Jenna Naylor

By all accounts, Haverhill’s Jenna Naylor had it all – a happy marriage, three boys, a respectable job, two dogs, a kitten and even a few fish. What she didn’t have was a college degree – a detail this Northern Essex Community College night student is working toward correcting.

Currently holding a 3.62 GPA, the 35-year-old Naylor was recently awarded the Haverhill Rotary Club Scholarship of $1500.She was one of some 200 Northern Essex students, 41 from Haverhill and Bradford, to share more than $200,000 in scholarships.

“This was really important…with the kids, the textbooks, life in general, it’s pretty expensive. It was a relief to receive the scholarship. It will cover my two classes this fall,” she said. “It was also a real honor to be recognized. I’m really thankful.”

When Naylor graduated from Georgetown High School in 2000, she briefly attended Fitchburg State followed by two semesters at North Shore Community College. She knew she wasn’t ready to commit to college, but was ready to work. In 2003, she accepted a position as a dealer relationship manager for an auto financing company. She has been there 13 years.

While Naylor enjoys her sales position, she said, she came to realize she wants to eventually work in health care. She is completing her college math and science classes by enrolling in two classes a semester. She attends NECC classes several nights a week after her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job ends, in preparation to enroll in a health care program.

“I really think I would love to be a nurse,” she says. “I love the human body and the science behind it. I really find it intriguing. And, I enjoy caring for people. My Dad is blind so I guess I have a soft spot for individuals who require that extra assistance.”

Naylor is on track to graduate in May of 2017 and continue in a nursing program in fall of 2017. Her dream job she said would be to work as a labor and delivery nurse.