NSCC honors Saugus resident

SAUGUS – Saugus resident Sherri Raftery was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award at North Shore Community College?s commencement recently.Raftery attended North Shore Community from 2006 to 2007 and received her certificate in substance abuse counseling.?It was pretty unbelievable to be honest,” said Raftery. “I was not expecting it. You?re in front of the whole entire graduating class and their families and big wigs. It was amazing.”Raftery also had several poems published in the school?s magazine and newspaper, and had a public speaking column for the school. She also worked in the school?s computer lab until last year and has volunteered for countless programs around the North Shore.?I also helped out with the anti-violence group and in addition to that I did the Toastmaster?s Youth Leadership program on Saturday,” said Raftery, who is also the president of the Saugus Cultural Council and was a member of the Theater Company of Saugus Board of Directors.As an accomplished public speaker, Raftery said she wished she had time to speak at the commencement.?All I could do was accept it,” she said. “They had the jumbotron and the video and everything, so I was able to look into the camera and was able to speak to them in my own way and sort of express thank you. It was a little performance, but I didn?t get to say anything. I would have loved to have thanked (Professor Howard Sylvetsky) and (Professor Troy Smith) and all the folks along the way who helped me when I was there.”Some of the criteria for the award include professional achievement, creative accomplishments, distinguished performance to the college, and extraordinary interest and service to the community.Alumni Association Vice President Gerard “Sully” Sullivan presented Raftery with the award at the Richard B. O?Keefe Auditorium at Salem State University.Raftery, who works as Executive Assistant and Office Manager at the East Boston Chamber of Commerce, received a commemorative gift and will have her name engraved on a plaque displayed at the Danvers campus.Alumni Coordinator Sandy Rochon said in an email that the Distinguished Alumnus Award was established by the Alumni Association in 1990 to honor graduates of North Shore Community College who have “demonstrated service and commitment to the college, community and to their profession.”Rochon said Raftery exemplifies the “many NSCC alumni who have contributed both their time and their talents to the community college philosophy.”Raftery said it was an honor to be chosen by people who “thought I was worthy and deserving of this award.”?I appreciate it and I hope to continue to give back to the college, my community and continue to volunteer,” said Raftery.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].