All posts by Andy Montilla, Correspondent

Campus Life, Uncategorized

Campus Culture Podcast takes NECC by storm

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Dynamic trio takes to the air to talk Northern Essex

From podcast episodes to open mic nights, NECC’s Campus Culture Podcast is giving students a voice.Made up of three members, this podcast wrecking crew was established in the Spring semester of 2018.President of the group; Amanda Torres says their goal was to “put forth a different kind of aspect on campus” in regards to the other clubs at NECC.Torres points out how there was not a club on campus that captured the student body’s interest as a whole.“We like to discuss local news, Hip-Hop and keep our followers updated on our social media with new music and events we host at Northern Essex or might be attending in the Merrimack Valley,” said Torres.

Thursday, November 29th was the podcast’s first Open Mic night at NECC.In attempts to make this a recurring event,  Zack Deveau a second member of the podcast talks about how the Open Mic night is a milestone for the group. “We finally have the platform and space available to give local artists from the school and the community some exposure.”One of the talents Deveau is referring to, is pen tapping sensation and NECC Music major; Lennie Simo.Coming off of an MTV appearance on the comedic show “Ridiculousness,” Simo had the Open Mic audience in awe due to how fast he could tap his pens and how well he could mimic a well known instrumental.

Fun fact about Simo, he recently auditioned for “America’s Got Talent,” so keep an eye out for him on next season.Third member of the Campus Culture Podcast and homegrown, Open Mic night, talent Raul Eduardo Gonzalez Zemora talked about how the Open Mic night came about and why it is so important.“We’re in a location [Merrimack Valley] where there is so much talent and there’s not really a platform where people can go to express themselves,” he said. Zemora, a rapper, talks about how important and a must this podcast was to all three members.

“We’re going to give it to you real. That’s how this started, a couple of friends wanting to get together to help people express themselves and help individuals be proud of the artist they are and were meant to be,” he said. .With such a positive attitude and message, the Campus Culture Podcast is not only worth a listen but a follow on their social media accounts as well. Their podcast episodes are up now on the HC Media website. To reach out to any of the members or to stay informed for their next event, they can be followed on their Instagram account: campus_culture101. The Campus Culture Podcast members hope to have many more Open Mic nights to come but also hope that the podcast aspect stays relevant long after all members have graduated NECC.

student holding a mic raping in front of a projected screen
Raul Eduardo Gonzalez Zemora, rapping/performing. Photo by Andy Montilla
three students standing together in front of a projected screen
Campus Culture Podcast members (Left to Right): Zack Deveau, Amanda Torres, Raul Eduardo Gonzalez Zemora Photo by Andy Montilla
student raping in front of screen
Lennie Simo pen tapping and Savion Rosa, first year business major rapping/performing, Photo by Andy Montilla
Sports

Track star, basketball team to be inducted into NECC Hall of Fame

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Noelia Figueroa and the 1970-1971 men’s basketball team will be first inductees

Northern Essex Community College’s 1970-71 Men’s Basketball Team and Noelia Figueroa will be the first ones to be inducted into NECC’s new Athletic Hall of Fame on February 28, 2018.

Figueroa is a two-time NJCAA track and field national champion. She won the 200 meter in 2010 and then the 100 meter in 2011.

Brooke Santos, a second-year student at NECC loves the fact that a woman is the first individual to be inducted into the NECC Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I will definitely be in attendance to see her be inducted, this is truly inspiring for all females,” she said.

Santos, who is a sports enthusiast herself hopes to be front row for Figueroa’s induction.

Along with one individual being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, one team will also be inducted.

close up picture of Norelia Figueroa, she has a dark skin tone and short black hair and is wearing an athletic jacket
Noelia Figueroa Photo Courtesy of NECC Athletics

The 1970-71 Men’s Basketball Team is accountable for the state community college title and the Eastern Massachusetts Small College Conference Championship.

Key members of the team include NECC alumni; Dick Crawford, Joe Goldsmith, and Andy Desrosiers who son Carson actually played at Central Catholic in Lawrence and went on to play at Wake Forest.

Hudson Reynolds, a business major will also be attending the Hall of Fame induction on February 28th.

“I think it’s pretty neat to see Andy Desrosiers, Carson’s dad to be inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame. I saw Carson play on Central Catholic’s Basketball team while I was a freshman at the high school.”

“I’m ecstatic about NECC getting an Athletic Hall of Fame, I think this is going to bring comraderie amongst the students here” states first year Criminal Justice major Ezra Dardis.

On February 28, 2018, Northern Essex Community College will permanently induct a decorated individual athlete and a team who has represented the school’s pride and hard work.

Noelia Figueroa and the Men’s 1970-71 Basketball Team will be in NECC’s Athletic Hall of Fame forever.

This accomplishment will indeed encourage and motivate current and future athletes that play and will play for Northern Essex Community College.

 

Home Page Featured News, Uncategorized

Dimitry work ongoing

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Renovations continue on Lawrence campus

View of the exterior of the dimitry building, the vew is obstructed by a fence
View of the exterior work on the Dimitry Building on Northern Essex’s Lawrence Campus. Photo by Andy Montilla

 

Renovations to the Dimitry Building on the Lawrence campus of NECC bgean in October in 2017. Located at 45 Franklin St., all renovations are set to be done in the month of March of 2019. Renovations include new windows, new siding, improvements to the parking lot, and a new landscaped outdoor space

NECC students are beyond excited as many students say  the Lawrence campus has already begun to look like more of a welcoming education center, with a more modern looking one stop center and bookstore on Common Street in Lawrence.

Communication major Victor Alcantara said the Dimitry Building previously didn’t offer much motivation for students “I think the renovations are great for the building, there wasn’t a whole lot to it,” he said. Alcantara goes onto say “I’m hoping when it’s done it will be a place students would actually like to have class in.”

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Renovations include new windows, new siding, improvements to the parking lot, and a new landscaped outdoor space.

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NECC students will not only be motivated to attend classes in Lawrence but also feel like this is a much needed accomplishment for Lawrence.

Ivelisse Matos, a Business major at NECC states “with everything that’s going on in Lawrence, it’s good that we will have a new building that students will take pride in. It’s good for Lawrence to be known for something better than tragedies and violence.”

Due to renovations, the entrance and exits of the Dimitry building were moved to the Common Street side of the building and the parking for the Lawrence campus have also been relocated. This has caused some confusion for students.

Patrick Bezanson, a first year Criminal Justice major takes most of his classes on the Lawrence campus and it has been a bit confusing for him. “Parking isn’t too bad but if you’re not from here or familiar with the area it can be frustrating,” he said. Although the temporary parking has annoyed Bezanson, he cannot wait for routine parking come next semester. “Hopefully, everything is done by the time that the website states (March 2019),” he said.

After the $6.5 million renovations are done, students will be more than motivated to take classes on the Lawrence campus and will also take pride in getting their education in a renovated and revitalized building.

Home Page Featured News, News

NECC partners with HC Media

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Offering video field production class

Experience is everything for a college student. The partnership between NECC and HC Media, give Communication majors that and more. Offering a video field production class and a chance to create a podcast that is professionally produced by the members at HC Media; the partnership works as a resume builder for students.

With the video field production class taking place at the new Harbor Place location, the class gives you a sight of what your career could look like in the future. The class takes place on an official news set with a beautiful backdrop of the new harbor walkway. The tv station has used this setup for current and prior video packages for local television in Haverhill, Mass.

While students are getting hands-on experience behind and in front of the camera, they are also learning the art of editing their work. Former student of the class, Kiley Broadhurst talks about how she benefited from the class “the course has given me the opportunity to work hands-on in video production and editing, while also allowing me to gain experience in the field.”

If a student does not want to work with the visual side of journalism, they are still getting the practice in asking the right questions to make enticing and interesting stories as journalists.

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“The Video Field Production class is a great jumpstart to your career…”
– Deidre Darling

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Students are also gaining intangible traits that will help them in all aspects of life. Confidence, for example,  is something that the students are going to be able to build and take with them throughout their career.

Whether it is in asking their interviewees questions or creating their own content.

NECC student Deidre Grant, says “The Video Field Production class is a great jump start to your career, especially if you want to go into social media.”

Grant, also known as Deidre Darling; a local YouTube star from Reading, Mass goes onto say “because of this class I will learn more about how to edit and be able to create better content for my viewers.”

Not every student who takes the course is going to have a YouTube channel or be a content creator.

Carney Woelfel found the course to be one of the more valuable ones he has taken in his career at Northern Essex.

“The class gives all communication majors a huge advantage. It’s like having an internship built into your curriculum, which is always helpful,” Woelfel said.

For the students who grow a liking or have an interest for the video production side of journalism, there are opportunities that go further than just the classroom portion at HC Media.

The staff members are always looking for volunteers from the class to help out on camera when creating content for the town of Haverhill and actually choose the top two students in the class and offer them a paid internship at the company.

The opportunities to get into video production and gain experience are endless for Communication majors at NECC.

News

Gas fires, explosions to leave lasting impact

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Residents have continued to stay strong in the aftermath

 

Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, will never be the same after the gas explosions that took place on September 13th, 2018. With Columbia Gas being the provider for the all of the homes that were lost or damaged, the company’s reputation will also never be the same.

.Cathleen Hernandez, a 22 year old from North Andover, Massachusetts was fortunate enough to not lose her home from the explosions. Even though Hernandez did not lose her home, she is still going through a challenging time “it makes everyday a little bit harder for me and my kids because we still don’t have any hot water or a functioning stove to cook dinner on.” Hernandez, like others who have been affected by this terrible tragedy are in complete shock that the gas has not been restored fourteen days after the incident.

Of all the cases that have populated in the Merrimack Valley, Lawrence, Massachusetts might be the most odd.

If you are not a local to Lawrence then you would not know that the town is divided into north and south. Connected by three separate bridges, the explosions of September 13th only took place in South Lawrence.

Don Machado, an elderly man from the north side of Lawrence was not directly affected by the explosions but instead had family members he has been witnessing going through the tough times this tragic incident has presented.

Machado, a father and grandfather states “I am extremely fortunate that I still have my home and working gas but my son and his family have had to go through the everyday hassle of having to grab clothes from home to shower in my house and also not be able to eat in the comfort of their home.”

Machado is beyond grateful he can help his family out in a time of need.

A resident from South Lawrence, Julian Strong has been looking at the more positive side of the current gas crisis.

Strong, a 53 year old who has lived in South Lawrence his whole life, says “ I feel for the folks who have lost their homes but I am glad to see how the community has responded to the whole situation. Whether it has been massive amounts of donations or schools offering places to sleep in, the same day of the explosions.”

Although residents have been allowed back into their homes, many remain without gas and have been forced to come up with alternatives to continue their everyday routines.

The Merrimack Valley has been put into a tough situation for the time being due to the restoration of gas being pushed out into the month of November.

Local residents have continued to stay hopeful and strong as they await for the gas to be restored back into their homes.