Merrimac resident Faith Gregory came to NECC with a passion for journalism and a plan to make the most of it. When she first enrolled in the college’s Liberal Arts:Journalism/Communication Program, she knew she had found the right start on her academic and career track.

“Northern Essex was a good foot in the door and a great money-saver,” she says.

NECC Journalism/Communcation graduate Faith Gregory

Faith settled into campus life with ease, becoming an active member of the Contemporary Affairs Club, Gay/Straight Alliance, and The Observer, NECC’s award-winning student newspaper. In the fall of 2014 she took over as editor-in-chief of the paper, where she served through the spring of 2015. She credits her involvement with The Observer and various other campus activities with helping her on her path to success.

“The campus provided so many different opportunities and avenues for students like me who wished to gain first-hand experience in their fields,” she says. “I found such a great range of activities that helped enhance my profile.”

This fall, Faith will transfer to Hampshire College, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism and minor in French. She hopes to continue her educational track through the graduate level to work toward a career as a legal activist for nonprofit organizations. She cannot say enough about NECC’s help in getting her on this path.

“NECC made it so easy to transfer to a four-year school. I’ve accrued such a small amount of debt, which will make the financial load of a bachelor’s degree much easier to manage, and I have the skills I need to continue on.”