All posts by Jaritza Hidalgo, Correspondent

Sports

eSports program to debut

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Varsity eSports team coming to NECC in 2019

NECC will have a varsity eSports program for the first time. The eSports team will be joining the athletic programs for the 2019-20 academic year.  ESports are a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers.  Other colleges already have joined the eSports mania and are offering scholarships for their varsity eSports team. NECC will be competing against other colleges and universities, join eSsports tournaments/championships in large arenas and participate in  other events regarding eSports. Dan Blair, Director of Athletics said, “We are excited to get in the action of eSports and to provide it for interested students.”

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I would definitely join, I haven’t really tried gaming tournament

–Jason Batista

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Interested students can join or apply online and fill out a form or by going to the Athletics Department.  As of now there is not a limit on how many students can join the eSports team;  Blair said “there is no limit, as of now we have an open roster” Blair also added that the amount of players allowed to play at the same time in a team depends on the game, “sometimes games can have four player or eight players in a team” Blair said.  According to a press release, NECC alum and nationally ranked Fortnite gamer RJ Warnock will lead the eSports program as its first coach. 

Warnock, of North Reading, played baseball for Northern Essex before transferring in 2013, the press release said.  eSports has one of the fastest growing fan bases in pro sports.  eSports are estimated to make 276 million dollars by the year 2022. Alfredo Tejada 20, said he did not know NECC was making a varsity eSports team, but would be interested in trying it out. Tejada said “I like to play video games, but I don’t have the time, I am not one that goes home and starts playing games. I like to play 2K, if that was an option, I would be really interested in joining.”

like to play video games, but I don’t have the time, I am not one that goes home and starts playing games. – Alfredo Tejada

Jason Batista 24 said “Yes! I would definitely join, I haven’t really tried gaming tournament wise, so I would definitely join for that experience, and to connect with people that share a common interest in gaming like me. “I feel like not a lot of people are able to connect in college because we are just going classroom to classroom, and I would join it for that reason as well.” For more information visit the Athletci Department or vist the department’s website at www.neccknights.com.

Sports

eSports program to debut

and  

Varsity eSports team coming to NECC in 2019

NECC will have a varsity eSports program for the first time. The eSports team will be joining the athletic programs for the 2019-20 academic year. ESports are a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers. Other colleges already have joined the eSports mania and are offering scholarships for their varsity eSports team. NECC will be competing against other colleges and universities, join eSsports tournaments/championships in large arenas and participate in  other events regarding eSports.

[pullquote]

I would definitely join, I haven’t really tried gaming tournament

–Jason Batista

[/pullquote]

Dan Blair, Director of Athletics said, “We are excited to get in the action of eSports and to provide it for interested students.”Interested students can join or apply online and fill out a form or by going to the Athletics Department.As of now there is not a limit on how many students can join the eSports team; Blair said “there is no limit, as of now we have an open roster” Blair also added that the amount of players allowed to play at the same time in a team depends on the game, “sometimes games can have four player or eight players in a team” Blair said.

According to a press release, NECC alum and nationally ranked Fortnite gamer RJ Warnock will lead the eSports program as its first coach. Warnock, of North Reading, played baseball for Northern Essex before transferring in 2013, the press release said. eSports has one of the fastest growing fan bases in pro sports. eSports are estimated to make 276 million dollars by the year 2022.Alfredo Tejada 20, said he did not know NECC was making a varsity eSports team, but would be interested in trying it out.

Tejada said “I like to play video games, but I don’t have the time, I am not one that goes home and starts playing games. I like to play 2K, if that was an option, I would be really interested in joining.”

like to play video games, but I don’t have the time, I am not one that goes home and starts playing games. – Alfredo Tejada

Jason Batista 24 said “Yes! I would definitely join, I haven’t really tried gaming tournament wise, so I would definitely join for that experience, and to connect with people that share a common interest in gaming like me.

“I feel like not a lot of people are able to connect in college because we are just going classroom to classroom, and I would join it for that reason as well.”

For more information visit the Athletci Department or vist the department’s website at www.neccknights.com.

News

NECC opens new study area

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Students have a new place to find a quiet place to focus

A new quiet student area is available for NECC students’ use. The area is in the second floor of the Behrakis One-Stop Student Service Center (Student Center). The space was once occupied by Academic Advising; which has since been moved to the first floor of the Behrakis One-Stop Student Service Center.

Vengerflutta Smith, director of student life and student conduct administrator said, “The area is currently available for students to use as a quiet study area.” She said that there will also be more areas created for students to study and get work done on the Haverhill campus, like another computer lab for

A photo of the new study area. it has a kylight that is letting very little light in. The area its self has table and chairs and a dark rug
The quiet study area on the second floor the Student Center. Photo by Jaritza Hidalgo

students to use. “The area will be available for students to use during the hours of The Office of Student Life. These hours are Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday’s noon to -4:30 p.m.” Smith said.

The tables in the area can be moved to best suit a group or to make independent study more comfortable. There are also small cubicles in the area that students can use.

Stephanie Haskell Coordinator of Student Activities for Leadership and Social Justice Initiatives said “I have recently used this space to meet with members of the chapter to host multiple make-up NSLS Orientation sessions.  I choose this space to use for these sessions as I was only meeting with 3-6 students each session, and there was not anyone currently studying in the space at the time.” Haskell also added that it is a quiet spot on campus that is currently not very popular and there are less distractions while studying.

The area has high glass ceilings that provide natural light and make the Area more open and calming. Whether it is a sunny, rainy or snowy day there is plenty of natural light going in. Jennifer Carty a student at NECC gave her opinion of the area and said “with the pictures I saw of the space, I found it really refreshing to have glass ceiling. I think if I have a mental block it would be nice to just look up for a little break.” The quiet area is conveniently located in the same floor as the book store, students can buy snacks if they get hungry while studying. Haskell and Smith both said that this space will be available for students to use for studying during another “Late Knight Study Sesh: Finals Edition” on Monday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday Dec. 11 until 10 p.m.

News

Late knight study sesh

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Student Life event included extended hours for libraries, computer labs

On Monday October 29th a late-night study session was held in the library, computer lab and in the second floor of the student center. The “Late Knight Study Sesh” was an event organized by the student life office. Stephanie Haskell Coordinator of Social Justice and Student Leadership, staff responsible for the event said, “the main reason we thought of this event was so students can have a quiet place to study for midterms.”

Students were provided with longer access to computers, quiet spaces in the library as well as breakfast themed treats; waffle bar, cereal, granola bars, Keurig Coffee Station, water, and a hot coco bar in the student center. In addition to the treats, there were also activities available if students wanted to

students standing around table with white table cloth eating snacks
Students enjoying snacks at Student Center Photo by Jaritza Hidalgo

take a break from studying, the activities were gentle yoga and trivia BINGO. Study supplies, and study tips & resources were available as well if needed.

The Late Knight Study Sesh was created in a short time noticed compared to other events in NECC. Academic technology assistant David Arivella thinks that the Late Knight Study Sesh was a “decent idea that was not advertised well.” He said that the number of students in the computer lab was not that much different from the regular days, with the difference being that the student center was still open at 8pm when it is usually closed by 6pm. Arivella added that “the event would of have been more successful in a four-year college” and that there is low attendance because NECC is a community college and people prefer to be home at such a late hour.

        The student life office is starting to prepare for the same event to happen before finals “we are going to talk as a team to make it work and do a Late Knight Study Sesh before the finals” Haskell said. She added that there will be more time for advertising, and “hopefully” a broader selection of food and drinks can be provided. NECC student Kevin Galva 23, and Ashleigh Demaris 21, said they would be open to the idea of coming to another late-night session like this one before finals.

When spoken to students that knew about the late night studying session, they thought it was a good idea. Galva 23, and Demaris 21, found out about the fact that the library would be open until 12 from a friend, they discarded the email that was sent to students because it did not stand out from the normal announcements. Demaris added “I do wish that the lab was open regularly at least till 10 pm” and Galva said, “yes I would come to a late study session happening before finals.” After 9:30 the number of students was lower, but there were still students working in the computers and studying by themselves in the quiet areas of the library and in the student Center.

Features, Home Page Featured News

Study public speaking in Greece

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New class trip offered to NECC students

The International studies office has created a new study abroad trip opportunity to Greece, for students at NECC. The trip will have a 14-day span: starting from May 24 to June 14 of 2019. The Study abroad trip will enable students the opportunity to hike the Mycenaean Ruins, visit Poseidon’s temple, swim in the Mediterranean Sea on a 2-day trip to the coast, Visit the Acropolis, explore connections between public speech today and roots of western civilization.

The trip requires student to meet for 4 Saturday classes before the trip departure. “This trip will feature Public Speaking, as Greece has a rich history surrounding the topic,” said Alicia Iola of the International Studies program. The trip fulfills public speaking (COM 111), communications, humanities, liberal arts and free elective courses. Alicia Iola said, “Currently we are still registering students for the Spring 2019 trip to Greece.”

The estimated cost for the trip is $3,600. Financial Aid can be applied to help cover the trip cost. For a student to participate in the trip, they must have an individual meeting with a financial aid counselor. Rosalba Conde, a NECC financial aid counselor, said that the financial aid that was applied to the course would travel with the student as well, but usually does not cover airfare. Conde also said, “related and outside scholarship of the program can be applied to trip.” If interested in looking for scholarships, students can search specific ones to study abroad with CEA. Their need-based scholarships, awards $500-$1,000 per student if deemed qualified.

When Interviewing students about the trip they were quick to say yes to the trip if the cost would be covered by financial aid and if other scholarships could help lower the cost of air fares. Student Katherine Garcia, 21, said that she would take the chance to travel to a new country; hesitant she wondered how that would happen with her work schedule. After giving it some more thought she confidently said, “If my job refuses to give me the days off, I would demand them.”

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“If my job refuses to give me the days off, I would demand them.”

– Katherine Garcia

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Benny M. Cruz, 22, didn’t show interest in the trip and said, “I don’t know if this would be beneficial for me.” Cruz added “I am looking to get a certification in web design and web hosting, and I am not too crazy about school or traveling with people I don’t know.”

The study abroad trip is open to any NECC student that enrolls in the course. There will be other opportunities in the future for study abroad trips to different countries. The International studies office works together with NECC faculty members to create new ways to experiences courses. Iola said, “We have established relationships with third-party providers abroad and run popular trips multiple times.”