2023 - Page 11 of 12

Northern Essex Selected for Free Digital Textbook Pilot Program

February 7, 2023/in Faculty and Staff/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (February 7, 2023)– Northern Essex Community College is one of just seven colleges in the Commonwealth selected to participate in the Digital Textbook and Materials Pilot program. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) has approved a million-dollar grant for the seven schools to access digital textbooks, courseware, and materials on the Lumen Learning platform for free.

“In addition to reducing student textbook costs, this national movement is empowering faculty to curate their own educational materials. In a very real way, this enhances faculty scholarship and has the potential of adding value to student learning. I am so glad that NECC is a leader in Massachusetts in this work” says NECC Provost Paul Beaudin.

Sue Tashjian, the coordinator of instructional technology at Northern Essex, is currently reaching out to faculty about the options on the Lumen platform. Faculty have until June to take advantage of the grant; however, Lumen will continue to provide free use of their platform for the fall 2023 semester. Lumen also offers a wide range of course materials that are always free, and after the grant period ends, their course platform is just $35 per student. “Lumen offers 50+ courses in almost every academic discipline – especially those taken in the first two years of college. Their College Success course provides new students with skills they need to be successful in college, like goal setting and time management. Modules from this course could be used to complement existing courses,” Tashjian points out.

“Over the past few years, Lumen’s focus has been on creating equitable courseware to improve student learning outcomes,” Tashjian continues. “They received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on improving educational outcomes for underserved students, which aligns with the DHE’s Strategic Plan for Racial Equity and the local work that is happening at NECC.”

picture of the front of text book featuring children running and the title "The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years

NECC’s first open textbook, The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years

NECC’s recent work to remove barriers includes unveiling the college’s first open textbook. Early Childhood Education Professors Doris Buckley and Deirdre Budzyna developed The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years. This book replaces a commercial textbook that would cost students $174. NECC’s version is free for educators and students across the country.

Open textbooks are an example of Open Educational Resources (OER). OER is free, openly licensed educational materials that faculty can adopt in place of commercially published textbooks. Buckley and Budzyna developed their OER project through the Remixing Open Textbooks through an Equity Lens (ROTEL) grant– a statewide project funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

NECC was an early adopter of the use of OER. Tashjian is co-chair of the Massachusetts OER Advisory Council. She and Dean of Business and Professional Studies, Jody Carson, introduced OER to the college in 2014 with a textbook task force. Since then, Tashjian estimates that free and low-cost course materials have saved more than 19,000 students $2 million on textbooks. With the latest offering from Lumen and other open textbook projects underway at Northern Essex, that number will continue to rise.

Faculty interested in learning more about the Digital Textbook and Materials Program pilot program can participate in one of two upcoming information sessions. Register here. They can also email Sue Tashjian with questions about the program or OER.

NECC Theater Takes Center Stage at Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

February 6, 2023/in Spotlight, Students/by mbouse

Hyannis/Haverhill, MA (February 1, 2023) – Northern Essex Community College Theater is taking a bow for an exceptional showing at this year’s Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), Region 1. The festival brings together hundreds of college theater students, professors, and professionals from New England and New York to showcase their work and share their expertise.

This year was a banner year for NECC at the festival:

three actors sit at table wearing silk pink dresses

Olivia Barberian, Jessica Newey, and Gwynnethe Glickman, performed a scene from Lighten Up

The 2022 production of Lighten Up was selected as one of the top ten best productions (Region I) of the 2021-2022 Academic year. Cast members Gwynnethe Glickman, Olivia Barberian, and Jessica Newey performed a scene during the Invited Scenes Showcase. “They tore the roof off the place,” remarked NECC Theater Professor Brianne Beatrice. “They took this scene from a show we staged outside and performed it in front of 300 people. It was incredible.”

Gwynnethe Glickman and scene partner Mirrorajah Metcalfe

Student Gwynnethe Glickman placed third out of 150 nominees in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Gwynnethe Glickman performed a monologue as Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet and a scene from Anything for You with partner Mirrorajah Metcalfe. This is the third award Glickman has won from KCACTF.

Professor Beatrice presented a Master Meisner Acting Workshop to nearly 200 students. The Meisner technique is an approach to acting that teaches actors to rely on their instincts and to build connections with each other. “It builds up their confidence, and they produce beautiful art,” says Beatrice. This is the tenth year that Beatrice has taught this workshop at the KCACTF. She says that because the Meisner Technique is “theater’s best-kept secret,” students were eager to learn how to use it in their own craft.

Nearly 200 students took part in the Master Meisner Acting Workshop

Spring Theater at NECC
There are several upcoming opportunities to see NECC Theater in action. They are staging a production of Hurricane Diane, featuring Metcalfe as Diane. Shows are scheduled for April 27-30. Beatrice is also creating a showcase of student work from the festival on Wednesday, February 15 at 11 am on the Haverhill Campus.

Northern Essex offers a variety of theater and acting courses. Additionally, they stage several full productions and readings throughout the year. Anyone interested in learning more about NECC Theater or the audition process should email Professor Beatrice at bbeatrice@necc.mass.edu.

The KCACTF is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide, which has served as a catalyst for improving the quality of college theater in the United States. More than 600 academic institutions participate in state, regional, and national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festivals. The National Festival will be held in April in Washington, D.C.

February 2023 Board of Trustees Meeting Includes Approval of Four New Programs

February 3, 2023/in Community/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (February 1, 2023) – Following a busy January amid the new legislative session, the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees convened for their first meeting of 2023 on Wednesday evening. The agenda included presentations on efforts to bridge the equity gap in online learning and to ensure college programs align with job market needs. The Board also approved two new degree programs and two certificate programs.

Support for Online Students/Data Modalities
Since the pandemic’s start, NECC has dramatically increased the number of online classes. And while online classes can offer many benefits to students, the classes also require different preparation and support services to help students succeed compared to in-person classes.

The NECC Success Online task force was formed in July 2022. Led by Dean of Business and Professional Studies Jody Carson and comprised of staff from across the college, the team worked to coordinate existing resources and launch new services designed to help students succeed in online courses. “We wanted them to know the expectations, what they might see, and whom to contact when they ran into trouble,” said Carson.

The team ensured that every student orientation had a technology component. They also coordinated drop-in help sessions with student ambassadors, Frequently Asked Questions sessions focused on academic technology, and an elective Prep for Success in Online Courses class. Carson shared that data shows an increase in student success across all modalities (online, hybrid, and in-person) from fall 2021 to fall 2022. However, online classes saw the largest increase, with 4.1% more students passing their courses.

Program Demand Gap Analysis Report
Northern Essex is dedicated to ensuring that credit and flex-credit courses and programs align with the Merrimack Valley’s workforce demands. As such, Associate Dean of Curriculum, Assessment, and Academic Policy Kirsten Kortz, and Center for Corporate and Community Education Director Linda Schildkraut presented The Program Demand Gap Analysis (PDGA) Executive Summary. The report analyzed 75 programs.

“We looked at the programs we have and how to make strategic decisions to grow those programs or to make decisions when presented with proposals for new programs,” said Kortz. “We also looked at students’ skills and knowledge once they completed the programs and compared those to keywords in job descriptions.”

The results of the study are already being put into practice. Schildkraut shared that the Supervisory Skills flex-credit course that had previously been offered through employers will now be available for open enrollment. They are also adding contextualized English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) components to the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certificate programs. The first session of the EMT course with the ESOL component will start in March; The CNA session will be offered starting in April.

New Programs
The Trustees voted unanimously to approve four new programs: Lab Technician Certificate, Medical Billing and Coding Certificate, Entrepreneurial Business Associate in Science, and Marketing Associate in Science Program. While three of the programs require further approval from the Department of Higher Education, which can take up to a year, the Medical Billing and Coding Certification is ready to begin this fall.

“Medical billers and coders are a vital part of our healthcare system and are in high demand. This program will allow graduates to gain the entry-level skills and knowledge needed to meet that demand and begin a very rewarding career,” said Medical Billing and Medical Coding Program Coordinator Dawn Wheaton, CPC.

The Board of Trustees typically meets on the first Wednesday of each month. The full schedule, agendas, and minutes from past meetings can be found on the webpage.

Merrimack Valley Legislative Delegation Discusses Community College Budget Priorities

February 1, 2023/in Events, Headlines/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (January 27, 2023)–State Senator Barry Finegold and Representative Frank Moran welcomed new members of the Merrimack Valley Legislative Delegation on the Northern Essex Community College Haverhill Campus on Friday, January 27. Attendees heard from NECC and Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) leaders on Educational and Workforce Development goals and priorities.

Northern Essex President Lane Glenn shared a brief history of the college, recent milestones, what it means to be a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, and the success of public-private collaborations such as the Lawrence Partnership before delving into budget priorities.

group of legistlators stand in front of NECC banners

Sen. Barry Finegold, Rep. Frank Moran, Sen. Pavel Payano, Rep. Estela Reyes, NECC President Lane Glenn, Rep. Tram T Nguyen, Rep. Dave Robertson, Rep. Andy X. Vargas, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Dawne Shand, Rep. Ryan Hamilton, Rep. Francisco Paulino, MACC Executive Director Nate Mackinnon

Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS)
The SUCCESS Fund was created in Fiscal Year ’21 for all community colleges in the Commonwealth to build programs to support underrepresented and vulnerable students. The SUCCESS initiative is modeled after Northern Essex’s Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program, a federally-funded student support services program. President Glenn was instrumental in lobbying for its creation. MACC is requesting an increase in funding from $14 million in FY23 to $18 million in FY24. At Northern Essex, the grant was used to create the SOAR program, which provides advising, career counseling, community-building events, and other support services.

MassReconnect
Governor Maura Healy has proposed implementing a new program to fund free community college certificates and degrees for Massachusetts residents over 25 who still need to complete a college credential. Dubbed MassReconnect, similar programs exist in the states of Michigan and Tennessee. Nate Mackinnon, MACC Executive Director, says the program would leverage existing federal financial aid, grants, and scholarships. Approximately 2 million adults could qualify for MassReconnect.

Early College
Hundreds of students from more than 25 area high schools enroll in the Northern Essex Early College program each year. The program allows students to earn college credit while in high school. Students in designated programs with Haverhill High School, Lawrence High School, and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School earn credit for free, while others pay a discounted rate of $150 per credit. MACC supports increasing two budget line items for Early College from a combined $19 million to $27.6 Million for FY24.

Workforce Development
MACC is also continuing advocacy for several programs in Workforce Development. Those include the Training Resources and Internship Networks (TRAIN) grant program, the Community College Workforce Training Incentive Grant, and the Education and Training Fund (ETF). ETF funds help community colleges respond to specific labor market needs, especially in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and technology. MACC advocates for the ETF to become a separate line item at $ 15 million. “I’m proud of long-term outcomes driven by opportunities via NECC,” said Sen. Fienegold.

The discussion and orientation wrapped up with a brief tour of the Haverhill Campus.

Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch, affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at necc.edu.

Spring Semester Starts at NECC with Keynote Address from Jay Ash

January 30, 2023/in Events/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (January 17, 2023)– The 2023 spring semester is officially underway at Northern Essex Community College, following an interactive Spring Convocation on January 17. Special guests from the NECC Board of Trustees, the Massachusetts Association for Community Colleges, The Lawrence Partnership, and nearby community colleges joined NECC faculty and staff to explore the theme of Investing in Community Colleges as an Equitable Workforce Strategy.

Jay Ash, former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development and current President & CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership

Keynote Address Featuring Jay Ash
This spring convocation featured a keynote address from Jay Ash, former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development and current President & CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership.

In his introduction of Ash, Northern Essex President Lane Glenn noted that the number one reason students attend college is to get a good job. And while NECC effectively gets many students started in their chosen careers, studies show skepticism about the job readiness of community college graduates persists.

“Community colleges, like ours, are the most diverse segments of higher education,” said Glenn. “And when we help more of our first-generation, low-income students succeed by connecting them to their chosen vocation, we’re delivering what they most want and need from us even as we’re putting community colleges at the center of this equitable workforce strategy.”

The Massachusetts Competitive Partnership aims to bridge the gap between some of the Commonwealth’s largest businesses and recent community college graduates eager to start their careers. Ash works with CEOs to collaborate with public officials and business and civic leaders.

“Anytime I sit down with a business, I ask them what their number one issue is. And time and time again, businesses big and small, it’s talent,” said Ash. “Well, it’s no surprise then that if our number one issue is talent, the place we should want to be is a place that produces talent. And your number one product is talent.”

View the entire keynote address here.

Following his address Ash joined Northern Essex President Dr. Lane Glenn for a Q &A session, moderated by NECC Dean of Liberal Arts Amy Callahan.

NECC’s First Open Textbook

NECC’s first open textbook, The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years

Early Childhood Education professors Doris Buckley and Deirdre Budzyna, along with Sue Tashjian, NECC’s coordinator of instructional technology, unveiled NECC’s first open textbook, The Whole Child: Development in the Early Years. Open textbooks are Open Educational Resources (OER). OER is free, openly licensed educational materials that faculty can adopt in lieu of commercially published textbooks. This book would usually cost students $174. “That means Northern Essex students will save $5,300 dollars this spring semester,” said Buckley.

Buckley and Budzyna developed their OER projects through the Remixing Open Textbooks through an Equity Lens (ROTEL) grant– a statewide project funded by the U.S. Department of Education. NECC was an early adopter of the use of OER. Tashjian is co-chair of the Massachusetts OER Advisory Council. She and Dean of Business and Professional Studies, Jody Carson, first introduced free OER to the college back in 2014 with a textbook task force. Since then, Tashjian estimates that using free and low-cost course materials have saved more than 19,000 students $2 million on textbooks.

Healthy Living Fair Returns
NECC Civic Engagement, Service-Learning, & Community Resources Coordinator Janel D’Agata-Lynch shared that the Healthy Living and Sustainability Fair is returning to the Lawrence Campus. The event is slated for April 24 from 10 am- 12 pm in the Dimitry Building and will be open to the public. D’Agata-Lynch encouraged faculty to integrate themes of healthy living and sustainability into their programs this spring. She also seeks classes and clubs whose members wish to participate in the fair with displays and demonstrations. Email jdagatalynch@necc.mess.edu for more information.

Welcomes and Farewells
NECC officially introduces new employees at each convocation and sends a fond farewell to recent retirees. View the complete list of Welcomes and Farewells here.

Fall 2022 Dean’s List

January 30, 2023/in Students/by mbouse

Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (January 30, 2023)– Congratulations to the Northern Essex Community College students on the Fall 2022 Dean’s List!

To be included, students must attain a grade point average of 3.3 or higher within the term, carry six or more credits within the term, and be matriculated in a degree program.

View the Fall 2022 Dean’s List here.

Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch, affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at necc.edu.

Honors Students Awarded $1,000 Scholarships

January 26, 2023/in Spotlight, Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (January 25, 2023)– Northern Essex Community College is proud to recognize the accomplishments of five honors students. Emily Ellis, Scotty Silva, Wildalis Tejada, Elvis Soto, and Soiri Rosario each earned a $1,000 scholarship from the NECC Foundation, Inc. These students completed at least one honors course in the fall semester and maintained an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Scotty Silva, Emily Ellis, Wildalis Tejada, Elvis Soto, and Soiri Rosario (not pictured) were each awarded $1,000 scholarships.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to have the help with tuition,” said Haverhill’s Scotty Silva, who took Honors American Literature I in the fall and is currently enrolled in the Honors Seminar: Dinosaurs! “I like that we can have in-depth discussions in a small setting.”

The number of honors classes offered at NECC was doubled for the 2022 Fall Semester. Classes are now available on the Haverhill and Lawrence Campuses, and one meets online. “It is our hope that we can double our honors offerings again in the future,” remarked NECC Provost Paul Beaudin. “We want to ensure that every local student knows we’re the community’s college. We serve all students: those who need support and those who already excel academically.”

Emily Ellis, of Malden, is a psychology major who plans to study neuroscience at a four-year institution after graduating from NECC. She says taking honors courses allowed her to discover new interests. “I took American Literature last semester, and I found myself really enjoying reading 200-year-old texts!”

Any student can register and take honors classes regardless of GPA. However, students who take three honors classes and maintain a GPA of at least 3.2 will be designated as members of the Commonwealth Honors Program. That means if they transfer to a state university, they’re automatically enrolled in the Commonwealth Honors program there, and their honors courses transfer easily. “MA is the only state that has this seamless transition from the community colleges to the state universities,” says Honors Program Coordinator Ginger Hurajt.

Learn more about the honors program and class options here. Anyone with questions should contact Commonwealth Honors Program Coordinator Ginger Hurajt at ghurajt@necc.mass.edu.

New Department of Higher Education Commissioner Visits NECC

January 26, 2023/in Community/by mbouse

Lawrence, MA (January 24, 2023)– Leaders from the city of Lawrence and Northern Essex Community College gathered on Tuesday morning to welcome the Commonwealth’s new Commissioner of Higher Education, Noe Ortega. The visit included a roundtable discussion at the El Hefni Allied Health and Technology Center. NECC President Lane Glenn presented a brief history of the development of the Lawrence Campus and shared how public and private partnerships made much of it possible.

Four men sit in a row listening to student stories

NECC President Lane Glenn, DHE Commissioner Noe Ortega, SUCCESS Senior Project Director, Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) Lutful Khan, Associate Commissioner of Research and Planning at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Mario Delci

Following the presentation, Glenn and Ortega fielded various questions from the group on topics affecting higher education, including enrollment, equity, affordability, and the role of Northern Essex in the community of Lawrence.

“One thing that has always been important to me is affordability,” said Ortega. “I want to make sure that every student who’s being prepared and recruited to go to college thinks about the choices they have. We live in a time where the cost limits that choice. Anything we can do as a state to advocate for affordability, we need to do.”

Interim Dean of Health Services Kathy Hudson then led Ortega and a small group on a tour of the classrooms and labs in the El Hefni building. Stops included the maternity simulation room, with blinking and breathing mother and child teaching mannequins, and the fully operational ambulance embedded in the building’s first floor.

Following the tour, Ortega met with students in NECC’s SOAR Program. The program provides wraparound support for vulnerable students, such as advising, career counseling, and community-building events. Students shared stories of how they struggled early in their college careers and how SOAR helped them find their footing.

“If I had this when I first started in 2009, I would have finished a long time ago,” said Eudania Chucha Aquino, a Human Services major who now works for the SOAR program. “It really pushed me and showed me how to grow.”

“It takes a lot to ask for help. In some cases, it takes a lot to accept that help,” responded Ortega. “Because each of your stories begins with an intention that didn’t work out, but you got help in a judge-free zone with people who have no interest in making you further carry the weight of your story. They’re making sure that from this point on, you’re moving forward and succeeding.”

The program is part of a statewide SUCCESS initiative, which is modeled after Northern Essex’s Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program, a federally-funded student support services program. President Glenn was instrumental in lobbying for the creation of the SUCCESS Fund (Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services). Thanks to support from state legislators, funding was included in this last year’s state budget to provide similar services across the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Ortega comes to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania, where he served as the Secretary of Education since 2020. He spent the eight years prior at the University of Michigan, where he held several roles, including Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate at the National Center for Institutional Diversity and as the Managing Director for the National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good. He replaces Carlos Santiago, who stepped down from the role last year. Ortega was sworn in this past November.

New Testing Site and Course to Enhance Job Readiness for Nurse Assistants

January 25, 2023/in Programs, Community/by mbouse

Lawrence, MA (January 18, 2023)– Northern Essex Community College continues work to address the growing job needs of the healthcare industry with two new offerings for Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA). Students preparing to take the Massachusetts CNA exam can now take a refresher course at NECC, and when they’re ready, they can take the skills-based state exam right on the Lawrence Campus.

“CNAs are in high demand in our community, and ensuring we are doing our part in educating, supporting, and contributing to the growth of our CNA community is a top priority,” says Program Coordinator Heather Waniga, RN.

The CNA Lab in the Dimitry Building is a new state exam testing site.

The Certified Nurse Assistant program at Northern Essex is a four-week accelerated training. It prepares students to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including long-term care, acute care, and rehabilitation facilities, as well as home care settings. Students can begin working as nurse assistants immediately after completing their CNA training; however, many employers require state certification as a term of employment. This month, the CNA laboratory in the Dimitry Building became a certified testing site, increasing accessibility for Northern Essex students by giving them more options on when and how to take the exam.

“Students had limited options for local test sites, and they had difficulty accessing dates and times that worked for them,” says Suzzette Turnbull, Ph.D., program manager for Community Education. “By opening this new site, we can bring them full circle in their career journey.” The goal of each testing session is to accommodate 14 students. Northern Essex students get priority for scheduling in each session; the remaining seats are open to students from other programs.

“We are proud to have our facility open to students in the community who can take the exam in an organized and student-centered environment,” Waniga points out.

Northern Essex also offers a CNA refresher course for students who may have completed their program but want to brush up on their skills before attempting the test. The first two sessions ran in the fall, with more scheduled this spring.

The CNA program, the refresher course, and the testing are all free to students, thanks to grant and state funding. Testing takes place twice a month at the new site in Lawrence, with refresher courses scheduled every other month. Students who complete the program and pass the Massachusetts CNA exam may also earn six credits applicable toward the NECC Healthcare Technician Certificate Program.

Enrollment is open for the four-week CNA training program in March, April, May, and June.

For more information, visit the webpage or contact Program Coordinator Heather Waniga, RN, by calling 603-489-8907 or emailing hwaniga@necc.mass.edu. To learn more about job-ready certifications and trainings available at Northern Essex, contact communityeducation@necc.mass.edu.

Two NECC Athletic Programs Ranked Nationally

January 25, 2023/in Students/by mbouse

By Dan Blair, Director of Athletics

Haverhill, MA (January 23, 2023) – For the first time, the Northern Essex Community College athletic department has two programs ranked in the top 10 simultaneously in the national polls. Following a 2-0 week and 15 consecutive wins, men’s basketball is up to the fourth position in the Week Ten poll with 84 points, while baseball sits seventh in the preseason poll release.

basketball player wearing the number 23 runs in between teammates with outstreteched arms

Mehmet Asik is in his second year at NECC

On the hardwood, NECC picked up a win Tuesday night at home over Gateway Community College to run their overall record to 19-1 and a perfect 14-0 in conference play. As a team, NECC ranks second in the nation in total rebounding at 50.9 per game while leading the country on offensive rebounding at 18.7 per game. While controlling the glass, the Knights also ranked in the country in opponents field goal percentage at 39.1%.

Luis Reynoso (Lawrence) continues to lead the Knights as he is averaging a double-double of 19.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, while Darlin Santiago (Salem, MA) is shooting 50% from behind the three-point arc in the month of January. Ten games remain on the regular season schedule.

View upcoming games here.

On the diamond, the Knights are fresh off the program’s eighth World Series appearance, where they finished fifth last season and grabbed the number six spot in the preseason rankings. The first regular-season poll of the season is slated to be released on March 13th.

In 2022, the Knights broke several program records over the season, which included both Region 21 and Northeast District Championships. With an overall record of 42-4, NECC broke the program record for wins in a season and established a program-record win streak of 33 games.

With 15 members of the 2022 team set to return to the roster in 2023, the Knights will have their eyes set on another deep run. Weather permitting, the NECC Knights will open their 2023 campaign with a four game home stand on March 4-5 at Haverhill stadium before departing for a 10 game trip to central Florida which includes five games against teams ranked in the preseason poll.

Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors 13 varsity intercollegiate sports. For more information, please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics or email Athletics Director Dan Blair.