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Inter-Campus Shuttle Service to Return

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Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (April 19, 2023) ­– Traveling between Northern Essex Community College’s campuses is getting easier. Shuttle service will resume starting for the fall 2023 semester. Students will be picked up at the bus stop on the Haverhill Campus near the Elliot Street entrance and in front of the El Hefni building in Lawrence. The shuttle will start running at 7 am Monday through Thursday, with the last shuttle departing at 3:45 pm. The schedule could be expanded depending on ridership and demand.

The shuttle will leave the Haverhill Campus every hour.

“This service will provide students with reliable and safe transportation and it will cut down travel time” says Sarah Pachano, NECC’s student trustee. “The shuttle will also help the sense of community and belonging on both campuses.”

Restoring the service was a top priority for Pachano as a trustee and member of the Student Government Association. After polling students and collecting data, she worked with the college to develop a sustainable solution to ease transportation between campuses. “We have hired a coordinator of the service that will work to ensure service is provided, data is tracked, and work study/interns are trained to cover the length of service needed,” says Northern Essex CFO Mike McCarthy.

Northern Essex will own and operate the shuttle. Prior to the pandemic, shuttle service was provided between the campuses as part of a partnership between NECC and MVRTA. It was put on hold in March 2020 as classes moved online and brought back in the fall of 2021 as in-person class offerings increased. However, ridership never returned to pre-pandemic levels, with fewer than 10 students riding daily. The shuttle was discontinued in October of 2021.

The shuttle will depart from in front of the El Hefni Building in Lawrence every half hour.

To compensate, MVRTA agreed to let NECC students, faculty, and staff ride free on the existing bus schedule. The option is still available, though the new shuttle service will be significantly faster and more efficient.

“I’ve been working on this since August because I think this is a very important thing to have in our school and I’m so glad to have it,” says Pachano.

Learn more about transportation options by visiting the webpage.

Student Trustee is Named National Fellow

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Haverhill, MA (April 10, 2023)– Based on her role as a campus leader with a focus on equity and justice, current Student Trustee Sarah Pachano has been selected as a Newman Civic Fellow by the Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education.

Pachano is a philosophy major from Lawrence, who is also a member of the Student Government Association and a first-generation college student. She emigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic with her mother and grandmother when she was 18 and taught herself English in just six months. Pachano then enrolled at Northern Essex in 2016 and started working toward her engineering science degree. But when the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, she says she took the time to reflect and realized she wanted to take a different path. She changed her major to philosophy and joined the Student Government Association in the spring of 2022 and was then elected as the student representative to the NECC Board of Trustees that fall.

“It has been my priority to help my fellow students feel comfortable and provide a safe space while on campus,” she says. “I have strived to tackle the issues of which students are most concerned, including campus transportation and making the school more LGBTQAI+ friendly. In addition, I’m confronting the unconscious bias of faculty and staff. I believe this is especially important for a minority-serving institution. My desire to represent not only my community but every student on campus has just begun. My life mission is to try to improve the lives of the people that surround me.”

sarah stands with lori trahan in office with framed photos on the wall and american flag in the background

NECC Student Trustee Sarah Pachano with U.S. Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Pachano recently advocated for students and student support services in Washington, D.C. She met with Massachusetts Congressional representatives and their staff during the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Legislative Summit. She shared her story as an example of what can be achieved when students like her are supported through various programs and funding.

In nominating Pachano for the fellowship, NECC President Lane Glenn wrote:
“Sarah is an empathetic, passionate, and equity-focused student leader at Northern Essex Community College. Sarah’s journey has not been an easy one. The experiences of her life inform her social activism and determination to make a positive change in the world…Sarah Pachano exemplifies what it means to be living purposefully. She is a persistent and enthusiastic advocate for her fellow students.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who are change-makers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. Fellows are nominated by their president or chancellor based on their potential for public leadership. Through the year-long fellowship, Campus Compact provides students with training and resources that nurture their assets and passions and help them develop strategies for social change. The yearlong program, named for Campus Compact founder Frank Newman, includes virtual learning opportunities and networking as part of a national network of engaged student leaders and an optional in-person convening.

The 2023 group of Newman Fellows includes 154 students from 38 states and Mexico.

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.

 

 

 

 

Employees Recognized for Years of Service

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Haverhill, MA (April 5, 2023)– More than 50 Northern Essex employees and retirees were honored for their years of service at the recent Employee Service Recognition Luncheon. Employees received each received a gift bag, while retirees received a clock engraved with the number of years of their service and their names.

5 Years

Donald Bellerive, Daniel Blair, Karina Calderon, Gwendolyn Cleghorn, Carmen Garcia, Mariah Germosen, Todd Higgins, Lawrence Hinkle, Douglas Leaffer, Rosina Medina,  Bracilia Munoz, Maria Payano,  Maria Pichardo,  Jessica Rocker, Marilda Rodriguez, Linda Rohrer,  Michelle Sunday

10 Years

Amy Cameron,  Allison Gagne,  Pamela Labella, Susan Leonardi, Andrea McPherson-Mesa, Michael Penta, Kelly Sanborn, Dawn Wheaton

15 Years

Paul Cavan, Victor De Jesus, Lisette Espinoza, Margaret Glenn, Michelle Jackson,  Patricia Schade, Cheryl Tine, Philip Wysocki

20 Years

Christopher Amaru

25 Years

Melba Acevedo, Ann Coughlin,  Gladys Gomez, Elizabeth Mercado, Paula Pancorbo, Dena Riccio-Enis, Lori Smerdon, Pablo Veloz, Heather Wilson

30 Years

Mark Cloutier, Cathy Lavery

35 Years

Elizabeth Lewis

50 years

Louise Bevilacqua

Retirees

Sherri Acevedo, Donna Ashbrook, Linda Fagan, Ernestine Greenslade, David McAskill, Sharon McManus, Mark Palermo, Patricia Pierce, Ethel Schuster, Laura Sorota, Ronald Taber, Patricia Willett

Giving Thanks for Giving Day Donors and Volunteers!  

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Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (April 10, 2023) – Organizers of Northern Essex Community College’s second annual Giving Day are sharing a heartfelt “thank you” to all who participated in the April 6 event. In all, 134 individual donors contributed $12,108 to the NECC Fund during the day-long fundraiser and community pride event. Additionally, dozens of students, faculty, and staff gave their time to the effort, volunteering on both campuses and virtually.

Gifts to the NECC Fund are unrestricted, meaning they can be spent immediately and benefit a range of resources and programs that are crucial to the success of students, faculty, and staff. Historically, the NECC Fund has offered substantial support to some of the following areas: student scholarship, innovation, academic programming, career programming, and classroom resources.

Giving Day is an annual event held on or around April 7. More than 60 years ago, April 7th was the date students could first register for classes at the newly formed Northern Essex Community College. You can learn more by visiting the Giving Day webpage. You can donate to the NECC Fund anytime by using this link, calling 978-556-3806 or emailing giving@necc.mass.edu for other arrangements.

Student Saving Endangered Penguins Halfway Around the World

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Haverhill, MA (April 10, 2023)– Northern Essex Community College biology student Heather DiLuzio has always had a passion for animals. Growing up in Littleton, MA, her family had dozens of pets and even rehabilitated several wild animals. Now, that passion is taking DiLuzio to South Africa. She will be interning with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) for six months, starting at the end of April.

Heather stands on one leg in front of waterfall

Heather DiLuzio will be helping to hatch African penguin chicks.

“I believe that every species is important, and it’s my calling to be the voice for the voiceless,” says DiLuzio.

DiLuzio credits her Northern Essex biology professor Diann Cahaly with helping her discover how to use her voice “She has really sparked an interest in my curiosity of conservation and evolution. We have spent quite a bit of time on the impact humans have on the environment.”

DiLuzio has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in business. She’s been working at a non-profit in North Andover for the past six years and recently became a licensed wildlife rehabber. She started to explore getting her master’s degree and thought she’d test the waters at NECC first. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in school – I ended up at NECC because they had quite a few classes I was interested in,” she remembers. “I felt it would be a good way to ascertain if I would like to pursue a master’s in marine or conservation biology. I had no idea how beneficial it would be to me!”

heather holds up baby turtle

Heather recently became a certified wildlife rehabber and is mentored through the Turtle Rescue League in Southborough, MA.

A chance encounter with a staffer from SANCCOB at a wildlife rehabber conference led her to this internship opportunity. DiLuzio will work in the Chick Rearing Unit, caring for African penguin hatchlings. The hatchlings require feeding every three hours and close monitoring of behavior and temperature. Her duties will also include a procedure called ‘candling’ the egg, which involves shining a bright light against the eggshell to determine the viability of the embryo and how far the embryo has developed. The process from egg hatching to release usually takes three to four months. SANCCOB has successfully released almost 8,000 African penguin chicks back into the wild.

While the internship will provide invaluable experience for DiLuzio, it is unpaid. So, she is currently raising funds to help cover some of her travel and housing costs and living expenses. Northern Essex is providing a $5,000 scholarship through the NECC Foundation, Inc. Incorporated in 1972, the Foundation assists NECC by making connections with the business community, foundations, and other potential revenue sources. It additionally hosts fundraisers and special events. Funds raised are used for student scholarships, equipment purchases, program revitalization efforts, faculty and staff development, and other needs as they arise.

heather scuba diving

Heather is also SCUBA certified.

“I have been blown away by the support I received from NECC –  I had no idea how much of an impact the school would have on my life when I started last fall. With their help (and my biology teacher Diann Cahaly specifically), they are supporting me as I pursue my dream of helping endangered animals. It’s a bold next step for me, but I feel extremely lucky to have the encouragement of friends, family, and NECC!”

Learn more about  DiLuzio’s internship and help her on her mission here.

Bracing for “Hurricane Diane,” NECC Theater’s Spring Production

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Haverhill, MA (March 27, 2023)– Northern Essex Community College Theater has all the elements for success its upcoming spring production: climate change, Greek mythology, and sexual identity, with a dash of Real Housewives of New Jersey. They combine hilariously to create the perfect storm that is Hurricane Diane. NECC Theater will stage the production, penned by Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George, April 27-30.

Mirrorajah Metcalfe stars as Diane in “Hurricane Diane”

“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be zippy, modern, and funny,” promises director and NECC Theater Professor Brianne Beatrice. “I’m working on the music and sound design right now. It’s going to be very intriguing to the audience.”

The title role Diane is played by Liberal Arts: Writing major Mirrorajah Metcalfe of Haverhill. AmericanTheater.org describes the character as “a permaculture gardener dripping with butch charm.” In reality, Diane is the Greek god Dionysus. She’s returned to the modern world to gather mortal followers and restore the Earth to its natural state. Where better to begin than with four housewives in a suburban New Jersey cul-de-sac? The comedy serves as a commentary on the blind eye we all turn to climate change and “the bacchanalian catharsis that awaits us, even in our own backyards.”

Four more Northern Essex students round out the cast: Olivia Barberian, Madison Monahan, Jessica Newy, and Ana Barrera.

Beatrice first saw a production of Hurricane Diane at the Huntington Theater starring her good friend, Salem State Theater professor Esme Allen, about a year and a half ago. “I loved it. I loved the pace, the relationship to the environment, the representation of the LGBTQIA+ community,” remembers Beatrice. Esme later encouraged her to stage her own production at NECC. Beatrice was mulling it over when she saw Metcalfe and Monahan in this fall’s staged reading of Stop Kiss. “I thought, ‘That’s it. There’s Hurricane Diane.’ I realized this could really work here.”

The show will return to the outdoor setting used to stage Tiny, Beautiful Things in the fall of 2021, near the Bentley Library on the NECC Haverhill Campus. Shows are scheduled for April 27 and 28 at 4pm and April 29 and 30 at 2pm. The show runs an hour and a half, and due to some strong language and mild adult themes, it is recommended for audience members who are 18+. Tickets can be purchased here.

If you would like to learn more about theater at Northern Essex, you can contact Professor Brianne Beatrice.

 

 

NECC to Hold Inaugural Impact Awards

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Haverhill, MA (March 27, 2023) – Northern Essex Community College is proud to recognize those who have made lasting contributions to the college and its students with the inaugural NECC Impact Awards. The following five outstanding community members will be honored at a breakfast ceremony on Wednesday, May 3, at 8:30 am on the Haverhill Campus. Purchase tickets and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.

View of Bentley Library on the Haverhill Campus

Award Recipients

 

Covanta, Community Partner Award
This award honors an individual, group, or organization who, through their support, has made a lasting impact at Northern Essex. Covanta has long been a partner for Northern Essex, supporting numerous causes, initiatives, and projects. In 2011, the local sustainability company established an endowed scholarship for students pursuing an associate degree in natural, laboratory, or engineering science. Most recently, Covanta matched a $100,000 grant from the Commonwealth for the Haverhill Promise Program. The program allows Haverhill High School students who have participated in early college at NECC to complete their associate degrees tuition-free following graduation. Covanta’s Business Manager, Mark Van Weelden, serves on the NECC Foundation Board.

Jouel Gómez, Outstanding Alumni Award
This award recognizes an alumnus/a who has achieved career-related success, is active in the community, and/or has exemplified active support for the college’s efforts. Jouel Gómez is a senior manager at Massachusetts General Brigham: Newton-Wellesley Hospital. After graduating from Northern Essex in 2015 with a Business Transfer Degree, Gómez earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston University in management and an MBA from Bentley University. He became involved in alumni association efforts in NECC in 2016, becoming the vice-chairperson and president and chairperson in 2021. Gómez also serves on the NECC Board of Trustees as the alumni representative.

Jeffrey Linehan, Philanthropy & Volunteerism Award
This award is given to a member of the Northern Essex community who has demonstrated commitment to NECC through financial support, volunteering, and leadership. Entrepreneur Jeffrey Linehan graduated from Northern Essex in 1977. After earning his bachelor’s and MBA, Linehan returned to his roots, serving as a long-standing member of several local and college boards, including time as the chair of the NECC Board of Trustees. Currently, Linehan serves as the secretary for the NECC Foundation Board.

Diana DiZoglio, Public Service & Advocacy Award
The Public Service and Advocacy award honors an individual who has made a tremendous impact on the lives of our students through public service or advocacy. Diana DiZoglio was recently elected as State Auditor. As the former State Senator from the First Essex District and the Representative for the 14th Essex District, DiZoglio has been an advocate for Northern Essex, its students, and its efforts in Lawrence, Haverhill, and surrounding communities.

Vilma Martinez Dominguez, Equity and Social Justice Award
This award recognizes individuals, organizations, or initiatives that have impacted the NECC community through values such as a commitment to equity, diversity, and the advancement of human rights and social justice. Vilma Martinez Dominguez is the COO of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) and the former Community Development Director for the City of Lawrence. GLCAC partners with hundreds of local organizations to provide wraparound services for area residents living in poverty, including numerous collaborations with NECC. This year, GLCAC partnered with NECC to expand the availability of high-quality ESOL instruction in the Greater Lawrence region, addressing the expansive waitlist of more than 2,000 people.

 

Kiss 108 Co-Host Will Be Featured Commencement Speaker

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Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (March 23, 2023)– Planning is underway for the 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony at Northern Essex Community College. The event will be held Saturday, May 13 at 11 am, on the Haverhill Campus. More than 400 students and their families will gather under the tent for the occasion.

Justin Aguirre ’09 is this year’s Featured Commencement Speaker

This year’s Featured Commencement Speaker is keenly aware of the day’s significance. Justin Aguirre is now the executive producer and co-host of the Kiss 108 “Billy and Lisa in the Morning Show.” But back in 2006, he was a young man from Malden who had overcome issues with addiction. He wasn’t sure where life was going, but he knew he needed a change.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected to be the commencement speaker,” he said. “My journey began at NECC as a young student unsure of where I was headed – to be asked to return in this capacity is really special.”

Aguirre enrolled as a journalism/communications student in 2006 at the urging of a mentor who knew he was interested in media. He graduated in 2009 and transferred to Salem State. Aguirre eventually landed a coveted internship on the “Ramiro and Pebbles Morning Show” on JAM’N 94.5.

Aguirre was hired by JAM’N 94.5 as a part-time producer and, from there, moved on to Kiss 108, working first as a producer for Ryan Seacrest and, later, for Matt Siegel of “Matty in the Morning.”  Following the announcement of Siegel’s retirement in May, Aguirre was promoted to his current role as co-host and executive producer of the “Billy and Lisa in the Morning Show,” a position that has him waking up at 3 a.m., hosting live shows from 5 to 10 a.m., and a podcast, “The After Show,” until noon.

“I look forward to sharing with students that ANY dream you have is possible. I’m living proof of that.”

Aguirre recently shared the news with his co-hosts on air. You can listen here. He spoke about how he felt when asked to be the speaker at the 12:52 mark and shared more about his personal journey at 21:00.

The 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony will also feature a student speaker selected by faculty and staff and the presentation of awards, including the Outstanding Alumni Award, Social Justice Award, and Emeritus.

The 61st Annual Commencement Ceremony is May 13, 2023

To learn more about Northern Essex’s 61st  Annual Commencement Ceremony, visit the website.

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.

 

Second Annual Giving Day Set for April 6

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Haverhill, MA (March 28, 2023) ­– Organizers of Northern Essex Community College’s second annual Giving Day are hoping history repeats itself. The day-long fundraiser and community pride event will occur on April 6, 2023.

All the funds raised will go to the NECC Fund, which provides critical support to the college’s areas of greatest need. Gifts to the NECC Fund are unrestricted, meaning they can be spent immediately and benefit a range of resources and programs that are crucial to the success of students, faculty, and staff. Historically, the NECC Fund has offered substantial support to some of the following areas: student scholarship, innovation, academic programming, career programming, and classroom resources.

Last year, 206 individual donors from the NECC community came together to raise $34,604. The effort smashed previous annual giving campaign records and made April 7, 2022, the largest single-day community fundraising effort in NECC Fund history. This year, organizers are hoping to reach 250 individual donors.

Donors who contribute $50 or more will be eligible to receive a special prize. And those on campus can stop by tables set up in the Dimitry Building on the Lawrence Campus and the Student Center and Spurk buildings on the Haverhill Campus for giveaways.

Giving Day is an annual event held on or around April 7. The date is significant: more than 60 years ago, April 7th was the date students could first register for classes at the newly formed Northern Essex Community College. You can learn more by visiting the Giving Day webpage. You can donate to the NECC Fund anytime by using this link, calling 978-556-3806 or emailing giving@necc.mass.edu for other arrangements.

Northern Essex Welcomes New MassHire Executive Director

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Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (March 17, 2023)– After an extensive search, Northern Essex Community College is proud to welcome James Henderson as the new Executive Director of the MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center.

james, wearing blue button down shirt and plaid vest, smiles at the camera

James Henderson is the new Executive Director for the MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center.

The center, with locations in Haverhill and Lawrence, provides employment and training services for youth, unemployed and under-employed adults, and laid-off workers, as well as recruitment and incumbent worker training for local companies. There are more than two dozen MassHire centers throughout the state. Northern Essex began managing the MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center in 2017.

Henderson comes to MassHire from North Shore Community Action Programs in Peabody, MA, where he was the Director of Adult Education and Workforce Development. Born and raised in Northern Ohio, Henderson attended the University of Oregon as an undergraduate. He then spent the next ten years living and working overseas in Japan, Portugal, Finland, and the United Kingdom as a teacher and school director. In his most recent position, he and his team expanded an ESOL program that currently serves 145 adult immigrant students and added two career training programs partnering with Essex Tech in Danvers.

Henderson replaces Linda Rohrer, who is retiring after 40 years of workforce development, including her six years with Northern Essex and MassHire.

MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Centers serve 15 cities and towns across the region:  Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Georgetown, Merrimack, Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, West Newbury, Rowley, Boxford, and Groveland. Offices are located on NECC’s Lawrence Campus at 420 C0mmon Street and in Haverhill in The Heights building at 160 Merrimack St.

The U.S. Department of Labor funds the center through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which provides resources to states and local workforce investment boards. To learn more about the center and its services, visit the webpage.

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