Haverhill, MA (May 16, 2026) — Northern Essex Community College is proud to celebrate the 807 members of the class of 2026. More than 400 of them gathered with their friends and family, along with Northern Essex leadership, faculty and staff, on Saturday, March 16, for the 64th annual Commencement Exercises on the Haverhill Campus.

NECC President Lane Glenn opened the ceremony with words of reflection and encouragement for the class of 2026: “You’re sitting in that seat, wearing your cap and gown today, because you saw the opportunity, you chose to put in the work, and now that opportunity has become your accomplishment,” he stated. “Walking across the stage today may represent the end of your chapter as a Northern Essex student, but it does not represent the end of being part of the Northern Essex family. As an institution, we are here for you in whatever way we can be as you seek to take your lives to the next level.”

Student Speaker Maria Cubias

Student speaker Maria Cubias is a shining example of taking an opportunity and turning it into success. She came to the United States from El Salvador as a teenager and quickly learned English. She excelled academically and as a soccer player, which earned her a scholarship to a four-year university. However, her mother got sick that same year. Cubias opted to put her dreams on hold to be with her family during that time. Sadly, her mother passed away. The family was then dealt another blow when her father died tragically a short time later.

“When you lose your parents, you lose more than people. You lose comfort. You lose guidance. You lose the voices that tell you everything will be okay,” said Cubias. “But pain has a way of teaching us who we are. And somewhere in that silence, I found strength I did not know I had. I found discipline. I found purpose. And I made a decision: I was not going to let my story end in pain. I was going to turn pain into motivation. Every class. Every late night studying. Every obstacle. Every tear. It became part of the reason I kept going. Because this degree is not just mine, it belongs to my parents, too. Even though they are no longer here physically, their love never left me.”

Cubias graduated with her associate degree in criminal justice. She plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree and fulfil her dream of becoming a crime scene investigator.

Featured Speaker Charlie Baker, former governor of Massachusetts

Featured speaker, former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, remarked that Cubias was a hard act to follow, and personally congratulated her on her success. He went on to share how his journey into the governorship and onto his current role as the President of the NCAA was marked by many setbacks. But each failure presented a new opportunity.

“The best advice I’ve ever gotten has come from people who were telling me something I didn’t want to hear,” Baker said. ” And they knew I didn’t want to hear it, but they said it anyway.  Make those kinds of people part of your life, and you will be better for it.”

“If you treat people the way you would like to be treated,” he continued. “If you prove to be a reliable, dependable, steady force for good.  And you listen and learn.  Trust me.  The rest will take care of itself.”

Following his remarks, President Glenn presented Baker with a custom NECC basketball jersey, a nod to the NJCAA national champion men’s basketball team, adorned with the number 30, which Baker wore as a collegiate athlete.

Social Justice Award

The award recognizes individuals, groups, departments, or initiatives at the college that promote values such as a commitment to equity and diversity or the advancement of human rights and social justice.

Dr. Stephen Russell, Professor of History

President Glenn honored Dr. Stephen Russell, Professor of History, with this year’s recognition.

“Dr. Russell, you have modeled what it means to integrate diverse perspectives, foster critical thinking, and create spaces where students can engage meaningfully with complex topics. Your colleagues and students alike commend you for creating spaces where differing perspectives are heard, civil discourse is practiced, and students are empowered to ask courageous questions.”

The social justice award comes with a prize of $1961 (in honor of the year of NECC’s founding) that the recipient can use to advance social justice initiatives at Northern Essex.

A recording of Saturday’s ceremony can be found on the NECC YouTube page. To learn more about NECC’s 2026 Commencement and see additional photos, visit the webpage.