Nscc \alumni News Spring 2007

S PRING 2007

NSCC Alum, NASA Explorer School Teacher Beams in to NSCC and Middle School Students More than 400 middle school students, chaperones and teachers from Robert L. Ford School in Lynn, along with NSCC and General Electric staff members, were mesmerized by a video conference from Johnson Space Center received at NSCC’s Lynn Campus this February.

The audience was able to “visit” with NASA crew and one of students’ own teachers, NSCC alumn, David Romanowski, ’94, now a NASA Explorer School Team leader at Ford School. The NASA Explorer School Program is designed to bring engaging, interactive mathematics, science and technology learning to students, educators and families.

Dave is shown at right floating in microgravity at Johnson Space Center holding an “I Teach at a NASA Explorer School” bumper sticker.

Upon graduating from NSCC, Dave attended Fitchburg State College, receiving undergraduate degrees in psychology and education, and a master’s degree in education. Dave has taught at the Ford School in Lynn for the past eight years.

The Ford School was selected for the NASA Explorer School program, a partnership program designed to bring engaging, interactive mathematics, science and technology learning to students, educators, and families.

David Romanowski, ’94 floats in microgravity at Johnson Space Center.

Ahoy!

Save the Dates: August 15-19

NSCC Sponsors

Friendship’s Sail to Lynn Join North Shore Community College, Essex National Heritage Area and partners in welcoming and touring the tall ship, Friendship, during its visit in August to Lynn’s Seaport Marina at Lynn Heritage Park.

Free public tours of the Friendship will be offered daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 16 and Friday, August 17, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Photo: 2006 Leighton O’Connor August 18. Friendship departs at noon on August 19.

Lynn Heritage Park is across the street from NSCC’s Lynn Campus, 300 Broad Street.

Project partners The Friendship, out of Salem, is a replica of a 1797 three-masted, square-rigged “East include: Indiaman” merchant ship used to open international trade with the Far East, Europe Essex National and Russia in the years after the America Revolution.

Heritage Commission The ship will arrive in Lynn on the high tide, Wednesday, August 15 or Thursday, North Shore August 16 in the late afternoon. Local and state public officials will mark the occasion Community College with a ceremony to include a symbolic gift from the City of Salem.

National Park Service City of Lynn Watch for more news in local media as the event gets closer, Lynn Business or visit www.northshore.edu Partnership/ Lynn Chamber of Commerce North of Boston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

Giving Back Aaron Judge: Following His Heart and Staying Connected to NSCC A sense of gratitude exudes from Aaron Judge, ’03, when he speaks of his time at NSCC. Following an Associates Degree in Engineering Science at NSCC, Aaron journeyed to UMass Amherst to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and will be graduating in May 2007 with a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

But it’s NSCC that is in his heart.

He enrolled at NSCC in 2000 with no idea what to select for a major and was skeptical about how he would do in his classes. He describes finding enthusiastic professors, challenging classes, and a supportive environment that helped him learn how to set realistic goals for himself and then accomplish them. “I learned to do it independently, but I had so much support from the staff and faculty at NSCC.” Aaron remains involved with NSCC, coming back to visit professors, contributing to the school newspaper, The Pennon, visiting classes and speaking to students about his experience transferring to a four-year school. He has written a supplement to the NSCC Transfer Guide, offering insight and advice to students planning to transfer. In the supplement he wrote, “Big accomplishments always have tough challenges and it is often necessary to accept advice and help from others. I will always be grateful for the continues on following page

NSCC Alumni Now NSCC Staff NSCC alumni go on to great careers — including careers at NSCC. We invited some of our alumni-turned-staff to share their own NSCC experiences. Here are their thoughts: Jacqui DeLorenzo, ’73 Student Support Center Advisor “North Shore Community College gave me wings. NSCC believed in me before I even believed in myself.

It taught me how to fly, fly as high and as far as I wanted to. I am forever grateful.”

Susan Graham, ’94 Disability Services Director “My NSCC education opened up so many possibilities, and because it was non-traditional, it allowed me more opportunities, opportunities I don’t think I would have had without going to a community college.”

Above, from left: Kevin Sopp, ’85 Telecom Analyst “Completing my education here at North Shore Community College and receiving my degree in Computer Science definitely contributed to my advancement within the Information Systems Department.”

Krzysztof Suchcicki, ’87 Network Administrator “The Computer Science courses were challenging and the faculty were knowledgeable. I began working in the computer labs as a student and continued on to become the Network Manager.”

Pictured, from left: Helen Clements, ’87 Comptroller Helen said her feelings about NSCC could be summed up in one of her favorite quotes, “See it, Believe it, Achieve it.”

Patty Bourgeois, ’95 Accountant “My NSCC education helped me to gain the confidence to further my education and gain career growth.”

Donna Toleos, ’87 Fiscal Affairs Clerk “In addition to a great education, coming to NSCC gave me confidence, inspired a love of learning, and was the foundation for continuing my education at Salem State.”

Bob Murphy, ’99 Network Administrator “NSCC has been a resource for me through transitional points in my life and career. It has always been there for me for education, personal, and professional growth.”

Above, from left: Kathy Koloski, ’95 Enrollment and Student Records Administrative Assistant “Coming to NSCC gave me the opportunity to take courses that led to a co-op job in the Admissions Office.

I was able to gain confidence, work as a team player and learn communication and job skills that allowed me to move from co-op student to full-time employee in a job that I love!”

Mel Potoczak, ’96 Associate Registrar NSCC totally impacted my life in that working toward a degree helped my self-esteem, returning to school provided a great example to my children, and NSCC paved the way for a bachelor’s degree and a new career.”

Maryanne Atkinson, ’99 Academic Coordinator “My NSCC education gave me the foundation to transition into a profession with a decent salary and benefits, which gave me the ability to afford further education that led to advanced career opportunities.”

Laura Morse, ’05 Enrollment and Student Records Clerk IV “My NSCC education and part-time job experience gave me the motivation and strength to successfully secure my current full-time position in the Enrollment office.”

Above, from left: Austria Francisco, ’98 Enrollment and Student Records Administrative Assistant “NSCC’s caring staff, excellent faculty and supportive environment gave me the tools and confidence to succeed.”

Donna Rosato, ’03 Enrollment and Student Records Clerk “My NSCC education gave me a strong academic foundation and the confidence to further pursue my education for a bachelor’s degree in Human Development at Lesley University.”

Gloria Gutierrez, ’91 Enrollment and Student Records Clerk “My NSCC education gave me the chance to be where I am. It also gave me the chance to be a role model for my children and to be in a position to help other people continue their education.”

Alumni Provide Networking and Career Advice

Above, from left: Michele Mabee, ’99 Academic Technology and eLearning Administrative Assistant “As a single mother coming to NSCC, I got the confidence from my instructors to succeed in my career.”

Georgia Panagopoulos, ’96 Academic Affairs Administrative Assistant “NSCC allowed me to grow as an individual. The faculty and staff support while I attended school made me realize the importance of education to individual growth. Now, as a staff member, I try to instill the same importance of education to the students attending NSCC and I hope that their experience is as fulfilling as mine was.”

Patricia Lavoie, ’90 Instructional Technology Assistant “My experience at NSCC was hugely instrumental in not only earning my associate and bachelor’s degrees, but also in my confidence to succeed at whatever I choose to do.”

Carmen Ciprian, ’03 Liberal Studies Administrative Assistant “My NSCC education gave me the confidence to believe in myself and prepared me to successfully pursue my career as Administrative Assistant at this college.”

Aaron Judge continued from preceding page support I received from NSCC, and this article is a way to return the favor.”

When asked what has kept him connected to the NSCC community after graduating, he explained, “I keep in touch with professors and staff at NSCC for many reasons.

Their encouragement and support still motivate me with my current work, even though I am far beyond having taken their classes. Their impact on students goes beyond teaching a class for a semester. They have helped me build myself a foundation of engineering studies that will always hold strong.

NSCC’s Career Services Coordinator, Lynn Marcus (standing, center) annually collaborates with NSCC Paralegal Program Professor, Jane Levesque, Esq. (left), and Paralegal Program Coordinator, Kathy Hirbour, Esq. (right) to provide career path information and network opportunities for Paralegal students. Seated at the table for the Fall ’06 program are (left to right): Carol Mullane, ’07, Anne Francis, Esq., ’91, Catherine McClenaghan, ’06, Melinda Gosselin, ’05, Matilde Barbosa, ’04, and Jessica Morand, ’06.

Aaron says he hopes to teach part-time at a community college after graduation. “My heart is leading me to work with young adults like myself, and I believe that my mind will direct me to pursue a teaching career.”

Outreach

A Labor of Love: NSCC Reaches Out to Gulf Coast Hurricane Victims Warrior Angels from Boston A 20-member team of NSCC alumni, students, faculty, staff and some of their family members — a team affectionately dubbed “the Warrior Angels from Boston” — slept on wall-to-wall cots in a Mississippi church hall after long days in goggles and masks, gutting moldy, wrecked homes hit by Hurricane Katrina. And they will never forget the amazing, meaningful experience.

NSCC partnered in January with the Hurricane Relief and Social Justice Project of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge as a commitment to the ethic of civic engagement.

The team tore down wrecked and mildewed walls and ceilings and cleared out ruined furniture and appliances so construction crews could get to the stalled rebuilding process.

Stafford said that meeting a few of the homeowners and listening to them share their experience was amazing.

“They’re very appreciative,” he said.

Concert Connection NSCC connected with Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, MS, which was one of the three hardest hit colleges in Mississippi and one that did not receive any resources from outside their region — until NSCC stepped up to the plate.

to benefit the Jones County students, many of whom had lost textbooks and other school supplies in addition to personal belongings.

“Many of us felt helpless when we talked to Jones County staff about the devastation their community college and its students, faculty and staff endured,” President Burton said. “It felt good to be able to reach out to do something for these poor students.”

Alumni Association Vice President Gerard ‘Sully’ Sullivan, Student Government President Seabron Stafford and NSCC President Wayne Burton were among the NSCC team members who spent their January vacation reaching out to families still struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

More important to the process of helping others is how appreciative being on the receiving end of someone’s kindness can be. And Jones County Junior College wanted to give a personal thank you to the NSCC community. On Monday, March 12th in the Lynn Gymnasium, almost 100 representatives arrived by bus to sing in praise of the relief efforts and kindness shown to them from NSCC. After the concert, lunch was served with discussions of how this experience has enriched the lives of both college communities.

NSCC named to President Bush’s Community Service Honor Roll All of NSCC’s work, fundraising and donations for the hurricane victims did not go unrecognized.

NSCC Student Life coordinated a Jones County Junior College concert choir kickoff event for students, faculty directed by Dr. Mark Taylor. and staff that raised $5,000 to date NSCC was named to the President’s Higher Education and fundraising activities are ongoing. All proceeds from Community Service Honor Roll, given with Distinction the college-wide fundraisers — including a benefit comthrough the Universities Rebuilding America Program. munity dance and Red Sox ticket auction — went directly

The award responds to President Bush’s call to service to support the civic engagement mission of United States colleges and universities.

Selected from a pool of more than 500 college applicants, NSCC was the only Massachusetts community college to receive the President’s Honor Roll Award for Hurricane Relief, an award designed to increase public awareness of the contributions that college students are making through local and national volunteer service.

You can help, too.

NSCC’s Labor of Love in New Orleans did not end with the Warrior Angels from Boston experience in January.

Faculty, staff, students, and Alumni have pledged their continued support with ongoing fundraisers. If you’re interested in making a donation to the Hurricane Relief Effort Fund through NSCC, please call: 978-762-4000 x5502.

Make checks payable to: NSCC Foundation (note Hurricane Relief Fund on check memo) and send to: NSCC Foundation, Inc. One Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923 NSCC Foundation also accepts MasterCard/Visa.

Alumni Profiles Lessons Learned While Learning Matilde Barbosa attended NSCC as a non-traditional student, returning to school at the age of 36 in her pursuit of the American dream. She left her homeland in the Azores Islands, Portugal, in search of education, opportunity and improved quality of life, and Matilde Barbosa, ’04 dreamed of owning her own grad of the Paralegal business in this country. Upon program, pictured her arrival, she worked hard with “Tilly” and spent time learning the language, but knew that the key to success would be in obtaining an education. Matilde researched schools and chose NSCC because it offered the most affordable access to education. She recalls the support, direction and positive impact of her professors here, and enjoyed being challenged to develop and improve her academic skills.

The road to success was not an easy one. It required a lot of work and sacrifice. Matilde recalls not just the academics, but the life lessons learned while attending, including that you cannot make up for lost time, you have to strive for continuous improvement, the importance of not giving up, maintaining focus and drive, and that “you have to be able to accept defeat many times before you achieve success.

“In spite of all the hardship I went through, I am very proud of all that I was able to achieve in this wonderful country of ours. I am also very grateful for the help and encouragement I got from my mentors at North Shore Community College, I could not have done it without them. Thank you!”

Matilde graduated in 2004 with Highest Honors, and is now the owner of Matilde’s Photo and Framing in Copley Square. Matilde discussed her business experience following NSCC at the 2006 Paralegal Program, reflecting on the different ways that her education has helped her to succeed in business, including being able to read and interpret legal documents, do her own legal research without costly legal fees, and representing herself in a court case. In addition to standard photo services, Matilde’s business specializes in National and International Photos, and she has a contract with the Massachusetts State Police to do their crime scene photos.

From NSCC to White House Since graduating from NSCC in 1978 with an Associate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Patrick Quinlan has had a fabulous career that has taken him from the East Coast to the West Coast, then back East to work at the White House.

Patrick Quinlan is Assistant Vice President and Renewable Energy Team Lead at Sentech, Inc. in Bethesda, MD, an energy consulting firm specializing in clean energy technologies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, distributed generation, and advanced automotive systems. He has worked at the White House as an American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow and as a Congressional Staffer, and has been actively involved in clean energy technology and policy development for over 22 years.

Patrick graduated from NSCC and went to work at Harvard University until 1980 as an Engineering Assistant. He completed his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UMass

Amherst in 1982, then spent the next 15 years working in California in the wind energy business. He holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. It was after completing his MS in Wisconsin that he went to Washington for a fellowship, then continued working for Congressman George E. Brown, Jr. on electric utility, air and water quality, transportation and environmental policy issues. He went on to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he managed policy analysis and implementation. He also worked in Washington, DC in technical energy analyses at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Patrick credits NSCC with giving him the confidence to succeed, describing it as the best value and best connection to real jobs and says, “I got my start at Harvard through an NSCC class.”

Curious Nature = Satisfying Career Carol Rodrigue had worked in law firms and mortgage lending fields for many years, working her way up from Underwriter to Senior Vice President of Underwriting. Despite her success, her natural curiosity and a thirst for knowledge drove her to look into getting a college degree.

“I lacked a certain understanding about the culture I lived in,” she said, “and lacked the the theories behind the onthe-job experience I had gained.”

But it wasn’t until two traumatic life events that Carol found NSCC’s Challenges, Choices and Change program, which offered the support she needed to return to school. continues on following page

Alumni News is published for NSCC alumni and friends by the Alumni Office, North Shore Community College, 1 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA, 01923. News, photos and event listings are welcome subject to editor approval. Please send to: canderso@northshore.edu.

Telephone: (978) 762-4000, x5483 ©2006, North Shore Community College Staff CATHERINE ANDERSON–’97 Editor, NSCC Alumni News Director, Alumni/College Relations Writers SANDRA ROCHON CATHERINE ANDERSON PEGGY JUSTICE Contributing Writer AARON JUDGE Staff Photographers KURT EDDY SANDRA ROCHON Alumni Association Board SHAWN LERNER–’92 President GERARD ‘SULLY’ SULLIVAN–’97 Vice President BARRY GINSBERG–’71 Alumni Trustee LESLEY PETERS–’97 Secretary/Treasurer JOSEPH W. WALSH, JR.–’73 President Emeritus BRENDA CLARK–’68 MARY DENNESEN–’84 JUDI GENTLEMAN–’00 JULIE HOWLAND–’91 MARY ANN MURRAY–’90 DONNA ROSATO–’03

save the date 10th Annual Foundation Scholarship Open Monday, September 24th • Ferncroft Country Club • Middleton, MA 1:00 Shotgun Start • $175 per player (includes driving range, golf clinic, dinner and lots of prizes!)

For more information, contact Tournament Coordinator Cathy Anderson at (978) 762-4000 x5483, or email canderso@northshore.edu.

Carol Rodrigue continued from preceding page In 1986, Carol’s beloved son Bill drowned off the coast of Okinawa while serving in the U.S. Air Force. A couple of years later, Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer. While undergoing medical treatment, Carol says she listened to “my deep longing for an education and started at NSCC in the CCC Program.” Despite the challenges of self-doubt, fear and the economic struggle of returning to school, Carol began the program and found that her curious nature was being “nurtured, challenged and satisfied for the first time in my life.” She earned her Business Transfer Program degree in 1992.

After graduating from NSCC, Carol attended Mount Holyoke College as a Frances Perkins Scholar, graduating magna cum laude in 1995. Carol’s previous experience in mortgage lending combined with her interest in housing as a factor in strong, healthy neighborhoods and com-

munities led to a major in Politics and Religion. Carol states that as a result, “I was able to put together some of the pieces of the puzzle regarding policy making and how decisions are made which have a major impact on housing for people in low income communities, as well as to look at some resulting unintended consequences.”

Carol’s career has included working with a community development organization, teaching Basic Lending at the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute, and providing services to other non-profit lending organizations.

Carol currently works with Neighborhood Housing Services of America, a non-profit which provides secondary market services, bringing needed capital into neighborhoods in need of revitalization. She also continues to provide corporate training as a faculty member of Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute.

Take advantage of NSCC’s life-long learning opportunities NSCC’s Corporate & Community Education division offers noncredit courses and certificate programs designed to help you reach your career, professional, technical or personal goals. From arts and languages, to courses in business and technology, NSCC provides a vast array of lifelong learning opportunities. Noncredit classes are held on NSCC’s Danvers and Lynn campuses, at the Institute for Corporate Training & Technology (ICTT) in Beverly, Alfalfa Farm in Danvers, or online. Registration is ongoing throughout the year. To receive the latest copy of NSCC’s Corporate & Community Education noncredit course schedule, call 978-236-1200 today!

Did you know that the ICTT at the Cummings Center in Beverly can work with you and your company to provide customized group training programs? We will help you create a needs analysis, implement a plan, and deliver programs that specifically target your “Our capacity to provide training needs. As the leader in developing our regions’ excellent customer service in a workforce, we can work with you and your company to provide programs such as: communication skills, leaderculturally competent manner ship, technology, sales and customer service, language skills, is improving dramatically as and much more. We have helped area companies receive one million dollars in Workforce Training Funds. To a result of this program. over find out how to receive money to help pay for training for The North Shore Community your company, call 978-236-1206 or 978-236-1207.

College’s ICTT is a wonderful resource for businesses on the North Shore.”

We welcome alumni to tour our facility and learn more about our corporate programs and our community education courses. Register today for our high tech programs such as Microsoft or CompTIA, Network+, or A+ BOB DEMPKOWSKI Certifications. Register online at www.northshore.edu or Deputy Director, call 978-236-1200 for Pharmacy Technician, Medical InterLynn Community Health Center preting, or any of our hundreds of community education courses.

July 9 to August 17