Haverhill, MA (March 6, 2024)—Planning for the 62nd annual Commencement Ceremony at Northern Essex Community College is underway. The event will be held on the Haverhill Campus on Saturday, May 18, at 11 a.m. More than 400 students and their families will gather under the tent for the occasion.

Congresswoman Lori Trahan will be the featured commencement speaker

This year’s featured speaker will be United States Representative Lori Trahan (D MA-3rd District). Congresswoman Trahan was born in Lowell and raised in a working-class family. She was the first in her family to graduate college.

As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Trahan has been an advocate for supporting public schools, making college more affordable and accessible, and ensuring fair wages and opportunities for the workforce in Massachusetts’ 3rd District.

Rep. Trahan on a tour of the NECC Lawrence Campus in 2019

Shortly after her election in 2019, Congresswoman Trahan visited NECC’s Lawrence Campus. She met with students, toured the facilities, and pledged her support for the school and its critical role in the communities she serves. “If we’re going to set everyone up for financial success, we need to support our community colleges,” she said during the visit.

Since then, Rep. Trahan has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for local infrastructure projects, small businesses, workforce training programs, community organizations, and more. Northern Essex President Lane Glenn says most recently, they discussed the Workforce Pell Act, which would allow Pell Grants to support students enrolled in high-quality, short-term education programs that align with the most in-demand careers.

“Congresswoman Trahan understands, from a very personal perspective, the transformative power of higher education,” says President Glenn. “She sees how a community college like Northern Essex can pivot to directly and effectively address the workforce needs of our communities and students. We look forward to her sharing her inspirational story with the class of 2024.”

A delegation from NECC met with Rep. Trahan during the National Legislative Summit put on by The Association of Community College Trustees

The 62nd Annual Commencement Ceremony will also feature a student speaker selected by faculty and staff and the presentation of awards, including the Outstanding Alumni Award, Social Justice Award, and Emeritus.

To learn more about commencement, visit the website.

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 hosts 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.