North Central Educational Opportunity Center
About The NCEOC
MWCC manages the North Central Educational Opportunity Center (NCEOC), a US Dept. of Education funded program whose mission is to be an educational access resource to north central Mass. adults who are motivated to change their lives through college enrollment; and to inspire and engage them in thinking beyond limitations and obstacles as they strive to achieve their educational and career goals.
While most NCEOC students are low to moderate-income adults (19+) who may be the first in their families to attend college, many are older adults seeking education or training to improve or change their careers, re-enter the workforce, or simply to increase their earning potential.
The NCEOC team is committed to helping adults set education goals and guiding them through the process.
The mission of the North Central Educational Opportunity Center (NCEOC) is to be an educational access resource to north-central Massachusetts adults who are motivated to change their lives through college enrollment and to inspire and engage them in thinking beyond limitations and obstacles as they strive to achieve their educational and career goals.
The NCEOC has been providing free college planning services to adults throughout north central Massachusetts since 2002. The NCEOC is a five-year, $1,368,965 TRiO grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by Mount Wachusett Community College.
Most NCEOC students are low to moderate-income adults (age 19 +) who may be the first in their families to attend college. Many seek education or training to begin their careers, re-enter the workforce or simply to increase their earning potential. The NCEOC staff understands adult learners and their concerns. Education Specialists work individually with each student to create a realistic student learning plan that includes choosing a major, choosing a college or program, applying for admission and applying for financial aid and scholarships.
NCEOC Hours & Contact
Leominster Campus
100 Erdman Way
Leominster, MA 01453
P: 978-630-9823
Open Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Evening hours are available upon request.
Free Services To Eligible Residents Of North Central Mass Include:
- College Planning
- Career Exploration
- College Admissions
- Financial Education
- Application Assistance
Contact the NCEOC today to learn if you or your family member are eligible to participate in the program! Call 978-630-9823.
Staff
Director – Valerie LaPorte
As a former non-traditional adult student, Valerie understands what it takes to be a successful student while working and raising a family. She graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College with an A.S. in Early Childhood Education. She went on to earn a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Non-Profit Management from Worcester State University. She joined the staff of the NCEOC as Assistant Director/Education Specialist in 2002 and was promoted to Program Director in 2005.
Book an Appointment with Valerie
Senior Community Outreach Counselor – Jackie Cao (El Español Intermedio)
Jackie returned to MWCC and joined the EOC in 2025 after having worked for Admissions at MWCC and several offices at UMass Lowell. She graduated from UMass Lowell in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in World Languages and Culture and received her Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from New England College in 2022. She has focused her career on helping first-generation college students and diverse populations navigate the college landscape and find success in ways that fit their needs, goals, and lifestyles. Jackie is a self-proclaimed nerd who loves to talk with her students about video games, audio dramas, tabletop RPGs, and sci-fi/fantasy shows.
Book an Appointment with Jackie
Senior Community Outreach Counselor – Theo Demosthenes
Theo joined the EOC at the end of June 2025 and provides services to program participants in English and Haitian Creole. A Fitchburg native, he graduated with his Bachelor’s in Mathematics in 2016 and worked as a GEAR UP Recruitment counselor at MWCC. He is also involved in the community as a board member of Making Opportunity Count Inc., a nonprofit that provides resources and care to families in poverty. In his free time, Theo loves to make music and is an avid piano player. He also enjoys writing poetry and engaging in public speaking. Additionally, he cherishes spending quality time with his family.
Community Outreach Counselor – Helena Carter
Helena joined the EOC in the Fall of 2024 as a work study student. Previous to joining the EOC team Helena was a work study student in Student Financial Services. In January 2025 Helena joined the EOC as a part time employee. In 2019, Helena earned a paralegal certification at MWCC. Helena went on to earn an associates degree in legal studies in 2021 and an associates degree in liberal arts and history in 2023, both at MWCC.
Book an Appointment with Helena
NCEOC Partners
The NCEOC works with many different agencies and programs to assist students in successfully meeting their educational goals. Agencies and programs play an important part in the process either by referring people interested in continuing their education, or a NCEOC counselor may refer a participant to a particular agency for assistance. Either way, it is all about student success!
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Battered Women’s Resources
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Corporation for Public Management
Free Support for Adult Learners
The NCEOC provides free and confidential financial aid, academic, and career counseling for adults living in the 29 cities and towns of North Central Massachusetts.
NCEOC Counselors help with:
- GED/HiSet Information
- MassReconnect Applications
- Career planning
- Financial Aid
- College Planning
- Financial and Economic Literacy
- Veterans Education Resources
The NCEOC office is located at the Leominster Campus. Our education specialists also spend time at the Gardner campus and travel to community sites as needed. Call the NCEOC today at 978-630-9823 to make an appointment with an education specialist to get started on your college or career plans. Join the NCEOC to take advantage of the FREE services we have available to our members. Click the button to apply today!
North Central EOC Participant Application
Career Planning Guidance
The NCEOC can help you navigate the decision-making process involved in making career changes. So if already have a career and are looking for advancement, or are rethinking what you’d like to do for a living, our staff can help you analyze your skills and interests and define your career goals. Come in and take the Career Exploration Inventory (CEI), or learn how to research careers on the Massachusetts Career Information System (MCIS) or Occupational Outlook Handbook site.
College Planning Help
Going to college is an investment of time, money, and effort so you want to be sure that you make smart choices along the way. The NCEOC can help make your decisions easier, and help you build a realistic college plan.
Some questions you should ask when considering college or vocational training are:
- Does the school offer the type of program I want?
- Do I meet the admissions requirements?
- What are the job placement rates for recent graduates of the school?
- Is financial aid available for the program I am considering?
NCEOC education specialists can help you research college programs, apply for admissions, and apply for financial aid.
College Admissions Help
Applying to college can differ from school to school but always includes an Admissions Application and some kind of placement test that is used to determine your Math, English and Reading skills. Some schools may also want your high school grades or course grades from another college, SAT/ACT scores, an essay, or an interview. Most community colleges use a rolling admissions process, which means you can apply at any time during the year. Four-year colleges typically set deadlines that require that you have your application in by a certain date.
The Admissions and Financial Aid processes can run at the same time so initially, your college planning will include both steps. NCEOC Education Specialists are available to help you through both processes successfully.
Financial Aid
Applying for financial aid is one of the most important steps.. Getting assistance to pay for your classes can make the difference between attending college or not. NCEOC Education Specialists are available to help you through the financial aid process – from determining (according to federal regulations) what income and personal information is needed on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), completing the electronic application, assisting with follow-up paperwork, and advocating on your behalf with your college’s Financial Aid Office.
The Financial Aid Office at the school you’re attending will compile your financial aid award. Your award can consist of federal, state and college funding and may include grants, which is free money, work-study, which is money earned through work, or loans, which is borrowed money. Each funding source sets the criteria for who receives aid. Most use the FAFSA as a starting point in determining eligibility. The FAFSA is available starting October 1st the year before you plan to enroll.
You must apply for financial aid each year that you attend college. Call the NCEOC for an appointment at 978-630-9823.
Scholarships
A lot of scholarships exist for those interested in pursuing college. Scholarships are awarded based on academics such as your grades, and/or financial need. Many private scholarships are available with their own criteria, including; ethnic heritage, geographic location, a program of study, hobbies, religious affiliations, gender etc. Since each scholarship is different, the only way to find the one for you is to surf the net and start exploring.
Resources to Help with Your Scholarship Search:
FastWeb – database of private-sector scholarships, grants, and loans
Office of Student Financial Assistance – information on financial aid assistance for residents of Massachusetts
U.S. Department of Education – U.S. D.O.E. information about grants, work-study, and tax credits for education
FinAid.org – aid estimator and scholarship search
College Board – scholarship search and financial planning resource
United Negro College Fund – financial aid from the United Negro College Fund
Note: Please be very cautious of any site that asks you for a fee and offers to find you money or a “guarantee” of funding. These are most often scams as no one can control who applies for each scholarship and who is selected for these awards. There are many free resources available!
Financial And Economic Literacy
Did you know that the average college student seeking a Bachelor’s degree graduates with nearly $3,000.00 in credit card debt and nearly $29,400.00 in student loan debt?
With college tuition and fees increasing every year, the ability to make sound financial decisions is just as important as doing well in your classes. Smart financial management is an everyday reality. Learning how to budget money, limit unnecessary spending, and how to choose the best credit card and bank account are all important steps in developing a strong financial future.
The following Financial Literacy 101 Fact Sheets also offer helpful information.
- Avoiding Fees
- Banking
- Getting out of Debt
- Identity Theft
- Your Spending Decisions
- Borrowing for Success
- Credit and Debit
Other Resources:
- Better Money Habits: Build your financial know-how with free tools and information to help you make more confident decisions. It’s a simple way of getting real, practical knowledge, brought to you by Bank of America in partnership with Khan Academy.
- mymoney.gov
- 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy: Provides the tools for making sound financial decisions at every stage of life.
- College Cost Calculator: Use this site to calculate the cost to attend college
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Student Debt Repayment Assistant
- National Endowment for Financial Education Cash Course: CashCourse is your guide to making informed financial choices. Get prepared for whatever life has in store: Register for a free account, and take charge of your money.
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