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 Anothy 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.