2015 - Page 14 of 20

NECC Alumni Return to Discuss Professions

April 28, 2015/in Archive/by review

Photos by Mike Dean www.mikedeanphotos.com

An NECC Liberal Arts Alumni Panel, moderated by David Godin, a Merrimack College Graduate Fellow working in our Career Connections Dept., featured freelance writer Alexandra Pecci and NECC History Professor Rich Padova.

Freelance writer Alexandra Pecci and Northern Essex Community College History Professor Richard Padova recently participated in a Liberal Arts Alumni Panel on Northern Essex’s Haverhill Campus. They shared their professional experiences with interested students, staff, and faculty.

NECC’s Alumni Relations Office, Career Connections, and The Liberal Arts Department collaborated to bring alumni back to campus to share their journeys and discuss their career paths.

Pecci, of Plaistow, NH, graduated in 2002. She transferred to UMass Boston where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2004. Since, she has enjoyed a career as a freelance writer. Her articles have been published in the Washington Post, North Shore Magazine, The Boston Globe, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Hemispheres Magazine, AAA’s Northern New England Journey, and Bust Magazine as well as other regional and national publications. She has her own website where her articles can be viewed.

Andover resident Richard Padova, graduated in 1980. He transferred to Salem State College and earned his bachelor’s degree. He received a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and is currently enrolled at Salem State University working toward a second master’s degree. A longtime educator, he has been teaching history, geography, and government courses at Northern Essex since January 2005. Padova most recently organized an NECC speakers’ series titled “Movers, Shakers, and Opinion Makers” – which brings distinguished individuals from government and politics to campus to speak with students, faculty and community members about issues of importance in today’s society.

The Liberal Arts Alumni panel was moderated by David Godin, a graduate fellow from Merrimack College who is working with NECC’s Career Connections.

NECC offers nearly a dozen associate degrees in liberal arts. They provide a solid foundation in critical thinking, critical reading, research, and communications. You can complete your first two years at Northern Essex, like Pecci and Padova did, and then transfer to a four-year school.

A complete list of liberal arts degrees is offered here.

Birthday Bags Will Brighten Birthdays for Pettengill House Families

April 27, 2015/in Archive/by review

Sydney Tatoyian of Methuen, a member of NECC’s Early Childhood Education Club, helped prepare birthday bags for the families at the Pettengill House in Salisbury.

Several families at the Pettengill House, a social service nonprofit in Salisbury, will soon have the “fixings” for a good old fashioned birthday party thanks to the student members of the Northern Essex Community College Early Childhood Education (ECE) Club.

The ECE Club collected donations from faculty and students of the Early Childhood Education program as well as from families at the Little Sprouts Child Care Center at NECC.

ECE Club members were able to fill 18 gender neutral “birthday bags” including one gluten-free, with boxes of cake mix, cans of frosting, thematic paper plates and napkins, birthday candles, and party favors. The items were placed in large, decorative birthday bags topped with colorful tissue paper and will be available to families in need who have a birthday to celebrate.

After brainstorming community service ideas, ECE Club members voted on accepting this project. Collection boxes were decorated and arranged in the ECE classroom and child care center to gather donations.

“Local food kitchens and food pantries offer staple food items, but they don’t usually offer birthday items” said Gail Feigenbaum, director of NECC’s ECE program.

Northern Essex Community College offers an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. The program prepares students to work in child care or transfer to a four-year college or university for a bachelor’s degree.

Concert Choir Celebrates Spring with Musical Performance

April 24, 2015/in Archive/by review

The Northern Essex Community College Concert Choir will embrace the spirit of the spring season with a special musical performance at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 3rd in the Haverhill campus Hartleb Technology Center, 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill. The concert is open to the public.

Conducted by Alisa Bucchiere, the group will perform a range of classic and contemporary compositions. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Highlights of the concert will include a medley of songs from Les Miserable; “I Turned a Corner” from Thoroughly Modern Millie, sung by James Clark Jr. of Methuen; “Moonfall” from the Mystery of Edwin Drood, sung by Jenny Weiss of Amesbury; and an Italian aria sung by Bryan LeGere of Derry, NH.

The spring choral concert is part of the “Performing Arts Series” organized by the Department of Performing Arts at Northern Essex Community College. For additional information, please contact Alisa Bucchiere at abucchiere@necc.mass.edu

Northern Essex offers an Associate in Arts Degree: Music Option for students seeking a solid foundation in musical performance, music education, and music computer technology. For more information on NECC’s music program, please visit www.necc.mass.edu.

Art Students Display Their Talent

April 23, 2015/in Archive/by review

2015 NECC Student Art Show Winners (L to R) third prize winner Julian Cruz, President’s Purchase Prize winner Ryan Silva, NECC President Lane Glenn, and Honorable Mention winner Frank Hawks.

Ryan Silva of Salisbury received the Northern Essex President’s Purchase Prize for his sculpture “Wire Violin” during the NECC 2015 Student Show in the Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace in the Bentley Library on the Haverhill campus.

His piece was created from an ungalvanized steel wire creatively twisted into a three dimensional violin sculpture. Silva was presented the $200 President’s Purchase Prize by NECC President Lane Glenn who told the dozens of parents and friends of the student artists that he “…loves when this room is filled with creative pieces of art”.

Some two dozen NECC Art & Design students from Drawing, Painting, Photography, Two & Three Dimensional Foundations, Digital & Interactive Media and Multi-Media Courses submitted various works of art for the exhibit.

“Wire Violin” created by Ryan Silva.

Two students tied for second place – Meriwether Kimball of Plaistow, NH, and Paige Fournier of Georgetown. Julian Cruz of North Andover received third place. Honorable Mention went to Erin Murray of Groveland and Frank Hawks of Gloucester.

“Wire Violin” will be included in NECC’s student art collection on display outside the President’s office.

The art show will be exhibited through May 15. The ArtSpace is open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m., Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Student Art Show is sponsored by the NECC Art & Design Department.

Northern Essex Department of Art & Design offers many courses in fine art and design leading to an Associate Degree in General Studies: Art.

For additional information contact Patricia Kidney, Chair, Arts & Design Department, at pkidney@necc.mass.edu or Marc Mannheimer, Gallery Coordinator mmannheimer@necc.mass.edu

Jazz Ensemble Announces Spring Concert

April 22, 2015/in Archive/by review

The Northern Essex Community College Jazz Ensemble will present a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 in the Haverhill campus Hartleb Technology Center, 100 Elliott Street. The concert is open to the public and will include a brief reception.

Performing under the direction of music professor Michael Lecuyer, the ensemble will play a wide variety of classic twentieth century jazz compositions, including old favorites by composers like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. In the lineup are NECC students Lindsey Michaud of Lowell (trumpet), John Francavilla of Haverhill (guitar), Sean Lavigne of Methuen (guitar), Duncan Pringle of Derry, New Hampshire (guitar), Julie Tilley of Lowell (piano), and Animesh Chatterjee of North Andover (percussion).

Northern Essex offers an Associate in Arts Degree: Music Option and a Certificate in Music Technology. For more information, please visit www.necc.mass.edu. For additional information on the upcoming Jazz Ensemble concert, please contact Michael Lecuyer at mlecuyer@necc.mass.edu.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. More than 7,400 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 6,700 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

NECC Employee and Retiree Run Boston Marathon

April 21, 2015/in Archive/by review

Maria Gonzalez ran her second Boston Marathon on Patriot’s Day.

Congratulations to NECC’s very own Boston Marathoners Maria Gonzalez of Burlington who works as an academic advisor and student success center liaison on the Lawrence campus and Linda Desjardins of Hampton, NH, who taught English for 39.5 years before retiring last December.

Gonzalez ran the iconic race with a 4:07 time. This was her fourth marathon and the second time she ran Boston. The 44-year-old ran her first road race when she was just 10 and has been running ever since. Her first Boston Marathon was 11 years ago.

She has worked at NECC for the last 3.5 years.

“I hope to run in more marathons and other shorter distance races for as long as possible- hopefully for many more years,” she says.

She routinely runs with the Shamrock Running Club.

“Running marathons reminds me of what’s important in life. You have to set and achieve goals, pay attention to your body and mind, adjust to unexpected challenges, have positive people in your life, be resilient, and enjoy the journey (not just race day),” Gonzalez says.

Linda Desjardins, retired NECC English professor, ran the Boston Marathon again this year and has already qualified for next year's Boston Marathon.

Linda Desjardins, retired NECC English professor, had already qualified for next year’s Boston Marathon when she ran the Boston Marathon this year.

This was Desjardins’ eighth Boston Marathon and 16^th marathon overall. The 67-year-old completed the marathon in 4:48. While she had been hoping to come in under 4:30 she isn’t disappointed as she has already run a Boston Qualifier and is all set to run next year’s Boston Marathon.

Desjardins began running at the age of 30 in 1978 and ran four marathons in her early 30’s – two of which were Boston Marathons, back when her qualifying time needed to be under 3:20. She tired of racing and stopped entering races for the next 30 years, though she continued her daily runs.

“I entered a race on a whim in 2008 when I was 60, and to my surprise won my age group. Mike Pelletier (a retired NECC engineering professor) asked me to run for his club, the North Shore Striders and I kept saying no. He convinced me to be part of a relay team for them and I was hooked again, “she says.

Linda will run the NECC Campus Classic for the third time on May 2.

Northern Essex Alumnus to Present Free Music Lecture

April 17, 2015/in Archive/by review

NECC Alumnus and Methuen resident David Vose, professor of Ear Training at Berklee College of Music, will present a free academic lecture Thursday, April 23^rd from 1-2 p.m. in the Haverhill campus Hartleb Technology Center, 100 Elliott St., Room 220. The lecture is open to the public.

Vose, who has multitudes of recording and television credits in his name, will cover various topics – from his personal path to the music industry to basic concepts of rhythm and notation. An informal question and answer session will follow his discussion.

As a member of the Massachusetts Educators’ Hall of Fame, Vose is distinguished for his devotion to teaching and helping students on their musical journeys. He has served as a clinician for such companies as Grover Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, and Yamaha Corporation of America, and has presented at the Ludwig International Percussion Symposium, the Texas Music Educators Conference, and at numerous locations throughout Europe. For many years Vose has additionally served as a writer for music publishing companies, with arrangements appearing in Kendor, Belwin Mills, and Columbia Pictures Productions. He is currently involved in a rock band, jazz band, and patriotic march ensemble on the side.

Northern Essex offers an Associate in Arts Degree: Music Option for students seeking a solid foundation in musical performance, music education, and music computer technology. For more information on NECC’s music program, please visit www.necc.mass.edu. To learn more about the upcoming lecture, contact Michael Lecuyer at mlecuyer@necc.mass.edu.

Essex Chamber Music Players Hold Benefit Concert for Dana-Farber

April 15, 2015/in Archive/by review

Pianist Sarah Bob will join the Essex Chamber Music Players, in Residence at Northern Essex Community College, during its benefit concert for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The Essex Chamber Music Players, in residence at Northern Essex Community College, will perform a benefit concert for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on Sunday, April 26, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Temple Emanuel of Andover, 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover.

This concert is partially underwritten by the Dorothy G. Philips Charitable Trust.

The program features the music of Danzi, Ravel, Copland, Rorem and William Thomas McKinley. The Essex Chamber Music Players include soprano Adriana Repetto, flutist Michael Finegold, violinist Andrew Kohji Taylor, cellist Patrick Owen, and pianist Sarah Bob.

Finegold, ECMP’s artistic director said, “The endeavor of fundraising for Dana-Farber in April 2015 arose after the June 2014 ECMP DFCI benefit in memory of my daughter Joni. Our daughter, married with young children, succumbed to non-smoker lung cancer at the age of 42 in 2012”.

General admission is $25; students are $15. Additional donations will be gratefully accepted. Individuals who donate, but are not able to attend the concert, will receive complimentary concert tickets to future concerts.

Checks may be made payable to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (or DFCI). Sondra Finegold will collect them at the concert or donations may be mailed to Dana-Farber checks may be mailed to Essex Chamber Music Players c/o Michael Finegold, 11 Lavender Hill Lane, Andover, MA 01810.

If you wish to donate directly online to Dana-Farber go to ECMP’s website www.ecmp.org to click the link, or use https://www.myjimmyfundpage.org/give/jonifinegold.

General admission: $25, seniors and students $15.

For more info go to www.ecmp.org

NECC’s Stillpoint Dancers Present Spring Showcase

April 13, 2015/in Archive/by review

NECC dance student Nina Cabral of Pelham, NH, is held by fellow dancers during a modern dance that will be performed during the Stillpoint Dancers’ spring performance at Lawrence High School.

A dance piece choreographed by Northern Essex Community College alumna Amanda Westcott will be one of the center pieces of NECC’s annual spring performance – “Stillpoint XXIII” presented Friday, April 24^th, and Saturday, April 25^th, at 8 p.m. at Lawrence High School, 70-71 North Parish Road, Lawrence.

Westcott of Derry, NH, initially choreographed this piece for the NECC dancers who attended the American College Dance Association conference this past March at Rhode Island College. The piece, titled “Joe” is about the loss of a close loved one, and how the survivors cope and find closure.

Another piece, “Finish Fast” was choreographed by Dance Program Coordinator, Michelle Deane for the Modern Dance Techniques class. This piece explores the idea of life being a race that never ends. It challenges the question, how do we finish? Do we race through life or do we enjoy the journey?

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for student and seniors, and $4 for children under 12. Tickets will be sold at the door.

For additional information, contact Michelle Deane mdeane@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3597.

NECC offers a certificate in dance education and an associate degree in general studies: dance.

NECC Adopts New Mission Statement

April 10, 2015/in Archive/by review

Mark Reinhold and Wendy Shaffer led the college’s efforts to develop a new mission statement, which replaced the mission statement that had been in existence since 1992.

A year-long collaboration among NECC students, faculty, and staff has ended with the implementation of a new mission statement for the college, following official approval by the Board of Higher Education. The new mission statement provides an updated summary of the college’s values and objectives.

Members of the college community were invited to participate in the development of a new mission statement beginning in the fall of 2013, when the Executive Committee of the All College Assembly (a college-wide body that provides executive and operating policy advice) first proposed an initiative to assess and revise NECC’s established list of goals. The previous mission statement was adopted in 1992 and has long-served, until now, as NECC’s major summary of purpose and guide for strategic planning.

Through various events this past year, the college body assembled an impressive set of potential new mission drafts for collective review and comment. Brainstorming events included a student-geared “Six Word Mission Slam,” portions of the fall 2013 and 2014 convocations, and college-wide faculty and staff meetings. Final drafts were written and approved by December of 2014.

“Together, these collective opportunities have enabled us to create a new Mission Statement that reflects our core values, goals, objectives, constituent needs, and our ability to deliver on these realistically,” says President Lane Glenn, who officially announced the adoption of NECC’s new mission statement following the Board of Higher Ed’s approval on March 10th. “Feedback and guidance over the past year has been critical to a team of individuals…who worked on developing and honing draft after draft of a new Mission Statement.”

Critical to the process were Wendy Shaffer, dean of development, and Mark Reinhold, professor of natural sciences. As project leaders, they met frequently with members of the college community to review, assess, and revise multiple drafts.

“It was certainly an extensive and exciting process and we are very delighted with the result,” says Shaffer. “Our new mission statement will no doubt help guide our next strategic plan, which will, in turn, guide other decision-makings, budget priorities, and evaluations at the college.”

Northern Essex will continue to periodically review and evaluate its Mission Statement to ensure that it remains an accurate reflection of the college’s goals.

The new mission statement reads as follows: “At NECC, our mission is to educate and inspire our students to succeed. We provide a welcoming environment focused on teaching and learning—strongly committed to unlocking the potential within each student and empowering our diverse community of learners to meet their individual goals. We are a community college dedicated to creating vibrant and innovative opportunities that encourage excellence and enhance the cultural and economic life of our region.”

Old mission statement: “The mission of Northern Essex Community College is to serve the people of the Greater Merrimack Valley as a caring and comprehensive center of educational excellence that offers high quality, affordable adult and postsecondary education through the Associate Degree level, as well as a broad range of occupational programs and community services which enhance the social, cultural, and economic life of the region.”

To learn more, please visit www.necc.mass.edu/about/values.