Haverhill, MA (May 9, 2023) – Two Northern Essex Community College students, Haverhill’s Kendall Tobin and Woburn’s Franziska Hoene, were named to the 2022/2023 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Massachusetts Academic Team based on outstanding academic achievement and exemplary student service. Both will be graduating from Northern Essex on May 13.

Each spring, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) honors students selected for the academic team at a ceremony at the State House. This year, they were honored in a virtual ceremony on May 4.

Kendall Tobin is a Liberal Arts major with a 3.89 GPA.

Tobin is a Liberal Arts major with a 3.89 GPA. She plans to transfer to a four-year school in the fall to major in English and minor in education. “My long-term goal is to become a high school English teacher. I am passionate about helping others and embracing my love of learning,” she shares. Tobin says many of her professors at Northern Essex helped her find herself and discover a love of teaching. She also credits her success to support services received through the Pathways to Academic & Career Excellence (PACE) Program and her involvement with the Student Life Office. “Not only has the staff in the PACE Program helped me along my educational journey, but Student Life also gave me the chance to grow as a student and an individual.”

Franziska Hoene has a 3.83 GPA and is studying mechanical engineering.

Sixteen-year-old Hoene has a 3.83 GPA and is studying mechanical engineering. She plans to transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, this fall, where she has already begun taking classes. She will be in the Biomedical Engineering program. “My long-term goals include graduating with my bachelor’s in biomedical engineering at age 18, maintaining a good GPA, possibly going into a nursing or physician assistant program, and getting a job I love.” Hoene is currently the president of the Student Government Association (SGA) and says it has been instrumental in helping her find success at NECC. “SGA gives me an opportunity to feel useful at NECC, meet students, and gain friends. I met some of the best people I know while in SGA. It gave me a mental break and something to look forward to.”

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the international honor society of two-year colleges. PTK has recognized and encouraged scholarship among community college students for 100 years while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. Students with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa.

For additional information, visit the webpage or contact Professor Lisette Espinoza at lespinoza@necc.mass.edu.