Amine Berra Ekinci of Methuen, a Hospitality Management, Business Transfer major, was named Northern Essex Community College’s Student of the Month for October, based on her academic record and her campus involvement.

Ekinci works as an intern in the college’s events department and she was nominated by Allison Gagne, the college’s events coordinator, as well as Lindsay Graham, Institutional Advancement, and Mary Murphy, Administration and Finance.

A 2018 graduate of Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical School, Ekinci was selected as an NECC Presidential Scholar, a scholarship program recognizing motivated high school students who elect to attend Northern Essex. She plans to earn her associate degree in 2021 and transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in business management. She is also interested in American Sign Language and is planning on getting a certificate or degree.

While working and studying at the college, she has maintained a second job as a guest service specialist for the Marriott.

Despite all that she’s juggling, Ekinci is one of the college’s most dependable student volunteers, wrote Gagne. “She volunteered for two of our large scale events: NECC Homecoming/5K and the golf tournament.”

Gagne also appreciates what she brings to her internship. “It has been so helpful to me to have someone that can carry out tasks with little or no supervision, on time and on-point.”

Ekinci says her mother is her role model. “Being reminded of sacrifices that my mom made for me propels me to work harder every day.”

She is also appreciative of the NECC faculty and staff, who she says have been “welcoming, helpful, and have exemplified what a productive and effective workplace should look like.”

Student of the Month Recognition is handled by the college’s Student Affairs Committee.  Students may be recognized for academic achievement, engagement in the college or the community, or willingness to help other students, and can be nominated by faculty, staff, or other students.

All nominated students will receive a certificate with a copy of the nomination and be eligible to receive a $25 Follett gift card to be used at the college bookstore.

Northern Essex Community College was recently recognized for the high student voting rate of its students in the 2018 midterm elections.

The college received a silver seal for Excellence in Student Voter Engagement in the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards.

Close to 32% of Northern Essex students voted in the 2018 midterm elections which was an over 11% increase over the 2014 midterm elections.

Silver seals were presented to all colleges with a voting rate between 30% and 39%.

The All IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation.  The Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, and make democratic participation a core value on their campus.

Janel D’Agata-Lynch, coordinator of civic engagement, service-learning, and community resources at Northern Essex, is ‘thrilled’ with the 2018 results, and she hopes to keep the momentum going for the 2020 elections.   “We’re working now to strategize how to educate the campus community and get out the vote for 2020.”

D’Agata-Lynch was hired in 2015 and she is responsible for promoting and supporting civic engagement on campus.   In 2016, the college created an Election Working Group, including faculty, staff, and students, focused on educating the campus on election issues, including ballot initiatives.

One of the group’s main goals is “encouraging faculty to bring the election into the classroom,” says D’Agata-Lynch.  For example, Professor Steve Russell’s American Government and Politics class has been researching each of the candidates in the 2020 presidential primary and will be sharing their positions on topics such as climate change, immigration, and health care at a campus wide forum on Thursday, December 5 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. in Room 244 of the Dimitry Building, 45 Franklin St, Lawrence.

Professor Richard Padova has invited all presidential primary candidates to visit the campus for forums, which are being scheduled now through the primary.

The college is also sponsoring voting registration events on both campuses.

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

 

 

If you were passing by Room B103 and thought you recognized the cacophonous sounds usually associated with video games, you would be correct.

Behind the single door is the new NECC Esports Lab, which opened this fall. Inside the darkened room, 10 gaming computers and one projector cast a glow up and on to the players who sit in front of them maneuvering their joy sticks  and computer mice trying to win a game of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch, or Rocket League.

Welcome to the competitive world of esports, a rapidly growing varsity sport on college campuses. In the summer of 2016, just seven colleges and universities had varsity esports programs. Today there are more than 170 programs and it continues to grow.

NECC’s new varsity esports team, is under the direction of Computer Information Sciences (CIS) alumnus David Arivella, who pulls double duty as an academic technology assistant in the Harold Bentley Library on the Haverhill Campus.

With very little recruiting, Arivella says, he already has close to 30 NECC students who are registered with the National Junior Community College Association (NJCAA). In order to be registered with the NJCAA, students must carry a minimum of 12 credits.

“We’re really excited about the start of the esports program,” said Dan Blair, NECC’s athletic director. “I know and the college knows, it is only going to grow from here. We’re are excited for what the future of the sport will be and look forward to competing at high levels.”

Northern Essex, boasts Arivella is home to some of the best Rocket League players in the world. Lawrence residents Christian Bova, an exploratory major, and Edwin Guzman, a biology major, the two currently hold the title of “grand champion.” Since practicing on the dedicated gaming computers with their immense processing power, modern hardware, and graphics cards, the players’ games have improved.

“They can feel the responsiveness,” said Arivella. “The more they practice here the better player they become.”

While many of his players are CIS majors like himself, Arivella said the team is open to everyone. To date, he said, he has found the players to be dedicated and willing to put in the time to take their game to the next level.

“Being in this position as head coach…I connect with the players on a level that I had never thought about,” Arivella said. “They are motivated with a real sense of pride and I hope they have all gained a sense of accomplishment and appreciation for their efforts.”

Arivella said he understands that gamers and their skill set aren’t always taken seriously or supported by others in their lives, but when they are in B103, he said, “they are recognized for their ability. I want them to feel appreciated for what they are doing.”

Adryan Espinal a biochemistry major, feels appreciated and so much more. “I joined because obviously I love gaming and the competition, but after I got here I realized what a cordial, friendly environment they had created.”

Chris Long, a CIS major, said he came for the competition and stayed for the friendship.

“This team really brings people together,” he said. “I didn’t know anyone when I started and now they are my friends.”

The esports team is holding open-tryouts until January 31, 2020. If you would like to learn more, join their Discord server at the following link.

For additional information on esports at NECC contact Arivella at darivella@necc.mass.edu

 

Anthony Bellomo of Salem, NH, and Ethan Rousseau of Haverhill, who are members of the relaunched Northern Essex Community College men’s soccer team have been selected to the Region 21 All-Region teams as chosen and announced by the Region 21 men’s soccer committee. The Knights concluded the season with a 6-8-1 overall record and 4-4 record in Region 21 play, to mark the return of the sport to the college for the first time since the mid 1990’s.

Bellomo, a first team honoree was the regional leader in saves with 167 and was second in save percentage with a .852 mark. His save total also ranked 4th nationally. He played every minute in goal for the Knights over the course of the season as the team fell one game shy of a birth into the region 21 post-season tournament.

Rousseau, a second team selection anchored the team at the center midfield position. He started all 15 games on the season and finished with one goal and four assists, while also stepping back to help the back line on the defensive side of the ball when called upon.

Looking to build upon their first season successes, the Knights are looking forward to their spring training season and the 2020 campaign which is scheduled to open on September 3rd against Southern Maine Community College in Haverhill.

Those interested in the men’s soccer program should contact head coach Eusebio Marote at emarote@necc.mass.edu.

NECC competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors 12 varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, Esports and men’s and women’s track and field. For more information on Northern Essex Community College Athletics please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics).