CONCORD, NH � After 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime, the YSCC championship game remained scoreless. �鶹��ý had generated 10 shots on goal but had yet to see one reach the back of the net. Paul Smith’s College also had an opportunity early in the second half, but a diving save by����(Manchester, NH) erased their only chance of regulation. This meant the game would head to the ultimate test of nerves: penalty kicks. Eleven games, over 1,000 minutes of soccer, and the entire season up to this point ultimately rested on which team could execute better over the next couple of minutes.

��(Claremont, NH) had the unenviable position of being the first player to attempt a penalty. Richard calmly stepped to the spot, 12 yards away from Peyton Hoffman, who had already made 10 saves. Richard struck the ball into the bottom right corner, marking the first time in the game that the ball had found its home in the goal. With the pressure now off of �鶹��ý, the tension shifted to the shoulders of Hayleigh Gates. Gates wasted no time, dashing to the ball and burying a shot into the bottom corner of the net.����(Pembroke, NH), the leading goal-scorer this season for the Lynx, found an immediate answer as her left-footed strike sailed into the left side of the goal.

Being a goalie is one of the toughest positions in sports, where any small mistake can have a massive impact on an already close game. Perhaps the greatest test for a goalie is a penalty shootout. For��, this was a huge moment; even one save could be the difference between a championship trophy and a three-and-a-half-hour ride home in silence. As she stood on the goal line, her team up 2-1 in the shootout, she knew the importance of this next play. She leaned to her right, anticipating a shot in that direction. As the ball was struck, she realized that she had guessed right. The shot, while well-struck, never had a chance as Knight erased it and sent it wide.

The lead for �鶹��ý was short-lived, as their next chance hit the upper crossbar and bounced agonizingly short of the goal line and out. Paul Smith took advantage, as Haven Brandt drew the shootout back even. A perfectly struck ball by captain����(Manchester, NH) put the Lynx back in front. Knight was able to get a fingertip on the shot by Pailin Hample, but the shot was too well-placed, and the shootout ended up even once again.

As if the pressure wasn’t enough, the shootout now reached sudden death territory. If �鶹��ý scored, they had a chance to win with a save or a missed PK; if they missed, the Bobcats could win it with one more good strike. �鶹��ý rested their chances on the shoulders of sophomore����(Deering, NH). LaValley calmly stepped to the spot and buried a shot to put �鶹��ý on the cusp of a title.

��was once again called upon; a save, and the celebration would begin for the Lynx. She set herself and prepared to dive to her left, but she quickly realized that the ball was going the opposite way. She could only watch as the ball sailed toward the right crossbar. As everyone held their breath, the ball moved in almost slow motion, continuing forward past the crossbar but wide of the goal. �鶹��ý had just won the YSCC Championship.

The celebration was immediate, with players both at midfield and by the bench sprinting to celebrate outside of the goal. For the seventh time in the history of the YSCC, �鶹��ý was the champion. They ended their conference schedule a perfect 6-0-2, outscoring their opponents by a 25-3 margin. In addition to the championship game, the conference also announced the All-Conference teams, where four players found themselves recognized.

��(Alton, NH) was a terrific offensive player who had 7 goals, 4 assists, and 18 points on the season.��, a team captain, had 8 goals, 2 assists, and 18 points.��, another team captain, was a verbal leader and a player who could fill multiple positions based on who was on the field.����(Henniker, NH) was an honorable mention for the All-Conference team and was the leader of the defense, which posted 7 shutouts on the year.

Head Coach and now five-time YSCC champion Heidi Crockett had this to say about the win: “Each and every player on this team reached deep within themselves this weekend to find the extra strength that they needed to earn this Championship. I am so proud of how they handled themselves and fought as a team.”

�鶹��ý will now anxiously await the USCAA selection show to see where they will be ranked nationally and who their next opponent will be.

For more information, visit .

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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 and workforce programs to over 3,400 students annually. �鶹��ý is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Held in �鶹��ý�s Sweeney Auditorium with hundreds of parents, faculty, and staff present, the awards ceremony featured individual plaques given to students in recognition of their achievements. Also included in the night�s festivities was an interactive display of student work, a curation of posters showcasing final research projects, known at �鶹��ý as capstones.

This year�s recipients are as follows:

• President�s Award: Spriha Paudel
• College Leadership Award: Rebecca “Becker” Gibson
• Lynx Awards: Elizabeth Aiken and Luana Tahtamoni
• Academic Achievement Award in General Studies: Sullivan Bono and Skyler Boudreau
• Award of Academic Excellence � ECE: Hannah Hastings
• Award of Academic Excellence � EYCD: Abby Smith
• Best Residential Program: Jasmeen Kaur and Jewel Mellor
• Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Education Award: Maria Jorgensen
• Education Achievement Award: Cutlas Greeley
• English Department Excellence in Creative Nonfiction Award: Fallon Rae Andrews
• English Department Excellence in Poetry Award: Sara Bibeau
• English Department Most Outstanding Writer of 2024 Award: Chloe Rattee
• English Department Excellence in Research Writing Award: Ainsley Rennie
• English Department Excellence in Analytical Writing Award: Skyler Boudreau
• English Department Excellence in Fiction Writing Award: Daisha Joyner
• English Department Excellence in Spanish Award: Caitlin Lomando
• ESOL Student Leadership Award: Johanna Keravich
• Excellence in Hall Council Leadership: Noah Burge
• Excellence in Leadership Award: Jillian Mars and Richie Thibeault
• Excellence in Liberal Arts Award: Becker Gibson, Robyn Prieto, Ainsley Rennie
• First Year Outstanding Business Award: Hannah Smith
• Second Year Outstanding Business Award: Isaac Swisher
• First Year Outstanding ESOL Student Award: Hoang Nguyen
• Second Year Outstanding ESOL Student Award: Mario Rmeily
• First Year Networking and Cybersecurity Operations: Seth Moulton
• Second Year Networking and Cybersecurity Operations: Sam Stafford
• First Year Outstanding Student Award in Architectural Engineering: Lorena Medina Diaz
• Second Year Outstanding Student Award in Architectural Engineering: Allyson Kitchens
• Future Educator Award: Christine Lank
• Goldie Crocker Award: Kailey Harrison and Jessica Perkins
• Langley Hall Resident of the Year 2024: Foley Eaton
• South Hall Resident of the Year 2024: Eris Cantadori
• Resident Assistant of the Year Award 2024: Lillian �Eddie� Edmond
• �鶹��ý AMATYC Student Mathematics League Award: Garima Rastogi
• �鶹��ý Lynx Athletics Department Award: Alexis Christensen
• Outstanding Accounting Senior Award: Chloe Kirby
• Outstanding Senior Landscape and Environmental Design Award: Matt Wagner and David Pantling
• Pamela M. Langley Award: Christopher Roy
• Radiologic Technology Faculty Award: Jenna Bolduc
• Russel Kay Award: John Britton Jr.
• Senior Mechanical and Manufacturing Award: Patrick Herman
• Senior Outstanding Computer Engineering Technology: Luke Christensen
• Sports Management Outstanding Freshman Award: Joseph Gutierraz
• Sports Management Outstanding Senior Award: Matt Fortier
• The Andrea M. Jordan Award: Alexis Wessels
• The Cheryl M. Kellogg Award: Matthew Blair
• The Herbert A. Sewade Award: Ronda White
• The Jaqueline A. Rendo Award: Cameron Delisle
• The Jean-Franklin Cardiology Award: Timothy St. Germain
• The Loretta Hart Mathematics Award: Farhaan Siddiqui
• Valerian Thurston Memorial Award: Austin Mahoney
• Visual Arts Exceptional Performance Award � Freshman: Emma Blake
• Visual Arts Exceptional Performance Award � Senior: Del Porter
• William H. O’Clair Athlete of the Year Award: Adrienne Dorr and Matt Fortier
• Zech DeVits Service Award: George Hoffman

Congratulations to all our 2023-2024 award recipients!

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.

• � 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

By MICHAELA TOWFIGHI, Monitor Staff

As he accepted his Emmy in New York City, Samuel Habib was thankful and proud, but just like his award-winning film, he had a message.

�My goal for this film is that people won�t talk down to people with disabilities,� the 23-year-old Concord High School graduate told the crowd. �I want everyone to know that people with disabilities demand respect and rights.�

With a microphone held to the speaker of his computer-assisted communication device, he reiterated the themes of the coming-of-age film that he co-directed with his father, Dan Habib.

�I want other young adults with disabilities to have the same opportunities that I have had for healthcare, inclusive education, college, assistive technology, making friends and independent living,� Samuel said.

The father-son duo were honored for a documentary film they made about Samuel�s transition into adulthood, living with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, called.

When My Disability Roadmap was announced as the winner in the Outstanding Soft Feature Story, Long Form category, immediate screams came from the Habib entourage. Then, it was a beeline for the stage, through an accessible route in the hallway of the Palladium Times Square, where Samuel could drive his 350-pound motorized wheelchair to the podium.

In My Disability Roadmap, the Habibs take viewers on a journey across the country, as Samuel asks questions of disability activists on what it is like to transition into adulthood.

In one scene, Samuel ask��Joe Biden how he planned��to support inclusive education for students with disabilities if he were elected president.

�You should be integrated into all the classes,� Biden says. �Because you�re smart, you�re smart, you�re smart. The disability does not define who you are.�

Biden touched Samuel�s cheek as he answered the question.

�I can�t believe he stroked my face,� Samuel says in the film. �Weird.�

Still, Samuel voted for Biden, submitting his ballot into the machine at his Concord polling place.

Like most people his age, Samuel wants to start dating. Someday, he wants to get married and have kids, he says in the documentary, which was produced by the New York Times.

�I don�t want to rely on my mom and dad so much,� he said in the film. �I want to figure out how to follow my dreams. But nobody tells you how to be an adult, let alone an adult with a disability.�

They set out to talk to �bad-ass people with disabilities who figured it out.� Perhaps one could become a mentor, Samuel wondered in the film.

One of those people was Judy Heumann. Samuel dedicated the film to her after she passed away in March.

The documentary has now received one of the highest forms of recognition, which serves to elevate the voices of anyone living with a disability, Dan Habib said in an interview on the drive back to Concord from New York.

�Samuel obviously has lived his whole life with a disability, that is his whole life experience. He has always felt and deserved a sense of belonging in all aspects of society,� he said. �But not everyone with a disability, in fact the majority of people with disabilities, don�t necessarily experience that.�

Instead, many people with disabilities often feel segregated from education, employment, housing, relationships, healthcare � you name it.

In the film, the Habibs not only began to answer some of Samuel�s questions � like how and when to start dating. But it also shows viewers the obstacles people with disabilities face as they try to access all parts of society.

This was not the Habibs� first film together, either. In 2018, Dan��chronicled��Concord High School Principal Gene Connolly�s��battle with��amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that stole his ability to walk and speak,��in a film simply titled,��.

That film featured��a video clip of Samuel and his principal communicating through fist bumps and hand gestures at a unified basketball game��At the end of his tenure at Concord High School, Connolly was communicating through a device similar to Samuel�s.

Habib wanted to ask Connolly a question that is ever present in his experience as a parent of a son living with a disability � what does it feel like when people speak down to him, like when people speak to Samuel as if he was four years old?

Did people begin to question Connolly�s intelligence after he lost his ability to speak and walk?

�People don�t understand the disease. They think the disease has affected my cognitive abilities. While I look different, inside I am still the same person,� Connolly replied. �It can be frustrating and exhausting. I have a newfound respect for people with disabilities.�

Samuel, who is pursuing a career in multimedia storytelling,��served as a consultant on that��documentary.

After that aired, Habib was contemplating his next project with��his son. They already built��a long history of collaboration. In 2007, Habib released a film called��, which addressed the family�s efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives.��Fifteen years later, father and son told the story together.

�All of our work has centered on elevating the perspectives of disabled people,� he said. �We just decided this would be a really fun and meaningful and exciting project to do together.�

Leroy the Lynx Gets a New Look

CONCORD, NH�It�s always LYNX season at �鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College, and now the college�s mascot, Leroy the Lynx, is sporting a new design courtesy of a current �鶹��ý Visual Arts program student. Dubbed �Leroy�s New Look,� the new design was revealed Feb. 1, 2023, with a ceremony before doubleheader �鶹��ý basketball games.

New �鶹��ý Mascot Roars onto Campus Scene!

Leroy�s look was created by �鶹��ý Visual Arts student Valerie Deforge and represents the natural evolution of �鶹��ý�s lynx mascot with bold lines, fresh colors, and expressive motion that really jumps out at the audience. In a campus-wide vote conducted in November 2022, more than 60% of the 650+ votes cast chose Deforge�s design.

��鶹��ý has filled many decades with stellar traditions and a reputation for academic excellence,� says new �鶹��ý President Dr. Patrick Tompkins. �We�re thrilled to usher in this new era at �鶹��ý with this modern Leroy the Lynx.�

From Concept to Creation: Behind the Scenes of �鶹��ý’s Mascot Design

The college began this mascot redesign in Summer 2022 as part of a project to refinish the gym floor in the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center. The marketing department worked in close collaboration with �鶹��ý�s Athletics and Student Senate to recruit several student artists to redesign Leroy in ways that reflected their visions and experiences of �鶹��ý and the achievements of �鶹��ý�s championship student athletes. The 9 submitted designs articulated what these students wanted their new lynx to look like and how they wanted to be represented.

The official vote involved the �鶹��ý�s campus community of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. It was also broadcast to all students via �鶹��ý�s new AI chatbot, which embodies the personality of Leroy the Lynx.

Get Ready to Cheer: �鶹��ý’s Mascot is Here!

�Our new design pays homage to our historical Leroy the Lynx and evolves us into the modern era of collegiate community and competition,� says Amber Gavriluk, �鶹��ý�s marketing officer. �Leroy represents the new rallying point around which our students, faculty, and staff can feel belonging in our diverse community. And this new design offers a strong brand identity and personality that can lead us boldly into the future.�

As part of the campus-wide rollout, �鶹��ý will replace previous mascot designs with the new Leroy over the next year. T-shirts, in addition to the free ones given out at the game, will be available in the Campus Bookstore, located in the Learning Common Library building, before the end of the Spring 2022 semester. Stickers are available in the Marketing and Athletics offices on campus. To pay homage to the past, the �鶹��ý Athletics and Marketing departments are designing a time line wall that features the college�s history of mascots dating from when teams were known as the �鶹��ý Capitols through today. This installation is planned for the lobby of the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center by Fall 2023.

For additional questions and official digital versions of the new mascot logo, email agavriluk@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 and since 1969 has been accredited by the , a nongovernmental, nationally recognized accrediting agency. Visit for more information.

I earned my Medical Coding Certificate from �鶹��ý in 2005. That certification has consistently set me apart from others in health care finance when seeking career advancement opportunities.�� The time and effort spent understanding an essential aspect of healthcare operations demonstrated my desire to be an ambitious lifelong learner.

When I started my career in healthcare 20 years ago, I was a business development associate for a start-up company specializing in electronic medical records. I knew then that I needed in-depth knowledge of medical coding to synthesize the challenges in health care with the unique capabilities of the EMR we were developing. The evening classes at �鶹��ý offered the perfect schedule to balance work, life, and learning.

My career growth has been significant since I completed the coursework at �鶹��ý.�� From an entry-level business associate, I accepted a management position at a community hospital. Then I moved into a role leading the finance information technology team at a multi-hospital system. I then took a leadership role at a nationwide healthcare system, then an executive direction role with a globally recognized cancer center.

Now, I am the vice president and chief revenue officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Medical Coding Certificate that I earned at �鶹��ý has been a differentiator at each step along my career path. The knowledge I gained continues to help me understand the connection between coding, documentation, reimbursement, and compliance.

Alumni Spotlight: Inspirational Student to State Representative

President�s Desk: 9 Strong Lessons from the Pandemic

Alumni Spotlight: Love of Leadership Began at �鶹��ý

CONCORD � �鶹��ý � Concord�s Community College announces two top prizes in the 2021 N.H. Humanities Collaborative�s HUGEmanities “The Big Contest.”��This year�s contest sought digital projects with a focus on racial and social equity, including aspects of digital research, production, argument, and creative expression.

First place Digital Storytelling Award went to Rebecca Nann, an �鶹��ý Liberal Arts major and former president of the social sciences club, for her video �Art as Glue: How We Hold It Together� that was also showcased at the CCSNH Making Sense of COVID symposium in February.

First place Change the World Award for projects making an impact on the world went to The Eye literary journal team led by Melissa Sprague, an �鶹��ý Education major and newly elected president of The Eye, and included strong work by Brian Melendy.

Students turned the Campus Reads work on Joy Harjo�s An American Sunrise and the panel discussion on indigenous issues in education and society into a website containing resources and a video culled from that panel discussion.

Contest judges state, �This work, and work like it,��shines a light on the critical role that the humanities play in shaping our world. It is through��thinking critically, leading, communicating, and working cooperatively, that we continue to drive change.� Winning entries and videos can be seen here:

Funded by a multi-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the New Hampshire Humanities Collaborative (NHHC) is a��close collaboration between New Hampshire�s higher education system of seven comprehensive community colleges and the College of Liberal Arts at UNH, the state�s flagship public and research-intensive university.

For information about humanities courses embedded in �鶹��ý programs such as Liberal Arts, General Studies, Social Sciences, and ESOL, and to learn more about The Eye literary journal, contact �鶹��ý department chair and NHHC faculty fellow Dr. Paula DelBonis-Platt at pdelbonis-platt@ccsnh.edu. Explore all of the programs at �鶹��ý at and discover huge savings with seamless transfer pathways from �鶹��ý to UNH.

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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���� Amy Proctor | 603-230-4001 | aproctor@ccs.edu

NORFOLK, VA – The United States Athletic Association (USCAA) announced that 12 �鶹��ý student-athletes have made the association’s prestigious 2020-2021 Fall and Winter National All-Academic Teams.

The Lynx student-athletes are:

• Men’s Basketball: Sean Menard
• Men’s Soccer: Angelo Papadopolus, Kolbe Maganzini, and Qingquan “Will” Guan
• Women’s Soccer: Madison Paul,��Tracey Cohen, Kaylyn Storozuk, and Tess Whitmer
• Women’s Cross Country: Chloe Astholz, Anne Carr, and��Adriana Terroba-Garriga
• Women’s Volleyball: Alexa Archambault

The USCAA�s National All-Academic Award recognizes all student-athletes (sophomores, juniors, and seniors at four-year institutions and sophomores at two-year institutions) with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 (on a 4.00 point system) or greater. This season’s award is for those student-athletes that participate at a member institution in a sport in which there is not currently a USCAA National Championship.

For the latest information on �鶹��ý Athletics, follow the Lynx via social media on Facebook (@�鶹��ý Athletics), Instagram (@nhtilynxathletics) and YouTube (@�鶹��ý Lynx Athletics).

# # #

�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����Amy Proctor | 603-230-4001 |��aproctor@ccsnh.edu