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<\/a>NECC Trustee and Alumni Board President Jouel Gomez \u201915 shares his story of “Transformative Education.”<\/p><\/div>\n
During the program that followed, students, alumni, and faculty shared stories of their journeys in higher education along the theme of \u201cThe Transformative Power of Education.\u201d They represented a variety of student experiences. Business Transfer student and NECC basketball player Edwin SamMbaka<\/p><\/div>\n Business Transfer student<\/a> Edwin SamMbaka is a member of the NECC basketball team<\/a>. Originally from Paris, France, SamMbaka first came to the US to play basketball in Missouri and learned about Northern Essex from a teammate. He sent his highlight reel to coach Darren Stratton, who helped him enroll and secure him a spot on the team. \u201cI immediately felt like I was in the right place for my sporting and academic development,\u201d he recalled. SamMbaka plans to transfer to a four-year school and to one day play basketball professionally.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n DJ Chase, NECC’s Accessible Media Team\u2019s digital accessibility specialist<\/p><\/div>\n DJ Chase<\/a> came to Northern Essex as part of the Early College program<\/a>. For Chase, living with autism and ADHD has meant that they haven\u2019t always had the easiest time academically. They had difficulty turning in physical assignments and found their school unable to make accommodations. When Chase took a summer math course at NECC and was allowed to submit their work digitally, a new world opened. \u201cI had gone from very depressed and suicidal to excelling academically. That\u2019s the difference accessibility can make.\u201d Chase is dedicated to making sure all students get the accommodations they need. They first interned with The Center for Accessibility Resources & Services<\/a> and, this July, became the Accessible Media Team\u2019s part-time contracted digital accessibility specialist.<\/p>\n Northern Essex alumna and Portsmouth Poet Laureate Diannely Antigua \u201909<\/p><\/div>\n Northern Essex alumna and Portsmouth Poet Laureate Diannely Antigua<\/a> \u201909 shared how she found her voice at NECC and how it helped her reckon with childhood trauma. \u201cI just didn\u2019t understand how important it was to share my story. Who would listen? My professors at NECCO listened.\u201d Antigua has a long list of accomplishments. She currently teaches in the MFA Writing Program at the University of New Hampshire as the inaugural Noosrat Yassini Poet in Residence. In 2023, she received an\u202fAcademy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship\u202fto launch\u202fThe Bread & Poetry Project<\/a>. \u201cI will always keep returning, as one does, to a place that raised you,\u201d said Antigua of NECC. \u201cI can truly say it\u2019s great to be home.\u201d<\/p>\n Convocation also included remarks from NECC President Lane Glenn, NECC Board of Trustees Chairwoman Jennifer Borislow, NECC Dean Carolyn Knoepfler, NECC Trustee and Alumni Board President Jouel Gomez \u201915, ESOL Level 5 student Joas Magouno Me Namedoumo, and Eric Barrett, who enrolled in NECC programming at the Middleton House of Corrections. \u201cI never could have imagined I would have this experience when I was incarcerated. It\u2019s not time lost. It was just time rearranged,\u201d said Barrett.
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