Franklin Burgos

Both students graduated in May of 2011 from NECC. Burgos earned an associate degree in criminal justice. He is studying criminal justice at UMass Lowell. Yan graduated from NECC with an associate degree in accounting and continues to study accounting at Bentley University.

The MEOA Student Scholarship Program was created in 1988 to assist undergraduate students in their pursuit of higher education. Five scholarships of $750.00 are awarded annually to eligible college students who have demonstrated the ability to overcome great obstacles and strive for educational excellence.

Founded in 1984, the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association (MEOA) is a non-profit organization made up of educators, policy makers, professionals in the private sector and other individuals committed to ensuring that secondary and post-secondary educational opportunities are appropriate and accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Shuxin Zhang

Both Burgos and Shuxin received support from the Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program while students at Northern Essex. PACE is a student support services program funded by a TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

This is the fourth consecutive year that a Northern Essex PACE student has received a MEOA scholarship. Last year the scholarship went to Sheila Corsaro of Lawrence who is now studying psychology at Merrimack College. In 2009 it went to Denya Blanco of Methuen, who is a continuing NECC student, and in 2008 both April Amirault-Doherty of Merrimac and Daniel Emery of Amesbury were recipients.

For additional information contact Kristen A. Arnold, PACE Program Transfer Advisor (TRiO-SSS) at karnold@necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3418.