Susan Bonenfant Gives Back to College and Community

it’s no surprise that susan Bonenfant was chosen as this year’s outstanding alumni award recipient. The award is given annually to recognize an individual who has achieved success in his or her career, is active in the community, and has given back to the college — all attributes that susan embodies.

susan began her college education at northern Essex in 1975 and majored in accounting. she transferred to new Hampshire College (now southern new Hampshire university) where she earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting. she has gone on to have a successful career in banking, and is now a vice president of deposit compliance at Pentucket Bank, where she has worked for 10 years. susan appreciates what nECC provided her, and is now an active volunteer for nECC. she has served on the nECC alumni advisory Board since 2005, currently as its chairperson. she is also involved in various other organizations including girls inc., merrimack Valley Crimes network, and merrimack Valley Elder service money management Council. she volunteers about 200 hours per year. about the event susan says, “i loved it. i had an awesome time, and the kids loved getting their ribbons.” susan sums up her involvement with nECC this way: “ it’s a great group of people. i feel like i ’m learning all the time. i ’m giving back to the college, but the college is giving to me, too.”

“i don’t know if i would have gone to college if it hadn’t been for nECC. i was a young mother, and northern Essex was a great option for me. it was affordable and close to home. it gave me the confidence to say ‘Yes, i can do this.’ i am very grateful to nECC,” she says.

“i volunteer because it is good for my soul. it makes me feel good and whole. i have always believed in giving back. i try to instill it in my children and grandchildren,” she says. most recently, susan and her daughter and grandchildren got involved by running in the first annual nECC Campus Classic 5K and Fun run. susan even started blogging about her “couch-to-5K” experience. susan, her daughter nina, and her nine-year old granddaughter grace ran the 5K. Her two younger grandchildren, Joey, 6, and lulu, 4, participated in the Fun run.