(left to right) Isabelle Gagne, President David Hartleb, Tammy Foster, and Noemi Custodia-Lora.

Three Northern Essex Community College employees, Noemi Custodia-Lora of Haverhill, Isabelle Gagne of Holliston, and Tammy Foster of Amesbury, have received the college’s quarterly employee recognition award for the first quarter of 2011.

The Employee Recognition Award was started by NECC President David Hartleb as a way to recognize the many and varied contributions of the college’s nearly 700 employees. Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers. Recipients receive a $150 certificate to the restaurant or mall of his or her choice.

An eight-year NECC faculty member, Custodia-Lora, is an associate professor of natural science. She received two nominations. Bill Heineman, dean of business, math, science, and technology, wrote “Noemi is an extraordinary contributor to and leader of both the natural science department and college-wide initiatives of numerous types. She is one of the pioneers who created the successful new laboratory science program, and serves as the principle investigator of a large National Science Foundation grant that supports the program. She is also a founding member of the ESL Social/Learning Club which is an initiative aimed at attracting more English as a Second Language students into the disciplines (and ultimately careers) of science.

Fellow science professor Marcy Vozzella echoed Heineman’s sentiments adding, “When I look at Noemi I see someone who has been an integral and amazing part of a team while continuing to do her own personal work for ESL students and constantly updating her course content.”

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, and a PhD in physiology-endocrinology from Boston University.

Gagne, an assistant professor of behavioral sciences, was nominated by her co-worker in the Behavioral Sciences Department, Cynthia “CJ” Crivaro, who praised her for always being positive and upbeat and for being involved in extracurricular activities and for the last three years serving as the faculty adviser to the NECC Gay-Straight Alliance.

Crivaro wrote, “She is a very positive influence in our office, our hallway, our department and our campus. Northern Essex is indeed fortunate to have her as part of our faculty.

Gagne is a 10-year employee. For the last three years she has worked as a full-time psychology professor. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montreal and a master’s from the University of Sherbrooke.

An NECC graduate herself, Foster is administrative assistant for the assistant dean of academic preparation. She was nominated by fellow employee Anne Powell, who wrote, “Tammy always responds very quickly to any questions or problems that I have (and, as an adjunct ESL teacher, I always have lots of questions). It doesn’t matter what the subject is, even if it’s something that might not be considered her responsibility. She is ALWAYS friendly, pleasant and ultra-professional.”

The Math Center and Math Resource Center on Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill Campus celebrated Pi Day on Friday, March 11 with a pie contest.

Sixteen pies—ranging from traditional fruit pies to a chocolate cream pie—were entered into the contest by faculty, staff, and students, and prizes were awarded for best pie, most original, most delicious, most mathematical pie, most colorful pie, and most devoured pie.

Judges, including Andrew Wysocki of Haverhill, an NECC student and tutor in the math lab, Nancy Nickerson of Methuen, math faculty, and Gerry Morin of Arlington, history and government faculty, sampled each of the pies during the judging.

First in line for samples, after the judging was completed, were dental assisting students, Katelyn Gadd of Haverhill and Jen Harrington of Medford.

In addition to sampling pie, those attending were invited to share fun facts about pi, which is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter of a circle.

The math center started this celebration four years “as another way to make math fun”, according to Rebecca Rose, coordinator of math tutoring services. “We want everyone to feel that the math center is a safe, comfortable place to come.”

The math center is designated for all walk-in tutoring. Located on both the Haverhill campus and the Lawrence campus, the centers are staffed by professional and peer tutors who work days and evenings to best accommodate students.

For more information, contact Rose at rrose@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3459.

Do you or someone you know have problems sleeping? If yes, you may want to attend Northern Essex Community College’s celebration of Sleep Awareness Week, Wednesday, March 23 from 11a.m. to 2p.m. in Lecture Hall A of the Spurk building on the college’s Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St.

Free and open to the public, the event aims to educate the public on the importance of sleep health, common sleep disorders, and the consequences of poor sleep. During the event there will be a live set up of a sleep study demonstrating what happens during a sleep test. Participants will also have the opportunity to have a free sleep screening and enter to win a raffle for a $250 gift certificate for Jordan’s Furniture with a ‘relaxation’ gift basket. Two representatives from AAA will also be presenting the dangers and prevention of “Drowsy Driving.”

Northern Essex Community College offers a Sleep Technology Certificate program which combines classroom study, laboratory practice, and clinical experiences. Graduates from this program are prepared to take the Registered Polysomnography Technologist examination and will be ready for a career in sleep medicine. Most graduates work in hospital sleep labs. The 10-month program is offered in a traditional classroom setting or online.

For more information on the Sleep Technology Program, visit the college website www.necc.mass.edu or contact John Murray, program coordinator, jmurray@necc.mass.edu or 978 738-7274.