Alumna Patricia Lyon, Assistant to the Deputy Director of Althletics, UMass Lowell
It’s no coincidence that the term “commencement” signifies a start. Though your time as a student might end the moment you step across the stage to receive your diploma, your relationship with the college is only just beginning.
Every individual who has graduated from NECC is automatically considered a member of our alumni community. For some, that means taking advantage of the vast range of opportunities available to them — whether it’s joining an advisory committee, volunteering for campus events, following our social media networks, attending a reunion, or donating to the college’s NECC Fund.
For alumni like Patricia Lyon ’13, remaining active with the NECC community was a no-brainer. She recalls with great fondness the strong community vibe that she felt everywhere from the classroom to the campus walls, which were crowded with event posters throughout each semester. Despite having a long commute and heavy workload, Lyon found that she was able to play an active role in campus life — becoming a member of both the National Honor Society and Business National Honor Society by the time she completed her studies.
It was this connection with the campus community that led Lyon, upon graduating, to look into alumni volunteer opportunities.
“I was inspired to give back in any way I possibly could,” she says. “I wanted to do my part to help NECC grow and help others know of the wonderful opportunities available.”
With this conviction, Lyon worked with professors like Patricia Morrow to help out current students. Before long she joined the Business Advisory Council, and later served as a speaker at a business intern panel discussion. Her involvement in this latter event inspired her to apply for a spot on the Alumni Advisory Board, on which she continues to serve.
Stories like this are easy to come by. As NECC’s alumni community grows, so does the number of ways to stay involved. Today’s graduates of Northern Essex are encouraged to volunteer for a variety of campus events and initiatives, including the annual Campus Classic 5K, the spring networking night, and the alumni career panel program. Updates on these and other events are available on the NECC website.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or a member of NECC’s first class, the college is sure to have something for you. Here are some of the additional ways you can stay engaged with your alma mater:
Join our social media network: NECC’s Alumni Office is active on Facebook and LinkedIn! Joining these pages will help you stay up-to-date on alumni activities and connect with your peers. Be sure to check out LinkedIn for job postings and networking opportunities, or create an account on NECCLink. www.necc.mass.edu/necclink.
Submit an alumni profile form: We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to since graduating. If you have news to share, please fill out an alumni profile form available on the NECC website. You might just be featured in our next magazine or newsletter! www.necc.mass.edu/alumni-info.
Donate to the NECC Fund: Help ensure the success of our students by contributing to the college’s NECC Fund, which provides for student scholarships and academic programs. Alumni can give online, by phone, or by mailing a check to the Office of Institutional Advancement. Visit necc.mass.edu/giving for more information.
For additional information on alumni activities, please visit www.necc.mass.edu/alumni.
