2019 - Page 22 of 24

Nominate an Outstanding Graduate for Student Commencement Speaker

February 5, 2019/in Archive/by Ernie Greenslade

Engineering major Malina Popa was the student speaker at the 2018 Commencement.

One of the highlights of commencement each year is the speech by a graduating student who has been selected by faculty and staff to represent the class. The college is now soliciting nominations for the 2019 student commencement speaker and anyone interested is invited to nominate an outstanding student by Tuesday, April 2.

To be considered students must be graduating with a grade point average of 3.5 or above. In addition to academic success, contributions to the college and/or the community in general will be considered.

To nominate a student, you must submit a letter to the student speaker selection committee explaining why your nominee would be a good candidate for student speaker and a nomination form. Nominations can be submitted online or on paper and details are available on the website

The information you submit as well as official transcripts will be considered by a committee of faculty and staff who will make recommendations to President Glenn. This is a very competitive process so please be sure that the materials you provide reflect the full scope of the individual you are recommending and clearly communicate why this person should be selected to represent the class of 2019.

To learn more about NECC’s Commencement, which will be held on Saturday, May 18 on the Haverhill Campus, visit the website.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Ernie Greenslade, Marketing Communications, at 978 556-3862 or egreenslade@necc.mass.edu.

Alumna Receives Oprah Winfrey Scholarship

February 4, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

NECC alumna Tia Franklin-Garrett recently received an Oprah Winfrey Scholarship to attend UMass Lowell.

A Northern Essex Community College alumna, Tia Franklin-Garrett of Amesbury, was one of the first students awarded a $5,000 Oprah Winfrey Scholarship to attend UMass Lowell.

The television talk show host and author recently spoke at UMass Lowell, which raised $1.5 million for scholarships through ticket sales and sponsor ships. Winfrey matched that figure with another $1.5 million to create additional scholarships.

A 2016 graduate of Amesbury High School, Franklin-Garrett earned an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice and a Certificate of Completion in Law Enforcement from NECC and graduated in December of 2018 with a 3.82 GPA.

The 20-year-old is currently enrolled in UMass Lowell’s criminal justice bachelor degree program. She hopes to graduate in 2020 and work as a court advocate or crisis intervention worker.

While a student at Northern Essex, she was a member of the NECC Student Government Association and made the dean’s list every semester. She participated in

Sexual Assault Awareness Day last April and in 2017 was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (PTK,) an honors society for community college students. She also participated in the NECC Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program for first generation college students.

“Financially, this scholarship takes a huge pressure off my shoulders,” she said. “It gives me the opportunity to advance my education and go forward to reach the goals that I’ve set for myself.”

“When I was asked to nominate a student for the Oprah Winfrey scholarship, I immediately thought of Tia,” said Jessica Rocker, transfer advisor, PACE Program, TRiO in NECC’s Student Support Services. “We had been working on making sure she is set at UMass Lowell. She has been working part-time jobs and researching scholarships and loans to help get her through the next two years at UMass Lowell. I knew that, if selected, this scholarship would help ease some of her financial burden. Tia is a motivated and smart young woman who will put this scholarship to good use. I have complete confidence that she will maintain her high academic performance at UMass Lowell.”

For additional information of the scholarships visit.

Students on Honor Society Academic Team

January 31, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Brendan Romero (left) and Steevie Litchfield-Groves (right) are congratulated on their nominations to PTK All State Academic Team by NECC President Lane Glenn (center).

Two Northern Essex Community College students, Steevie Litchfield-Groves of Billerica and Brendan Romero of Newburyport, have been nominated for this year’s Phi Theta Kappa’s (PTK) All-Massachusetts Academic Team.

The two are part of a group of community college students from across Massachusetts selected for the team based on their academic record and recommendations from their professors.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for community college students.

“Both nominees came to the college with a strong sense of independence and confidence to achieve and develop their potential and talents, while serving their peers and communities,” said Lis Espinoza, NECC English professor.

Steevie Litchfield-Groves, a graduate of Memorial High School in Billerica, is a psychology major at NECC. After enrolling at Northern Essex, she joined the Community Outreach Group (COG) and was elected president of the student club. Committed to serving her community, she also has excelled in her academics. She has a 3.9 GPA.

Following her graduation from NECC she hopes to transfer to a nearby four-year college or university while continuing to work as a licensed alcohol drug abuse counselor (LADC). Her long-term goals include opening a small, family practice where she combines health and wellness for the mind, body and spirit for local youths and young adults.

Romero, a graduate of Newburyport High School, is a biology major. He grew-up in several parts of the Merrimack Valley, Boston, and New York. He is part of a diverse family that moved frequently. His father is from Honduras and his mother is of French-Canadian descent. He taught himself to read and write which motivated him to continue in higher education. As a student at NECC, Romero has developed his potential. He is applying to four-year colleges and universities to study molecular biology and business administration, which will bring him closer to becoming a molecular biologist and research director. He holds a 3.73 GPA. While at Northern Essex, Romero has been a peer tutor for organic chemistry.

They will be honored in a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House this spring.

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, community college presidents, and community college state associations co-sponsor All State Academic Team recognition program in 38 states. Each community college has the opportunity to nominate two students for this competition. Nominees to the All-USA/All-State Academic Teams are eligible for stipends provided by Coca-Cola.

NECC Chemistry Professor to Share the Benefits of Chocolate

January 29, 2019/in Archive/by scomiskey

NECC Chemistry Professor Michael Cross

Do you have a sweet-tooth for chocolate but worry about its side effects? Professor Michael Cross is here to ease your concerns.

Despite the potential side effects of over-indulging, chocolate consumption actually comes with a wide range of physical and mental health benefits, argues Cross, a self-proclaimed chocolate lover and a chemistry professor at Northern Essex Community College. He will explain all this and more during his upcoming lecture “Chocolate: the Secret Indulgence,” which will be offered at three locations this Valentine’s Day season. Learn about how chocolate can be seen as the perfect treat and discover the various ways it affects the human brain. Chocolate samples will be included!

The presentation is free and open to the public and will be offered at the following times and locations:

February 9:

Hollis Social Library, 2 Monument Square, Hollis, NH

7 to 9 p.m.

Register online

February 20:

Griffin Free Public Library, 22 Hooksett Road, Auburn, NH

6:30 p.m.

Register by phone or email: 603-483-5374 or staff@griffinfree.org

View the Griffin Free Public Library website for additional information.

March 29:

G.A.R Memorial Library, 490 Main St., West Newbury, MA

7 to 8 p.m.

Call 978 363-1105

Visit the G.A.R. Memorial Library website for additional information.

Note: this is a part of Anything Chocolate!, a chocolate share and recipe swap that goes from 6:15 to 9 pm.

Cross holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Utah, where he specialized in oxidative lesions in DNA and RNA. He teaches courses in chemistry and forensic science at NECC. Prior to joining the NECC faculty, Cross was an instructor of chemistry at the College of Eastern Utah.

“Chocolate: the Secret Indulgence” is offered as part of the NECC Speakers Bureau, which has professional faculty and staff speakers available to present to public and private school systems, libraries, service clubs, and more.

For additional information on this program, please visit the Speakers Bureau website or contact the group at speakersbureau@necc.mass.edu or at 978-556-3862.

Northern Essex offers associate degrees in biology, applied science, and chemistry, physics, and environmental science.

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. Each year, close to 8,000 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. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

Spring Convocation Opens Semester

January 29, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Pat O’Brien, SND, senior vice president of NECHE, explained the accreditation process.

With an eye to the future, Northern Essex launched the new semester with spring convocation Tuesday, January 22, in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus 100 Elliott St.

“NECC 2020: New Ways of Seeing” was the theme of the morning with a heavy focus on the upcoming New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accreditation.

MassHire

After introducing new hires, announcing retirements, and congratulating the NISOD recipients, President Lane Glenn introduced Linda Rohrer, director of MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center, formally known as ValleyWorks Career Center. Northern Essex has managed the career center since spring of 2017. It now has locations in Haverhill and Lawrence. With the motto “Let’s Get to Work,” MassHire serves is a comprehensive career center that provides a wide range of services to job seekers and businesses, youth to adults in the Merrimack Valley.

Jeff Bickford, chief information officer, told faculty and staff that phishing attacks are down.

Jeff Bickford, NECC’s chief information officer, reported on recent phishing issues. “There is no technology to block phishing. Phishing is the highest risk we have at Northern Essex,” he said. As a result of educating faculty, staff, and students to phishing tactics, Bickford said NECC has gone three months without a phishing breach. He encouraged all who use email to be vigilant and not hesitate to forward suspicious emails or links to phishing@necc.mass.edu.

Food Support

Karen Hruska, NECC’s director of counseling, and Janet D’Agata-Lynch, coordinator of community resources, reminded everyone of Northern Essex’s free food resources including the monthly farmer’s market and peanut butter, non-nut butter, and jelly sandwich stations set up around campus. The stations are possible thanks to bread donations by Fantini’s Bakery and jellies from R. E. Kimball & Co in Amesbury. To date more than 26,000 lbs of produce were delivered this fall, with each shopper receiving 20 to 25 lbs. The next markets will be January 29, February 26, March 26, and April 23. In addition, more than 200 frozen smart meals have been served. Smart meals are created from prepared foods donated by institutions. The meals are packaged to individual portions and frozen.

Accreditation

After calling attention to the kaleidoscopes on each table, President Glenn noted the kaleidoscope was created by Sir David Brewster. The kaleidoscope, he said, takes an ordinary object and reflects, and refracts it into a new image. Like a kaleidoscope, he said, education can be both evolutionary and revolutionary and with accreditation fast approaching, it’s time embrace the idea.

He introduced Patricia O’Brien, SND, who is senior vice president of NECHE. The accreditation process she said is all about looking and moving forward. She outlined the steps NECC will be completing during the next 18 months. For additional information on the accreditation go to the dedicated NECC page.

“Consider accreditation a vote of confidence,” she said. “You’re good today. You will be better tomorrow.”

NECC welcomed new employees during spring convocation.

New Employees

Milissa Duncan, Competency Based Education (CBE) Coach; Beatrice Magliozzi, CBE administrative assistant; David Arivella, staff assistant, academic technology, Haverhill Bentley Library; Meredith Gagnon-Dube, recruitment enrollment counselor; Josselyn Guzman, recruitment and enrollment counselor; Shandra Gaouette, part-time clerk, enrollment services; Stephanie M. Haskell, coordinator of student activities for leadership and social justice initiatives – student life; Julio Ortiz, STEM tutoring assistant; Taryn Capozi, academic coach for STEM; Gerard J. Byron, data analyst, office of institutional research and planning.

NISOD Recipients

Dr. Patricia Machado, Judith Pollock-Ciampi, Mark Clements, Alicia Iola, Paula Richards are the 2018-2019 nominees for the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Award which will be presented at the annual NISOD meeting in May.

NECC Showcases Sports During Open House

January 25, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Baseball is just one of the 13 sports teams that Northern Essex supports.

Northern Essex Community College is holding its first athletics open house on Tuesday, February 19, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., followed by a home men’s basketball game. Prospective and current students will have the opportunity to meet with coaches and student athletes.

This event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Lecture Hall A in the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St. Northern Essex supports 13 sports teams including baseball, men and women’s basketball, men and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, men and women’s track & field, women’s volleyball, men and women’s golf and men and women’s Esports. Additional information can be found on the NECC athletic website .

“Our hope is to showcase our numerous athletic programs for current and future students so they can see everything we have to offer,” said Dan Blair, NECC’s director of athletics and recreation.

The evening will open with a welcome at 4:30 p.m. followed by speakers from the admissions and financial aid offices. There will be breakout session with coaches and current NECC student-athletes. At 6 p.m. attendees are invited to walk to the Sport and Fitness Center to watch the basketball game.

Light refreshments will be served.

For additional information, contact Blair at 978-556-3820 or email him at dblair@necc.mass.edu

School Founders Present White Fund Lecture

January 24, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Habla School founders Marimar Patrón Vázquez and Kurt Wootton.

The founders of a school and creative center in Mexico will present a talk and participatory workshop on international best-practices in teaching as part of the February White Fund lecture offered in partnership with Northern Essex Community College, Marimar Patrón Vázquez and Kurt Wootton, founders of Habla: The Center for Language and Culture in Merida, Mexico, will present “A Brush of Courage: Transforming Schools and Communities through Literature and the Arts.”

Other partners for this White Fund lecture include Feria Internacional del Libro, and the Lawrence Public Library.

This lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held Tuesday, February 5, at 6 p.m. in the Lawrence Public Library, 51 Lawrence St., Lawrence.

In this bilingual interactive workshop Marimar and Kurt will present teaching practices involving multiple languages, the arts, and literature that transform the view of the 21st century schools and classrooms.

Vasquez and Wootton founded Habla as a space where teachers, students, teaching artists, and education leaders gather from around the world to exchange ideas across languages and borders.

In addition, Habla is a hub for community development. Students and teachers at Habla design and lead community projects in the smaller towns around Merida working with indigenous populations.

Vázquez was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where her family has lived for generations. Her work focuses on how stories, reading, and literature are part of the daily life of communities. At Brown University, she received the prestigious Presidential Teaching Award for her Spanish language courses for university students. Her unique approach to teaching involves storytelling, the literature and culture of the language, from kids to adults.

Wootton is the co-founder of the “The ArtsLiteracy Project” at Brown University. He co-wrote the book “A Reason to Read: Linking Literacy and the Arts,” published by Harvard Education Press.

The White Fund’s purpose is to have a free series of interactive presentations for Lawrence area adults, youth, and children. The audience is encouraged to seek wisdom, cultural enrichment, and intellectual enhancement by attending and participating.

The views expressed in the White Fund Enlightenment Series presentations are the views of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Northern Essex.

Funded by a generous financial gift from the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, the White Fund Lecture Series has provided cultural conversation featuring well-known lecturers in fields such as history, literature, travel, the arts, and politics. The White Fund is collaborating with Northern Essex on this series.

For additional information or to be notified of upcoming events in the White Fund Enlightenment Series, contact Analuz Garcia at agarcia@necc.mass.edu or call 978-738-7423.

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. Each year, more than 6,000 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. For more information, visit the website at .

NECC’s Hidy Receives Mention in Book on UDL

January 23, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Renowned graphic designer and former Northern Essex Community College Professor Lance Hidy, who is now the college’s accessible media specialist, recently received a mention in a new book that discusses Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

The book, “Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education,” was written by Thomas Tobin and Kirsten Behling and published by the West Virginia University Press. In many years as a UDL consultant to NECC, Behling formed alliances with NECC staff and faculty, and, early on, was instrumental in attracting Hidy’s interest in this branch of design. The book explains that while UDL is often associated with students with disabilities, it actually benefits a much broader population.

For example, while captioned instructions can assist the hard of hearing they may also be beneficial to a student needing to keep the volume low to avoid waking others or for someone studying on a noisy team bus. Hidy and his experience with UDL is given as an illustration of a positive UDL experience in the book.

Lance Hidy

When Hidy, then a professor of art & design, learned he would have a student in his Photoshop course who required course materials in 16-point type, Hidy put his design skills to work. He redesigned the handout with 16-point type, added 20 new illustrations, and included screen captures. Even though he designed it with one student in mind, Hidy distributed the revised material to everyone in the course. He had a “UDL awakening” when the entire class completed the assignments in two weeks in what once took three weeks.

This set Hidy on a quest that aligned with his expertise, the authors noted. “A graphic artist by trade, he understood the value of multiple modes of expression and quickly became a UDL advocate,” the authors wrote.

Hidy also sits on the NECC accessible media committee, along with colleagues from the Center for Instructional Technology, The Learning Accommodations Center/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, NECC Libraries, Marketing, and Faculty. The mission of the committee is to raise design awareness on campus, to enhance fundamental academic principles of equity and accessibility by striving to provide to the broadest possible audience, regardless of impairment or disability, equal access to the college’s programs, services, events, and activities. The committee works to increase the visibility of UDL efforts, to demystify UDL, and to show the positive effects of engaging in UDL, as universally designed materials enhance understanding and recall for all.

For additional information contact Hidy at lhidy@necc.mass.edu or visit the college’s accessible media website

Eusebio Marote to Lead NECC Men’s Soccer Program

January 22, 2019/in Archive/by Ernie Greenslade

Eusebio Marote, NECC’s new men’s soccer coach

Northern Essex Community College Director of Athletics Dan Blair has announced Lowell native Eusebio Marote has been named head coach of the Knights reestablished men’s soccer program and will begin his duties on January 23rd.

“I’m very grateful and beyond excited for this new challenge of leading the men’s soccer program at NECC. My goal is to build a competitive program as quickly as possible and foster an environment of success for our student-athletes both on and off the field,” said Marote. “I look forward to getting started and getting to know the NECC community.”

Prior to building the Knights program, Marote has coaching experience with the Hampshire United Soccer Club, Sidekick Soccer Academy and Portuguese American Soccer Academy.

Marote had a successful playing career at Lowell High School before moving on to Daniel Webster College, where he served as a three-year captain of the program and was twice named to the New England Collegiate Conference All-Conference 2nd Team. The Eagles captured three conference titles in Marote’s four seasons and made three appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament. His 75 games played over four seasons was a Daniel Webster school record. Marote graduated from Daniel Webster in 2017 with a degree in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.

“I’m happy to welcome Eusubio to the NECC community. He has come to us highly regarded as a young up and coming coach who I believe will do an outstanding job building a successful program from the ground up,” said Blair.

The Northern Essex Community College men’s soccer program will take to the field in the fall of 2019 for the first time since the college previously disbanded the program in the mid 1990’s.

Prospective students interested in the NECC soccer program are encouraged to complete NECC Athletic Recruitment Form or contact Coach Eusebio, emarote@necc.mass.edu, or Dan Blair, NECC athletic director, dblair@necc.mass.edu.

Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors nine varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men’s basketball, golf, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country 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 (www.neccknights.com).

Northern Essex Alumna was Destined for Dentistry

January 18, 2019/in Archive/by Ellen Small-Davis

Londonderry, NH, resident Lauren Branscomb, a graduate of the dental assisting program, is attending dental school in Maine.

Northern Essex alumna Lauren Branscomb has gone from dental assistant to dental student in just a few short years.

A preteen interest, piqued by a set of braces, first led her to the world of dentistry. A dual enrollment student her senior year of high school, Branscomb was thinking about enrolling in dental hygiene school, but wasn’t ready to commit to a specific program. Instead, she continued her studies at Northern Essex and earned her associate degree in general studies.

“I still liked the idea of working with my hands and working on people in a fast paced environment though,” she said.

When Branscomb graduated, her mom, an NECC English professor, recommended she enroll in the 10-month dental assistant certificate program to familiarize herself with the dental office environment. Branscomb did and loved it.

“It was really the best advice I ever received,” the 26-year-old shared.

Branscomb worked as a dental assistant in a large group practice for several years while simultaneously earning a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from the University of New Hampshire at Manchester. Along the way, she discovered a few things. Her instincts were correct – she belonged in a dental office, but wrong about the position.

“Once I became comfortable I knew I wanted to do more…have more responsibility and further my education. I wanted to become a dentist,” she said.

She continued working while completing the arduous task of studying for and sitting for the five-hour DAT entry exam followed by applying to dental schools. The odds were long she knew. Only 50 percent of applicants are accepted.

Odds or no odds, Branscomb just completed her first semester at the University of New England’s dental school in Portland Maine.

“I was warned that the first year of dental school is like trying to drink from a firehose and not spill a drop,” she said. “But honestly it’s the most challenging and rewarding thing I’ve done.”

Her dental assistant experience has been invaluable, she said. In addition to knowing dental products and instruments, she said she has a solid foundation in patient care.

“I feel confident in patient care because I worked in the field for four years,” she said. “When you interact so closely with patients, having confidence is important.”

Admittedly, Branscomb has taken a circuitous path to dental school.

“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot from the detours I’ve taken.”

NECC’s dental assisting certificate program prepares individuals to work in private dental offices or specialty practices or for transfer into a two-year or four-year dental hygiene program.

Information sessions for the dental assisting program will be held February 6, March 6, and April 3 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Building in Lawrence, 414 Common St.