The following article was published in . All credit for this article and the images it contains belongs to the NH Bar News newsletter.��

By Tom Jarvis

On Thursday, August 22, New Hampshire Bar Association President Kathleen Mahan addressed the 2024 graduates of �鶹��ý � Concord’s Community College�s Paralegal Studies Certificate Program during a special awards ceremony on the Concord campus.

The ceremony, an intimate occasion separate from the official graduation, was held to recognize the students� accomplishments and to thank their families and friends.

�鶹��ý�s Paralegal Studies Certificate Program is known for its rigorous curriculum, designed for working professionals aiming to enhance their legal expertise. Students, most of whom work a full-time job during the day, attend two nights a week for a full year, without a spring or summer break.

After �鶹��ý Paralegal Studies Department Chair Stacey Peters opened the Kate Mahan Inspires Graduates at �鶹��ý Paralegal Studies Ceremony ceremony by congratulating the students
and thanking their families, she turned the podium over to �鶹��ý President Patrick Tompkins, who discussed the importance of and the need for paralegals in the Granite State.

Mahan then took to the podium to address the graduates. As a seasoned attorney with nearly 20 years of experience, her insights resonated deeply with the graduates, many of whom are poised to take on pivotal roles in the legal field.

�It is my distinct honor to be here tonight to congratulate you all on your tremendous accomplishment,� Mahan said. �It will come as no surprise to anyone in this room, having gone through the rigorous program you have just completed, that paralegals play an important role in our justice system. Whether it is preparing for a trial, pulling documents for due diligence in a corporate transaction, working through a real estate closing, or providing support in a probate matter, your involvement, simply put, keeps the wheels turning. I have been in practice for nearly 20 years, and I can definitely say that the paralegals that I have had the privilege of working with have been vital members of the team and absolutely instrumental in the entire process.�

Mahan then shared some feedback from her colleagues about the crucial role of their paralegals before imparting her own personal stories about a former paralegal, Peyton, who was a graduate of the �鶹��ý program. Mahan also remarked that the graduates were entering the field at an exciting time when New Hampshire is expanding the role of paralegals with Rule 35 and the Paraprofessional Pilot Program, groundbreaking initiatives that allow paralegals to offer more direct support to clients.

�You have an amazing opportunity to take on the added challenge of providing advice and counsel, and soon, even acting as an advocate,� Mahan said. �New Hampshire sees and understands that we can count on well-trained paralegals to help ensure there is access to justice for everyone, that people have counsel and someone to speak for them in what could be one of the most difficult times of their lives. It is an awesome opportunity and responsibility that I hope you will all consider.�

In closing, Mahan said, �Whatever the area of practice you choose to go into, you are, without question, an integral part of the legal profession. You have set yourself apart with the unique skills and experience that you have obtained in this program. You have the power to make a tremendous difference in our justice system.�

As the ceremony concluded, the graduates � Patrice Benard, Charlotte Caron, Courtney Keller, Lisa Kelly-Fowler, Samantha Kirschner, Gretchen McKeen, Meghan Michaud, Morganne Moses, and Shawn Sutton � proudly received their certificates, marking the beginning of their promising careers in the legal field.

CONCORD, NH � Edie Hamilton-Claypool has an alphabet soup of credentials after her name � MSN Ed, RN, CPN, CPST � but it all began with an ADN from �鶹��ý.

In March 2024, she participated in a Global Smile Foundation mission in Ecuador as a nurse in the pediatric post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Working alongside other medical professionals from around the world to change children�s lives was transformative, and plans are already in place for her to travel on medical missions to El Salvador in January 2025, followed by Ecuador next March and then Lebanon in April.

Edie discovered the benefit of a �鶹��ý education on her own and now says that she �talks up� �鶹��ý to anybody who will listen.

�I tell potential nursing students that �鶹��ý can give you the same experiences as a 4-year university but to think about how much money they�ll save and how quickly they will have a career. That�s a huge advantage.�

Greatness Begins with a Single Step

Edie graduated high school with plans to become a doctor. Two years into a pre-med program at a 4-year college, she realized her true calling was to work more closely with patients as a nurse. She didn�t need to look far for inspiration. Edie�s mother had received her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from �鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College in 2001 and joined Concord Hospital as a pediatric nurse. The same path beckoned Edie.

�My mom was a huge factor in going to �鶹��ý but I was also impressed by their curriculum and how rigorous the program was,� she says. �I knew the curriculum was one of the best for an ADN program and that �鶹��ý had a 99 percent pass rate for the NCLEX nursing exam.�

She enrolled at �鶹��ý and loved the immediate immersion in hands-on clinical work.

�The ability to learn while you are caring for patients is huge. Most nurses are kinesthetic learners, so we learn by doing.�

Edie graduated from �鶹��ý in 2017, receiving the Dr. Goldie Crocker Nursing Excellence Award � just as her mother had 16 years before � and joined the nursing staff at Concord Hospital. She had been offered a position in the hospital�s medical/surgical unit while she was still doing her practicum at �鶹��ý.

One year later, Edie transferred to the hospital�s pediatric unit, and it was a perfect fit.

�Right from the beginning, an instructor at �鶹��ý told me I was meant to be a pediatric nurse. I said, �No, my mom�s a pediatric nurse!� But nursing instructors know where you are supposed to be.�

Edie earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Capella University in 2020 while working full-time. When she changed to a position working in pediatric oncology at Dartmouth Health Children�s, she discovered a passion both for the �best patients that she has ever had� and for teaching. At Dartmouth Health, she taught a course for hospital staff on bereavement and second trauma syndrome that revealed her talents as an educator. She went on to receive her master�s degree in nursing education from Capella in 2022.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Edie blends an active teaching schedule with her nursing responsibilities. She is an assistant professor of nursing at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and returned to �鶹��ý as an adjunct faculty member in February 2024. When Edie was approached about teaching in the pediatric clinical program at �鶹��ý, she agreed immediately.

��鶹��ý was a life- changing experience for me. I am so happy I can give back to provide the same phenomenal education that I received.�

She schedules her missions for slower times in her academic calendar and is now a per diem nurse at Dartmouth Health Children�s to maintain flexibility. When she has time to think about all she has done and the people that she has helped, Edie feels that she is right where she was meant to be.

�All along the way, I�ve had a lot of �I told you so�s� that I belonged in pediatric nursing. I just took a little bit of a roundabout way to get to where I am.�

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College is a dynamic public 2-year college that provides rewarding academics and a full campus experience for students, businesses, and the community.���鶹��ý offers 80+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. Our programs include Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Liberal and Visual Arts, Education, Criminal Justice, and Mathematics, all with our stellar reputation for academic excellence earned over our more than 50 years serving the Concord community. �鶹��ý is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire.

The paper, �Genome Sequence of Arthrobacter globiformis phage MaGuCo,� introduces the reader to MaGuCo, a temperate phage isolated from a soil sample collected in Alton, N.H. The authors identified the phage�s genome as containing more than 43,000 base pairs.

Two of the students, Amanda Diggins and Rachel Pitt, have spent their academic year focusing on research for the INBRE, or IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence. Amanda and Rachel have been previously cited in , the National Institute of Health�s genetic sequence database and an annotated collection of all publicly available DNA sequences, as a result of the work they completed in �鶹��ý�s Genetics course in Fall 2022.

�These students� research contributes to the growing field of biomedical research,� says Dr. Patrick Tompkins, �鶹��ý president. ��鶹��ý inspires and prepares students for the coming age of scientific research.�

Beth Wilkes, professor in �鶹��ý�s Department of Natural Sciences, said, �These students accomplished excellent work, and their achievements have been recognized. �There are already plans to continue their research and produce more publications.�

�鶹��ý has earned its reputation for excellence in STEM programs. Opening in 1965 as New Hampshire Technical Institute with three engineering technology programs, �鶹��ý excels in preparing the next generation of academics, researchers, and workers for the rigors and rewards of work in their chosen STEM fields. The school, whose name changed in 2008 to reflect a larger academic focus, offers both 2-year degree and certificate programs with transferable credit opportunities to 4-year institutions.

To learn more about �鶹��ý�s biomedical research programs, including , , and , visit catalog.�鶹��ý.edu.

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College is a dynamic public 2-year college that provides rewarding academics and a full campus experience for students, businesses, and the community. �鶹��ý offers 80+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. Our programs include Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Liberal and Visual Arts, Education, Criminal Justice, and Mathematics, all with our stellar reputation for academic excellence earned over our more than 50 years serving the Concord community. �鶹��ý is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education�� and is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire.

From an early age, Joshua Patrick wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. He steered his ambitions towards healthcare, and after completing an EMT course, discovered his affinity for emergency medical services. His dream of becoming a trauma surgeon evolved, and he found his calling in New Hampshire with community paramedicine. His journey from an Army brat to Ph.D. candidate at Northern Illinois University highlights his strength and dedication to helping others. Along this path, he graduated from �鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College in 2009 with a degree in .

When COVID-19 ground our country to a halt, Josh was serving as the deputy chief in the Peterborough Fire Department’s ambulance division. Just as the pandemic prompted professionals to reimagine patient care, Josh developed a mobile integrated healthcare program that capitalized on the opportunity to expand his mobile integrated healthcare program. He joined forces with the Monadnock Community Hospital, realizing his vision of providing preventive care to reduce the burden on emergency services. The essence of his role as a community paramedic is to preempt crises by addressing patients’ needs before they escalate. His initiative transformed his department�s approach to patient care by focusing on proactive measures and community outreach.

�Agencies struggle all the time to fill ambulance shifts and get people to work,� Josh says of his innovative approach. �We’re taking that burden off the whole emergency system, from the ambulance crew responders to the hospital�s emergency department.�

His evolution from a young dreamer with aspirations of becoming a trauma surgeon to a trailblazing community paramedic is a testament to the transformative potential of combining passion with innovation. And, Josh’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. His mobile integrated healthcare program has achieved remarkable milestones.

�Our program at Monadnock is pretty unique,� he says. �As of last year�s statistics, we were the busiest in the state, so we saw more patients than any other program. And we’re a 100% board-certified community paramedics.�

Through his work, he not only relieves the strain on emergency systems, but represents the essence of patient care. As Josh continues his journey as a Ph.D. candidate and a driving force behind the evolution of community paramedicine, we can only imagine the remarkable waves of change he will continue to create for the future of patient care. Watch this space.

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 80+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Press Contact ������������������ Amber Gavriluk�� |�� 603-230-4001�� |�� agavriluk@ccsnh.edu

• � Gold
• � Silver
• �鶹��ý Viewbook � Bronze
• �鶹��ý Walking Tour � Bronze
• �鶹��ý Admissions Mailer � Bronze

The awards were handed out at the NCMPR District 1 Conference in Boston this past weekend. Amber Gavriluk, the marketing officer within �鶹��ý�s marketing and Communications Department, was on hand to accept the awards.

�I�m so thrilled to be recognized for our outstanding work among a group of peers,� Gavriluk says. ��鶹��ý is an incredible 2-year college, and I hope our ads continue to attract traditional and adult students to our institution.�

�Many colleges are competing for the attention of students and their families, so getting the message out about �鶹��ý�s excellent programs with flexible online and on campus schedules has never been more important,� says �鶹��ý President Patrick Tompkins. �We�re privileged and proud to have a marketing professional of Amber�s excellence leading this work.�

NCMPR is��the only organization of its kind that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges. As one of the fastest-growing affiliates of the��American Association of Community Colleges, NCMPR has more than 1,600 members from nearly 550 colleges across the United States and Canada.

NCMPR offers two awards annually: the Paragon and Medallion awards. The national Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at two-year community and technical colleges. It’s the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges. The district Medallion Awards are similar to the Paragons but recognize excellence in design and communication on a regional basis at community and technical colleges in each of seven districts.

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 90+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Press Contact ������������������ Amber Gavriluk�� |�� 603-230-4001�� |�� agavriluk@ccsnh.edu

CONCORD, NH � Film lovers will unite in more than 500 venues worldwide � including the �鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College campus � to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world for the 26th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival taking place Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023. The festival screenings are approx. 2.5 hours in length and feature all 10 finalist films. This is the 20th year these screenings will take place at �鶹��ý.

�鶹��ý�s Film Society, together with local film enthusiast Barry Steelman, will present the festival, which features the most creative short films in the world judged��internationally��by the cinema-going public. Many of the films from past festivals have gone on to be nominated for Academy Awards. For more information on the films being screened, visit the festival website at

�鶹��ý has a long, rich history of showing films to the community and region. The Manhattan Short Film Festival annually kicks off the �鶹��ý Film Society�s season, this being its 23rd. The Film Society was started by former �鶹��ý President Lynn Kilchenstein, former English Department chair Diana Levine, and professor Steve Ambra. �鶹��ý has served as host site for the Somewhat North of Boston Film Festival for several years and hosted the state�s young filmmaker�s festival. The society has screened over 225 films as part of its Friday Night Film Series.

The Manhattan Shorts are well attended by �鶹��ý students, faculty, and staff. Free admittance for �鶹��ý students has been the hallmark, particularly for those in film studies courses. Attending the festival enriches these students� studies.

For decades, Barry Steelman, has been known � courtesy of the Concord Monitor � as Concord�s �film guru.� For years he owned and operated Concord�s only independent film theatre, Cinema 93, and was the driving force behind the creation of Concord�s downtown independent film theatre, Red River Theatres.

�鶹��ý�s screenings will be held Friday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. They will take place in Sweeney Hall Auditorium, S-122. Admission is $10.00 per person, cash or check, at the door.��There are no advanced ticket sales. �鶹��ý students (with their valid �鶹��ý ID) will be admitted free.

For additional information about the films being screened, contact Steve Ambra, sambra@ccsnh.edu.

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 90+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Press Contact ������������������ Amber Gavriluk�� |�� 603-230-4001�� |�� agavriluk@ccsnh.edu

CONCORD�The �鶹��ý Athletic Department is thrilled to announce the college�s first Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, starting at 11 a.m. The campus will host an action-packed day of sports and excitement, with Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Esports, Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball matches, all showcasing the incredible talents and dedication of our student-athletes.

The first 100 �鶹��ý alumni who register at the �鶹��ý Athletics tent will get a free �鶹��ý Homecoming t-shirt.��All �鶹��ý alumni who register will be entered for free raffle prizes.

Schedule of events:

MIX 94.1 FM will be doing a live broadcast from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• 11 a.m. � Women’s Soccer game
• 11 a.m. � Women’s Volleyball game
• 11 a.m. � Baseball game
• 11 a.m. � Softball game
• 11 a.m. � Esport exhibition
• 1 p.m. � Men’s Soccer Game
• 1 p.m. � Baseball Game
• 1 p.m. � Softball Game

Bands

• 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.��� Gordon Terwillerger
• 1-3 p.m. � Eric Grant Band

Food Trucks

Smoke Shack BBQ will be bringing 3 food trucks that will be serving up some great food.

The event promises to be a fantastic opportunity to reunite with old friends, make new memories, and immerse ourselves in the Lynx spirit. Wear your red and gold with pride as we celebrate the start of a remarkable year.

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 90+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency. Visit for more information. To learn more about the �鶹��ý Athletics programs, contact Berkley Stevens at bstevens@ccsnh.edu.

Press Contact ������������������ Amber Gavriluk�� |�� 603-230-4001�� |�� agavriluk@ccsnh.edu

Immigrant from Venezuela earned 5 degrees while waiting to hear about asylum

By Monitor staff

Pursuing an education in the United States for a positive future has driven Keillys Guerrero Rojas.

An immigrant from Venezuela, Guerrero sought higher education to create more opportunities for herself and also to distract from the complications of the immigration process and the hardships of being separated from her family.

One of three sisters, Guerrero grew up in the city of San Cristobal. Her mother ran three successful private schools when the economy was good, but between 2011 and 2013, she was forced to shut down two of the schools due to soaring inflation rates and government pushback. One of her sisters was facing political pressure and fled to Chilé and Guerrero hasn�t seen her since 2014.

Guerrero became the victim of a government kidnapping when she was 18 and her mother encouraged her to get away from Venezuela and continue her education in the U.S.

�I didn�t want to say bye to Venezuela. But that�s when New Hampshire became my home,� Guerrero said.

At 22 years old in 2014, Guerrero got approved for a student Visa to enroll in the two-year English as a Second Language program at �鶹��ý � Concord’s Community College in Concord. She said it was difficult coming to the U.S. not knowing any English, but she persevered to the point where she has more opportunities than she knows what to do with.

Guerrero, who was one of very few Latina students, has earned four associate degrees from �鶹��ý, a bachelor�s degree from Southern New Hampshire University and is now pursuing a second bachelor �s degree in engineering and a master�s degree in business administration.

When Guerrero left Venezuela in 2014, she returned home later that year and found the same heightened level of political violence that drove her to leave in the first place.

Returning to the U.S. in 2015, she then applied for political asylum, received a work permit, and continued to pursue her education. Nearly 10 years later, she still has not been approved for asylum, which is granted to individuals who face torture or imprisonment because of their beliefs if they return to their home country. In order to be granted asylum, an individual must first meet the criteria to be considered a refugee, according to the U.S. government.

�When I applied for asylum, everything changed,� said Guerrero.

She said it�s been mentally taxing waiting and not seeing any progress made in the past years. Every two years she must re-apply for her work permit that has enabled her to attend college in the U.S. while working as an assistant manager at a gas station in Manchester.

�Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. It�s just very frustrating,� said Guerrero.

She said focusing on education has been the only thing keeping her going each day, giving her a goal to stay positive.

�The only way to relieve the stress was learning,� Guerrero said.

The process of transferring the credits she earned in Venezuela over to �鶹��ý took three years since obtaining her documents was nearly impossible due to the state of the government, she said.

At the end of 2018, Guerrero returned to �鶹��ý to pursue multiple associate�s degrees. Over the course of the past five years, she has graduated with four degrees � Associate of Liberal Arts awarded in May of 2020, Associate of General Studies awarded in May of 2022, Associate of Manufacturing Engineering Technology awarded in May of 2023, and Associate of Mechanical Engineering��awarded in May of��2023.

Guerrero just graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with a Minor in Supply Chain Management & Logistics. .

One of her sisters, her mother, and a nephew were able to attend Guerrero�s two graduations this past May. �Without her, I cannot do anything,���Guerrero said of her��mother.

�It�s the happiest I�ve ever been,� said Guerrero reflecting on her recent graduation from SNHU.

She said she hopes she can one day go back to Venezuela if the political situation improves and use the degrees that she earned in the States.

Guerrero, now 33 with five degrees under her belt, isn�t done yet. She is continuing to��pursue her higher education by pursuing a bachelor�s degree in mechanical engineering from UNH in Manchester while also completing a year-long Master of Business Administration program from SNHU.

Completing multiple bachelor �s and associate�s degrees is not the path taken by many, but it worked for Guerrero.

She said education has been a light for her, amidst many challenging life struggles. She has made friends in her various programs and is very grateful for the people who have made New Hampshire feel like home.

Looking back at her experience, she encouraged people in similar situations to hers to not give up.

�I am very proud of what I do,� she said. �When I wen to �鶹��ý, doors started opening for me.�

CONCORD, NH � The sun shone brightly on the �鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College campus on Friday, May 19, 2023, as the school celebrated its 73rd Commencement � but it was nothing compared to the smiles of the 200+ graduates and their families. More than 200 students participated in the ceremony as part of the Class of 2023, with degrees conferred in programs ranging from Dental Hygiene to Mechanical Engineering.

This was the first Commencement to occur on �鶹��ý�s campus in many years, and it was the first to include �鶹��ý�s certificate earners as part of the ceremony.

�It�s hot in these robes, but in a few minutes, it�s going to get even hotter � by about 200 degrees,� joked �鶹��ý�s president Patrick Tompkins in his address to students. �All of us at �鶹��ý congratulate you on this momentous achievement in your life. But it wasn�t easy. You studied and worked late at night and early in the morning. You sometimes wondered if you were good enough. You sometimes wondered if it was worth it. But you have proved you are good enough, and it is worth it. Remember that your success is your success. No one can take it from you.�

>> WATCH COMMENCEMENT AND SEE MORE PHOTOS!

Students and their guests were treated to the hour-long ceremony in �鶹��ý�s gym, decked out for the occasion. The event was also live-streamed online and at various locations on campus to accommodate overflow attendees.

Outside on �鶹��ý�s Quad, students cheered each other�s accomplishments, posed for photos, and mingled with �鶹��ý�s Advisory Board members, faculty, and staff members who helped them along the way. The scene was a chaotic dance of excitement, relief, and pride: Students and their families gathered in groups of hugs and chatter in many languages. Faculty members mingled and cheered their students. One student proudly displayed her fifth degree from �鶹��ý � this one in Mechanical Engineering � while another held the Business degree she just earned at age 69.

The student speaker, Lindsay Hobbs, spoke about her journey to get to �鶹��ý during the ceremony.

�If you had told me five years ago that I�d be graduating from �鶹��ý with a degree in Dental Hygiene, I would have laughed at you,� she said. �I had been an aimless student at UNH, changing my major every semester as I looked for my passion. At �鶹��ý, I found it.�

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 90+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency. Visit for more information. To learn more about the �鶹��ý Athletics programs, contact Berkley Stevens at bstevens@ccsnh.edu.

>> WATCH COMMENCEMENT AND SEE MORE PHOTOS!

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PHOTO CREDIT: Deb Smith, �鶹��ý

Campus Compact is a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education. The organization�s 2023 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows comprises 154 students, including Pilotte. These students come from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico.

�The Newman Civic Fellowship award is a great opportunity to learn. I hope to encourage others to find their own path in serving to those around them,� Pilotte said. �The same people who work towards supporting the development and well-being of others are ultimately the ones who find success in their own leadership. These are the people who can and will change the world.� The New England native is heavily involved with the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as a vice president at �鶹��ý – Concord�s Community College and with the New England Region as a regional officer. She has served in a variety of roles including military service, marathon running, and parenting, and has served as a trustee on the Community College System of New Hampshire�s (CCSNH) Board of Trustees, representing all CCSNH students.

“While Kelly�s pursuit of a college degree was motivated by tragic circumstances, her drive to turn trauma into an ambitious goal that brought her to �鶹��ý�s Addiction Counseling and Business degree programs,� said Dr. Patrick Tompkins, president of �鶹��ý. “Kelly established the Michael Stephen Boyd Memorial Foundation, which will give way to an addiction recovery center in her son�s name. Her community service and purposeful pursuit of knowledge gives me confidence that she will realize her goal to open a recovery center and continue to serve our community.�

The Newman Civic Fellowship, named for the late Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional, and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference in Boston of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to apply for exclusive scholarships and post-graduate opportunities.

�We are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,� said Bobbie Laur, Campus Compact president. �One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowships is the richness of students� perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds�and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.�

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�鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College

�鶹��ý is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that provides accessible, rigorous education for students, businesses, and the community. We create pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and civic engagement, offering 90+ academic programs to 4,600+ students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and since 1969 has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency. Visit for more information.