American Sign Language Studies student Francis Herrand is a scholarship winner.

Northern Essex Community College American Sign Language Studies major, Francis Herrand of Fitchburg, recently received a $750 scholarship from the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association (MEOA).

Herrand has been actively involved in NECC’s Pathway’s to Academic & Career Excellence Program (PACE). She has also served as president of the American Sign Language (ASL) Club, and works as a medical interpreter at Lawrence General Hospital and Accredited Claim Services (ACS) in Westford.

Only five MEOA scholarships of $750 each are awarded to eligible college students who have displayed the capability of academic success and excellence while overcoming great hardships or obstacles.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Herrand moved to the United States when she was six years old. She did not enroll in college immediately after graduating from high school, instead she received her certified nurse assistant (CNA) certification and began working.

Shortly after, she enrolled at Northern Essex and began to take classes in ASL. She eventually relocated back to the Dominican Republic and worked with the deaf population there for two years. After returning to the U.S., Herrand re-enrolled at NECC.

Herrand hopes to one day become an interpreter for ASL. She hopes to transfer to a four-year college for a bachelor of arts in world languages, and eventually get her ASL Interpreter Certificate.

MEOA is a 501(C)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised 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.

For additional information, contact Kristen Arnold, director of the PACE program.