NECC President Lane Glenn with employee recognition award winners Julie Carey, Ingrid Polanco, and Maria Hom.

Three Northern Essex Community College employees Ingrid Polanco of Haverhill, Julie Carey of Amesbury, and Maria Hom of Groveland recently received the NECC Employee Recognition Award for the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Employee Recognition Award recognizes the many and varied contributions of the college’s nearly 700 employees. Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers. Recipients receive a $150 certificate to the restaurant or mall of his or her choice.

Polanco, an administrative assistant in the NECC Tutoring Center, has worked at Northern Essex for five years. She was nominated by Donna Bertolino, assistant dean of academic support services, who praised her for “…her consistent positive attitude, creative thinking, and her willingness to go above and beyond with a smile.” Colleague Jennifer Levesque echoed her sentiment saying, “… (Polanco) is the backbone of the Tutoring Center. She is willing to help anyone who steps into her office, looks lost in the hallways or calls her and she does so in a very friendly and effective manner.” Director of the Tutoring Center Lynne Nadeau, added “…she brings commitment, good humor, and complex critical thinking.”

She graduated from Northern Essex with an Associate of Science degree in Business Management: Computer Application Option.

An administrative assistant to the dean of student life, Hom has worked at Northern Essex for 16 years. She was nominated by Rob Parker, director of the Wellness & Fitness Center. He praised her saying, “Many students come to the Sport & Fitness Center in their first few days of college. They are often anxious and have questions and concerns about a variety of things… she always seems to find time for each and every student who comes her way…She listens to their concerns, helps them find solutions… Maria provides a calming and comforting presence when so many things are moving so fast for our students at this time of year.” Marcia Winters, NECC’s Mental Health counselor, wrote “Maria is kind, supportive, and helps students out whenever they need help.”

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico.

Carey who is an administrative assistant for the Foundational Studies & Liberal Arts & Sciences department, was nominated by the Judy Zubrow, the dean of that area, who nominated her on behalf of numerous faculty members writing , “Her outstanding contributions and exceptional performance meet many of the award’s criteria: High work standards; consistently high on-the-job performance; good problem-solving techniques; empathy for students; a service oriented approach to the job; friendly, cooperative, courteous manner, and sensitivity towards our diverse students, faculty, and staff.”

She has worked at the college for 36 years. She holds an associate degree from NECC.