All posts by Ethan Lowell, Correspondent

News, Slider

Transfer Fair helps students think about next step

 

With the fall semester moving along, students at Northern Essex Community College had a chance to think about their next step at the annual College Transfer Fair on Nov. 4. The event took place in the El-Hefni Building on the Lawrence campus and brought many students into the lobby throughout the afternoon.

More than 30 four year colleges and universities sent representatives to meet with students. Admissions officers answered questions about programs, transfer requirements, scholarships, and financial aid. The goal of the fair was to help students understand what they need to do if they want to continue their education after they finish at NECC.

Ana Tomkiewicz, a second year student, said she attended because she has been looking into radiology programs. “Yeah, I am thinking about radiology school,” Tomkiewicz said. “It was good to walk around and talk to a few colleges.”

Ava Maurer, who now studies at Salem State University, said she first heard about her school at a past NECC fair. “I met someone from Salem State here when I was a student,” Maurer said. “It helped me figure out where I wanted to go.”

Freshman Christopher Hernandez said he was not sure what to expect but wanted to check it out. “I talked to a couple schools,” Hernandez said. “I am still figuring things out, but it was helpful.”

The fair gave students a chance to compare schools without having to travel. Colleges in attendance included UMass Lowell, Framingham State University, Fitchburg State University, Merrimack College, Salem State University, and several others from around the region.

Events like this help students plan ahead and understand their transfer options. Many left the fair with new ideas and a clearer picture of the steps they may take after completing their time at NECC.

Sports

A deeper look into the men’s basketball team

 

With a new season about to begin, energy is high around Northern Essex Community College for basketball. After a strong 2024-2025 season, fans are excited to see what this year’s team can do.

The Knights finished last season with a record of 29-4, including a conference mark of 20-2. They averaged 90.5 points per game and shot 49 percent from the field, ranking among the top scoring teams in the NJCAA.

Even though their tournament run had ended sooner than they hoped with a close loss to Dallas College Richland in the first round, the success of last season has set up a strong foundation for what comes next.

Head Coach Darren Stratton will return for his 23rd season in 2025-26. A four-time Region 21 Coach of the Year, Stratton became the first coach to lead his program to three consecutive Region 21 and Northeast District Championships at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season which had not been accomplished in the Region in 37 years.

Liam McNally, a former NECC student, said he knows how much effort the players put in. “Yeah, I had a friend on the team a couple years ago,” McNally said. “He was always practicing and putting in extra work. I don’t really follow the team super closely now, but I know they take it seriously.”

The Knights are preparing for their first game of the season on Saturday, November 1, at Robert J. Collins Arena at 2:30 p.m. where they face Rockland Community College. Their first home game is set for Thursday, November 6, against Bristol Community College at 7:30 p.m. at the Sport and Fitness Center at the Haverhill campus.

Mathew Heidt, who plans to attend NECC in the spring, said he first met Coach Stratton during a high school camp. “I went to a basketball camp he ran a couple years ago,” Heidt said. “You could tell right away he pushes his players to work hard. I think that’s a big reason why the team’s been so good for a while.”

Fans are also looking forward to returning to the stands. Hayden Lowell, who attended NECC’s Midnight Madness event in 2023, said the experience made him want to see more. “That game was so cool,” Lowell said. “Having it at midnight was a cool idea, and the crowd was way more into the game than I thought they would be. I had a lot of fun.”

With practices underway and fans ready to return, the Knights will look to build on last year’s performance and give students even more to cheer for.

 

Arts and Entertainment, Slider

Local artist makes music debut

 
Logo of music artist AB8
Local artist and NECC student Andrew Baker recently released his first album.

Northern Essex Community College freshman and Amesbury native Andrew Baker has spent months working on his first full length project, a melodic rap and R&B album titled AB8. With the unofficial release date set for Oct. 17, Baker said he’s ready to try and make his mark in the music world.

“I’ve been dreaming of releasing an album since I was a kid,” Baker said. “It’s always been one of the biggest goals of mine, and now that the day is finally coming, it feels surreal.”

After graduating high school in 2023, Baker took a job in electrical work but said it didn’t feel like the right fit at the time. That experience pushed him to pursue his true passion: music.

“I realized that electrical work might now be for me, right now” Baker said. “Music has always been what I’ve wanted to do, so I figured there’s no better time to really give it a shot.”

The 10 song album mixes rap and R&B melodies, getting inspiration from artists like Tory Lanez and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Baker said the project represents not only his sound, but also his drive to carve out a place in the industry.

“I just want people to hear who I am through the music,” Baker said. “This album is really me putting myself out there for the first time.” 

Ryan Baker, Andrew’s younger brother and a senior in high school, said he wasn’t surprised to see Andrew finishing a project like this.

“He has always loved music, so I figured he’d put something out eventually,” Ryan said. “I’ve heard a couple of the songs, and they’re pretty solid.”

Producer Carter Landry, who graduated high school with Andrew in 2023, helped create the beats and polish vocals. Landry said AB8 is also a milestone for him, since he’s just starting out in music production and this is his first full album.

“I’m new to producing, so this was a big project for me too,” Landry said. “Andy wanted a mix of rap and R&B that felt melodic. We have been experimenting with a lot of different sounds until it started to come together.”

Baker said he hasn’t done much to promote the album ahead of its release because he wants listeners to come across it naturally.

“I want people to find it on their own and give me honest feedback,” Baker said. “That way I know if the music really connects with the listener.”

Baker said the album will be available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and Pandora.

“It’s crazy to think that people all over the world will be able to hear my songs,” Baker said. “That’s something I’ve dreamed about for years.”

While releasing an album is an achievement, Baker said he’s focused on what comes next.

“This is just the first step,” Baker said. “I want to grow, keep improving, and hopefully build a career in music. Right now, I’m just excited for people to hear and hopefully enjoy AB8.”