Lawrence NFOR Honored at Black Excellence on the Hill Ceremony

Mount Wachusett Community College Employee and Alumnus Lawrence NFOR was honored recently at the Black Excellence on the Hill ceremony.

“It is an honor to recognize Leominster’s Lawrence NFOR with the Black Excellence on the Hill Award. Lawrence gives back to his community in so many ways, through his work at MWCC, his service as a Leominster Library Trustee, and an Ambassador to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, and inspires us all with his positivity and passion for the region,” said State Representative Natalie Higgins of NFOR who she nominated for the recognition.

The ceremony took place at the Massachusetts State House on Monday February 4. The goal of the awards are to celebrate Black History month and the leaders with the state’s communities that make them thrive. As such, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) presented its unique citation to leaders for their work in civic engagement, education, business, and other fields.

“Lawrence is a valued member of not only our college community, but the city of Leominster and the multiple organizations he gives his time to,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I am happy to see him recognized for all of his hard work and community service. He is an example to all of us.”

Lawrence NFOR was born in Ndu, a small town in Cameroon, West Africa. He moved to Leominster with his family in 2009 after receiving a Visa through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.

Having already studied mathematics and computer scien

ce at the University of Buea, NFOR earned his Associates Degree from MWCC, Bachelor’s Degree from UMass Amherst, and his MBA in Accounting from Fitchburg State University. NFOR went on to build his career serving in the business office at MWCC and currently serves as the Business Manager for the college’s Access and Transition Office.

NFOR is actively involved in the Leominster community and strives to make the region a better place to work and live. He serves as a Leominster Public Library Trustee. He is an ambassador for the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as their Ambassador of the Year for 2017 to 2018. He also serves as the president of the New England Community of Cameroon Immigrants organization and is actively involved in his church, the First Baptist Church in Westminster. He and his wife Elizabeth, a dental hygienist (also an MWCC graduate) have four children.