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Spring 2026 alumnecc, volume 30

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COLLECTIVE IMPACT

Creating Opportunity Through Giving, Guidance, and Partnership

Message from the President INSIDE

Hello, friends,

The creation of free community college has changed the higher education landscape in Massachusetts, first through MassReconnect, which provides free tuition for Massachusetts residents over age 25 without a degree, and more recently through MassEducate, which extends similar benefits to eligible residents of all ages.

While eliminating tuition removes a significant barrier, many challenges remain: balancing family responsibilities with coursework, gaining hands-on job experience, and affording everyday expenses like gas and childcare. At Northern Essex, we are committed to supporting students holistically. But we cannot do it alone.

In this issue of alumnecc, we examine the power of the collective— how you, through partnership, philanthropy, and advocacy help bring our mission to life and empower students to achieve remarkable milestones.

You’ll read about the NJCAA Division III National Championshipwinning Men’s Basketball team, the first team in school history to capture a national title. The road to the ultimate win was paved by decades of sustained support from across NECC’s community.

We’ll also introduce you to lifelong friends Jim Kennedy and John Opolski ’84. Though Jim did not attend NECC, he was inspired to establish a scholarship in memory of John’s twin sons—creating a legacy that will support Northern Essex nursing students for years to come.

And, with 3.2 million followers on Instagram and 3.8 million on TikTok, you may already know Lennie Simo. We’ll share how he went from making beats with a pen at Lawrence High School, to music production classes at NECC, to viral fame.

No one succeeds alone, and these stories are just a few that show what is possible through hard work, collaboration, generosity and having your community in your corner. We’re grateful to have you in ours.

Appreciatively,

4 National Champions!

Creating a Legacy Through Giving 8 Viral Fame for Alumnus 11 Making an Impact

Alumni News 'N Notes

Editor: Melissa Bouse

Contributing Editor: Sarah Comiskey

Creative Director: Trev Stair

Writers: Melissa Bouse, Sarah Comiskey, Nicole Sabando ‘22

Research Assistance: Shana Murrell

COMMUNITY IS ALL AROUND US

Huge milestones for two NECC Basketball stars: Rhaelyn Gutierrez and Alejandro Delgado both scored their 1000th career points this season.

The annual international immersion trip to the Dominican Republic deepened connection and partnership opportunities with institutions like Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago.

Haverhill Sculptor and NECC alum Dale Rogers visited campus for Engineering Week, sharing some of the science behind his larger-thanlife creations.

NECC is participating in a new initiative supported by grants from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and Accelerate the Future. In the next three years, the college plans to offer apprenticeship degrees in Surgical Technology, Medical Lab Technology, and Radiologic Technology.

Bravo to NECC Theater for another strong showing at the Region 1 American College Theater Festival. Honors included “Best Invited Production” for the “Vagina Monologues” and Region 1 National Alliance Acting Teacher of Excellence for Professor Brianne Beatrice.

Better late than never! Due to a clerical error, NECC Trustee Zoila Gomez ’97 never received her NECC diploma. President Glenn and his office corrected that error and presented her with her long-awaited diploma at a recent Board of Trustees meeting.

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Renowned storyteller Al Bostick brought his performance of “Fabulous Fibs, Fables & Folklore” to the Haverhill Campus, followed by an interactive workshop and reflection session on the Lawrence Campus. His visit was sponsored by the White Fund.

National Champions!

Northern Essex won the NJCAA Division III national title thanks to hard work, a strong foundation and support from all corners of the community.

The NECC Knights Men’s Basketball Team knows not to take anything for granted. Sure, they entered the National Junior College Athletic Association’s tournament as the number one seed—a college first. They had just won the program’s fourth straight NJCAA Region 21 Championship, tying the Region 21 and New England record for consecutive men’s basketball championships. And they hadn’t lost since mid-December, one of only three losses the whole season. Still, when they began tournament play, they knew they would be facing teams from schools with six times the enrollment of Northern Essex. It was time to put faith in each other and their talent, determination and grit.

“With the national championship, it wasn’t just about the time we put into the team. It was about how we built

together,” said co-captain Cristian Moscat. “The NECC Knights, that’s family for life.”

The Knights battled through the rounds, eventually defeating Dallas College: Richland (Dallas, TX) 68-62 to claim the NJCAA DIII National Championship. The NJCAA named Alejandro Delgado (Haverhill) the National Player of the Year and head coach Darren Stratton ’93 as National Coach of the Year. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics has named NECC Athletics Director Dan Blair as a 2026 Athletic Director of the Year Award recipient.

A party to celebrate the team’s success drew alumni from across the country. Players received special framed jerseys and got a sneak peek at their championship ring design. They also honored the college’s academic coaches.

Each athlete is assigned an academic coach who helps keep them on track off the court. They often also serve as a vital resource for players, whether they need help connecting with services or professors, or balancing life outside of being a student-athlete. The value of this connection is apparent in the results: each player graduating from NECC this year has a transfer offer at a four-year school.

“This championship is years of building and cooperation from college leadership and support of the Academic Coaches and a community that believed in us,” said coach Stratton. “Storms don’t destroy strong foundations; they reveal what was built right. Here at Northern Essex, it was built right.”

Academic Coaching Achievement Award

Free community college programs have helped students like Jay’von Depina of Brockton continue their athletic careers after high school. But it can be tough, for any student, to make ends meet with a busy schedule and the other expenses associated with college. Depina is one of two dozen students to receive the Academic Coaching Achievement Award since it was established in 2024. Now funded by the NECC Foundation, and granted based on academic accomplishments, the award shows how even small donations to the college can make a big impact.

“I used it to pay for textbooks. If I didn’t have that, I would have had to start my classes late,” Depina remarked. “It’s extra motivation to keep my grades up and stay involved.”

Depina was named the NJCAA Small Man of the Tournament. Read more about his experience in an alumnecc digital exclusive at necc.edu/newsroom

In Their Memory

Turning loss into lasting impact

Haverhill’s Acre neighborhood is just a few miles from the Northern Essex campus. It’s a tight-knit community where, as children, John Opolski ’84 and James (Jim) Kennedy roamed freely, surrounded by gaggles of friends and siblings.

The pair became close as teens, bonding over a love of playing tennis, but lacking the free time to compete on the Haverhill High School team. Both had to work. So, they would fit in a match when they could, often playing on the courts located at NECC.

“We couldn’t always play together, but we would keep track of our wins,” remembered Opolski. “At the end of each season, whoever had the most wins would have to treat the other to dinner at the York Steak House at the Methuen Mall. To this day, we still reference the York Steak House.”

Their matches became even less frequent as they parted ways for college in 1977. Opolski enrolled in UMass Amherst where he got a degree in forestry. Kennedy traded Haverhill for Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he attended and graduated from Princeton University. He went on to earn his law degree from Boston University. After college, Opolski returned to Haverhill and started a landscaping business with his brother. Kennedy headed west and started his law career in California. Despite the distance, the two kept in touch; sometimes through phone calls and cards, sometimes through the network of family and friends from the neighborhood.

“I used to joke that Jim’s mom liked me better than him! I would stop by her house, and she would want to know everything that was going on with me, and she would update me on

what was going on with Jim if we hadn’t spoken for a bit,” said Opolski.

Despite having success with landscaping and growing Christmas trees, after a couple of seasons Opolski started to think about pursuing a career with a steadier income. His mother, who worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), suggested nursing. He applied to NECC and quickly got accepted— perhaps a little too quickly.

“I thought ‘oh my gosh, do I even want to do this?’ I ended up getting a job as an orderly at a local hospital just to see if this were the kind of job I would want.”

Nursing stuck and Opolski graduated from NECC in 1984. He would soon meet and marry a fellow Hillie and 1986 NECC nursing graduate Laureen. Jim Kennedy flew in from California to be the best man.

Finding Strength in Tragedy

Life fell into a predictable rhythm. John and Laureen had two children, and both settled into their nursing careers. Kennedy was finding success as a corporate attorney.

In 1990, the pair’s friendship would change and deepen in an unimaginable way.

“John told me that he and Laury were expecting their third and fourth children- twins- but one wasn’t likely to survive. Not too much later, my mother sent me the obituary from the Gazette,” recalled Kennedy.

Edward John Opolski had died at birth, but his twin brother, Connor, was healthy and doing well. The Opolskis asked Kennedy to be Connor’s godfather. He eagerly agreed and flew back for the Christening just a couple months later. He and Opolski met up on the tennis court, intending to get a quick game or two in before going to the Opolski home to meet Connor. That meeting wouldn’t happen. At home with Laury, Connor had suddenly stopped breathing. He was rushed to the hospital, but he could not be resuscitated. Little Connor passed away on October 8, 1990.

The next few days were a blur. Eventually Kennedy returned to California, but his friends and their double tragedy remained prominent in his thoughts.

“Even 36 years later, it has stayed with me.”

John and Laury Opolski went on to have two more children. Jim Kennedy became the godfather to their daughter Maggie and was a favorite among all the Opolski children and now grandchildren, in part because of

James (Jim) Kennedy

his role as the Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Chief Legal Counsel with Pixar.

In the last few years, as he prepared for retirement, Kennedy found himself once again thinking of that day in October 1990.

“Someone asked me if there was anything I hadn’t done, any unfinished business. And John and Laury came to mind. I’d funded a few scholarships before, and I wanted to create one in the memory of the twins,” said Kennedy.

With his generous donation and a match contribution from Pixar’s parent company, Disney, Kennedy established The Edward J. and Connor J. Opolski Memorial Scholarship for nursing students at Northern Essex. He said he is grateful that he can honor his friends and their children by supporting students as they pursue such a meaningful profession.

John Opolski continues to work as a hematology oncology nurse for Mass General Hospital, and Laury Opolski has worked for Merrimack Health (formerly Holy Family and Steward Health Care) for nearly 36 years.

Kennedy has officially retired, but his old friend suspects that doesn’t mean he’ll be slowing down.

“Jim senses when people need something and he’s there to step in. I know he would fly in overnight from San Francisco if I needed him,” Opolski said. “He’s been a part of my family for a long time, and he’s never forgotten where he came from. He is truly one of a kind.”

Breaking the Algo-rhythm

A pen-tapping music star is taking the world by storm

“I wanna see you make it, kid.”

These were the words, spoken by a Lawrence High School geometry teacher, that inspired viral music sensation Lennie Simo to take his talent to the national stage.

By the time he was a teenager, Simo was already known around Lawrence for an unusual talent: creating catchy beats with nothing more than a pen and a classroom desk. It was an interest that he developed in middle school, when he and his friend Ronal started using everyday utensils to entertain teachers and peers.

His geometry teacher was one of the earliest people to recognize that this talent could be more than just a hobby.

“For some reason, his words stuck with me, and they’ve stuck with me ever since,” he says. “It really motivated me back then to never give up on that dream.”

With his encouragement, and with immense support from his mother and peers, Simo leaned further into his skills. His first big win came in 2011, when he and Ronal earned the top spot in their school talent show. It

was a welcome peek into the success that would follow.

“The next day, everybody cheered for us in every class we went to, and we felt like celebrities. That really inspired me to keep going.”

By the time high school ended, Simo had his own small fanbase and regular gigs at open mics throughout Lawrence.

His next goal? A performance spot on “America’s Got Talent.”

Simo knew that getting picked for a show of this scale would be a

challenge, and that he needed to hone his technical music knowledge in order to get there. That’s when he landed at NECC and enrolled in music production courses in 2018.

“NECC helped me out in a major way, and learning music production gave me a better understanding of music,”

Simo says of his time on campus. “I [continue to] apply that knowledge whenever I take my pen-tapping to a music studio and work with producers.”

Equipped with this newfound knowledge, Simo left NECC in 2019 and, just a few years later, recorded his first viral video in the most unassuming of places: a Methuen, MA tax office.

“The owner of JBS Corp, Alex Mercedes, has been a big supporter for many years,” he explains. “I was doing my tax return one day and ended up performing for everybody in the office. It happened to be a busy day, and Alex wanted me to put on a show for all the clients waiting their turn.”

Simo woke up the next morning, checked his phone, and was stunned. His tax office performance had blown up across social media, with reposts and reactions from the likes of Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Viola Davis, and Snoop Dogg. To date, the original video has been viewed more than 47 million times on Tik Tok.

He calls this moment “a huge breakthrough point” in his life.

Since then, he hasn’t skipped a beat. Simo now boasts over 3.8 million followers on Tik Tok and has appeared on a range of nationally broadcasted shows, including the “Jennifer Hudson Show,” “Good Morning America,” and yes – “America’s Got Talent.”

And, with an ever-growing fan base, he has no intention of slowing down. Today, Simo is focused on expanding his pool of musical collaborators. His list of existing partnerships is already impressive, with groups like Jabbawockeez and the advertising team behind Oura Ring in the mix, and there are more projects in the works. Other long-term dreams

include a Round Stic pen brand deal (“They’re the best pens for pen tapping”), a clothing brand and –maybe one day – the Super Bowl. In his view, and given how far he’s come, no dream is too big.

“I want to tell people, through my art, that anything is possible in life,” he says.

In the meantime, Simo will continue to entertain millions through his unbeatable rhythms.

Follow @lenstrumental on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube to check out Lennie Simo’s work! by Sarah Comiskey

Thank you!

NECC’s fifth annual Giving Day harnessed the power of the collective in an especially meaningful way. On April 9th, the community came together to raise more than $30,000 for the NECC Fund. Two hundred and twenty donors contributed to the effort, which was a new participation record.

The NECC Fund provides support for the college’s greatest areas of need. Gifts to the NECC Fund are unrestricted, which means they can be spent immediately and can benefit a range of resources and programs that are critical to student success.

NECC NECC GIVINGDAY GIVINGDAY

Celebrating Three Years of Internship Stipend Success

At NECC, we witness the power of collective support every day – and the internship stipend program is a prime example of what is possible when donors come together.

Established in 2023, the program has, in just three years, provided more than $231,000 in stipend funding to 93 students pursuing unpaid internships, clinicals, and other experiential learning opportunities.

The best part? One hundred percent of stipend recipients have successfully completed their programs, allowing each student to get one step closer to earning their desired careers.

Upon completing stipend-funded internships, students have gone

on to accept job offers at Boston Medical Center, Opportunity Works, and more, and represent a range of fields, including healthcare, computer science, criminal justice, human services, and liberal arts.

The students describe the program’s impact best:

“The clinical stipend was very helpful these past two semesters,” shares nursing major Edison Clarke. “Since the nursing program is so demanding and has to be treated like a full-time job, it makes picking up extra shifts at my job difficult. This stipend helps offset some of the financial burden and I truly appreciate it.”

The internship stipend program is possible thanks to the generous support of NECC’s donor community. Learn more: https://necc.edu/giving/

Donation Takes Tutoring to the Next Level

The smart board has an infinite display for solving complex problems

The power of philanthropy is on full display at Northern Essex Community College thanks to Lowell Five Bank, and it is already transforming the student experience in meaningful and lasting ways.

Through their contribution, Lowell Five Bank helped make possible the purchase of a new smart board for the college’s Tutoring Center. Used daily by both tutors and students, the technology has redefined how learning happens in the space—encouraging collaboration, engagement, and problem-solving in ways that were not previously possible.

“This smart board adds such a vibrancy to the classroom,” said Mike Rideout, coordinator of the Tutoring Center. “It takes us to the next level.”

At community colleges like NECC, where public funding covers only a portion of operating costs, philanthropy plays an essential role in shaping the student experience. Donations from community partners, alumni, and friends allow the college to respond quickly to emerging needs, invest in innovative solutions, and create learning environments that reflect today’s demands.

The smart board in the Tutoring Center is a powerful example of this impact in action. More than just a piece of equipment, it has become a hub for connection—bringing students together, enhancing communication, and fostering a more dynamic and supportive academic culture.

Gifts to NECC help fuel these everyday moments of transformation. And as this contribution shows, when a community comes together to invest in education, the results ripple far beyond the classroom.

Making an Impact

Community members and partners play a vital role in the success of many programs at NECC. Each year, we honor those who make lasting contributions to the college at the Impact Awards. The 2026 Impact Award Honorees are:

MeVA and CEO Noah Berger

Community Partner Award

Michael Costello ’12 Outstanding Alumni Award

The Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation and Senior Program Officer

Marjorie Ringrose

Philanthropy & Volunteerism Award

Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger

Public Service and Advocacy Award

Opportunity Works and Jane Harris-Fale

Equity and Social Justice Award

In Her Words: Making an Impact on a Grand Scale

In rooms that would intimidate many, Northern Essex Student Trustee Melissa Horne found her voice advocating for her fellow students and the college. She shares how the experience impacted her and, hopefully, those making decisions on behalf of college students everywhere.

Early on in February, I had the pleasure and honor of traveling to our nation’s capital for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National Legislative Summit. There, I was able to connect with other student trustees from across our country to advocate on behalf of our student bodies on issues from Pell Grants to childcare.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to listen to their stories and watch the next generation of leaders from all ages and backgrounds.

“It has been a life-changing experience to serve as the NECC Student Trustee and share my story with our nation’s leaders”

Melissa Horne

I sat with Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, Rep. Seth Moulton’s staff, and Rep. Lori Trahan. With each elected official, I shared my own personal experiences and spoke about the needs of our community college students across our entire state.

It has been a life-changing experience to serve as the NECC Student Trustee and share my story with our nation’s leaders, allowing a face to be connected to the laws that impact not only Massachusetts, but our entire country.

I am a mother of six. I have been an entrepreneur and small business owner for over a decade in the Merrimack Valley. I ran a campaign that helped elect Haverhill’s first Latina to their School Committee. I have been able to use those life skills and apply them to my college journey as well as connecting with fellow students on both campuses.

My own personal story is vast, complex, and filled with life’s ups and downs. It is also not unique. It is the American story. It is the story of community college students that are starting out or restarting their lives. Our stories matter and I will continue to speak up for as long as I can.

To our NECC student body, NECC Leadership, my fellow Trustees: thank you for allowing a local mom, who never thought she would ever go to college, live out her wildest dreams. I hope I am making you and my children proud.

The journey has just begun.

-Melissa Horne, NECC Student Trustee

WHY I HIRE

Hancock Survey Associates, Inc.

“When looking for candidates to hire in the field of land surveying, we need a very special mix of skills, talents and interests. A Land Surveyor needs to mesh expertise in mathematics, ability to think in three dimensions and adaptability to changing conditions, as much of the job is outside in the elements. Add in the need to operate state-of-the-art equipment and blend in safety, and it takes someone with extremely broad skills. NECC graduates have all the criteria for a career in surveying and more. NECC graduates partake in extensive STEM backgrounds, have drive and work ethic, and can immediately hit the ground running. That is why we look to NECC for students.”

Interested in partnering with NECC to hire future interns or employees? Visit www.necc.edu/business-industry to learn how.

NECC

HELPED ME GET THERE

Keaton Van Thof ’12

Occupation: Surgical Specialist Director for Glaukos Corporation

Keaton Van Thof arrived at NECC following an unexpected pivot. The 2012 graduate had initially attended an out-of-state university after high school, but did not find the sense of direction there that he hoped for. A move back to his hometown led him to explore more local options, and it wasn’t long before he settled in at NECC.

Here on campus, Van Thof found the space and time he needed to explore what his future might look like.

“NECC gave me the time to realize what field I wanted to be working in,” he says. “What did I enjoy? What wouldn’t feel like work to me? Studying at NECC helped shape my decision to work in eyecare.”

Van Thof went on to earn an associate degree in biology, and from there continued his journey at Boston University. Now, several degrees and certifications later, Van Thof serves as the surgical specialist director at Glaukos Corporation, where he develops technologies that treat a range of retinal diseases.

“I am extremely passionate about what I do and love the fact that I can share this with others to change the world of eyecare,” he says.

Interested in hearing more on this story? Check out Van Thof’s full interview in the NECC Newsroom.

In Memoriam

Joseph C. Edwards ’64

Ann Marie Pilat ’64

Phyllis C. Tyler ’71

Robert J. Forisso ’76

Muriel A. Lacroix ’88

James A. Tuttle ’88

James S. Currier ’96

Patricia M. Diodati ’04

Jean E. Kindstedt ’06

Denis M. Bryer ’08

Meghan K. Wise ’09

NON-GRADUATED ALUMNI

Thomas W. Anderson

Ruthann E. Connolly

Scott A. Rand

Alumni News

LISA DEMEO ’82 was named City Engineer for Haverhill. DeMeo is the first woman in Haverhill history to hold this position.

KELLY TOWNSEND ‘90 joined the staff of Urban Bridges as executive director.

MICHAEL SAPIENZA ‘91 was promoted to senior vice president of enrollment services at Anderson University, South Carolina.

JAMIE POTE ‘94, a sports reporter for the Eagle-Tribune, was named to the Wilmington High Athletic Hall of Fame.

PAUL MELENDY ‘02 was highlighted in the Boston Globe for his role in “Featherbaby,” a comedic play performed at Stoneham’s Greater Boston Stage Company.

ROBERT CERNIGLIA ‘04 received the Chairman’s Award from the Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.

JASON MOURY ‘06 was promoted to VP of health programs at Making Opportunity Count.

NICOLE OLSEN ‘13 joined law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a senior design manager.

KELVIN MORENO ‘16 started a new role as senior subcontract administrator for MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

KARINA CALDERON ‘17 started a role as executive director of community engagement at Merrimack Health.

THOMAS MARTIN ‘17 recently opened Pure ImageNation, a digital conversion and photo restoration store located in Dracut.

LUIS SANTIAGO ‘18 received a George L. Hanna Memorial Award for Bravery, granted by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

KATHERINE HAILSON ‘19 was promoted to director of family services at Community Action, Inc.

SEBRINA CATALDI ‘21 self-published a debut novel, “Malicious Melissa.”

SAVIEL ORTIZ ‘22 served as keynote speaker at the Top-Notch Scholars’ 10-year anniversary gala.

LINDSAY GRAHAM ‘25 started a new role as associate director of data systems at the MA Department of Higher Education.

THE ALUMNI OFFICE IS ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE NEXT GREAT STORY

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOURS!

If you have news to share, please fill out an Alumni Information Update Form at: www.necc.edu/update-contact

ANGEL ALBA ‘02, GLENNYS SANCHEZ ‘05, YUDITH ALVAREZ ‘08, and JEURYS SANTIAGO ‘20 were honored with leadership awards during the inaugural ALPFA Boston “Next 50” event, hosted by the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).

JACOBA OLIVERO ‘25 was honored with a Lifelong Learning Award during AgeSpan’s annual luncheon.

CAITLIN LITTLE ‘25 was selected as a 2025/2026 Newman Civic Fellow. Just 38 students the U.S. and Mexico were named to this year’s cohort.

Athletics Hall of Fame

Northern Essex Community College celebrated a powerful evening of pride and legacy on March 5, as the Athletic Department inducted its sixth Hall of Fame class. Held in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill Campus, the ceremony brought together alumni, family, and friends for a memorable night.

This year’s inductees include Nathan Proulx ’03, Shana Blaney ’09, Olivia Mullins ’19, and the 2016 baseball team.

Nathan Proulx left his mark as one of the most accomplished men’s basketball players in program history. A two-time all-region selection and 1,000-point scorer, he was known for his consistency, leadership, and all-around excellence on the court. Proulx now teaches and mentors students in Boston Public Schools.

Shana Blaney’s legacy is one of versatility and dominance. A three-sport athlete, she earned All-American honors in track and field while setting school records in the shot put and discus that still stand today.

Olivia Mullins carried that tradition forward, excelling in both cross country and track and field on the national stage. A record-setting distance runner, she earned AllAmerican honors and consistently competed among the nation’s best.

The 2016 baseball team delivered one of the most unforgettable seasons in NECC history. With a thrilling

run to the NJCAA National Championship game, the team captured the spirit of resilience and teamwork.

Finishing 24–16 and powered by a high-performing lineup, the squad featured multiple All-Americans and numerous players who advanced to four-year programs, including Division I competition.

Together, this Hall of Fame class reflects the excellence, determination, and community that define NECC Athletics.

The President’s Circle recognizes generous benefactors who demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and impact of NECC. Any individual who makes a gift of $1,000 or more each fiscal year automatically qualifies for membership.

The NECC Loyalty Giving Society was established to honor and recognize motivated individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting NECC through consistent annual contributions. Anyone who has donated a gift of any size to the NECC Fund for five consecutive years or more is automatically considered a member of the Loyalty Giving Society.

The William and Rosemary Klueber Planned Giving Society

Named after two beloved late members of the NECC alumni family, the Klueber Planned Giving Society honors individuals who have chosen to include NECC in their long-term giving plans through a will or trust, life insurance, bequests, real estate, and more. Setting up a gift with NECC is a great way to provide longterm support, helping the college and its students to thrive well into the future.

Olivia Mullins, ’19

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