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 am. More than 400 students and their families will gather under the tent for the occasion. 
This year’s featured speaker will be United States Representative Lori Trahan. 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.
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’ve 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.”
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.
