{"id":32578,"date":"2025-12-16T10:03:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom2\/2025\/12\/16\/top-newsroom-stories-of-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:34:05","slug":"top-newsroom-stories-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/12\/16\/top-newsroom-stories-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Top NECC News Stories of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The year 2025 was filled with stories of success, innovation, and collaboration across Northern Essex Community College&#8217;s campuses. Here are this year&#8217;s most-read newsroom stories!<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-32578 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/index-at-necc\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/INDEX-at-NECC-200x200.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Four members of INDEX stand withe Naydeen holding NECC Pennant and Dominican flags\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-22585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/INDEX-at-NECC-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/INDEX-at-NECC-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/INDEX-at-NECC-180x180.png 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-22585'>\n\t\t\t\tNECC Expands Partnership with INDEX\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/rs17618_167-7373\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/RS17618_167-7373-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-22463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/RS17618_167-7373-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/RS17618_167-7373-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/RS17618_167-7373-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-22463'>\n\t\t\t\tNECC&#8217;s production of Hurricane Diane at the Fire House Center for the Performing Arts\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/155_dsc_7803\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/155_DSC_7803-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-22517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/155_DSC_7803-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/155_DSC_7803-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/155_DSC_7803-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-22517'>\n\t\t\t\tFeatured Commencement Speaker Bob Pozen\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/merrimack-ja-signing\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/Merrimack-JA-Signing-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"president glenn and president hopey pose with pens and paper\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-22407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/Merrimack-JA-Signing-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/Merrimack-JA-Signing-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/Merrimack-JA-Signing-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-22407'>\n\t\t\t\tJoint Admissions Agreement Signing with Merrimack College\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/emma-with-banner-scaled\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Emma-with-Banner-scaled-1-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Emma posing in front of banner that says &quot;start here&quot;\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Emma-with-Banner-scaled-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Emma-with-Banner-scaled-1-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Emma-with-Banner-scaled-1-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32579'>\n\t\t\t\tMeet Emma Ruggiero &#8217;24\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/victor1-scaled\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/victor1-scaled-1-200x200.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/victor1-scaled-1-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/victor1-scaled-1-36x36.jpeg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/victor1-scaled-1-180x180.jpeg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32580'>\n\t\t\t\tVictor Van shakes hands with NECC President Lane Glenn\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/img_1784-e1738080059882-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/IMG_1784-e1738080059882-1-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-22388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/IMG_1784-e1738080059882-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/IMG_1784-e1738080059882-1-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/IMG_1784-e1738080059882-1-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-22388'>\n\t\t\t\tTraining the Trainer\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/rashad-pinning-scaled\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Rashad-Pinning-scaled-1-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"woman gives pin to young man standing behind a podium\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Rashad-Pinning-scaled-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Rashad-Pinning-scaled-1-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Rashad-Pinning-scaled-1-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32581'>\n\t\t\t\tRashad Diggs receiving his National Adult Honor Society Pin\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/nick-gilmore-scaled\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Nick-Gilmore-scaled-1-200x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"nick smiles at the camera in front of brick background\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Nick-Gilmore-scaled-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Nick-Gilmore-scaled-1-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/03\/Nick-Gilmore-scaled-1-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32582'>\n\t\t\t\tNicholas Gilmore was hired after his internship with the City of Amesbury\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>Student Success<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Students bring a rich diversity of experiences and goals when they come to Northern Essex, but one common thread is how utilizing the college&#8217;s many support programs can lead to success well beyond what they initially thought possible.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/06\/02\/from-necc-to-the-ivy-league\/\">From NECC to the Ivy League<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/03\/04\/qa-with-liberal-arts-and-humanities-major-emma-ruggiero\/\">Q&amp;A with Liberal Arts and Humanities Major Emma Ruggiero<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/12\/02\/hard-work-earns-volleyball-captain-allregion-honors\/\">Hard Work Earns Volleyball Captain All-Region Honors<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Time to Celebrate<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>NECC&#8217;s campuses came alive throughout the year as students, faculty, and staff joined together to honor important milestones. In 2025, they also got a fun and welcome surprise when Commencement Featured Speaker Bob Pozen announced that each student who crossed the stage that day would receive an envelope with $200!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/05\/19\/northern-essex-celebrates-class-of-2025\/\">Northern Essex Celebrates Class of 2025<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/09\/15\/celebrating-hispanic-heritage-month-2025\/\">Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2025<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/04\/28\/students-inducted-into-alpha-beta-gamma-national-business-honor-society-3\/\">Students Inducted into Alpha Beta Gamma National Business Honor Society<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Leading in Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Faculty and staff continued the strong spirit of academic innovation that is an integral part of NECC, leading initiatives that impact learning far beyond the Merrimack Valley. Through efforts such as expanding Open Educational Resources and Competency-Based Education, NECC is removing barriers and increasing access to higher education.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/08\/04\/eighteen-necc-professors-transform-courses-with-ai-and-open-educational-resources\/\">Eighteen NECC Professors Transform Courses with AI and Open Educational Resources<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/08\/12\/two-additional-programs-offered-in-innovative-cbe-model\/\">Two Additional Programs Offered in Innovative CBE Model<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/01\/27\/grant-award-to-create-first-of-its-kind-classroom-support-specialist-program\/\">Grant Award to Create First-of-its-Kind Classroom Support Specialist Program\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Strengthening Community<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Partnerships and community connections are essential for NECC programs and students alike to thrive. Learning moves beyond the classroom, strengthening both students and the communities they serve, bringing the college&#8217;s mission full circle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/11\/06\/students-recognized-for-success-in-re-entry-program\/\">Students Recognized for Success in Re-Entry Program<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/10\/23\/internship-leads-to-job-created-for-necc-student\/\">Internship Leads to Job Created for NECC Student<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/02\/28\/merrimack-college-necc-sign-joint-admissions-and-transfer-partnership-agreement\/\">Merrimack College &amp; NECC Sign Joint Admissions and Transfer Partnership Agreement<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/08\/14\/necc-and-the-institute-of-dominicans-living-abroad-expand-historic-agreement\/\">NECC and The Institute of Dominicans Living Abroad Expand Historic Agreement<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/01\/28\/training-the-trainers-necc-police-academy-instructors-equipped-with-gold-standard-response-curriculum\/\">Training the Trainers: NECC Police Academy Instructors Equipped with \u201cGold Standard\u201d Response Curriculum<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Do you have an idea for a great story for 2026? Want to share your accomplishments or those of your peers? Contact Melissa Bouse, executive director of marketing and public relations at <a href=\"mailto:mbouse@necc.mass.edu\">mbouse@necc.mass.edu<\/a>. Thank you to all who have shared your stories and made 2025 one to remember!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The year 2025 was filled with stories of success, innovation, and collaboration across Northern Essex Community College&#8217;s campuses. Here are this year&#8217;s most-read newsroom stories! Student Success Students bring a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":32584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[681,758],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobile","category-headline"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Top NECC News Stories of 2025 - NECC News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The year 2025 was filled with stories of success, innovation, and collaboration across Northern Essex Community College&#039;s campuses.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/12\/16\/top-newsroom-stories-of-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top NECC News Stories of 2025 - 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