SOUTH EASTON — Southeastern Regional is partnering with New England Community Services Inc. (NECS) to provide a new opportunity to students interested in a sports-related career field.
NECS is a community organization, based in Brockton, that provides at-risk youth with the necessary tools and support to become successful members of their families and communities. Its model focuses on competitive sports, spirituality, wellness, and physical and mental health.
NECS CEO & Executive Director Mark Reeves and Program Director Bernadette Hampton-Jones visited Southeastern recently to discuss with guidance counselors, school adjustment counselors, Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) coordinators, athletic coaches and administrators a new program of the organization, called NECS Academy.
The NECS Academy, to be run in collaboration with the NBA Foundation, is a multi-year training program for high school students interested in professional sports-related fields, such as nutrition, physical therapy, sports therapy, sports marketing or mental health counseling. The goal of the program is to provide support and guidance to students interested in sport-related fields, as well as expand diversity in those fields.
Through the program, students will receive a mentor to provide extra educational and career planning support. They will also be able to shadow professionals in their field of interest, learn from guest speakers, attend field trips and connect with local college programs.
“The NECS Academy is an exciting program for our students interested in many different sports-related fields, and we look forward to seeing the opportunities that will be made available to the selected students that will allow them to learn from professionals and build their knowledge and skillset,” Guidance Counselor Gwen Nauls said. “New England Community Services is a great community foundation that aims to support the success of youth in the region, and we are grateful for their partnership.”
Students will be selected for the program through a referral and application process. Staff members are able to refer students to the program, and students will complete a short application. NECS expects to select 5-10 Southeastern sophomores and juniors for the first year of the Academy.
It is expected that participating students will complete weekly sessions in the evenings to ensure Academy programming does not interfere with students’ school day or extracurriculars. Programming is expected to begin in January.
Learn more about NECS here.
###