all over the world.
NECC: 2020 Graduate: Victoria Cerasuolo
Name: Victoria Cerasuolo
Major: Associate of Science in Public Health; Community Health Worker Certificate
Hometown: Haverhill
GPA: 3.39
High School and Year of Graduation: Whittier Regional Technical High School, 2016
Did you attend another college or university before enrolling at NECC? If so, did you earn a certificate or degree? I spent my freshman year of college at Plymouth State University then transferred to NECC.
What brought you to NECC? I decided to come home and start working as a CNA and take more prerequisites before deciding on Public Health as my focus!
Why did you choose your major? I chose Public Health because I know I want to help people and that is my calling, but I was not sure exactly how I wanted to help and Public Health has opened many future possibilities for me to help those in many ways.
What are you planning for fall, 2020? I will be starting my bachelor’s degree program in public health at Regis North.
What did you appreciate most about NECC? What I appreciate most about NECC is the way in which the professors engage with us as students. I never felt alone when taking a course and knew I had options to get the help I needed.
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? Jacqueline Dick was my professor along with my program coordinator/ advisor. She was especially helpful through this journey of earning my associate degree in public health. I knew I could reach out to her with any questions or concerns I had regardless if it had to do with class or my personal life. She was an excellent professor as well, she always engaged with us as students and made sure we understood what we were learning. She truly cares about her students and their success.
Activities outside of class: I worked as a CNA and dog walker.
What surprised you most about NECC? The tight knit school community.
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman? If you have not decided on a major yet, it will come. Things will be tough, but you will always have a helping hand and NECC faculty and staff want the best for you. Don’t give up, it is all worth it.
What would people be surprised to know about you? When I was not doing my studies I was either exercising or riding on my significant other’s motorcycle.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree? The biggest challenge was time management and being able to stay on track. What are your long-term career/education plans? To earn my bachelor’s in public health then obtain my nursing degree in the hopes of becoming a Public Health Nurse. Anything else you want to add? Good luck to all incoming freshman and those working toward their degree!
NECC 2020 Graduate: Emily Forisso
Name: Emily Forisso
Major: Early Childhood Education
Hometown: Haverhill
GPA: 3.95
High School & Year of Graduation: Haverhill High School – Class of 2017
Did You Attend Another College or University Before NECC? I attended UMass Lowell, majoring in music education, for 1 year before deciding to come back to NECC and change my major to Early Childhood Education (ECE).
What Brought You to NECC? I participated in the Early College program in high school, and my dad is an NECC alumnus who graduated in 1975 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
How did you choose your major? I have always wanted to work with children, and I especially enjoy working with younger children up to 3rd grade. My dream is to become a kindergarten teacher and eventually a school administrator, so the ECE program is the perfect way to do that.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at NECC? I was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the NECC Choral & Music Club, performing in 3 shows with the NECC Choir.
What are you planning for fall, 2020? I am transferring to Merrimack College to pursue my bachelor’s in Child, Family and Community Studies with a concentration in PreK-2 Education. The program will give me my teaching license and the ability to work full-time in a school, since the classes are at night and on weekends.
What did you appreciate most about NECC? I loved the flexibility of my classes (the ability to take online, hybrid or face-to-face classes), as well as the incredible support that each and every one of my professors gave me.
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? My music professor Alisa Bucchiere was especially helpful to me. She was not only a fantastic voice teacher, challenging me with complex pieces and helping me to improve my singing technique, but she also reached out to me when I was going through some tough things this year. She would support me and give me lots of wonderful advice, and I am so thankful that I have gotten to know her these past two years.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? Yes, the NECC Choral & Music Club and Phi Theta Kappa.
What surprised you most about NECC? The sense of community among all the students here. When I started at NECC, I didn’t think a community college would offer so many great services and activities to bring its students together. I had always assumed that community college students simply went to classes and went home or to work. I was pleasantly surprised at how much school spirit there is at NECC! The campus community is very positive and welcoming, and the school spirit I have seen here makes me really proud to be an NECC Knight!
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman? I would encourage them to get involved on campus! There are so many clubs here and extracurricular activities that students can be a part of. There truly is something for everybody. I have made so many friends through the clubs and school activities I have participated in and my NECC experience definitely wouldn’t have been the same without those activities!
What would people be surprised to know about you? I faced many health challenges when I was younger. I was born with a benign tumor on my face, I have broken both of my legs and had to have surgery on my ankle as a result, I have had 4 mouth surgeries to correct jaw problems and I was hospitalized many times as a child due to my bad asthma.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree? In December of last year, my longtime boyfriend Will, who is also a student at NECC in the sleep tech program, was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. I decided to try my hardest to finish my degree, since I only had one semester left and I figured it was a good way to take my mind off of things, but I really was not sure if I would be able to finish. It was definitely a challenge to keep up with schoolwork and my student-teaching while also bringing him to treatment appointments and overall having my mind preoccupied with him, but I managed to do it. I’m glad to say that he is almost finished with his cancer treatments now and I was also able to finish my degree this semester. I am looking forward to what the future holds for both of us!
What are you long term career/education plans? My plan is to transfer to Merrimack College, receive my teaching license and eventually get a job as a kindergarten or first grade teacher in a public school. My long-term goal is to eventually become a principal or other administrator in the public school system, and to be an advocate for students and families. I have always been an outspoken and outgoing person, so I hope to use both of those qualities to be the best teacher and advocate that I can be.
Anything else you want to add? I would like to congratulate all of my fellow Class of 2020 graduates. We did it! We graduated during a pandemic!
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook name: Emily Caroline Forisso
Instagram handle: @emmiforisso
Twitter handle: @TheMusicNerd172
NECC 2020 Graduate: Christopher Molinari
Name: Christopher Molinari
Major: Electrical Engineering
Hometown: Methuen
GPA: 3.98 / 4.00
High School and Year of Graduation: Greater Lawrence Technical School, 2017
Did you attend another college or university before enrolling at NECC? If so, did you earn a certificate or degree? Yes, I was registered to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, but withdrew before actually attending due to costs.
What brought you to NECC? Desperation and an urge to return to normalcy, actually. Academics sort of defined my life in high school, and that feeling of failure when I withdrew from CU Boulder over debt fears quashed my confidence in both myself and the attainability of my goals. I still struggle with that self-doubt from time to time, but NECC gave me a vector to help rebuild myself.
Why did you choose your major? I actually plan to double major in physics and electrical engineering for my bachelors. Since early in high school, I’ve loved learning how things work. I want to be a physicist, pushing humanity to new frontiers of knowledge. My interest in engineering blossomed from that, and is my backup plan. Overall, my internal struggles these past few years have made me realize one thing: I want to help people. Whether it be hunger, depression, or disease, one thing remains constant: science is hope, and it is the solution.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at NECC? Yes! I made some awesome friends in Phi Theta Kappa, Bacon Boards Gamers, and the Improv Club (for the month or so I actually participated).
What are you planning for fall, 2020? Go to UMass Lowell and earn my Bachelor’s, and maybe start that band my friends and I have joked about.
What did you appreciate most about NECC? Its existence. People from all walks of life lose their way sometimes. Having an outlet, some way to work toward a better future for yourself, is something critically lacking in our society. Many of the tragedies you see in the world today can be directly linked to people lacking some sense of belonging in their lives. Who knows what could have happened to me if I didn’t return to some structure. Schooling may not be the solution for everyone, but for many, its an opportunity.
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? Two immediately spring to mind: Doug Leaffer was my professor for Physics I and Engineering Essentials. I loved hearing about his doctoral work as a Civil Engineer (even if I couldn’t fully understand it), and working as his SI Leader for Engineering Essentials this past year has honestly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. I’m proud to call him my friend.
Paul Chanley was my professor for Engineering Circuits I and II. He’s an incredible person and teacher, and makes classically challenging material personable and fun. He hired me as a Math Tutor for his “Test A” program at Raytheon, which I still think is the coolest thing I’ve ever done (granted, that’s not saying much). I hope I can visit his class again once in-person classes resume.
What surprised you most about NECC?
The friendliness of the people and the rigor of the classes. I’ll openly admit that I was prejudiced against community colleges after coming from high school, believing that they were for academic underachievers and people who couldn’t get accepted anywhere else. That’s a blatant lie, and society needs to stop propagating it. Having taken classes at UMass already through NECCUM, I can personally attest that the classes here are just as, if not more rigorous than those at a 4-year university. The people also felt much more tight-knit here as a community, and this was all at a fraction of the cost. Going here has been one of the best decisions of my life.
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman?
Have fun with it, guys! It may be cliché, but don’t listen to your self-doubt. Everyone, in one way or another, struggles alongside you.
Make new friends, explore new things, and remember every day what you’re fighting for. How you go about that is up to you.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I make the world’s best nachos. Nobody can convince me otherwise.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree?
Like I sort of implied, myself. I’ve always found comfort in learning, so the difficulty of my classes never really impeded me (and let me tell you that they were difficult). However, finding overcoming self-doubt and finding motivation some days was strenuous.
What are you long term career/education plans?
Hopefully, I’ll earn my doctorate and earn tenure as a physicist. If not, I’ll probably go to work as an engineer for a few years before launching a startup. On the side, I hope to do some humanitarian work, such as Engineers Without Borders.
Anything else you want to add?
A group of pandas is called an embarrassment. I think that’s pretty cool.
This NHS Senior Earned a College Degree before her High School Diploma
Most students get their high school diploma and then go off to college, but Newburyport native Violet Merrill took what she calls “a nontraditional path”.
The 18-year old earned her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts with High Honors from Northern Essex Community College in May and this month she’ll receive her diploma from Newburyport High School.
Merrill has been taking courses at Northern Essex every semester, and during the winter intercession and summers for the past two years. In the fall, she will transfer to UMass Amherst as a junior. She plans to take the money she saved on her first two years of college, and use it to continue her education with a master’s or law degree.
She says her mother, writer Marianne Curcio of Newburyport, heard about the Early College program at Newburyport High School, in which students take Northern Essex courses and earn high school and college credits, and encouraged her to participate.
Initially, she was just planning “to take a few courses to get a jumpstart” on college, but things just “snowballed” as she became more passionate about her learning.
In addition to taking college courses with her Newburyport High School peers, she signed up for additional courses, offered both online and in the classroom.
“I’ve always taken school seriously but I wasn’t an exemplary student,” says Merrill. “The turning point was taking classes at NECCO. I had more of a passion for what I was learning.”
Her junior year, Merrill spent her mornings at the high school and her afternoons taking college courses and she credits Newburyport High School for being so flexible.
It wasn’t until her senior year that she decided to set the goal of finishing her degree while still in high school.
What motivates Merrill most is her passion for social justice. She first became interested in social justice issues after the shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School in February of 2018. Since then, she has lent her youthful voice to many issues such as gun control and voter registration, and she plans to pursue a career that helps to make the world a better place, either in public health or law.
At Newburyport High School, Merrill ran track for four years, played tennis for two, and played a leadership role with Interact, a service club sponsored by the local Rotary Club.
Early College is open to Newburyport juniors and seniors, who can take courses at a discounted rate of $110 a credit hour, which is half the true cost.
The benefits of Early College include exploring career options, taking college-level courses, and earning credits that are transferable to other colleges, says Marcy Yeager, NECC’s executive director of PK12 partnerships and international studies.
Merrill would like younger students to know that they “shouldn’t be afraid to take a nontraditional educational path. Traditional school can be limiting, but you can create your own reality. That’s what I did and it resulted in a lot of benefits.”
For more information about the Early College Program, reach out to pk12@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3332.
Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Each year, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.
NECC 2020 Graduate: Nasrin Musa
Name: Nasrin Y. Musa
Major: Liberal arts: psychology, and art & design: photography
Hometown: Yucaipa, California
GPA: 3.54
High School and Year of Graduation: Pentucket Regional High School, 2016
What brought you to NECC? It was an affordable school, close to home, and had the programs I needed.
Why did you choose your major? I chose psychology because I’ve always been fascinated with how people’s minds work, and I wanted to become a therapist to help young adults suffering through mental illnesses. As I continued my education at NECC I learned about art therapy, and that became my focus.
What are you planning for fall, 2020? For Fall 2020 I’m planning on attending Montserrat College of Art and Design in Beverly.
What did you appreciate most about NECC? I really appreciated how much financial aid was available. It made continuing classes much easier.
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? There were several staff members who were helpful to me during my years at NECC. One of them was Professor Krista Titone. She was an amazing psychology teacher and mentor. I learned so much in her classes, not just about information from class, but about people and the world. She made learning exciting… Two other staff members who really helped a lot were Anne Eshbaugh and Steven DiLeo. They gave me the amazing opportunity of working in the mailroom, and made it fun. They were always friendly and helpful and just a pleasure to be around. Anne was always so cheerful and made coming into work a joy. We would talk about photography and have really nice conversations. Another staff member who made my experience at NECC better was Linda in maintenance. Whenever I did my mail runs I would stop in and say hi to her. She’s such a nice and funny person. I’m going to miss seeing her.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? No, but I did have some poetry published in the 2018-2019 Parnassus (student literary) Magazine.
What surprised you most about NECC? The friends and relationships I made along the way. I didn’t think you could really have adventures at a community college, I thought you needed a University for that. But it really just depends on who’s around you. And I met some great people at NECC to have adventures with. What also surprised me was how beautiful campus could be. Whenever I got there really early in the morning I would always admire how the sun hit the trees. During the spring and summer everything was so green. The campus had some really beautiful moments.
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman? Try not to procrastinate too much; deadlines can really sneak up on you. Be open to trying new things. College is a time for figuring out who you are and you never know what might help you do that. It could be taking an elective that has nothing to do with your major, or reaching out and talking to someone new. There are great opportunities everywhere if you keep looking.
What would people be surprised to know about you? People might be surprised to know that I grew up watching the cartoon “Woody Woodpecker” in Arabic, since my dad is from Jordan. And now when I try to watch it in English I just can’t seem to find it as funny.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree? The biggest challenges I’ve faced were probably balancing school, work, and a personal life. Another challenge would be making sure to stay on top of taking care of my mental health when things would get stressful; that was a learning curve.
What are your long term career/education plans? My long-term career plans include: becoming an author and doing something big with photography.
Local Residents Earn Public Health Degrees from Regis, Thanks to Partnership with NECC
On May 5, seven local residents earned their bachelor degrees in Public Health from Regis College without having had to leave the Merrimack Valley throughout their education.
All graduated from Northern Essex Community College and transferred to Regis, which offers bachelor degree completion programs in Public Health and Marketing and Communications on NECC’s Lawrence Campus.
“In just two short years, these students were able to earn their bachelor’s, taking their classes close to home in Lawrence,” said Noemi Custodia-Lora, vice president of NECC’s Lawrence Campus and community relations. “We are very appreciative of our partnership with Regis, which is one of the premiere colleges for health care in New England.”
One of the seven graduates, Patricia Gonda of Windham NH earned her associate degree in respiratory therapy from Northern Essex over 20 years ago in 1999. She always wanted her bachelor’s but it was hard to find the time to do it while working full-time. This program allowed her to realize her dream.
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public health from Regis were Angie Colon of Methuen, who earned a public health degree from Northern Essex in 2018; Leah Gathogo of Framingham, NECC Public Health, 2018; Gonda; Katee Lynch of Salisbury, NECC General Studies: Health Specialization, 2018; Doris Wleh of Lowell, NECC Public Health, 2018; Genesis Moran of Lawrence, NECC General Studies: Individualized Option, 2018; and Zairis Peguero, of Lawrence, NECC General Studies: Health Specialization, 2018.
To learn more, visit Regis North or contact Kelly Golden, executive director, Regis North, Kelly.golden@regiscollege.edu or 978 655-5818.
Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Each year, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.
NECC 2020 Graduate: Jeff Mejia, Jr.
Name: Jeff Mejia, Jr.
Major: Business Transfer
Hometown: North Reading
GPA: 3.5
High School and Year of Graduation: North Reading High School class of 2017
Did you attend another college or university before enrolling at NECC? If so, did you earn a certificate or degree? I attended UMass Lowell for two years.
What brought you to NECC? I came to NECC for the opportunity to play baseball for my dad, Jeff Mejia, Sr., and to become a member of such an historically successful baseball program.
Why did you choose your major? I have always been interested in business, especially finance.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at NECC? I was a captain on the NECC Knights baseball team.
What are you planning for fall, 2020? I am planning on continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Maine in fall 2020.
What did you appreciate most about NECC? I appreciate that NECC gave me the opportunity to become both a better student, and a better athlete. Being a member of the baseball team helped me make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. It also gave me the opportunity to showcase my talents in front of numerous four year schools and ultimately earn offers from multiple division 1 programs.
Was there a faculty or staff member who was especially helpful? If yes, how did they help you? My dad , and head coach, Jeff Mejia helped me a lot during my time at NECC. He was constantly checking that every member of the baseball team pushed themselves to be the best student-athletes that we could be. Stephanie Wares was also very helpful during my time at NECC. She helped me pick the correct classes to enroll in, ensuring that I would receive my associate degree and also be eligible to move on to a division 1 baseball program.
What surprised you most about NECC? I was surprised with how much the athletic department pushes their student athletes to excel in the classroom.
What advice would you give an incoming NECC freshman? Go visit academic coaching on the second floor of C building. They helped me get organized and manage my time.
What would people be surprised to know about you? People would be surprised that during my time at NECC I was able to balance two jobs, baseball, and classes all while being able to maintain a 3.5 GPA.
What were the biggest challenges that you faced in pursuit of your associate degree? The biggest challenge I faced in pursuit of my associate degree was being able to wisely manage my time.
What are you long term career/education plans? My long-term plan is to play baseball for as long as I can and then become an officer in the United States Army.
