2015 - Page 17 of 20

NECC Announces Sleep Technology Open House

March 4, 2015/in Archive/by review

Sleep Technology student Jennifer Canfield

NECC will host an open house for its Sleep Technology Program on March 26. Jennifer Canfield of Haverhill, a 2013 graduate, is shown in the sleep technology lab on the college’s Lawrence Campus.

Interested in a career in health care? Consider attending the open house for Northern Essex Community College’s Sleep Technologist Certificate Program which will be held on Thursday, March 26^th from 5 to 8 p.m. in the El-Hefni Allied Health and Technology Center, 414 Common Street, Lawrence.

Those attending will learn about the daily tasks and challenges associated with the sleep technology profession, as well as have the opportunity to observe full patient set ups and laboratory preparation techniques. Current students and faculty members will be available to answer questions about the program and career opportunities in the field and give tours of NECC’s new sleep technology center.

In recent years, careers in sleep technology have grown by a rate of nearly 30 percent within the high-demand healthcare industry. Northern Essex Community College developed its 28-credit certificate program in response to this trend, offering its students hands-on instruction in the evaluation, treatment, and diagnosis of sleep disorders.

To learn more about the program, please visit www.necc.mass.edu. For additional information on the open house event, contact John Murray at jmurray@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.

Democrats and Republicans Come Together at NECC

March 4, 2015/in Archive/by review

Left to right: Lane Glenn, NECC president, David Forsberg, Republican strategist, Rich Padova, NECC Global Studies faculty, and Charlie Baker III, Democratic campaign strategist.

On February 25, David Forsberg, Governor Charlie Baker’s campaign manager, and Charlie Baker III, a Democratic campaign strategist, visited Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill Campus to discuss The Art of Winning Elections.

While the two are on opposite sides of the political aisle, they came together to discuss their involvement in politics at the local, state, and national levels; factors that lead to a successful political campaign; and how a student can get involved in politics.

Forsberg has been active in Republican politics for decades, ever since he ran for Worcester City Council while still in his 20’s (he lost the first time but won his second try). Highlights of his career include serving as communications director for President George H.W. Bush’s 1988 campaign and his recent leadership in Governor Baker’s campaign. When asked about one of the most memorable experiences in his career, he shared two. “My biggest thrills include the first election that I won to the city council and seeing Charlie Baker win a hard fought victory for governor.”

Charles Baker III (no relation to the other Charlie Baker) has played leadership roles in several presidential campaigns including Dukakis (1988), Clinton/Gore (1992) Gore/Lieberman (2000), and Kerry/Edwards (2004) and in Senator Edward Kennedy’s re-election campaign in 1994, when he ran against Mitt Romney. The most exciting campaign he has been involved in was Senator Kennedy’s and he claims the most “memorable night” of his career was the presidential election in 2000 when he says “we thought we were going to win Florida.”

Baker said that “joy” is a key ingredient to any successful political campaign and he also stressed the importance of being “cutting edge”, using social media, for example, to reach voters and deliver messages.

Forsberg emphasized the importance of “discipline,” describing the mandatory 6:30 a.m. phone calls to discuss the day’s messaging which George H.W. Bush’s campaign team scheduled daily. He also said that it helps to have adequate funding for advertising since “earned media helps but it doesn’t move the needle, paid media does.”

Those interested in getting involved in political strategy, should start “local”, said Forsberg. “Run for student senate or locally for school committee or city council.”

This presentation was part of Movers, Shakers and Opinion Makers, a series sponsored by the Northern Essex Community College Global Studies Department. The series launched in September with a presentation by Dr. Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont, presidential candidate, and chair of the Democrat National Committee. On April 14, the series will continue with an event on the eve of the 150^th anniversary of the assassination of President Lincoln.

Northern Essex offers an associate degree in liberal arts with a political science option that is designed for transfer to a four-year bachelor degree program. Graduates will be able to pursue many career paths, and may find work in public administration, business, politics, law, education, and more.

For additional information contact Rich Padova, Global Studies Department, rpadova@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3297.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

March 2, 2015/in Archive/by review

Beloved children’s author Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was born on March 2, 1904. Today would have been the American writer and cartoonist’s 111 birthday. As a homage to the literary genius who brought us “Green Eggs and Ham”, “The Cat in the Hat”, “The Lorax”, “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”, and “Fox in Socks”, to name a few of his works, Northern Essex Community College’s Alumni Office invited the children of Little Sprouts to a morning celebration in the David Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus.

After a reading of “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back” by staff and faculty including NECC Workforce Development Director George Moriarty, NECC President Lane Glenn, and Early Childhood Education professor Deirdre Budzyna, the children were treated to a breakfast of fresh fruit, green eggs and ham sandwiches, yogurt, and juice.

Each child was given a copy of the book as a keepsake.

Health and Wellness Focus of NECC Fair

March 2, 2015/in Archive/by review

Kerin Hamidiani (right in photo), coordinator of the dental assisting program, and a dental assisting student participated in a recent health & wellness fair.

What do phlebotomists, nurses and a reiki master have in common? All of them will be found at Northern Essex Community College’s Health Profession: Health and Wellness Fair on Monday, April 13, from 9 a.m. until noon in the lobby of the 1^st & 2^nd floors of the Spurk Building, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill.

This event, which is free and open to the public, will showcase the various health programs offered at NECC as well as educate visitors on different health issues affecting society. Student and faculty representatives, from all NECC health programs, including iHealth@NECC, will be available to discuss the value of each academic health program as well as health issues related to that program’s topic. Some of the health topics include, “The Use & Function of the Automated External Defibrillator’, ‘Getting a Good Night’s Sleep’; “What is your Blood Type and How the Blood Bank Finds the Perfect Match for You”; “Oral Health = Overall Wellness: The Oral Systemic Connection” ; “How Reiki Heals You” “Domestic Violence”; “Privacy & Security in Protected Health Information”; “Smoking Cessation & Lung Health Awareness,” “Bone Fractures”; “Phlebotomists – We’re so Vein”; “Conjunctivitis’; and “Who Says Medical Coding Isn’t Fun?”.

In addition, there will be a spokesperson from the New England Organ Bank discussing the merits of enrolling to be an organ donor; a reiki master will be available to demonstrate this alternative therapy. All individuals who visit all tables and complete their ‘raffle cards’ will be entered in raffles for various wonderful prizes.

For additional information contact Linda Comeau at lcomeau@necc.mass.edu

Northern Essex offers associate degrees in a number of health related fields including

General Studies: Business Management: healthcare Practice Management, Health Information Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Movement Science Option, Nursing (ADN), Nursing Advanced Placement: LPN to RN, Paramedic (EMT-P) Technology, Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Care; certificates in Computed Tomography, Dental Assisting, Electronic Health Records Specialist, Healthcare Technology (Phlebotoomy & EKG), Medical Assistant, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Ophthalmic Assistant, Paramedic (EMT-P) Technology, Practical Nursing (PN), and Sleep Technologist and a course in EMT-Basic.

Through iHealth@NECC associate degrees are offered in Business Management: Healthcare Practice, General Studies: Health Specialization, Health Information Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Nursing Advanced Placement: LPN to RN. Certificates are offered in Electronic Health Record Specialist, Healthcare Technician, Medical Assistant – Evening Program, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Medical Office Assistant, and Ophthalmic Assistant. Certificates in are available in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

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.

Acting and Tutoring Play Role in Lawrence Woman’s Future

March 2, 2015/in Archive/by review

NECC Liberal Arts: Theater student Kiara Pichardo

Kiara Pichardo says, for her, the two most significant locations on the Northern Essex campus are the 75-seat theater and the tutoring center. One has given her direction, and the other has helped her maintain that direction.

The 20-year-old Lawrence woman came to Northern Essex after graduating from Lawrence High School’s Performing & Fine Arts Academy in 2012. She was intent on majoring in photography.
That all changed the day her cousin convinced her to audition for a role in NECC’s production of The Beaux’ Stratagem. She walked away with the role of Cherry as well as the new-found knowledge that acting was her future. “I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Finding her direction was one thing, following that direction another. The Queens, NY, native credits the tutoring center and the Pathways for Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program with helping her navigate her academics and manage her school life.
“I love this school,” she says. “It offers a lot of opportunities. If it wasn’t for the math center I never would have passed math,” she admits.

PACE was instrumental in providing workshops on time management, scholarship opportunities, and scheduling.
“They helped organize my class schedule so I would be on track to graduate in May,” she said.

Kiara says she speaks about the virtues of NECC to her friends, many of whom started at expensive private colleges and universities only to follow her to NECC.

“I tell them to come here and I am always sure to mention the writing and math centers and all the help that Nothern Essex offers its students,” she says.

She hopes to transfer to Fitchburg State University in the fall of 2015 to study communications media with a theater concentration.

NECC Students Compete in Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

February 27, 2015/in Archive/by review

Matthew Lundergan of Raymond NH, Samantha-Wheatley of Lowell, (rear) Hannah Heckman-McKenna of Salem NH, and Paul Kelly of Derry NH appearing in Much Ado About Nothing in November 2013.

Last month eleven current and former students of Northern Essex Community College’s theater program participated in the Region I Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) for talented young actors, directors, designers, and playwrights. Two students, following their performances, advanced to the highly selective semi-final rounds for their respective areas.

KCACTF is a national theater organization that recognizes excellence in university and college theater programs. In January and February of each year, the program hosts eight regional festivals for over 600 schools in order to showcase the nation’s most exceptional undergraduate productions – all of which are subject to a number of activities and award opportunities. Students are selected to compete in the festival by nomination and are critiqued by renowned theater professionals. The Region I festival, held in Hyannis, Massachusetts, attracts approximately 200 students from New England and New York. Only 36 advance to the semi-final rounds and a mere 16 move on to the nationals.

Among those participating and advancing in this year’s festival was Lowell resident Samantha Wheatley, an NECC alumna and current Fitchburg State student who was nominated for her role in Fitchburg’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Following a viewing of the production, a representative of the festival invited her to take part in KCACTF’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Audition for outstanding performers, through which students are invited to compete for a $500 scholarship and a tentative spot in the national festival. Wheatley was selected for the semi-final round of the competition for her acting abilities.

Also participating this year was Matthew Lundergan of Raymond, New Hampshire, who competed for NECC using a one-act play he had developed in Professor Susan Sanders’ Directing 113 course. Lundergan was recommended for the program’s Student Directing Initiative (SDI) after a KCACTF representative viewed a Top Notch Players performance of his play. At the festival he chose to direct a scene from Samuel Beckett’s Absurdist play “Endgame,” recruiting NECC students Robert Mantegani, Jonathan Gray, and Coty Lennon-Markee to play the necessary acting roles. The play was selected for the next competitive round. Lundergan is now enrolled at Salem State University.

NECC students Sarah Bird, Christian Doyle, Hannah Heckman-McKenna, Paul Kelly, Amanda Kehoe, and Kiara Pichardo additionally took part in this year’s festival.

The Liberal Arts: Theater Option at Northern Essex Community College offers students the opportunity to explore and take part in the many aspects of theater, including acting, directing, designing, and playwriting. Please visit www.necc.mass.edu to learn more about the program or view upcoming performance dates.

Info Sessions Offered for Enrolled Agent Program

February 26, 2015/in Archive/by Alexis Fontaine

Northern Essex Community College will hold three information sessions this spring for individuals interested in enrolling in the Enrolled Agent (EA) Exam Review Program which begins Tuesday, April 28, at NECC Riverwalk, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence.

Information sessions will be held Tuesday, March 24th from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18^th from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and Tuesday, April 21^st from 7 to 8:30 p.m. These sessions led by Enrolled Agents, will review the role of the EA, career opportunities, and information about the Exam Review Program.

An Enrolled Agent (EA) prepares and signs tax returns and represents clients in dealings with state and federal tax authorities. This program is ideal for tax preparers with a strong finance and taxation background who are interested in expanding their careers. The program includes a review of tax laws, classroom discussion, extensive written material, an online review program, practice tests and proven test-taking strategies. Participants prepare to sit for a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering individual and business tax returns, ethics, practice and representation. EA is the highest credential the IRS awards.

NECC’s EA Exam Review Program, held Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Riverwalk, will be taught in modules; each covers a section of the exam. Part I – Individual Tax runs April 28 to May 12 and costs $350; Part II – Small Business, Corporations, Partnerships and Trusts runs May 26to June 30 and costs $700 and Part III – Ethics, Practice and Representation runs July 14 to July 28 and costs $350.

The instructors are EAs with extensive tax preparation and instructional experience who are members of the Massachusetts Society for Enrolled Agents and/or National Association of Enrolled Agents.

Some internships and/or employment may be available for students passing all 3 exams. Fee includes class books and materials.

For additional information on the Enrolled Agent Exam Review Program or information sessions, please contact Dianne Lahaye at dlahaye@necc.mass.edu

NECC Faculty Receive National Award

February 26, 2015/in Archive/by review

The NECC 2015 NISOD recipients include (L to R rear) Robert West, Linda Giampa, allahan, Kristen Quinn, Deirdre Budzyna, and xxxx.

The NECC 2015 NISOD recipients include (L to R rear) Robert West, Linda Giampa, and Kristen Quinn.(L to R front) Amy Callahan, Deirdre Budzyna, and Abby Thomas.

Six Northern Essex Community College faculty members were recently named recipients of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Awards for Excellence, a national honor which recognizes outstanding teachers in the country’s community colleges. This year’s recipients include Professor Amy Callahan of Newburyport, coordinator of the Liberal Arts: Journalism/Communication Program; Kristen Quinn of Boston, associate professor of Accounting; Robert West of Manchester, NH, laboratory technician and Natural Science safety officer; Abby Thomas of Andover, curriculum coordinator of the English as a Second Language Program; Deirdre Budzyna of Newburyport, professor in the Early Childhood Education Program; and Linda Giampa of Amesbury, academic coordinator of the NECC Reading Center.

Since 1978, NISOD has been dedicated to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff; and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning, with the ultimate goal of student success.

Here is additional information on each of the recipients:

In addition to teaching, Amy Callahan served as advisor to NECC’s award-winning student newspaper, the “NECC Observer”. Before joining the NECC faculty, she was a journalist and editor for many years. She was a correspondent for “The Boston Globe” and a staff writer for the “Holyoke Transcript-Telegram” and the “Vineyard Gazette” where her work received awards from the New England Press Association. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of HC Media. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Northeastern University and Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Columbia University

A full-time professor in the business department, Kristen Quinn is the lead contact for the accounting program. She teaches all upper level accounting courses and works to make continuous improvements to the program to enrich the students’ educational experience and provide them with resume-building skills. For the last five years Quinn has worked as a faculty mentor to help faculty at other schools across the country increase the technology used in their classrooms sharing with them best practices and tips to help students in face-to-face and online courses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Assumption College and a master’s in accountancy from Suffolk University.

An English as a Second Language teacher for more than 35 years, Abby Thomas began teaching ESL at NECC in 1999. She became curriculum coordinator in 2008. For the last two years she has worked with ESL faculty re-designing the curriculum to comply with state and federal financial standards. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Alabama.

Deirdre Budzyna has worked in the field of education for 25 years. She has worked with children as young as three as well as senior citizens. She taught in public schools for 10 years and created a kindergarten program in West Newbury based on Howard Gardner’s “Theory of Multiple Intelligences”. She is also co-owner of “Acting Out Productions” in Newburyport where she teaches acting to children ages 4 to 16. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s degree from Lesley University.

Before she began working as a part-time tutor at NECC in 1999, Linda Giampa was a stockbroker and retirement specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Education degree from Cambridge College. She became coordinator of the Reading Center in 2008. She also teaches reading in the evening as an adjunct faculty member.

After graduating from Merrimack College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science, Robert West worked in an environmental laboratory analyzing various samples for a multitude of hazardous chemicals. He came to work at Northern Essex in 2010. Since arriving at NECC, he has created standardized laboratory schedules for all natural science courses, employed various safety policies and programs, and overseen the expansion of the natural science department on the Lawrence campus as well as implemented a $1.2 million in renovations and upgrades to the Haverhill facilities.

The 2015 NISOD Conference will be held May 23 through May 26 in Austin, TX.

NECC Provides Foundation for Engineering Student

February 26, 2015/in Archive/by Kellie Schroeder

NECC Engineering graduate Joanel Vasquez

When Joanel Vasquez emigrated from the Dominican Republic four years ago, he dreamed of attending college and earning a four-year degree. Northern Essex gave him the opportunity to achieve his dream.

The Lawrence resident says his interest in math led him to the Engineering Science Program at NECC, a major that gave him both a foundation for a high-demand field as well as a degree that transferred seamlessly into the mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree program at UMass Lowell.

“Being a student at NECC better prepared me to transfer to UMass Lowell,” he says.

Attending college in a new country was no easy feat for the now 22-year-old Joanel. In addition to learning a new language, he discovered how to balance his classes and studying with working so he could support himself.

“I’m really glad I started at NECC. The environment was exactly what I needed in order to get good grades and transfer. The classes are small, so you get to know your professors,” he says.

Once he started his college career, Joanel was all in, becoming a tutor for students who needed extra help in math, physics, chemistry, and computer science. He found he enjoyed teaching others and remained a tutor even after graduating from NECC in 2014 with his associate degree in engineering science.

As a first generation college student, Joanel took advantage of the workshops offered through the Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program. “PACE helped a lot … any questions I had about transferring were always answered,” he says.

Joanel was also a member of the honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). He received scholarships from both PACE and PTK.

Joanel hopes to one day earn a Ph.D. in engineering.

Caribbean U-Boat Blockade Subject of Book

February 26, 2015/in Archive/by review

Associate Professor of history Ligia Domenech has written a book on the German U-Boat Blockade of the Caribbean islands during World War II.

While conducting research for her doctoral thesis, Northern Essex Community College associate professor Ligia Domenech stumbled upon a brief reference to the U-Boat blockade of the Caribbean during World War II. This footnote left her with a leading question. “What blockade?”

An often overlooked historical postscript, the fact is that in 1942, the Caribbean was blocked off from the rest of the world by five German U-Boats. This had a profound effect on the nearly 30 island countries, leaving the inhabitants without access to penicillin to fight disease, oil to power their vehicles, and even glass to bottle the rum.

By the end of the war, the Germans had sunk 400 merchant ships in the Caribbean while only losing 17 U-Boats during what was dubbed “Operation Neuland”. The blockade was intended to cut supply lines between the Caribbean and the Allies. This strangled their import-based economies. Since most of the islands were colonies, they were left to fend for themselves.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Domenech reasoned that if a native of the Caribbean working on a doctoral degree on the History of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean didn’t know about the U-Boat Blockade then few others probably did either. After some additional investigating, Domenech found she was right.

While the U-Boat blockade has been chronicled in publications, the plight of the Caribbean was not says Domenech.

“Imprisoned in the Caribbean: The 1942 German U-Boat Blockade” was written by NECC Associate Professor Ligia Domenech.

A social worker by training with a master’s degree in Caribbean Anthropology from the Center for Advanced Studies on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, the now Haverhill resident approached the subject matter like an investigator. The 49-year-old spent four years researching the blockade. She read every edition of the local newspapers for all of 1942 as well as every book on the subject she could locate. She wrote the book while living for 2 years in Argentina. Her efforts culminated in a book published by iUniverse titled “Imprisoned in the Caribbean: The 1942 German U-Boat Blockade”.

The book explores how the campaign hurt the people of the Caribbean, who the principal targets were, how the U.S. responded, which essential goods were blocked, what new industries developed as a result of the war, and the long lasting effects on the islands.

“Operation Neuland” was initially designed for 25 U-Boats, but only five were sent. Winston Churchill recognized in his memoir: “The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-Boat Peril”. The blockade was so successful and so significant, she says, that had the 25 U-boats been provided it could have changed history.

Domenech says selling the book is not her primary objective, but telling the story of the U-Boat Blockade and its effect on the Caribbean is. The book can be purchased through Amazon.com for $3.99 for Kindle and $16.72 paperback.

Dr. Domenech is a member of the NECC Speakers Bureau. Some two dozen faculty, experts in their fields, are available for speaking engagements at educational institutions, libraries, and social service clubs. Topics range from the Rain Forest to Human Intelligences to chocolate. Learn more about the Speakers Bureau contact speakersbureau@necc.mass.edu or call (978) 556-3862.

NECC Announces Sleep Technology Open House

Democrats and Republicans Come Together at NECC

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Health and Wellness Focus of NECC Fair

Acting and Tutoring Play Role in Lawrence Woman’s Future

NECC Students Compete in Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

Info Sessions Offered for Enrolled Agent Program

NECC Faculty Receive National Award

NECC Provides Foundation for Engineering Student

Caribbean U-Boat Blockade Subject of Book

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