Kaitlyn Gould

Northern Essex Community College’s volleyball and baseball seasons have ended, but at least two team members have received accolades.

Two students have been named National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Academic All American this year.

Kaitlyn Gould of Bradford, New Hampshire, was named third team for volleyball. She just completed her freshman year as a general studies: individualized option major.

Nolan Steevens

Nolan Steevens, also completed his freshman year and was named to the second team for baseball. He is a biology major and lives in Haverhill. He is from Wilton, NH.

NECC offers three men’s varsity sports, baseball, basketball and track and field as well as three women’s varsity sports including softball, volleyball, and track and field.

For information on NECC sports visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics.

For additional information contact Sue MacAvoy, NECC’s director of athletics at NECC.

Jason Warren, who started as a Project SEARCH intern, has been hired to maintain the new perennial gardens on the Haverhill campus.

Butterflies and hummingbirds are the newest visitors to Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill campus thanks to some beautiful, new gardens.

These winged creatures have already visited the recently created butterfly garden planted in the island on the west side of the Harold Bentley Library. Eventually all three islands surrounding the library building will hold drought-resistant perennial plants. In addition, the garden at the entrance to the college will be expanded by four feet to accommodate butterfly attracting perennials.

The landscape undertaking is a partnership between Northern Essex and Project SEARCH, an internship program for adults with cognitive disabilities run by Opportunity Works, a Newburyport-based organization that provides work opportunities and services to people with disabilities throughout the greater Newburyport region. Opportunity Works now has a facility, across the road from NECC.

“I have already received a lot of positive comments,” said Maggie Lucey, the staff associate in NECC’s facilities department and NECC liaison with Project SEARCH, “People say ‘This is so lovely’. They are excited about the transformation and beautification of the islands.”

Jason makes sure the new plants receive adequate hydration.

The butterfly garden includes Miscanthus morning light (grasses), Cape breeze grasses, Nepeta purrsian Blue, Liriope big blue, and Buddleia plants. The two islands in front of the library will also hold Miscanthus (grasses) as well as Nepeta giant catmint (which grows to about three feet), Sweet woodruff, Happy returns, and Sedum lemonjade.

Several members of the NECC community participated in this project, along with Lucey, including several members of the facilities department. Lucey was recently awarded the “Opportunity Award” from Project SEARCH for her “generous commitment of time, support and inspiration” to the program. “These interns are so joyful to come to work,” she said. “It has been the most rewarding thing for me to work with them. They are just a joy. They give us a different lens to look at life.”

While Paul Tomasz, NECC grounds foreman, dug out the sod with a backhoe and tilled the soil, Project SEARCH interns Jason Warren and Wildredo Jaiman, under the tutelage of Steve Shepard from buildings and grounds, dug the holes and planted the 150 perennials from Knapp’s Greenhouses in West Newbury. Knapp’s manager Judy Roberts designed the islands.

“Judy’s idea was to see flowing grasses, butterflies and hummingbirds. We planted perennials for ease of care, they are drought resistant and need less watering than annuals,” said Lucey.

Warren has been hired as part- time, summer intern who will maintain, weed and water the islands.

A “Live Your Dreams” sculpture by Haverhill sculptor Dale Rogers, now graces the campus in front of the library.

In addition, the interns spread the bark mulch around the plants. Shepard recently received the “Outstanding Mentor” award from Project SEARCH “for his outstanding dedication and leadership” to the interns.

When Steve Fieldhouse, Northern Essex’s plumber saw the interns struggling to water the young plantings with portable water containers, he made arrangements for a spigot to be installed on the outside of the Student Center so a 50-foot hose could be attached to make the occasional watering easier.

The ultimate goal of the internship project is to help the interns train for employment. Already one has secured a job at a local country club in the fall.

While the butterfly gardens are new initiatives, the community vegetable garden at the north side of the campus, which was planted last year, will continue this year with tomato and garlic plants.

Adding to the beautification of the campus is a majestic “Live Your Dreams” sculpture created by Haverhill metal sculptor Dale Rogers. The sculpture will be mounted permanently on a platform and surrounded by perennials.

Jay Fallon is the coordinator of the Advanced Manufacturing Precision Machining Program.

Manufacturing has gone high tech. Northern Essex Community College recognizes this and in response has designed a new degree to train workers for employment in this high demand career.

Beginning in the fall, Northern Essex will offer an Associate of Science degree in Engineering Science Advanced Manufacturing Precision Machining. Northern Essex already offers a certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Precision Machining. The first year of the associate degree essentially mirrors the certificate.

The associate degree is designed to train individuals on certain unique skills that manufacturing businesses currently require, said Jay Fallon, program coordinator.

“There are manufacturing jobs sitting idle because companies can’t find trained workers,” Fallon said.

Both the certificate and degrees programs prepare individuals to be job ready, he said. Students will receive hands-on training on modern, computerized machining equipment at either Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover or Whittier Regional Vocational High School in Haverhill. Classes, including English composition, engineering design graphics, 3D printing, programming of CNC equipment, and computer aided drafting, will be held on the Northern Essex campus. Instructors work in or have experience in a modern manufacturing environment.

Today, manufacturers use technology to create innovative solutions to problems and processes. This associate program is ideal for individuals with strong analytic, mechanical, and technical skills, said Fallon.

While the certificate prepares students for an associate degree. The associate degree prepares students to enter a bachelor’s degree program in engineering at a four-year college or university.

Graduates of the program will be able to pursue jobs as machinists, cell leaders, precision machining technicians, engineering assistants, and manufacturing specialists.

For additional information on the Engineering Science Advanced Manufacturing Precision Machining Associate of Science Degree or certificate program, contact Fallon at jfallon@necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3371.

Northern Essex offers associate degrees in engineering science and engineering science: technology option that prepare you for a career or transfer to a four-year institution. All technology and engineering program information can be found here.

Left to right: Jean Poth, NECC’s VP of Institutional Advancement and board members Betty Jaffe, Jill McCann, Geri Murphy, and Carole O’Connor.

More than 70 guests of the Women of Northern Essex Community College attended the 21st annual June fundraising event on Saturday evening, June 3.

Held at a private home in Boxford, the event featured cocktails, a buffet dinner, a silent auction, and a raffle.  Over $8,000 was raised for student scholarships.

The event was catered by NexDine Catering and Flowers by Steve, Inc. donated floral arrangements.

The Women of Northern Essex Community College is a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting Northern Essex Community College and its students. The organization generates funds for student scholarships and special projects by conducting a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, including a Fall Membership Tea and a June Gala Open House event.

Since their founding 20 years ago, the Women have raised over half million dollars for the college and awarded $300,000 in scholarships to 400 deserving NECC students.

For additional information contact Jean Poth, Vice-President Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the NECC Foundation, Inc. at jpoth@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.

Terry Stubbs of ActivMed received an honorary associate degree from NECC President Lane Glenn at the May 20 Commencement.

Terry Stubbs of Hampton Falls, founder, president, and CEO of ActivMed Practices & Research, Inc., received an Honorary Associate Degree in Business Management from Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn at the college’s 55th annual commencement on Saturday, May 20.

In presenting the honor, Glenn said it is “based on your successful business career, the many contributions you have made to medical science, and your continued support of Northern Essex Community College.”

ActivMed is a clinical research trial company, with locations in Methuen, Lawrence, and Beverly, Massachusetts as well as Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  The company is in the top 2% of women owned companies within the US and locally employs 36 people, while working closely with local physicians and hospitals.

The company manages national and international research trials that are helping to discover treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease.

Stubbs earned a certificate in medical transcribing from Northern Essex in 1984, and she went on to earn a certificate in medical assisting.

After working in the research field, she and a partner founded ActivMed Practices & Research, Inc. in 1994.

When Stubbs realized there was a shortage of people with the skills needed for careers in the clinical research field, she turned to Northern Essex, her alma mater, and invited the college to develop a program in partnership with her.

That clinical research coordinator advanced certificate program is now in place and students are being recruited for the first class which will begin this fall.

“NECC gave me a great start in my career path in medicine,” said Stubbs.  “It is a thrill and an honor to be recognized by the college in this way, and I am excited to be part of NECC’s growth plans for the future.”

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.  Each year, 8,500 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 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.