There’s little doubt that chocolate is a delicious treat and typically seen as a guilty pleasure but did you know that chocolate can also be healthy?

According to Professor of Chemistry Mike Cross at the Northern Essex Community College (NECC) in Haverhill, MA chocolate might just be the “perfect drug.”

With high quality versions of chocolate carrying over 500+ natural chemicals and more antioxidants then a bowl of blueberries … chocolate can increase feelings of well-being, reduce high blood pressure, relax blood vessels and more, says Cross.

In a presentation called “Chocolate, The Perfect Indulgence,” Professor Cross will share his knowledge as both a chemist and a passionate lover of chocolate with audiences throughout the area this Valentine’s Day season.

Presentations which are open to the public will be held on Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Manchester by the Sea Public Library, 15 Union St., Manchester, MA; on Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA; and on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at Hampstead Public Library, 9 Mary E. Clark Dr., Hampstead, NH. The library presentations are free and the Tower Hill Botanic Garden presentation is free with the price of admission. Cross holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Utah where he specialized in oxidative lesions in DNA and RNA. His presentation is part of NECC’s Speakers’ Bureau. For more information on the college’s Speakers’ Bureau visit, www.necc.mass.edu/speakers-bureau, call 978 556-3862 or email speakersbureau@necc.mass.edu.

Three Northern Essex Community College employees Donna Felisberto of Newton, NH, Bob West of Manchester, NH, and Andrea Bailey of Amesbury, recently received the NECC Employee Recognition Award for the first quarter of 2014.

The Employee Recognition Award recognizes 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.

Felisberto, a 27-year veteran of Northern Essex, is currently coordinator of student assessment & testing in the academic placement and testing center. She began at NECC as a technical assistant in the Department of Sport and Leisure Studies. She has worked in various departments including graphics, the bursar’s office, registration and records, and even served as the golf coach.

She was nominated by colleague Donna Bertolino, who wrote “Donna has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, developing innovative ideas to streamline new processes for the department and for ease of accessibility to students. Donna’s work ethic is evident on a daily basis. She is a learner and an achiever by nature. When given a project, she will work diligently to not only complete the project at lightning speed, but also to produce high quality work.”

Felisberto holds an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and an Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies from NECC, a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies: Computer Information Systems from Southern New Hampshire University and a Master’s in Education from Cambridge College.

For nearly five years West has worked as a laboratory technician and safety officer. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science from Merrimack College.

West was nominated by Natural Sciences Professor Marcy Yeager who praised him saying, “Over the last few years I have watched Bob grow into a strong and confident member of the science department… he manages to maintain the laboratories while also planning and prepping for over 40 lab sections each week on both campuses. In addition Bob has always taken on the role of NECC safety officer and insures our chemical safety.” His nomination was supported by Professor Kevin Mitchell who echoed Yeager’s sentiments and added, “Bob played a significant role in ensuring that the renovations of old science labs and construction of new science labs proceeded smoothly and met the needs of the courses being taught in the new labs… He accomplishes all of this seamlessly, and he makes it look easy. That alone deserves recognition. However, Bob does much more. He not only prepares all of the labs, he reaches out to full-time and DCE faculty to help organize and distribute lab schedules to minimize waste and costs.”

Bailey, a two-year employee of NECC, works as a disability services specialist in the Learning Accommodations Center and professor in a College Success Seminar. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Business and a Master of Education in Moderate Special Needs from Cambridge College.

Bailey was nominated by co-workers in the Learning Accommodations area Susan Martin, Deborah Regan, Sue Cunningham who lauded her saying “Andrea is very student centered…She has a very positive attitude and friendly nature and extends this to her work with students… Her pleasant welcoming style puts students at ease, and she has excellent customer service skills. She is very sincere and offers students many strategies and supports as it relates to both a student’s disability and her role as a contact for students here at NECC. She is knowledgeable about the field of disability and brings this knowledge and student centered approach to the decisions that our team makes about accommodations for students.”

For additional information contact Mary Chatigny at mchatigny@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3925.

When Andrea Middleton got serious about training for a career, she enrolled in Northern Essex’s Respiratory Care Program, which allowed her to work in the field and gain valuable experience after she completed the first year of the program.

Andrea, 41, who earned a near perfect GPA, first attended NECC when she was a newly-minted high school graduate. A visit to the West Coast derailed her college career. She liked California living. Andrea worked various jobs and even graduated from a Microsoft Certified System Engineer program. She worked in that field for 10 years. During that time she became a mom and relocated with her then husband and baby to the Midwest.

When she suddenly found herself as a single parent, she headed back East. Not eager to get back into computers, she worked for a time waiting tables before enrolling in NECC’s Medical Assistant Program. Her certificate opened doors for her to become a certified nursing assistant at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.

While working at the hospital she was drawn to the respiratory therapists.

“I feel I was led in that direction. Whenever I worked with them I would talk with them about their work and their education,” she says. “Everyone was enthusiastic and loved their job.”

Today, Andrea has completed her first year as a respiratory care student and will graduate in May 2014. Under her student license, she works per diem shifts at Lawrence General Hospital and Anna Jaques Hospital where she is accruing valuable hands-on training.

“Respiratory care is a great career path for me,” she says. “I love working with the patients. It is emotionally satisfying for me. I get to know the patients and their families. This is what I’m meant to do. Every day I get up and I’m excited about work.”

 

Northern Essex Community College’s expansion in Lawrence is good news for local residents interested in careers in high demand computer fields.

Beginning this semester, the college will have two new computer labs equipped with the latest technology in the college’s newly renovated 420 Common Street building.

“Before this semester, we’ve only been able to offer a limited number of introductory computer courses in Lawrence,” said Shar Wolff, assistant dean of technology, arts, and professional studies.

The two new labs will allow the college to expand and offer courses in subjects such as networking, security, programming, and help desk.

“We’re focusing on hot job skills,” said Russ Gouveia of the computer science faculty.  “Our help desk certificate graduates, for example, have their pick of jobs with pay starting at $35,000 and increasing to $55,000 or $60,000 within five years.”

Higher level computer courses like data management, information security, and introduction to operating systems are available in Lawrence during the spring semester which begins Jan. 22.  For the first time, the college will also have a full-time computer science faculty presence in Lawrence along with computer science tutoring and open labs.  In the future, the college hopes to offer computer science certificates and degrees that can be completed in Lawrence without having to travel to the Haverhill Campus.  The college is also planning to add industry certification training in networks and computer security.

“We want to work very closely with area employers to place interns and graduates,” said Gouveia.  “We’re also looking for employer input as we develop the courses and programs that will be available in Lawrence.”

The college will invite the Lawrence community, including public school students, to experiment with some of the high tech equipment now available in Lawrence.  “This semester, we are planning to have regular “high tech petting zoos” where we introduce new tech toys such as robots, micro-computers, and wearable computers.  Our students and the community can come in and experiment with some very cool cutting edge equipment.”

In addition to the newly renovated 420 Common Street Building, which will feature an Eastern Bank branch, a café, and a bookstore on the first floor, the college will open the Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center in Lawrence this semester.  The 44,000 square foot facility will feature a Health Education Simulation Center, where health care students will receive hands-on experience in simulated environments such as a hospital intensive care unit, a trauma room, an acute care hospital room, an apartment, an ambulance, and a doctor’s office. The building will also include classrooms and computer labs and a Career Planning and Advising Center where students will receive academic and career counseling.  The building will be open for classes Jan. 22 but the Career Planning and Advising Center will open later in the semester

While the college is expanding its computer science programs in Lawrence, the programs will continue to be available at the Haverhill Campus.  “This is a computer science program that will live in both places,” said Gouveia.

Northern Essex offers three associate degrees and seven certificates in computer science that prepare students for transfer to a four-year college or university and/or immediate employment. Computer & Information Sciences Associate Degrees include Applications, Computer Science Transfer or Information Technology.  Certificates include Computer Applications, Computer Forensics Basic, Computer Networking, Computer Security, Help Desk, Information Technology Fluency, and Web Design.

For additional information on NECC computer science courses and programs, contact Russ Gouveia, rgouveia@necc.mass.edu, or enrollment services at 978 556-3700, admissions@necc.mass.edu.