March 2026 - NECC News

daniela holds up three award certificates

Student Journalists Win Three Regional Awards

March 31, 2026/in Featured, Stories, Students/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (March 31, 2026) — Northern Essex Community College student journalists from the NECC Observer recently won three awards from The New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) in the college division of the Better Newspaper competition.

Daniela Valdivia-Terres ’25 won second place for “Good News” for a story she wrote about first-generation students on a college tour with the PACE Program.

Observer staff was recognized with a second-place award for “Best Arts and Entertainment” section under the direction of editor Anthony Sousa ’25.

And Quinlan Cooke and correspondents won third place for “Best Opinion Section.”

Daniela Valdivia-Terres ’25

Valdivia-Terres, Sousa, and Cooke all successfully transferred to four-year schools after the 2025 spring semester. Valdivia-Terres is at Suffolk University and has been interning with the nonprofit Center for News, Technology and Innovation. Sousa is at UMass Lowell and Cooke is at Mt. Holyoke, where she has been contributing to the student newspaper. Cooke first joined the Observer staff as an Early College student from Sanborn Regional High School.

The Observer staff members were competing against students from colleges and universities throughout New England. Finalists in their categories included students from Bowdoin College, University of Vermont, Bates College and Keene State University.

The Observer is published monthly during the academic year by NECC journalism students. Observer staff members work to inform the college community, including students, faculty, and staff. The Observer also serves as a public forum for the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses and accepts letters and guest columns from the college community.

The NECC Observer is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and the New England Press Association.

To learn more about NECC’s Journalism/Communications program, visit the website or contact Mary Jo Shafer via email.

cover of the spring '25 edition of alumnecc. features the el hefni building

NECC Alumni Magazine Wins National Award

March 31, 2026/in Featured, Stories, Faculty and Staff/by mbouse

Washington, D.C.— The Northern Essex Community College’s biannual alumni magazine recently earned recognition from the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). The Spring ’25 edition of alumnecc, Finding the Helpers, was awarded a silver Paragon in the magazine category. The Paragons are NCMPR’s highest honors, recognizing outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges. It’s the only national competition that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges.

NCMPR received 2000 entries across 47 categories. Marketing and PR industry professionals judged entries and selected gold, silver, and bronze winners.

The awards were part of a three-day conference featuring workshops, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and keynote addresses specifically geared toward marketing professionals at two-year institutions. Former NECC CMO Ron Taber, a past president of NCMPR, was also honored with the D. Richard Petrizzo Award for Career Achievement. The award recognizes a professional for career accomplishments in community college marketing and public relations.

ron, in a suit and tie, stands at a podium with purple draping behind him

Ron Taber, former NECC CMO

NECC Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations Melissa Bouse was a featured presenter at the conference, delivering a session on finding “content champions” to help in storytelling efforts.

NCMPR celebrated its 51st anniversary at the recent conference in Washington, D.C. The organization will host smaller, regional conferences in the fall. NECC is part of District 1, along with colleges from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and the United Kingdom.

wide shot of room full of graduates in caps and gowns

NECC Announces Plans for 2026 Commencement

March 30, 2026/in Events, Featured, Headlines/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (March 30, 2026)– Planning for the 64th annual Commencement Ceremony at Northern Essex Community College is underway. The event will be held on the Haverhill Campus on Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. More than 500 students and their families will gather for the occasion.

This year’s featured speaker will be former governor Charlie Baker, a nationally respected leader in public service and higher education. Baker served as the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023 and is currently President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

charlie baker stands in front of uniformed police officers, speaking at podium

Former Governor Charlie Baker on a visit to Lawrence and NECC in 2016

“Throughout his career in public service, Governor Baker has demonstrated a deep commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening education and workforce pathways,” said NECC President Lane Glenn. “His leadership and pragmatic approach to solving complex challenges have made a lasting impact across Massachusetts and beyond. I look forward to Governor Baker sharing his insights and inspiration with the Class of 2026.”

Of his many accomplishments during his tenure, Baker expanded Early College partnerships and started the Commonwealth Commitment, which provides tuition and admission benefits to community college students under the MassTransfer Program. Known for his bipartisan leadership style, he consistently ranked among the nation’s most popular governors.

Prior to his time in office, Baker held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including serving as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and as Secretary of Administration and Finance under Governors William Weld and Paul Cellucci.

Baker holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, where he was a basketball player, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

The 64th annual Commencement Ceremony will also feature a student speaker selected by faculty and staff and the presentation of awards, including the Social Justice Award and Emeritus.

To learn more about commencement, visit the website.

exhibit of found ceramic objects affixed to a burlap backing

Now on Display: Repurposed—Beginning with What Remains

March 30, 2026/in Events, Faculty and Staff, Featured, Stories/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (March 30, 2026) — Installation is complete on the newest exhibition in the Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace on the Haverhill Campus of Northern Essex Community College. Repurposed—Beginning with What Remains explores repurposing as both a creative practice and a way of thinking.

Curator Kristin Powers, NECC Adjunct Faculty & ArtSpace Gallery Manager, writes:

Working with fragments of the everyday – newsprint, metal, broken ceramics, organic materials – the artist gathers what is forgotten, allowing each object to shift, not back into what it was, but toward what it might become, extending its story rather than ending it.

Through processes of assembling, layering, and recontextualizing, familiar objects are reshaped while still carrying traces of their past. In this way, the exhibition connects to traditions of assemblage and material-based art, while remaining grounded in an accessible, process-driven approach to making.

Cracks, seams, and signs of wear are left visible as quiet records of time, touch, and use remind us that materials are not static; they hold histories and continue to evolve. By keeping these traces intact, the work highlights how meaning is not fixed, but shifts through context, attention, and care.

For students and viewers, the exhibition offers a different way of thinking about creativity. Together, these works suggest that creation does not always begin with something new, but with paying closer attention to what is already here. Repurposing becomes not only a strategy of reuse, but a practical and poetic gesture – one that values resourcefulness, sustainability, and imagination. Repurposing becomes a form of listening, honoring the quiet dignity of what has been overlooked and neglected.

The show features nearly two dozen works from six local artists, including Powers and NECC staff member Anne Hopkins. Repurposed—Beginning with What Remains is open now through April 20. An Artist’s Talk is scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2026, from 2 – 4 p.m., and a Public Reception will take place Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 5 – 7 p.m.

The show is presented by the NECC Liberal Arts Division and the Art Department. The Linda Hummel-Shea ArtSpace is located on the first floor of the Bentley Library. Gallery events are free and open to the public. For more information on this exhibition, contact Kristin Powers.

Gallery Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: closed

Northern Essex Hosts Legislative Breakfast

March 19, 2026/in Mobile, Campus & Community/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (March 13, 2026) — State legislators from across the Merrimack Valley convened at the Haverhill campus of Northern Essex Community College (NECC) recently to discuss the impact of state and federal policy and funding on higher education in the region. The visit brought together college leadership and elected officials to examine key issues, including the expansion of free community college, workforce development initiatives, and the growing demand for career and technical education programs.

“The decisions made on Beacon Hill have a tremendous impact on where and how we deliver for our residents,” said NECC President Lane A. Glenn. “Just a few years ago, our legislators made a commitment to free community college through the MassEducate and MassReconnect programs. That decision has opened the doors to hundreds of students locally, which has contributed to our enrollment growing by 23% since those programs were introduced.”

The gathering included discussions on the impacts of free community college, Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, workforce development opportunities, and housing options for students.

“Community colleges continue to be one of the best investments our state can make into our future success,” said Nate Mackinnon, Executive Director of the MA Association of Community Colleges. “Our students graduate with necessary credentials, without debt, allowing them to successfully enter the workforce and maintain a quality of life that all residents deserve.”

Legislators attending included State Senator Barry Finegold and State Representatives Ryan Hamilton, Kristin Kassner, Frank Moran, Francisco Paulino, Adrianne Ramos, and Andy Vargas. State Senator Pavel Payano and State Representative Tram Nguyen were represented by staff.

“Community Colleges are an essential vehicle for equipping our residents with the tools and skills to thrive in the modern economy,” said Senator Finegold. “Northern Essex represents the standard for that service, and we’re lucky to have that right here in the Merrimack Valley.”

“Northern Essex Community College is always working to make the educational experience better for its students,” said State Representative Kristin Kassner. “I’m always impressed by their innovative approaches from early college through career pathways, and their commitment to ensure that students build strong relationships to succeed. “

Glenn was joined by several staff, faculty, and Trustees in discussing what a robust community college experience has meant for area students.

“Enrollment is up by over 1,000 students since 2022,” said Glenn. “Last spring, we handed out over 500 associate degrees, and 229 were because of the MassEducate and MassReconnect programs.”

MassReconnect is a state program providing free tuition, fees, and books for residents aged 25 and older to attend any of the state’s 15 public community colleges; while MassEducate is a state program providing free tuition and fees for all residents—regardless of age or income—enrolled in public community colleges. Both are funded through the additional Massachusetts income tax levied on incomes over $1 million.

“Massachusetts’ free community college programs enabled me to return to school and finally earn my degree,” said 2025 Student Commencement Speaker Mike McDougal, of Haverhill, who joined the delegation for their meeting. “This matters more than ever in today’s uncertain job market.”

“It’s encouraging to see how students from across our region are accessing the resource that is Northern Essex Community College,” said Representative Ramos. “We hear all the time about the growing cost of higher education, and the reality is that in the Merrimack Valley, our students have access to a quality option that doesn’t have to be a financial burden.”

The morning’s conversation included a discussion about current and future partnerships that NECC is building with Greater Lawrence Technical High School and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.

“The Merrimack Valley, like the rest of Massachusetts and the nation, is seeing a spike in interest from younger students looking for Career and Technical Education options,” said Glenn. “We at NECC are always looking for ways in which we can support our high school partners, including by offering complementary programming to help support the growing interest in the education they offer.”

“The growing interest in Career and Technical Education is a reflection of the evolving economy,” said Representative Vargas. “Community colleges are embracing this evolution – with NECC leading the way – giving residents of all ages access to a meaningful education that yields a bright future for them as members of a changing workforce.”

“What I really value about Northern Essex is that they’re always considering the needs of their students, adjusting programming as the economy changes, all to maximize the impact on helping their students succeed,” said Representative Paulino.

Learn more about free community college by visiting the webpage.

Dan Blair Named Athletic Director of the Year

March 16, 2026/in Mobile, Faculty & Staff/by mbouse

Haverhill, MA (March 16, 2026) – The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics has named Northern Essex Community College Athletics Director Dan Blair as one of its 2026 Athletic Director of the Year (ADOY) Award recipients. NACDA announced the 28 winners ADOY today. The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions, and Junior College/Community Colleges).

NECC Director of Athletics Dan Blair

The ADOY Award highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

“NACDA is once again proud to recognize an impressive class of Athletics Directors of the Year who are strong, inspiring and innovative in the way they lead and serve others,” said Pat Manak, NACDA chief executive officer. “For an award that spans almost three decades, we continue to honor both rising stars and industry veterans who make an impact across an ever-changing industry.”

It’s been another banner year for NECC Athletics, and the spring season is just getting underway. The men’s soccer team won its first-ever national tournament match, finishing the season in fifth place. The women’s basketball and volleyball teams both made it to post-season play. And, just this past weekend, the men’s basketball team became the first team in college history to win a national title. They defeated Dallas-Richmond College to secure the NJCAA DIII National Championship on Saturday.

Blair, a lifelong Newburyport resident, took the helm of NECC’s athletics program in the fall of 2017. He previously won the ADOY award in 2022.

Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 61st Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 9, starting at 4 p.m.

The ADOY Award program is in its 28th year and has recognized a total of 633 deserving athletics directors to date.

Northern Essex currently has 13 athletic teams for men and women. Each year, many students successfully transfer to four-year institutions, where some continue their athletic careers at the Division 1, 2, and 3 levels. To learn more about athletics at NECC, visit the webpage.

Knights Win First-Ever National Championship

March 14, 2026/in Mobile, Students & Alumni, Headline/by mbouse

Herkimer, NY (March 14, 2026) — The Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball team has made history: they are the first college athletic team to win a national title. The Knights defeated Dallas Richland College (Dallas, TX) 68-62 Saturday night to claim the NJCAA DIII National Championship. The win was also a program-record-tying 33rd win of the season.

darren stratton talks to a player as two players sneak up behind him with a Gatorade bucket

Head coach Darren Stratton celebrates takes a Gatorade bath

NECC got off to a hot start and jumped out to a 17-9 lead in the opening minutes before a brief cold shooting streak allowed Richland to tie the game at 17, and it remained a one-possession contest for the remainder of the half, with the Knights trailing at halftime 30-28.

Until the final two minutes of the half, when the Knights began to extend the advantage, neither team led by more than 5 at any point in the second half.

With the game tied at 50, a Yunosuke Matsuda (Tokyo, JP) layup gave the Knights a 52-50 lead with 4:58 remaining, and following a defensive stop, Cristian Moscat (Lawrence) three-point basket gave the NECC a five-point advantage.

Alejandro Delgado (Haverhill) scored a game high 16 points along with eight rebounds as he was named to the All-Tournament team, as he led a trio of scorers in double figures. National Tournament MVP Alex Johnson (Worcester) followed up his 39-point performance in the semi-final with 12 points, and Jay’von Depina (Brockton) added 12 points off the bench and was named the tournament’s Small Man of the Tournament.

Christian Sanders (Boston) was also named to the All-Tournament team and finished the championship game with eight points and eight rebounds.

Head coach Darren Stratton was named Coach of the Tournament.

The Knights had already made history leading up to the National Tournament. They were the first college team to earn a No. 1 seed in a postseason tournament. And, with their earlier NJCAA Region 21/East District Championship win, they tied the Region 21 and New England record for consecutive men’s basketball championships.

Read more about the Knights’ historic season and learn more about the team by visiting the website.

Student Earns Selective Scholarship

March 12, 2026/in Mobile, Students & Alumni/by mbouse

Northern Essex Community College student Dorothy Reynolds started the spring semester off with a double dose of good news: she was elected president of the Student Government Association, and she learned she received a $1500 scholarship from Granite Edvance.

The nonprofit awards scholarships to New Hampshire residents studying at two-year colleges and Title IV-eligible trade schools. Reynolds currently lives in Exeter, NH, but her connections to NECC and the local community run deep.

“I went to two different high schools, but Haverhill High School was one of them, and I consider myself a Hillie,” she explains, adding that her stepmother is an NECC graduate. After a short time at a four-year college, and the devastating loss of her mother when she was 23, Reynolds decided the best path forward was to return to her roots. She enrolled at Northern Essex in the spring of 2025 as a Liberal Arts: Psychology major.

“I struggled with my mental health, and now I’m in a good spot, and I’m going at my own speed.”

Reynolds says the warm welcome she felt upon enrolling reassured her that she made the right decision.

“Enrollment was super quick and easy. And then halfway through my first semester, I connected with the PACE Program. I felt like I belonged, especially as a first-generation student.”

The PACE Program helps connect first-generation college and local income students with a variety of services, including scholarships and transfer opportunities. PACE Director Kristen Arnold helped her apply for the Granite Edvance scholarship.

“I’m not working right now so I can focus on school, so it helps a ton. I happen to need a new laptop, which is one of the things you can use the scholarship on,” Reynolds notes.

Through PACE, Reynolds also discovered student groups on campus, such as the Student Government Association. She attended a few meetings and decided to run for the president role. She won and began running meetings late last month.

“I want to help other students and make sure they have what they need to succeed.”

Looking ahead, Reynolds says she will likely graduate next year and is thinking about transferring to a four-year school to get her bachelor’s degree. But, for now, she’s taking each day as an opportunity to improve her life and help those around her.

“I’m making my mom proud and myself proud because I’m doing what I need to do to make my life better – that’s what she would want.”

PACE stands for Pathways to Academic & Career Excellence. The PACE Program at NECC is funded by a TRiO grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Participating is voluntary and free to students. PACE provides a wide range of support services and facilitates several field trips and experiences. For more information, visit the webpage or schedule an in-person or virtual visit.

NECC Among Colleges Launching New Apprenticeship Degree Programs

March 11, 2026/in Programs, Mobile/by mbouse

Boston, MA (March 10, 2026) — Six Massachusetts community colleges are partnering with employers across the state to launch new apprenticeship degree programs that combine paid, on-the-job training with academic coursework—connecting students to high-growth careers while helping employers close critical talent gaps.

The apprenticeship degree model is new in Massachusetts but is gaining momentum nationwide. Apprenticeship degrees take a long-proven workforce development approach, common in careers such as plumbing and electrical trades, and apply it to new occupations where there is a significant and long-standing need for talent with post-secondary credentials. With this model, the learning takes place in both the classroom and at the workplace, and students earn both wages and credit while in the program. These programs open doors to high-demand careers for students who may need to work while they learn, while providing employers with a reliable, local pipeline of skilled talent.

The initiative is supported by over $6 million in grants from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and Accelerate the Future, which have partnered to accelerate innovation and workforce alignment across higher education.

Six colleges each received multi-year grants to launch apprenticeship degrees. Four colleges—Bunker Hill Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, MassBay Community College, and Middlesex Community College—have already enrolled students in apprenticeship degree programs. North Shore Community College and Northern Essex Community College will launch programs in fall 2026. The Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges also received a grant to hire a statewide apprenticeship project manager to oversee the development, registration, and scaling of registered apprenticeships across Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges.

NECC plans to launch three apprenticeship degrees over the next three years:

• Fall 2026: A.A.S. in Surgical Technology
• Fall 2027: A.S. in Medical Lab Technology
• Fall 2028: A.S. in Radiologic Technology

In addition to the programs above, the college is exploring additional programs for
apprenticeships in:

• Certificate in Medical Assisting
• Educator Prep (pre-apprenticeship)
• Finance and Accounting

About Apprenticeship Programs

Apprentices are currently training for careers as licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, behavioral health technicians, and K–12 educators. Additional programs are coming online in early education, cybersecurity, surgical technologist, social work, medical laboratory technology, dental assisting, and many other high-demand occupations in allied health and nursing.

“Apprenticeships are no longer just for the trades,” said William Heineman, President of North Shore Community College and Chair of the Community College Council of Presidents. “These programs expand access to a wide range of careers that were previously only available to traditional college graduates. They allow students to earn while they learn and graduate with both experience and credentials that employers value.”

For employers, apprenticeship degrees offer a powerful workforce strategy supporting recruitment, upskilling incumbent workers, and improving retention in high-turnover roles. Apprenticeships have consistently shown a great return on investment for employers. A few of the more than thirty employer partners engaged include Mass General Brigham, Tufts Medicine, Reliant Medical Group, SALMON Health and Retirement, Advocates, Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, Salem Public Schools, and Chelsea Public Schools.

Interest in apprenticeships is surging nationwide. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey recently announced a goal of registering 100,000 apprentices by 2036, spanning industries such as healthcare, technology, advanced manufacturing, construction, and education.

Almudena Abeyta, Superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools, noted: “Apprenticeships allow us to grow our own talent pipeline while giving paraprofessionals already on our team meaningful opportunities to advance. With the time and cost of traditional degree pathways, this model makes licensure and career growth more accessible for everyone.”

Kristin Driscoll, Executive Director of Workforce Development at Mass General Brigham, added: “Apprenticeships are a powerful tool for us to address significant and long-standing labor shortages in operating room and allied health professions, while also creating clear pathways for our employees to advance their careers. They enable employers to grow their own talent in fields and give workers real opportunities for upward mobility.”

Research shows that earn-and-learn models increase student retention, completion, and post-graduation earnings—making apprenticeship degrees a high-impact strategy for advancing economic mobility while strengthening the Commonwealth’s workforce.

“Apprenticeships open doors,” added Regina Marshall, Chief Operating Officer of Advocates. “They allow people to gain hands-on experience while continuing their education and building toward a meaningful, stable career. At the same time, they help organizations like ours strengthen and support the next generation of professionals our communities depend on.”

Apprenticeship degree programs build on the successful apprenticeship model widely known for preparing students for careers in the trades. Colleges partner with employers to provide highly structured programs that lead to careers in healthcare, education, IT, and many more, and open post-secondary education to many for whom a more traditional postsecondary education model cannot work.

“By aligning education directly with labor market demand, apprenticeship degree pathways help companies grow talent locally, expand opportunity for students, and keep Massachusetts competitive,” said Nate Mackinnon, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.

This article was adapted from a press release by the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, CONTACT: Sarah Yunits | 508-330-4252 | yunitss@macc.mass.edu

Early College Students Collect and Donate 3300 Boxes of Cereal

March 5, 2026/in Programs, Mobile/by mbouse

Haverhill and Amesbury, MA (March 5, 2026) — National Cereal Day is this Saturday, but Northern Essex Community College’s Business 101 students, taught by Trish Tupaj, got a head start on the celebrations. The Amesbury High School students, who are earning college credit through NECC’s Early College Program, collected 3,364 boxes of cereal, lined them up, and then knocked them down domino-style. The effort, known as The Cereal Challenge, gives the students experience in many aspects of business.

Students were tasked with making flyers, approaching local businesses, and leveraging their own networks to get donations. Donation boxes were also located throughout both the NECC and Amesbury High School campuses. Students will follow up by sending personalized thank-you notes and pictures to supporters.

Students initially set a goal of 2600 boxes, which they met rather quickly. Tupaj noted their total of 3,364 boxes is especially impressive given the challenges of working around snow days and school vacation.

Tupaj first got the idea for a “cereal challenge” in 2023 as a high school teacher in Connecticut. That effort collected nearly 1600 boxes. When she began teaching Early College classes at NECC the following year, she was eager to continue the collaborative community service project. Last year was the first Cereal Challenge at NECC. Her Whittier Tech Early College students knocked over more than 3,600 boxes in an event that garnered attention from several Boston television stations. She said she was proud to see how the students and the community rallied behind the idea.

All of the cereal boxes are now on the way to local food banks.

Early College at NECC

NECC’s Early College Program is a dual enrollment program that allows students to take college courses and earn college credits while still in high school, and gain exposure to a variety of career and pathway opportunities. Research has consistently demonstrated significant benefits for dually enrolled students, including improved academic achievement in high school, increased likelihood of enrolling in college, and better credit accumulation and college completion rates.

Learn more about Early College at NECC by visiting the webpage.