{"id":22835,"date":"2024-05-23T14:51:22","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T18:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom2\/2024\/05\/23\/ceremony-honors-neccs-early-college-students\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T12:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T16:02:14","slug":"ceremony-honors-neccs-early-college-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/05\/23\/ceremony-honors-neccs-early-college-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Ceremony Honors NECC’s Early College Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Haverhill, MA (May 16, 2024) \u00ad\u2013 More than 500 graduating seniors from 22 local high schools earned college credits in addition to their high school diplomas this year as participants in Northern Essex Community College\u2019s Early College Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Helena Mason of Haverhill received her certificate from her mom, NECC VP of the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations Noemi Custodia-Lora.<\/p><\/div>\n

The students and their families celebrated at an Early College Recognition Ceremony on May 16, held on Northern Essex\u2019s Haverhill Campus.<\/p>\n

The students earned a total of 8,139 credits while in high school, an average of 16 credits each, which translates to a full college semester. The students will transfer their credits to 57 different public and private colleges, from UMass Amherst to Worcester Polytechnic Institute to Northeastern University. At least 90 have elected to attend Northern Essex in the fall.<\/p>\n

Nine students are graduating with both associate degrees and their high school diplomas this year, having completed two full years of college while still in high school. That group includes Anna Perrin of Central Catholic High School; Derek Chase of the Clark School; Helena Mason, Abigail Mejia and Charles Sparrow of Haverhill High School; homeschooled students Kenza Maagoul of Haverhill and Lily Martino of Newburyport; Cassandra Doyle of Tec-Connections Academy; and Max Carson from Winnacunnet High School.<\/p>\n

NECC CIS: Computer Science major Osaym Omar is an alumnus of the Early College Program. He took classes while a student at Haverhill High School and elected to continue at Northern Essex as a Promise Scholar in the fall of 2023. Omar shared how Early College shaped his outlook on academics and his career: \u201cEarly College laid the groundwork for my success. I was prepared for college courses and I have cherished memories from my time on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gabriella Ortiz, a graduating senior who attends Whittier Tech, echoed Omar\u2019s sentiments. \u201cInitially, I worried that it would be too hard, that I couldn\u2019t keep up,\u201d she said. \u201cBut enrolling was so good for me. We got a real taste of college, what assignments are like and the importance of getting them in on time. Early College gave us the tools to be successful in all areas of our lives.\u201d Ortiz will attend Merrimack College in the fall with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.<\/p>\n\n\t\t