Northern Essex Community College students are voting in numbers higher than their peers at community colleges and public and private colleges and universities, according a recent study conducted by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University.

More than half of the students at Northern Essex, 51.9 percent to be exact, voted in the 2016 election.  This was up 4.5 percent from 2012, when 47.4 percent voted, and was higher than the national average of 50.4 percent.

The Institute first conducted the survey, called the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, in 2012.  It includes 30 million student records from more than 1,000 campuses in 50 states.

The college has recently focused on civic engagement, hiring Janel D’Agata-Lynch as coordinator of civic engagement and service learning in November 2015.

With D’Agata-Lynch’s leadership, the college hosted an Election Teach-In, a series of events designed to educate the college community about the presidential election and other important election issues, before the 2016 election.  Supported by the Contemporary Affairs Club and the Global Studies Department, the teach-In included presentations on the importance of voting by elected officials; a presidential debate; programs on topics such as voter security; and more.

“We’re proud that so many NECC students chose to exercise their democratic right to vote in 2016. However, we want these numbers to continue to climb. We know presidential elections tend to bring out a lot voters, but we strongly urge everyone to get out the vote this November for local and state elections,” said D’Agata-Lynch.

To learn more, contact D’Agata-Lynch, jdagatalynch@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3471.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Nearly 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 3,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus and at the Opportunity Works building at 671 Kenoza St., located next to the Haverhill campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

When members of the Greater Lawrence Kiwanis Club Foundation established a scholarship to honor the late, Anthony “Tony” Sakowich of Andover, Scott Bowman, a student at Northern Essex Community College, was just the type of student they had in mind.

Bowman is the recipient of the $1,000 Sakowich Scholarship which was awarded for the first time this year.

Strong-willed and determined, Bowman has come to understand the value of education and will not be deterred even if it means traveling to the NECC campus via train, automobile, bus, or a ridesharing service.

Also an Andover resident, Bowman, 24, was a moderate student when he graduated from Andover High School in 2011 and certain that he wasn’t college material. One of four children, in his young life, Bowman witnessed bad behaviors from heroin addiction to alcohol abuse. He managed to avoid both and side-step trouble. Bowman is now preparing for a career in finance.

Bowman expects to graduate with an associate degree in business transfer from Northern Essex in May and will continue to study for a bachelor’s at UMass Lowell. He is one of nearly 200 Northern Essex students to share close to $200,000 in scholarship money raised by NECC’s office of institutional advancement.

The Sakowich Scholarship, which Bowman was the recipient of, was established for inventor, pilot, and philanthropist Tony Sakowich who died on Valentine’s Day 2014. A World War II veteran and alumnus of Tulane and Bentley universities, he was a self-made man. A successful entrepreneur and inventor, who patented a process to mold laminated countertops that were manufactured in North Andover, he and his wife Gladys were generous benefactors to many causes and organizations.

Bowman was nominated for the scholarship by Sharon McDermot, director of academic affairs operations, who was his instructor for two business courses. She wrote, “Scott is a diligent student with a bright future…It was a pleasure to have Scott as a student in class and I am sure that he will continue to succeed in reaching his personal, academic, and professional goals.”

In accepting the scholarship Bowman wrote, “Anthony and his wife Gladys were business pioneers who each enjoyed finance and investments, they were fiercely generous, outspoken and strong, devoted to children and passionate about education. I am extremely proud and honored to have been selected for this scholarship because I too am passionate about finance and investments…this generous scholarship will grant me the financial assistance that I need to be able to fulfill my dream and continue to strive for greatness in my life.”

No stranger to hard work, Bowman has worked landscaping and laying hardwood floors. He currently works full time for an electroplating company. In the fall of 2012 he enrolled in his first class. He has been taking two or three night courses each semester since. Without complaint, he travels to the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses using public transportation and Northern Essex’s shuttle bus.

He said the scholarship will free up funds for him to spend on transportation to and from NECC.

A former wrestler, football player, and snow boarder, Bowman thought he might pursue a career in sports management. He took advantage of Northern Essex’s internship program which helped him realize his interests followed finance instead.

Other Andover residents who were awarded scholarships include:

Eric Bootman
NECC PACE Program Transfer Scholarship

Jenn Ezell
Donald W. Pailes Memorial Scholarship

 Phuc Nguyen
J. Herbert Kimball & John Rogers Memorial Scholarship

 

Health issues in her early teens may have interrupted Courtney Morin’s high school education, but she isn’t letting anything interfere with her Northern Essex Community College education and has a near perfect GPA, a lengthy list of extracurriculars, and two scholarships to prove it.

The 22-year-old Bradford resident is one of 200 Northern Essex students, nearly 50 from Haverhill and Bradford, to share nearly $200,000 in scholarship money raised and distributed by NECC’s office of institutional advancement for the 2017/2018 academic year. Morin received both the Daniel Wilson Holroyd Memorial Scholarship and the Covanta Energy Scholarship.

A liberal arts major, she plans on pursuing a bachelor’s degree as well as a law degree before embarking on a career in human rights law. These are pretty heady dreams for someone who just a few years ago was felled by an undiagnosed case of Lyme Disease and all the complications that went with it. Wracked with fatigue, body aches, and anxiety, she was just 16 when she left high school. Once she was diagnosed and began treatment, she began a home schooling curriculum and eventually earned her GED in 2015.

Physically and emotionally stronger, she began working as a restaurant hostess and waitress. More confident by the day, she decided it was time to enroll in college. So, last fall, just one month before classes started, she enrolled in her first college courses. Almost immediately, she became immersed in school culture. Morin is the newly elected president of the Student Government Association, the former president of the Students for a Democratic Society Club, an orientation leader, a member of the Student Leadership Institute, a member of the Amnesty International Club, and a staffer and contributor to “Parnassus” the college’s arts and literary magazine.

“I guess you could say I’m making up for lost time,” said the self-proclaimed perfectionist and Honors Program student. “I believe it is important to be involved with one’s community, as it’s not only beneficial for others, but also for one’s personal growth. I also believe that we should always strive to be bettering ourselves which is the part that I love most about NECC, that it provides a wealth of opportunities to accomplish this.”

And one of those opportunities came in the form of scholarships.

“I’m incredibly honored to receive the scholarships,” she said. “They were very much needed as I have already taken out one loan. I’m definitely appreciative.”

In his letter of recommendation, Behavioral Science Professor Peter Flynn wrote, “I can confidently recommend her…based on her academic skills, critical thinking and writing abilities, high level of motivation; and personal qualities of demonstrated leadership.”

“Our students are deeply appreciative of the many generous individuals and organizations that make these scholarships possible,” said Jean Poth, vice president of institutional advancement. “For many of our students, a scholarship is what allows them to stay in school.”

Scholarships range from $250 to $5,000 and come from a variety of sources, including private donors, memorial donations, local businesses, and private foundations.

Northern Essex offers an associate degrees in liberal arts with concentrations in journalism/communication, middle/high school teaching, physical sciences, philosophy, psychology, and writing.

Other Haverhill and Bradford Scholarship recipients include:

Bradford:

Bailey Bowden – Women of NECC Scholarship
Emily Bradley – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Kaitlyn Gould – Women of NECC Scholarship
Nora Reguig – Joanne Petrillo Memorial Scholarship
Jennifer Soberon – Women of NECC Scholarship
Jennifer Soberon – Virginia Noonan – Paula Strangie Memorial Scholarship
Leandra Torres – Torrisi Family Scholarship
Elisabeth Walker – Women of NECC Scholarship

Haverhill:

Jonathan Aguilar – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Jonathan Aguilar – Follett Bookstore Gift Cards
Alexis Alestock – Women of NECC Scholarship
Rose Bellahalea – Dr. John G. Santos Environmental Education Scholarship
Marissa Bocchetti – Matthew W. Poth Memorial Scholarship
Connie Bodemer – Quota Club of Andover Scholarship
Smeralda Casimir – Leewood Realty, LLC Sustainability Scholarship
Kelsey Ceder – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Caitlin Clifford – Agnes & Francis J. Bevilacqua Memorial Scholarship
Brianna Comtois – Everett & Margaret Cooper Memorial Scholarship
Matthew Cote – NECC Foundation, Inc. Incoming Freshman Scholarship
Samantha Dacey – Women of NECC Scholarship
Timothy Dacey – Edward J. Sheehan Memorial Scholarship
Annabel Dryden – NECC Foundation, Inc. Transfer Scholarship
Jessica Figueroa – Dr. John & Audrey Dimitry Scholarship
Jessica Figueroa – LeBlanc Family Scholarship
Victoria Gonzalez – NECC PACE Program Transfer Scholarship
Ibrahim Gunsever – Pentucket Bank Scholarship
Gwendolyn Hampton – Geraldine Murphy Scholarship
Gwendolyn Hampton – Follett Bookstore Gift Cards
Samantha Hastings – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Maryanne Hudson – Deborah Pifer Memorial Scholarship
Keith Joyce – Friends of NECC Transfer Scholarship
Amanda Little – Women of NECC Scholarship
Maichel Mankarios – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Maichel Mankarios – Follett Bookstore Gift Cards
Katelyn Martin – NECC Presidential Scholar Award
Hygdrea Mathurin – Leewood Realty, LLC Sustainability Scholarship
Hygina Mathurin – Joanne Petrillo Memorial Scholarship
Joseph Meli – NECC PACE Program Transfer Scholarship
Bryan Merino – Haverhill Bank Scholarship
Nina Nieves – Barbara A. Quinn Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Margaret Njeri – Rotary Club of Haverhill Scholarship
Casimir Ntar – NECC PACE Program Transfer Scholarship
Alexandra Pezzella – Women of NECC Scholarship
Jan Pichardo – Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Scholarship
Kayla Radwich – NECC Presidential Scholar Award
Sara Ramirez – Haverhill Bank Scholarship
Peter Rodriguez – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Peter Rodriguez – NECC PACE Program Scholarship
Richard Santos – NECC Foundation, Inc. Incoming Freshman Scholarship
Emi Sisco – Gannett Welsh & Kotler, LLC Scholarship
Angel Solis – Santander Scholarship
Panagiota Souliotis – NECC Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
Alexandria Spheekas – NECC Foundation, Inc. Incoming Freshman Scholarship
Larissa Tinkham – McConnell Family Memorial Nursing Scholarship

 

On Thursday, September 7, Northern Essex Community College unveiled newly renovated space on the 2nd floor of 420 Common St, which will be used for bachelor’s degrees offered on the college’s Lawrence Campus

Lyndon State College (Vermont) and Regis North (Weston, MA) students will learn in the bright space which features four classrooms, most with stunning views of the city; PC and Mac labs; and faculty and staff offices.  Faculty from the four-year colleges will travel to Northern Essex to teach the students, most of whom graduated with associate degrees from Northern Essex.

“A college education is almost a requirement for a ticket to the middle class,” said NECC President Lane Glenn.  “We are proud and happy to partner with visionary colleges that recognize how access to higher education can elevate a community, preparing local residents for high-demand careers.”

Regis began offering bachelor’s degrees at NECC in 2013 and Lyndon State College began their programs in 2016, and now there’s centralized, dedicated space for the programs, according to Noemi Custodia Lora, vice president of NECC’s Lawrence campus and community relations, who also spoke at the event.

“Our students work and have family commitments and many don’t have transportation,” she said.  “Having this partnership means educational equality.  We’re expanding what the community college offers, reaching students who are underserved in higher education.”

Regis President Antoinette Hays announced that Regis will expand its program offerings, which currently include bachelor’s degrees in nursing and public health, to include sports management and health sciences.

“Regis is dedicated to making accessible a high-quality, affordable education to the residents of Lawrence and the entire Merrimack Valley. We found the perfect partner to achieve this mission in NECC and we’re proud to offer additional programming as a sign of our commitment.”

Lyndon State is also an “access institution”, said Nolan Atkins, provost of the college.  “If you look at our respective mission statements, we’re very similar with Northern Essex in many ways.  We share common core values.”

Lyndon State offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in computer information systems and graphic design.

The bachelor’s degrees offered at Northern Essex are designed to be affordable.  Lyndon State College offers in-state Vermont tuition rates and Regis North students pay a continuing education rate, which is more affordable.

Calling Lawrence “a college town”, Mayor Dan Rivera said he’s “thankful a kid from Lawrence can get an associate degree and then a bachelor’s right in Lawrence.”

Three students spoke compellingly about the opportunities they’ve received as a result of these partnerships.

Yanina Vasquez Riley of Lowell, who earned an Associate Degree in General Studies: Health Specialization from Northern Essex in 2015 and a bachelor’s in public health from Regis in 2017 is currently enrolled in a master’s in health administration at Regis while working as an interpreter at Lowell General Hospital.

“There are many other Yaninas in Greater Lowell and Greater Lawrence, single parents, working full-time, thinking they can’t afford education.  I’m here to tell you, you can do it.  I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have been given through Northern Essex and Regis.”

Two students in Lyndon State College’s Computer Information Systems bachelor degree—Jean Carlos Diaz of Lawrence and David Arivella of Haverhill—also shared their stories.

Diaz, who received an associate degree in computer science from Northern Essex in 2015, is the first in his family to attend college.  “I don’t have the words to describe how excited I am about college.  It makes me very strong and hopeful for the future.”

To learn more about bachelor’s degrees at NECC, visit www.necc.mass.edu/bachelor-degrees.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Nearly 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 3,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus and at the Opportunity Works building at 671 Kenoza St., located next to the Haverhill campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

 

 

 

Two area business women, Jennifer A. Borislow, founding principal of Borislow Insurance of Methuen, and Anita Rajan Worden, co-founder of Yaskawa Solectria of Lawrence, were recently named to the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Borislow, a resident of Methuen, is a nationally recognized expert, author, speaker, and thought leader on employee benefits, insurance, and related business strategies. She is the chief executive officer and strategic coach of the organization. For more than 35 years she has helped business owners, executives, and professionals, develop a clear, strategic vision for their organizations that leverage employee benefits, risk management, and more. Her specialty is working with educational organizations.

She has been involved in a number of industry organizations and been active on several local boards including the Merrimack Valley YMCA Board of Trustees. She has co-authored several books including “Bend the Healthcare Trend” which clarifies consumer-driven health and wellness plans that help employers empower employees to control health care costs. “Inspire to Act” and “Inspire to Act for Kids” are collections of stories that help others to embrace the power of kindness.

A graduate of Dickinson College she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Political Science in 1982. She lives in Methuen with her husband Michael. They have two daughters Jessica and Lauren.

Rajan Worden, an experienced entrepreneur and senior executive in the clean technology industry, co-founded two industry-leading startups – Yaskawa Solectria Solar of Lawrence and Solectria Corporation in Woburn.

She is a board member of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrence Partnership, and the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board. She also belongs to several industry organizations including the Solar Energy Business Association of New England. She has received a number of business recognitions including the 2013 Women to Watch in Boston Business Journal and Mass High Tech, and 2014, ’15, and ’16 Boston Globe Magazine and Commonwealth Institute’s Top 100 Women Led Businesses in Massachusetts.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In addition, she managed MIT’s award winning Solar Car Racing Team which competed in national and international vehicle races and garnered attention across the globe.

“We are honored to have such accomplished individuals join our Board of Trustees,” said Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn Lane.

The college’s Board of Trustees includes nine members who are appointed by the governor of the state to a maximum of two five-year terms as well as an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of 10 years, and a student trustee who serves for two semesters.