NECC Attracts Those with College Degrees see page 6
Preparing for Takeoff: A
Nursing Grad’s Journey
see page 4
College for Kids Celebrates Twenty Years see page 8
Dear Friends,
A lasting love of learning starts early – and Northern Essex knows this well. Twenty years ago, our college community established College for Kids, a unique summer program that welcomes hundreds of K – 12 students to campus each year to engage in interactive workshops, classes, and activities. For many, the program is the first building block for a future career or passion. For some, it is the start of a lifelong relationship with our vibrant college community.
My daughter Thomasina, for example, got her start at Northern Essex at College for Kids, where she fostered her love of performing and explored other passions such as filmmaking and computer science. Thomasina went on to earn her associate degree in General Studies from Northern Essex last May as a participant in Amesbury High School’s Early College Program. Now a junior in college, she is a very motivated student and I can’t help but think those early experiences on our campus helped cultivate her love of learning.
In this issue of alumnecc, you will hear from Alicia Iola, who, once a College for Kids student herself, has come full circle and now helps to lead the summer program. You will also learn from various students and graduates who found their start at Northern Essex and are now soaring to great heights (in some cases literally). You’ll read about Shaun Voss ‘13, a former NECC nursing program student turned Hawaii medical flight nurse, and will explore the stories of bachelor’s degree-holding students who have decided to further their educational journey at NECC.
As you take in the stories before you, I hope you’ll also take some time to reflect on your own journey with Northern Essex and the love of learning you developed along the way. If you have a memory to share, please send it to us at alumni@necc.mass.edu.
Thank you for being part of the Northern Essex story!
Sincerely,
Lane A. Glenn, President
Editor: Sarah Comiskey
Contributing Editors: , Ellen Small Davis, Ernie Greenslade, Wendy Shaffer
Graphic Designer: Susan Stehfest
Writers: Sarah Comiskey, Ellen Small Davis, Ernie Greenslade
Each time Hawaii resident Shaun Voss ‘13 boards a plane, prepared for his next inter-island medical evacuation mission, it is with the confidence that Northern Essex instilled in him long ago.
Once a student in NECC’s nursing program, Voss has over the span of just one decade earned nearly 10 certifications and three degrees, becoming a registered nurse and taking his knowledge from one coast to another. But his journey to success did not come so easily.
Back in 2008 Voss was a high school graduate with limited options. Amid the height of the economic recession, his working class family, living in Rochester, NH, existed without the means to provide for higher education or to assist him in obtaining a viable career. Still – Voss kept college at the forefront of his mind.
“I did not have a lot of resources or experience on how to obtain a higher education,” he says, “but I always knew I was destined to do so.”
It was while working as a nursing assistant and part-time EMT that he found his passion – and his way forward. Scouring the internet for affordable healthcare degrees, he learned about Northern Essex’s top-ranking nursing program through a Google search and was immediately sold.
“[NECC] had everything I needed in one location. The advisors gave me the guidance I needed to get started, making it a smooth experience,” he says.
By 2010, Voss had completed his pre-requisite nursing courses and was accepted into NECC’s Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate program. Despite some bumps in the road along the way, including difficulty balancing a full-time course load with a full-time night job, Voss made it through to graduation, eventually pursuing and receiving his Associate of Science Degree in Nursing and obtaining registered nursing (RN) status from NECC as well.
He credits the many faculty members and advisors who encouraged him to continue pushing forward for making his dreams possible.
“This was truly the most superior program I have encountered to date,” he says. “It was challenging, it was exhausting, but the expectations of excellence from the faculty kept us motivated to perform well.”
His educational pursuits did not end here, he says. Following his graduation from NECC in 2013, Voss obtained an acute care inpatient hospital job at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY and received the qualifications needed to work in an ER setting, all while earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Granite State College. He also obtained clinical-based certifications in pediatric advanced life support, trauma care nursing, emergency room nursing, neonatal resuscitation, and more.
And now, more eager than ever to expand his knowledge and apply it to those in need, Voss has taken his talents all the way to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he divides his time between Queen’s Medical Center: West Oahu and medical evacuation fixed-wing aircrafts. But even soaring far above the land, he does not lose sight of where he first took off.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had the experiences I have been given in my relatively short career,” he says. “And I’m proud to say it all started with Northern Essex Community College.”
Increasingly, individuals who already hold college degrees are turning to Northern Essex Community College for associate degrees or certificates. Whether it’s to change careers or follow a dream, NECC is a destination for degree holders.
Samantha Romano of Kingston, NH, is just one example. A three-sport athlete out of Sanborn Regional High School, she believed that physical science was a natural path for her when she first enrolled at Plymouth State University. Still, while physical science interested her Romano found herself, upon graduating, looking in other areas for career advancement.
Just one computer class at Northern Essex convinced Romano to pursue her Associate Degree in Computer and Information Sciences.
“I asked myself ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner?’” she says. “Now I love everything I’m doing. There is always a challenge.”
Her time at NECC was well spent. An internship with a computer company led to a job offer — she was employed before she graduated in 2016. Today she works for yet another computer company where her career continues to advance.
“Honestly, making the decision to go back to school at NECC was one of the hardest but most rewarding decisions I’ve made,” she said.
Romano is not alone. Between five and six percent of students enrolled at Northern Essex are previous degree-holders. This number is in line with the national percentage based on a survey by the Center for Community College Student Engagement at the University of Texas – Austin that was cited in a 2015 U.S. News & World Report article. While most of these students have bachelor’s degrees, some even hold master’s degrees or doctorates.
Katelyn Richardson, American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Certificate Program Graduate
“We have students who have a master’s degree and they are not finding a job in the area they thought they would, or are working at a job and it went away,’’ says Grace Young, dean of academic policy, advising, articulation, and transfer at Northern Essex. “In some cases, it’s not that there are no jobs, it’s just that they’ve been at a job and have a different interest.’’
Young noticed the trend starting within the past couple of years. She says there is strong interest in health care and human service programs such as respiratory therapy, sleep technology, and alcohol and substance abuse counseling. The reasons and programs may vary, but the outcome is the same – personal satisfaction or career advancement.
Wilmington’s Katelyn Richardson had already earned a bachelor’s degree in health science with a minor in biology from James Madison University when she enrolled in NECC’s American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Certificate Program. She is waiting to begin a Physician’s Assistant (PA) Program at another institution this fall. She hopes to become the rarest of commodities – a PA who is fluent in ASL.
“I was looking for a program that fit my schedule and was affordable,” she said. “I found what I was looking for at Northern Essex.”
Between five and six percent of students enrolled at Northern Essex are PREVIOUS DEGREE-HOLDERS
What was once a bold new idea is now a campus standard.
Two decades ago, when Northern Essex first established College for Kids, a summer academic program for children, it was unlike anything else offered in the Merrimack Valley at the time. Young students who enrolled in the four-week program were given the unique opportunity to explore dozens of topics ranging from theater to 3D modeling, all through interactive courses taught on NECC’s campus by local teachers and experts.
Now College for Kids is looking back on its twentieth year, with nearly 300 children, ages 7 through 13, having enjoyed creative programs on NECC’s campus this summer. Its importance, according to Alicia Iola, K-12 programming coordinator, only continues to grow as NECC looks at new ways to expand interest in its offerings.
“I think the summer program is great as it highlights NECC in a few different ways, “she says. “It showcases how we are first and foremost a community college and creates programs tailored to local families. It also shows off the diversity of the NECC faculty and alumni.”
Iola, once a student of the College for Kids program herself, is particularly keen to the impact that College for Kids, and similar summer programs, can have at the individual and community level. While the program largely exists as a tool for combatting summer learning loss, its true value, she explains, is in the fun of it.
“I have fond memories of the College for Kids program when I attended, and it was because I was allowed to have fun while learning,” she says. “I prep all of the staff by letting them know that while they have great intentions for their classes, it’s also important to gauge the student reaction and make sure that they are interested.”
To boost awareness of these engaging learning opportunities, the staff of NECC has now expanded its summer program offerings to include courses for middle school and high school students. This year’s program included a STEM Academy for 13-16 year olds, who, in addition to attending classes, were treated to various career and education lectures.
“We have consciously worked to thoughtfully increase the age range and create developmentally appropriate courses for each level,” explains Marcy Yeager, executive director of PK-12 partnerships and international studies, who helps lead the summer program efforts.
Summer program plans for 2019 are set to include concentrated week-long writing workshops for teenagers as well as additional sports offerings.
The NECC College for Kids Program is made possible thanks to the support and generosity of the Edward S. & Winifred Moseley Foundation, the Amelia Peabody Foundation, the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, and the Agnes M. Lindsay Trust. For more information, please visit www.necc.mass.edu/college-for-kids.
Opposite Page: College for Kids students enjoying various summer program activities, such as: Arts & Crafts, Tie-Dying, Sports, and Film Workshops involving screen writing, filming, and editing.
Over the last two decades attorney Judith Pollock Ciampi has brought both her legal and business acumen to several roles at Northern Essex. From educator to program coordinator, and now as a leader in the new Academic Center for Business and Accounting, she has shown an unwavering devotion to learning and teaching.
Name: Judith Pollock Ciampi
Profession: Attorney, professor
Hobbies: Kickboxing; walking; international travel
Last book read: “The Rooster Bar,” by John Grisham
Latest accomplishment: Last year, I was tasked with creating a pilot academic center for business and accounting students as part of the Integrated Student Experience adopted by NECC. The Center for Business & Accounting is now in its second year of operation. It provides industry-specific programs, career services, transfer information, registration and advising services, as well as a home where students can access a computer, work on homework, meet with a professor, or hang out between classes. This year the center launches a lunch and learn series called “Chew on This,” where faculty and students discuss issues and trends in business.
Quote: “This too shall pass.”
Profile: Prior to becoming an educator I was a corporate attorney. I love the law and enjoy sharing my experiences in business and the law. I have taught Legal Research & Writing to law school students, written for a legal publication, and worked as a law clerk at an appellate court. I graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s in psychology and from New England School of Law. Married for 30 years, I have two adult children.
Why I do what I do: I love to read and learn new things. I also like to teach others what I have learned. I enjoy helping students find a career path that will keep them interested and engaged. Working in education makes one a lifelong learner.
Gifts of cash enable funds to be made available for immediate use by NECC and are fully tax deductible. To make your gift, simply complete and return the enclosed envelope with your check made payable to NECC Foundation, Inc. or give online at www.necc.mass.edu/giving.
> Securities
Gifts of appreciated securities offer significant tax advantages to the donor. Please call Institutional Advancement for further information and instructions for their transfer.
Many companies match contributions made by a current or retired employee or spouse. Contact your Human Resources Department if your employer has such a program and, if so, obtain the proper forms and forward them to Institutional Advancement.
You may make a charitable contribution to NECC and also receive income for life while obtaining significant tax advantages.
Any asset may be transferred to NECC by bequest. The gift may be made under your will, through a trust, or by designating NECC as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan.
You may make gifts of real estate and gifts of future interests in real estate and obtain tax savings.
NECC’s Institutional Advancement Office can provide you with additional information about the many ways of giving to NECC. Call or email Jean Poth, vice president of institutional advancement; executive director, NECC Foundation, Inc. at 978-556-3624 or jpoth@necc.mass.edu.
Linda J. Hotchkiss ’80
Retired CEO, Rochester District VNA
“ Northern Essex believed in me and gave me a chance to succeed. I was able to take advantage of this opportunity, and now I proudly give back to the college. It is the best way in which I am able to say: Thank you, Northern Essex.”
James MacLaughlan ’68, retired English teacher, Lowell Public Schools
Three years ago, Kiara Pichardo of Lawrence was performing on the stage of NECC’s Top Notch Theater. Last spring, she had a role in Top Girls at Boston’s acclaimed Huntington Avenue Theater.
Written by Carly Churchill in 1982, Top Girls explores what it means to be a successful woman. The Huntington Avenue performance was directed by Liesl Tommy, an award-winning stage director, who Pichardo calls “amazing” and “down to earth.”
The only non-equity actor in the cast of seven women, Pichardo landed the role after three auditions. She played the waiter, Kitty, and Shona, all with a British accent, which she first experimented with on stage at Northern Essex in the 2013 performance of The Beaux Stratagem
While at Northern Essex, she also performed in How the Other Half Loves, Real Women Have Curves, and Front
Pichardo received a Liberal Arts Degree: Theater Option from Northern Essex in 2015, graduating with honors. She later transferred to Fitchburg State University, where she received, in 2017, a bachelor’s degree in communication media with a concentration in theater.
As one of the thousands of NECC alumni who make up our vibrant community, you play an important role in ensuring the continued success of the college and the surrounding region. Nearly 96 percent of NECC graduates remain in the Merrimack Valley, and in turn make up a large percentage of our workforce – they are our healthcare professionals, lawmakers, artists, industry leaders, and more. You have a voice in the story of your alma mater… And we thank you for sharing it!
As you move forward in your journey, we hope you will continue to stay in touch with us and spread the word about all that NECC has to offer. If you have a story to share, please email the alumni office at alumni@necc.mass.edu. We’d love to hear from you!
Commencement Speaker Andy Vargas, Massachusetts state representative for the 3rd Essex District, extolled the virtues of Northern Essex during his remarks at Northern Essex’s 56th Annual Commencement on Saturday, May 19.
“This college is more than a traditional higher education institution; it is a treasure and creator of community and opportunity,” he said.
Student speaker Malina Popa, an engineering major with a 3.95 GPA, immigrated to the United States from Italy with her husband and two young children in 2012. The first job she could get was as an assembler for an electronics company, and she discovered she had an interest in the field. “I did not choose engineering –engineering chose me,” she told the graduates.
NECC Alumni Association Chair Bill Klueber presented the Outstanding Alumni Award to Karina Calderon of Methuen, who graduated last year and is now associate director of the Lawrence Partnership and a member of the NECC Alumni Board.
Emeritus status was given to recent retirees Terry Cargan, professor emerita of English; Ann Grandmaison, coordinator emerita of library research services; Lynne Nadeau, director emerita of tutoring services; and Bernard “Bill” Zannini, professor emeritus of business.
Six sophomore members of the 2018 Northern Essex Knights have transferred to four-year colleges, where they will be playing baseball.
Corey Imbriano of Wakefield, MA will attend the University of Dayton, OH (DI) and Ben Irvine has committed to the University of Maryland (DI).
Nolan Stevens of Wilton, NH will attend Southern Wesleyan University, SC (DII).
Three players—Devin Carvalho of North Andover, Ryan Collins of Peabody, and Nick Musto of Londonderry, NH— have elected to stay close to home and play for Suffolk University, UMass-Boston, and Rivier University respectively (DIII).
After clinching the District F Super Regional Series, the Knights competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III World Series this past May, as the #6 seed in the eight-team tournament, which was held in Greeneville, TN.
Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the NJCAA and sponsors nine varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men’s basketball, golf, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track and field.
Check out the all-new NECC Athletics website, www.neccknights.com, for all the latest information on the NECC Athletics program. If you are a former student athlete who has transferred to or received a degree from a fouryear institution, we want to hear from you! Please contact Director of Athletics Dan Blair at dblair@necc.mass.edu with your name, sport played, years played, and name of the college or university where you continued your student athletic career and we will include your information in the Alumni Transfer section of the website.
Seven of this year’s Northern Essex Community College graduates have the proud distinction of being the first in New England to graduate with an Associate Degree in Public Health.
Northern Essex has the only program in New England and there are only 11 programs offered nationwide.
Northern Essex began the program in the fall of 2016 in collaboration with the League for Innovation in the Community College, an international nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in the community college environment.
The program supports students who want to pursue an entry-level career in public health and eventually earn a bachelor’s degree in the field.
“By providing health education and advocacy for patients, public health workers strive to improve health care outcomes,” said Jacqueline Dick, coordinator of Northern Essex’s Public Health Program. “As a result, we hope to have healthier communities which will eventually result in lower health costs.”
Northern Essex offers a Community Health Worker Certificate in addition to its Associate Degree in Public Health.
David Picanso ’69
Jay Stevens ‘75
Judith Vedrani ‘78
John Riley ‘79
Suzanne Longshore ‘96
Christina Gilman ‘97
Rebecca Flynn ‘07
Madonia Morgan ‘10
DEBORAH SOUSA ‘87 has been highlighted by Banker & Tradesman for her career achievements. Sousa currently serves as executive director of the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association.
IVAN SOTO ’14, an officer with the Lawrence Police Department and a graduate of both the NECC criminal justice program and NECC Police Academy, appeared on the Today Show to speak about his involvement in the rescue efforts during the Merrimack Valley gas explosions.
RENEIRY SANTIAGO ’17, a professional photographer, was featured in a Q&A with Boston Voyager. Her work is also featured in a photo mural on NECC’s Lawrence campus.
RYAN COLLINS ‘18, a former shortstop for the NECC Knights baseball team, has been named to the NJCAA Division III Gold Glove Team, presented by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings.
JINETTE GALARZA ‘18 has been awarded a special citation by the Lawrence City Council, based on her academic and leadership success. A graduate of NECC’s liberal arts program, she previously served as a student senator, orientation leader, Observer editor, and organizer for various campus events, including the college’s first Renaissance Fair.
On Thursday, June 14, dozens of NECC graduates gathered together for a special alumni night out at Lawrence’s Terra Luna Café.
The free event, open to all graduates and friends of the college, featured live music, raffles, appetizers, drinks and more, while attendees enjoyed casual conversation.
For many, the alumni social was a chance for graduates to reflect on their days as students and learn from others whose educational journeys had started with NECC. While some attendees had just recently graduated or transferred, others had been out of college for years and were reuniting with their alma mater for the first time. Among the latter group was Pedro Nunez ’03, who expressed gratitude for NECC’s important role in shaping his career.
“NECC was my entryway into higher education,” he says. “It was the beginning of everything.”
Nunez now serves as CEO of Salem, NH-based IT Management Solutions.
The summer alumni social was co-hosted by the NECC Alumni Office and Lawrence Campus Community Relations.
Want to stay up to date on alumni events? Visit www.necc.mass.edu/alumni-events for all the latest!
LAWRENCE CAMPUS/LC-301: 11/15/18 - 5/2/19
HAVERHILL CAMPUS/C-LHA: 12/6/18 - 4/25/19
Doors Open 6 p.m. Reserve Seating Available until 6:20 p.m. Films Start at 6:30 p.m.
Northern Essex is kicking off a new film series this fall and spring which is free to alumni, students, faculty, and staff and will be shown on Haverhill and Lawrence Campuses. Movies include: Ghostbusters (the original 1984 film); Cesar Chavez: An American Hero; Avengers: Infinity War; Selena; Valentine’s Day; Black Panther; Mary Shelley; Mamma Mia! and Christopher Robin. For more information, please contact Vengerflutta Smith at vsmith@necc.mass.edu
