2024 - Page 8 of 12

Two Named to Honor Society’s All-Massachusetts Academic Team

May 8, 2024/in Students, Headlines, Press Releases/by mbouse

Two Northern Essex Community College students, Samuel Kiguta Njubi of Lawrence and Haverhill’s Scott Silva, were named to the 2023/2024 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Massachusetts Academic Team based on outstanding academic achievement and exemplary student service. Njubi will graduate on May 18, Silva completed his degree in the fall of 2023.

Each spring, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) honors students selected for the academic team at a ceremony at the State House. This year’s ceremony on May 9th will include local and state leaders alongside the students and representatives from their colleges.

Samuel Kiguta Njubi ’24

Njubi is originally from Kenya and emigrated to the United States after high school. He started working as a licensed practical nurse in 2010, a career he says he loves and finds rewarding. During the pandemic, the father of three noticed his children were struggling with online classes. He decided the best way to help them succeed was to show them. “I started picking college prerequisite courses as a way to encourage them as they would see me doing schoolwork too,” he says about deciding to enroll at NECC. “As they did their Zoom classes, I did my online classes. I was impressed by how much I learned at NECC and decided to work towards getting my RN license. I was able to get into the LPN-AND program, and I am very happy to be graduating this year.”

Njubi is graduating with a 3.56 GPA and plans to continue his education at a four-year institution and eventually earn his master’s degree.

Scott Silva ’23

Silva graduated this past fall with two associate degrees: double majoring in philosophy and psychology. He endured a lot of hard times as a child following the death of his mother when he was just 7 years old. However, he says that through it all his thirst for knowledge never wavered.

“My aspirations for this are deeply rooted in my own personal battle with mental illness, as well as the struggles within my family. I am devoted to making a positive impact in this field, both in my professional practice and on a personal level,” Silva says.

Silva graduated with a 3.86 GPA, and he transferred to Boston University, where he’s working toward his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and psychology. From there, he plans to go to medical school to eventually become a psychiatrist.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the international honor society of two-year colleges. PTK has recognized and encouraged scholarship among community college students for 100 years while promoting the academic integrity of the associate degree program. Students with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. Fourteen NECC students were inducted into PTK at a ceremony on April 25.

For additional information, contact Professor Lisette Espinoza at lespinoza@necc.mass.edu or visit the webpage.

Board of Trustees May 2024 Update

May 7, 2024/in Community/by mbouse

May 1, 2024 (Haverhill, MA) – The May meeting of the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees included a thought-provoking sabbatical report, a recap of the second annual Impact Awards, a second round of approvals for two new degree programs, and a heartfelt thank you to a board member whose term is ending.

Professor Adrianna Holden-Gouveia

Sabbatical Report: The Internet of Things By Professor Adrianna Holden-Gouveia
Professor Adrianna Holden-Gouveia is a faculty lead for NECC’s STEM Center. She spent her recent sabbatical researching security on the Internet of Things, which refers to everyday devices people have in their homes that are connected to the internet: things like Ring cameras, Amazon Echos, and FitBits.

“The security on the Internet of Things is a dumpster fire,” said Holden-Gouveia. “Personal information is insecure at a fundamental design level. Some of these devices that are so insecure they can’t be fixed.”

Holden-Gouveia said the reason that so many of these devices are inexpensive is that the manufacturers make their real money from selling data collected from them. So, what can the average person do to make their data more secure? Holden-Gouveia has rated and ranked these devices on her website to allow people to make more informed decisions when buying products. She has also created a step-by-step guide on how to implement the security safeguards she uses in her home. Holden-Gouveia said she encourages students to do similar research and find security solutions for devices they use daily.

Business Programs Approved
The Board voted unanimously to approve the next step in creating two new business degree programs: an associate’s Degree in Marketing and an Associate’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Business. The programs will now move to the final phase of the state approval process.

“Thank you to Provost Paul Beaudin, Dean Jody Carson and Professor Sheila Muller for the reconnaissance that goes into determining the need for these programs and for the hard work and effort that goes into creating new degrees,” noted NECC President Lane Glenn.

Bidding Farewell
The May meeting was the final meeting for Trustee Marianne Paley Nadel, whose term is ending. Paley Nadel started serving on the board in 2015 and most recently served as the chair of the Equity Imperative Committee.

“Your years of service, your impact has been felt near and far. I wanted to acknowledge that we’re incredibly grateful for your service to the school,” NECC Board of Trustees Chairwoman Jennifer Borislow told Paley Nadel.

The college’s Board of Trustees includes nine members who are appointed by the governor of the state to a maximum of two five-year terms as well as an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of 10 years, and a student trustee who serves for two semesters. Find more information including meeting dates and minutes from past meetings on the webpage.

Turning the Tables on the NECC Observer’s Entertainment Reporter

May 7, 2024/in Spotlight, Students/by mbouse

As the entertainment reporter for Northern Essex Community College’s student newspaper, the NECC Observer, Shaun Hood is used to being the one asking the questions. But recently, he took a turn in the hot seat and answered questions about his journey to NECC, how he discovered a love of pop culture and his approach to interviewing stars like his most recent subject, NECC alum Tom Bergeron.

Shaun Hood sits at a desk with a laptop computer and smiles at the camera

Shaun Hood, Liberal Arts- Journalism student

Hood is a Liberal Arts- Journalism major from Groveland. He says he’s always loved music and movies and as someone with autism, that passion helped him find his voice.

“I love to communicate. I think there’s also that fascination with music and TV shows that made me want to go to school for journalism. I was obsessed with pop culture as a kid, so writing about it is my way of running with it,” Hood remembers.

That passion was nurtured at Pentucket Regional High School, where Hood got involved with the student newspaper and started writing for entertainment websites. When the time came to start thinking about college, several teachers and his job coach helped him formulate a plan to attend NECC to continue exploring his love of journalism.

Hood enrolled in the fall of 2019, but that spring, the pandemic forced him to take classes online. He stuck with it, and in the fall of 2021, he returned to in-person classes and got involved with the NECC Observer.

“It’s been a really positive experience,” Hood says of his tenure covering entertainment for the newspaper. He writes a lot about theater, and that expertise led to a new opportunity for him. He helped coordinate and hosted a live Q&A with Stephanie Jae Park, an actress and singer who recently starred as Eliza in the Broadway company of Hamilton.

“She was live on Zoom, and I interviewed her in front of the audience. So everyone got to see me ask questions and got to ask her questions, too.”

Hood realized he also has a knack for event planning when it comes to experiences like the Q&A. He’s now exploring ways to combine that with his love of writing. He helped plan the annual public speaking event at NECC, Speechapalooza, during Spring 2023. But he’s clear he will not stop reporting, especially since he just landed his biggest interview to date with TV host and NECC alum Tom Bergeron. “It was really good. We talked about the Oscars. He’s the biggest name I ever interviewed for any publication, and I knew he’d be very appropriate for the Observer.”

The two also connected over Hood’s recent hosting gig. Bergeron shared that theater courses helped him tremendously during his time as a student at NECC and in his subsequent career and encouraged Hood and his fellow students to seek out similar opportunities.

Hood is taking Bergeron’s advice to heart and plans to continue to hone his hosting skills. He also says he has his own advice for students, which he first heard during his event with Park.

“She said, ‘nurture the things that make you different.’ I think about what Stephanie said– a lot of autistic people have certain skills they’re really good at. I think it’s important for neurodivergent people to use those skills to the fullest.”

Hood’s articles and interviews can be found on the Observer website and his own website ShaunHood.com.

Student Officers Examine Diverse Perspectives in Policing

May 6, 2024/in Community, Headlines, Students/by mbouse

ROC-05 with (far left) Capt. Lisa Butner, Chief Robert Barrow, (far right) Ofc. Stephanie Rizzo, Ofc. Courtney Cashman and Ofc. Jason Genece

On Friday, May 3, 2024, 51 members of ROC-05 graduated from the Northern Essex Community College Police Academy. The ceremony capped six months of hard work and determination, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Their training also included many valuable lessons shared through guest lectures and panels involving officers at various points in their careers. Police Academy Director Joshua Stokel says hearing about the experiences of fellow law enforcement professionals is essential to a well-rounded education for student officers.

Shortly before graduation, one such panel focused on diversity in policing. Panelists from a variety of backgrounds shared how their experiences inform the police work they do daily and how the student officers can use those perspectives to better relate to the communities they serve.

“When you’re dealing with people, you have to look at them like they’re your mother, your father, your sister, your brother. They need that respect,” said Tufts University Police Department Captain Lisa Butner, who has been in law enforcement for 42 years.

Showing respect was a common theme in the advice the panelists had for the student officers. “Treat people how you want to be treated. It’s about building trust,” echoed Danvers Police Officer Courtney Cashman, now in her second year on the job.

“You have to remember, when you go to a call, you’re dealing with people in their most vulnerable situations,” said North Andover Police Officer Stephanie Rizzo, also in her second year on the job. “I’m learning new things every day, but it’s all about communication.”

“You have to give people an opportunity,” said Bunker Hill Community College Police Chief Robert Barrows. He gave the student officers some perspective on how policing has changed over his long career. “You have to know your history. If you know the history, you’ll do a better job. You have to understand discretion, you’ve got to listen, Find out all of the facts. And you must understand the uniform and what it stands for. And then you can establish yourself and build that trust”

Waltham Police Officer Jason Genece has been an officer for seven years. He now works as a school resource officer. He shared how working with children has allowed him to create a foundation of trust in his community.

“I love what I do and how I have all of these connections. It was a cop who first introduced me to football, which became a life-long passion. It’s now something I can pass on,” he said. “People see me now, and they know I will have a smile. There will be dark times, but I want to help find the positivity.”

Captain Butner also stressed the importance of building those relationships in the community, especially with the youth. “It’s important to me as a woman and as a person of color to get out and be seen. And the kids are a way to change the perceptions of you,” said Captain Butner, reflecting on when she helped to create a community tennis program, Volley Against Violence. It started with just one kid and has now grown to serve thousands of families. “Even if it’s just one kid, that’s a life changed.”

In response to questions from the audience, the discussion also included crucial advice for new officers about taking care of their mental health and ensuring they can show up as their best selves each day on the job.

“I witnessed that shift from ‘old’ policing, that mentality of just grinding it out and running ourselves into the ground,” recalled Officer Genece.

“Now we have people you can talk to. It used to be frowned upon to talk about what you were experiencing. Departments now have more resources, and you need to use them. Go to therapy. We want you to solve whatever it is you’re facing because you need to be in the best place to do your job,” shared Chief Barrows.

Officers Rizzo, Cashman and Genece are graduates of the NECC Police Academy. Since its inception in 2015, nearly 1,000 student officers have graduated from the academy and now serve in more than 80 departments across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To learn more, visit the webpage.

Journalism Student Receives National Fellowship

May 1, 2024/in Headlines, Press Releases, Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (May 1, 2024) – As a campus leader and tireless advocate for her fellow students, Campus Compact has chosen Northern Essex Community College journalism student Daniela Valdivia-Terres as a 2024/2025 Newman Civic Fellow. Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education.

Daniela Valdivia-Terres and NECC President Lane Glenn

Valdivia-Terres first came to NECC in 2017 to take a Basics of Business class. She figured it would help her run her already successful travel and tourism business, which specializes in crafting full-day tours and getaways to destinations around New England for Spanish speakers. When the pandemic slowed business down, she decided to return to NECC and pursue an associate degree. She intended to be a business major, but after a semester, Valdivia-Terres felt pulled to explore journalism instead.

Since then, she’s won numerous honors, including a prestigious award for her work as news editor of the student newspaper, the NECC Observer, and an English department writing award. In the summer of 2023, she was selected as one of just 20 community college students from across the country to attend the Keith Sherin Global Leaders Program at The Hauge, Netherlands, and she currently interns with El Mundo Boston.

“As an aspiring journalist, I believe in the power of journalism as a public service to keep the public informed about not only positive events but also crucial issues and concerns,” said Valdivia-Terres. “As a bilingual communicator, I enjoy being a bridge that connects the two worlds coexisting in the United States. I can’t wait to meet the Newman Civic Fellows and learn from them, as well as learn more about the Campus Compact organization.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders and a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.

In nominating Valdivia-Terres, NECC President Lane Glenn wrote, “Daniela has a strong work ethic and is a persistent and enthusiastic advocate for her community. She leads by example and is a self-starter.”

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 program includes virtual learning opportunities, networking as part of a national network of engaged student leaders, and an optional in-person convening. For 2024, the group of fellows includes students from campuses across 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is generously supported by The Allstate Foundation. Learn more at compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship. You can read more about Valdivia-Terres and other student leaders selected for this year’s cohort here.

Students Inducted into Alpha Beta Gamma National Business Honor Society

April 30, 2024/in Students/by mbouse

Northern Essex Community College business students were recognized for academic excellence and leadership at the 37th annual induction and awards ceremony of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma.

Throughout the years, the chapter has won over 117 National Awards, which include 91 student essay awards and 26 chapter awards. Alpha Beta Gamma was established by business professors in 1970 to recognize and encourage scholarship among business and professional students enrolled at two-year degree-granting institutions.

Fifty initiates were inducted into Alpha Beta Gamma at the Annual Beta Omicron Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The Beta Omicron Chapter was the recipient of seven awards at the National Meeting of Alpha Beta Gamma:

James Abreu (Tyngsboro) was the first recipient of the Eva Bobrow Medallion Award given to him for many years of dedication to the chapter.

Berenice Hidalgo (Haverhill) was the second recipient of the Dr. Mary Bone Essay Award. The 500-word essay is entitled “What Alpha Beta Gamma Means to Me.”

Sarah Tavitian (Haverhill) was the third and fourth recipient of the Stephen Graham Memorial Award and the Sophie Abels Essay Award. The 500-word essay is entitled “Learning.”

Katie Lacroix (Plaistow, NH) was the fifth recipient of the Dr. Mary Bone Essay Award. The 500-word essay is entitled “What Alpha Beta Gamma Means to Me.

Beta Omicron Chapter was the sixth recipient of the Brooks College Golden Key. This chapter award is given to NECC’s chapter—Beta Omicron– as the outstanding chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma National Business Honor Society for two-year colleges. It is for excellence in the following areas: community service, campus service, recruitment and financial management. This is the twelfth year the Northern Essex chapter has received this prestigious award.

Alpha Beta Gamma is available for all Business Major students enrolled in a degree program: Accounting, Management, Business Transfer, and Hospitality Management, who have earned 12 college credits and have a 3.0 overall GPA. Learn more about Alpha Beta Gamma National Business Honor Society by visiting the webpage or contacting Professor Pam Donahue.

From Early College Promise Scholar to 2024 Student Commencement Speaker

April 22, 2024/in Alumni, Featured, Spotlight, Stories, Students/by mbouse

Akira Matos of Haverhill will be the featured student speaker for the 62nd annual commencement exercises at Northern Essex Community College. The ceremony will occur on Saturday, May 18, on the Haverhill Campus at 11 am.

Biology major Akira Matos is the 2024 student commencement speaker.

Just a few years ago, the biology major didn’t imagine she’d be graduating from college at all, let alone be the person selected to represent her class at commencement. Matos says she was not a good student in grade school and bounced around to a few local schools as a result. When it came time for high school, her mom pushed for her to go to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, even though she might not have had all her facts straight.

“My mom tricked me,” Matos remembers with a laugh. “She told me they had a pool! So I told the admissions people how excited I was for swim team, and they told me they didn’t have one.”

Despite the absence of a swim team, Matos enrolled at Whittier and decided to specialize in metal fabrication. She did well in those classes, even winning second place in her district in the Skills USA competition. She was still struggling in some of her academic classes when she decided to try a different approach. In the fall of her junior year, she took English as an Early College class at NECC and discovered that the different pace and expectations suited her. She ended up with a B+ in the class.

“It was difficult but also a bit more relaxed. I expected to do a lot of writing- and I did. It was good for me. I felt like I could work more at my own pace.”

By the time she graduated from high school, Matos had earned 18 college credits through Early College classes at NECC and was selected to speak at the Early College recognition ceremony.

Through all of this, she still wasn’t sure college was in her future. She explains that her parents weren’t pushing her to go, either. Her father grew up in Cuba, where college wasn’t a possibility and, therefore, not a priority in his life. Her mother was eager for Matos to have the financial security of a career in welding right out of high school.

“Up until I graduated from high school, I was insisting I wasn’t going to go to college. I didn’t think I could do it or afford it,” Matos says. However, Whittier’s Early College coordinator changed her mind by explaining that she could continue at Northern Essex for free under the NECC Promise Program, which covers the costs of tuition, fees, and supplies for Early College students who qualify.

Suddenly, a new world of possibilities presented itself to Matos. Having witnessed changes in her own eyesight due to her time welding– “seriously, everyone in my specialty graduated with the same prescription”– Matos decided she wanted to become an ophthalmologist. She enrolled at NECC as a biology major in the fall of 2022.

“I forgot how much I really like science; I had always turned away from it. The classes were a little scary at first, but my professors were so accommodating.”

Matos also found a lot of support by joining the PACE program, which provides various services for first-generation and low-income students. And her experience with Early College continued to open doors for her: she served as a policy fellow at the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College for the 2022-2023 school year. There, she learned about the legislative process and how to advocate for more funding for statewide early college programs.

Matos will continue her education at UMass Lowell, where she’s already taking a class. She will transfer as a junior and, in a few short years, will be weighing her options for medical school. While she’s excited for this next chapter, she says she already misses NECC.

“There is so much support here; some of it I didn’t even register as support. I made a plan, and thanks to my advisors, I stuck with it. I’m graduating right on time.”

Matos has made the Dean’s List each semester and currently has a 3.7 GPA. She is a member of the National Technical Honors Society and routinely volunteers on campus and in her community. Her success has even encouraged her mom, who had previously earned a certificate in Human Services from NECC, to start taking classes again.

Matos was nominated for student speaker by Emily Yunes, 5th Year and Promise Program Coordinator, Kevin Mitchell, Chemistry Professor and Kristen Arnold, Director of the PACE Program.

Nominations were solicited from the college community and submitted to a committee of faculty and staff who selected Matos as their top choice.

To learn more about Commencement at Northern Essex, visit the website at necc.edu/commencement.

Board of Trustees April 2024 Update

April 17, 2024/in Community/by mbouse

Lawrence, MA (April 3, 2024) – An action-packed meeting of the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees in April included the approval of three new programs, news of the exploration of an enhanced partnership with Whittier Tech, and an important update on the college’s innovative work in the early childhood education field.

Pathways in Early Childhood Education
NECC Dean of Business and Professional Studies Jody Carson shared that since the pandemic, the field of early childhood education (ECE) has received much-needed attention and funding at the federal and state levels. Governor Healey’s proposed FY25 budget includes $1.6 billion in funding for ECE. Carson said NECC is well prepared to serve students in or entering the ECE field through degree and certificate programs and multiple pathways offered through the Career Pathways in ECE grant. Each of these innovative pathways meets students where they are, helps to identify individual education and career goals and provides funding for ECE opportunities at NECC.

“After many years of not having enough funding, this is a historic investment in ECE. And we’re ready to respond to the needs of our communities,” said Carson.

She is currently working with 13 of the other community colleges in the commonwealth to develop a certification that is the same across all institutions. This will streamline the process for students and ensure uniformity in the program.

“Her leadership at the state level has been vital,” NECC President Lane Glenn said of Carson’s work.

New Programs
The Trustees voted unanimously to approve three new programs for the fall of 2024, all of which were developed in response to the needs of local employers and communities:
The Senior Care Specialist Certificate will prepare students to provide person-centered care and support that addresses the specific age-related needs of adults over 65.
The Certificate in Behavioral Health and Trauma in Early Childhood is designed for students to complete it in addition to their associate degree in Early Childhood Education. It will give students a broad knowledge of the impact trauma has on children and specific strategies to meet their needs and be more successful in the field.
The Certificate in Intelligence Studies was developed as part of a partnership with the Homeland Security program at the University of New Hampshire under a ten-year, $300,000 federal grant. The intent of the grant is to recruit and develop interest in students to work in the federal intelligence community field as analysts, particularly students in colleges and universities enrolled in minority-serving institutions.

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Project Exploration
President Glenn shared the preliminary details of a plan that could result in a shared campus model for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and NECC on NECC’s Haverhill campus. The Healey-Driscoll administration is exploring how a collaborative effort with state and local partners could meet the evolving educational needs of the region’s students and communities efficiently and affordably.

This partnership with NECC and Whittier Tech will explore ways to create a new, modern facility for Whittier Tech, allow for expanded access to postsecondary education across northeastern Massachusetts, and increase enrollment capacity at both institutions. It will also open up new avenues for potential additional funding sources beyond cities and towns in the Merrimack Valley.

“In most of the rest of the country, this already happens,” said Glenn. “Community colleges are all in the vocational business.”

Glenn emphasized that it is still very early in the process. An exploratory committee will be formed, and the next steps will be mapped out.

Meet Winnie, NECC’s Soon-to-Be Comfort Dog

April 16, 2024/in Headlines, Faculty and Staff, Featured/by mbouse

yellow lab puppy sits on green grass looking at camera

Winnie is the newest member of the NECC Police Dept.

Haverhill and Lawrence, MA (April 16, 2024)—The Northern Essex Community College Police Department has a new rookie on the squad: Paw-ficer Winnie! The 9-week-old yellow Labrador Retriever will eventually serve as NECC’s comfort dog. She will provide stress relief, calm nerves, and bring cheer to students, faculty, and staff.

Since her first official day of work, Winnie has already shown the positive impact a comfort dog can have on the community. Her handler, Lt. Keith Walker, says students routinely stop by to say hello to her, which has sparked some new connections.

“Students who would just walk by and say a quick hello before are now in my office. One even shared that he wanted to be a police officer. So, she’s only been here a few days but already conversations are happening that wouldn’t have otherwise,” says Walker.

Winnie also brought together more than 370 members of the NECC community who voted on her name. Winnie earned 117 votes, edging out Millie, Essie, and Rosie.

While Walker’s office is in the Sports and Fitness Center on the Haverhill Campus, he says Winnie will eventually split her time between both campuses.

Winnie will be leaving NECC periodically for training. First, she will undergo two weeks of basic obedience training starting the week of April 22. Anyone who wants to meet Winnie before then is encouraged to stop by Spring Jam on the Haverhill Campus on Wednesday, April 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Winnie also has her own Instagram page: @NECCwinnie.

Information about Winnie, her schedule (once she’s fully entered service), and more will be available on her webpage.

Ten National Awards for NECC Theater Production

April 11, 2024/in Featured, Headlines, Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (April 11, 2024) – Hurricane Diane shows no signs of weakening. The Northern Essex Community College Theater production has just won ten national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF).

Honors include:

The Citizen’s Award
Outstanding Achievement in Performance: Mirrorajah Metcalfe, Liberal Arts: Writing Major, Haverhill
Distinguished Achievement in Dramaturgy: Jessica Newey, ’23, Middleboro
Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Performance
Distinguished Achievement in Performance: Gwynnethe Glickman, ’22, Newbury
Distinguished Achievement in Performance: Olivia Barberian, ’23, Candia, NH
Distinguished Achievement in Direction of a Play: Brianne Beatrice, NECC Professor
Special Achievement in Production of a Play
Outstanding Achievement in the Facilitation of a Brave Rehearsal Space

Hurricane Diane cast

This news is the latest in a whirlwind for Hurricane Diane. The production was first staged on the NECC Haverhill Campus in the spring of 2023. Then, representatives from the KCACTF selected the production as a finalist for the Region 1 Festival. Beatrice and the cast and crew got that news just before the holiday break at the end of 2023 and quickly reassembled to have the play ready to be remounted at the regional festival at the end of January.

“It’s crazy our work is being honored like this. They’re looking for good art, and our art is being recognized,” said Beatrice.

Beatrice will travel to Washington, D.C., later this month to accept the awards at the Kennedy Center.

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.