Northern Essex Community College

McKenzie's path to graduation was anything but a straight line. After losing both parents as a teenager, she graduated high school navigating grief and instability, with college far from her mind.

She spent years exploring her options — considering the military, trying a tattoo apprenticeship, dog-sitting — before deciding to give college a chance at NECC.

Once enrolled, she switched majors from education to biology after discovering she preferred the lab over the classroom. Then, during her second semester, she learned she was pregnant. McKenzie chose to strategically take a step back, regrouped, and came back stronger than ever— completing her finals just three days after giving birth!

With support from PACE Program at Northern Essex Community College TRIO SSS and professors who believed in her, she earned her associate degree in biology, transferred to UMass Lowell to pursue a bachelor’s in biotechnology, landed a job as a laboratory analyst, and moved into her first apartment — all while raising her son 💙

For students who feel like they’re falling behind or taking the long way around, McKenzie has a message: “It’s okay to have to do things multiple times. It’s okay if it takes longer. You’ll still get there.”

🔗Read McKenzie’s full story on the NECC Newsroom: https://necc.edu/newsroom/2026/05/18/biology-grad-determined-to-build-a-better-future/

What a year to be a Knight 🏆 The 2025–26 season was historic for NECC Athletics. Not once, but TWICE our student-athletes stood on top of the national podium.

🏀 Our Men's Basketball team captured the NJCAA Division III National Championship and were honored at a Red Sox pregame ceremony at Fenway Park — a moment this community will never forget.

🥇 Maci Abbatessa of Women's Track & Field claimed her own NJCAA Division III National Championship in the shot put, becoming just the third individual national champion in program history and the first since 2011.

The success continued across the board: Baseball finished 4th at the NJCAA World Series with five straight Region 21 and Northeast District titles, Jack Kelleher and David Castillo earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors, and Men's Soccer finished 5th nationally.

As a program, NECC earned 54 points in the NATYCAA Ron Case Cup, finishing in 12th— the highest finish ever by a New England community college in the award's 23-year history.

Congratulations to every athlete, coach, and supporter who made this season one for the record books. ⚔️💙

Today, NECC leadership met with new MA Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike to talk about how the college is poised to address critical workforce needs and increase degree attainment through initiatives such as CTE/Early College partnerships, apprenticeships and workforce development programs. The visit concluded with a tour of the soon-to-be-completed Tech Tower: three floors of innovation labs dedicated to employer-aligned technical education.
Thank you, Secretary Zrike, for the thoughtful discussion. We look forward to collaborating on comprehensive workforce strategies that connect students, employers, and communities through career-focused education and innovation.

Today, June 19th, the college will be closed in observance of Juneteenth💫

We honor liberation, uplift Black voices, and continue the fight for equality and justice. We pause to reflect on progress and acknowledge the ongoing journey towards true equality. Our community’s strength lies in its diversity, and through inclusive education, we empower each other to grow and succeed together. Join us in honoring this significant day by embracing empathy, sharing stories, and advancing equity for all.

We’re so proud to share the story of Cassandra Elie, a 2026 graduate of our Associate in Science in Nursing program— and a reminder of what true perseverance looks like 💙

Not long before orientation, Cassandra had been in a wheelchair recovering from a medical crisis that left her without function from the waist down. She rehabbed. She waited on a two-year nursing waitlist. She kept taking classes. And when the day came, she walked into NECC’s Lawrence Campus completely unaided.

But Cassandra’s journey didn’t stop there. She became president of the Nursing Club with a mission close to her heart: building a culture of support and camaraderie for her fellow students — because nursing school is hard, and no one should have to go through it alone.

This May, she delivered the keynote speech at the 2026 Nursing Pinning Ceremony and crossed the graduation stage as a nurse. 🎓

🔗Read the story here: https://necc.edu/newsroom/2026/06/16/class-of-2026-asn-grad-cassandra-elie-achieves-more-than-a-degree/

It's already been 1 MONTH since the Class of 2026 crossed that stage🥹

Summer semester is different— and that's exactly why you need a game plan⬇️

Summer Session II starts on Monday, June 29th, and we've got options for everyone looking to make the most out of this season:

💫 Currently enrolled at NECC? Log into myNECC and register through the portal. Summer Session II starts June 29 — don't wait!
💫 Took some time off? Get back on track with a call or email to NECC's Enrollment Services!
💫 Are you a student at another college or university? You don't have to be an NECC student to take classes here! Earn transferable credits, save on tuition, and study from home with online options. No application needed for 1–2 classes. Just fill out the Non-NECC Student Registration Form!
💫 New to NECC? Apply at necc.edu/admissions/apply or call Enrollment Services at 978-556-3700. Free community college options may be available to you!

Questions? Email [email protected] or call 978-556-3700. We're here for you! 💙

Our Class of 2026 proved once again that there is no singular path to success⬇️

This year, 660 graduates earned 680 credentials, representing 106 cities, 7 states, and countless unique journeys. Among them are 404 first-generation college graduates, 14 veteran graduates, students as young as 18 and as experienced as 76, and future leaders entering fields ranging from healthcare and education to business, technology, and public service.

These are not just numbers-- they are stories of perseverance, growth, and achievement. Together, these graduates demonstrate the power of accessible education and the impact of a community that supports learners at every stage of life💫

Career-connected learning doesn't start at 18. It starts much earlier⬇️

This week, NECC's Associate VP of Career & Technical Education, Elizabeth Bennett, joined Dr. Aisha Francis (Franklin Cummings Tech) and Dr. Grace Wang (WPI) on a panel at the Boston Globe's Tech Innovation Summit to make exactly that case.

The conversation centered on why seamless pathways — from middle school through two-year and four-year degrees — are essential for preparing students for the careers of tomorrow. Elizabeth's work at NECC sits at the heart of this mission: connecting students to real skills, real industries, and real opportunity long before they set foot in a college classroom.