Lawrence and Haverhill, MA (November 7, 2023) – The Lawrence Promise Scholarship Program at Northern Essex Community College has reached a significant milestone. The endowment has reached $1 million, which will allow countless students from Lawrence to continue their educations at Northern Essex for free.

Local entrepreneurs Luis and Juan Yepez are among the recent donors. “Understanding that an education is a key to unlocking a student’s future potential, Juan and I wanted to contribute to a fund that offers opportunities to students within the community,” says Luis Yepez.

Mariel Bloise graduated in 2021 as a Lawrence Promise Scholar.

The Lawrence Promise Scholarship Program is available to Lawrence High School students who participate in the Early College Program at NECC. LHS students can enroll in NECC classes as early as their sophomore year of high school and earn college credits tuition-free. The Promise Program gives those students who have completed at least 15 credits the opportunity to continue at NECC following graduation and earn their associate degrees for little to no cost. Students are provided coverage of tuition, fees, and books. The program has been designed to operate as a gap scholarship, covering all NECC costs not already covered by state or federal grants.

The Lawrence Promise Scholarship Program is made possible by private and foundation support. The Yepez’s Mainstream Global gave a pledge of $50,000 to the Lawrence Promise Program. Major donors to the Lawrence Promise include:

Ronald and Janis Hill
Thomas and Laura Jordan
Mainstream Global, Inc.
Everett Mills Real Estate, LLC
The Gem Group, Inc.
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
The Yepez family
The Boston Foundation
City of Lawrence
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
Fidelity Charitable
Salem Community Benefit, Inc.
Abbot & Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation

Northern Essex also offers a Haverhill Promise Program and is in the process of creating a similar program for other area schools. To learn more about giving at NECC, visit necc.mass.edu/giving.

About Northern Essex 
Northern Essex Community College, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. Through a supportive learning environment and cultural inclusion, NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch, affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC offers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development, and community education classes, and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley, and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at www.necc.mass.edu.