Revolutionizing Military Education: LRCC’S Innovative Program Trains Army Medics for AEMT Certification

Lakes Region Community College's (LRCC) Raelyn Cottrell, a seasoned educator with 25 years of experience in the field of EMS training, is making waves in the Lakes Region as both a Program Coordinator for the college and a dedicated ER technician. Over the years, Raelyn has seen more than a thousand aspiring emergency technicians through her rigorous program.

A groundbreaking initiative was set in motion when Ian Watt, one of Raelyn's former students stationed overseas, reached out with a need for fellow Army medics. Ian's aspiration was clear: establishing a program to empower those in his platoon to earn Advanced Emergency Medicine Technician (AEMT) certificates. Raelyn embraced this idea and set her sights on making this happen.

NHTI Student Wins Emmy for Documentary

Recently, the Concord Monitor wrote a story about NHTI student, Samuel Habib, who won an Emmy for a documentary titled My Disability Roadmap which was filmed on NHTI's campus in Concord. All content and photos belong to the Concord Monitor.

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.

Mascoma Bank Foundation Donates $20,000 to Support WMCC's Advanced Technology Building and Program Expansion

As the fall semester got underway, White Mountains Community College (WMCC) received a $20,000 donation from Mascoma Bank Foundation in support of equipment and program development for the new Advanced Technology Building at the Littleton Academic Center. The Advanced Technology Building project is designed to help the college meet current and future workforce needs in the North Country in high-demand programs by increasing capacity, improving access, increasing regional recruitment and deepening community integration.

“A shared vision in the community on workforce development has made our new Advanced Technology Building a reality this fall,” said Dr. Chuck Lloyd, CCSNH vice chancellor and former WMCC president. “We are grateful for the support from Mascoma Bank Foundation for helping us build upon the generosity that we have already received from the community. This donation is vital in supporting training the next generation of skilled technicians and mechanics and will help fill critical workforce needs in the North Country.”

NH Humanities Collaborative Provides Summer Research Funding to CCSNH Students and Faculty

On Friday September 29, Dean Michele Dillon of the UNH College of Liberal Arts (COLA), held a reception to honor this summer’s cohort of NH Humanities Collaborative (NHHC) student scholars and faculty mentors. This included 14 students and six faculty members from the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH). Supported through generous funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NHHC is a collaboration between CCSNH and UNH’s College of Liberal Arts that enables students to pursue rich academic research experiences.

Dr. Leslie Barber, Faculty Fellow and CCSNH Principal Investigator for NHHC recently spoke about the significance of the Humanities Collaborative for CCSNH students.  “In his recent Tedx-Portsmouth talk, UNH President James Dean described the humanities as representing ‘the distillation of thousands of years of human experience, learning, and wisdom.’ This is such a powerful statement. In these complex times, what stronger case could be made for the importance of supporting our students in the development of the skills and understanding they need to start adding to this rich legacy? This is the experience we seek to provide to the talented students participating in the NH Humanities Collaborative’s programs.”

ApprenticeshipNH Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week in New Hampshire

CCSNH plays an important role in supporting workforce development through degree programs, non-credit workforce training options and initiatives such as ApprenticeshipNH. In the Granite State, ApprenticeshipNH plays a leading role in promoting, building and supporting Registered Apprenticeship programs. Run across numerous core business sectors that help drive the state’s economy, these programs offer career seekers an on-ramp to skilled employment and provide businesses with an effective and streamlined way to onboard new hires and support their steady advancement through education and on-the-job training.



On Friday, November 17, ApprenticeshipNH will be hosting its first in-person Apprenticeship Summit at NHTI – Concord’s Community College. The full day event will include sessions covering topics such as mentoring, pre-apprenticeship and funding opportunities. It will also recognize employers who have launched highly successful and innovative programs that serve as models for other employers considering an apprenticeship pathway. All are welcome including businesses, community and industry organizations, elected officials, high school students and anyone interested in learning more about how Registered Apprenticeships can benefit them.