The Nurse Who Never Clocks Out: How Elizabeth Stratton Became the Heart of Two Communities She works twelve-hour shifts caring for oncology patients at Anna Jaques Hospital. She cheers from the bleachers at Northern Essex Community College basketball games. She bakes sweet treats for the players, answers the phone at odd hours, and has held…

Psychology Graduate Found Community Through the PACE Program For psychology major Izaiah Igartua Rivera, coming to Northern Essex Community College following high school felt like a natural next step. His older sisters attended NECC before continuing their education, and the Haverhill native saw an opportunity to stay close…

How One NECC Student Found His Calling in Nursing In recognition of National Nurses Week (May 6-12), NECC is proud to spotlight the students, faculty, and healthcare professional who make up the backbone of our nursing program. The following article highlights the personal journey of one NECC Nursing student,…

NECC is First MA Community College to Offer New X-ray Operator Program Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (May 1, 2026) — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has just approved a new certificate program at Northern Essex Community College to address a critical need in the local healthcare industry. This fall, the college will offer…

NECC Receives $1million to Develop Heat Pump and HVAC Training Northern Essex Community College is one of the state’s 13 community colleges participating in the Mass Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) new Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network. This week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $13 million in awards for…

2026 Student Commencement Speaker Focused on Giving Back Maria Cubias-Realegeno has come a long way- literally and figuratively. The Northern Essex Community College Criminal Justice major, known to her friends as Ampa, grew up in a tight-knit community in El Salvador. But when she was just 15, political…

Professor Houle Brings Creativity and Environmental Stewardship Together at a Bus Stop Near You As Earth Month invites reflection on our relationship with the natural world, NECC Art & Design Professor and local public artist Jenn Houle is transforming an everyday experience—waiting for the bus—into an opportunity for wonder, learning, and connection. Houle is…

NECC Theater Receives 13 Awards from the American College Theater Festival The American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) proudly announces the recipients of the 2026 National Production Awards and Meritorious Commendations, recognizing outstanding achievement in collegiate theatre across the United States. These honors celebrate work from the distinguished invited productions presented at…

Grant Provides Additional Laptops for Library’s Lending Program Northern Essex Community College’s Laptop Lending Program is more than doubling in size, thanks to a generous grant program from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). The Healey-Driscoll Administration and MBI recently announced the distribution of nearly…

CommonWealth Beacon: A new vision for career and technical education in Massachusetts President Glenn writes that collaboration between our K-12 and higher-ed systems is long overdue and suggests a plan to make it happen.