NECC President Lane Glenn with employee recognition winners for the third quarter Despina Lambropoulos and Jeff Williams.

The Employee Recognition Award recognizes the many and varied contributions of the college’s nearly 700 employees. Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers. Recipients receive a $150 certificate to the restaurant or mall of his or her choice.

Lambropoulos, a senior financial aid counselor, has worked at Northern Essex since 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Regional Economic and Social Development from UMass Lowell.

Tina Favara, dean of enrollment services, in nominating her for the award wrote, “Despina played an integral role in solidifying the financial aid team during some of the most trying times…Despina takes her time …ensuring that she has contributed in every way possible to their success. Despina is often requested on both campuses because once she has worked with a student, they tend to become “hers”. She too is a student, always eager to learn on the job and off. Despina has learned nearly every program in Financial Aid and has either run them or served as the back up to the person who does run a given program. She also continues her studies; most recently completing a Graduate Certificate in Communications…She is a budding leader and will no doubt be part of NECC’s future successes.”

Williams, who is a battalion command sergeant major in the U.S. Army Reserve, is NECC’s career/veterans affairs coordinator. He holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Husson College and a master’s in public administration from the University of Maine, Orono.

In nominating Williams, NECC colleague Joshua Bordis quoted from an article on Williams that is posted to the NECC Newsroom. “With one tour in Iraq behind him and more than 20 years of experience working in the areas of education and veterans’ services, he is well versed in most things military.”

Williams says the single most important thing he does is put student veterans in touch with the resources they need whether it is in the area of academics, counseling, health care, or financial aid. He likes to believe his background lends credibility to his position at NECC.

Bordis says that unlike other colleges, where veterans receive information from a variety of sources, NECC makes sure it comes from an expert.

“We have a much better system… but it only functions properly when the expert is as amazing as Jeff. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for one of his students, and he doesn’t just provide information for them about VA benefits. He serves the whole student…staff around campus are aware of his presence as a guide to Veteran students. He is the easiest person to work with. He is friendly, open, and honest with students and staff about expectations and responsibilities, “Bordis noted.

For additional information contact Mary Chatigny at mchatigny@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3925.