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 Hilly,” 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.