Robert Giorgi received the 2017 Recent Alumnus of the Year award at the Middlesex County College Alumni Association’s annual dinner meeting in June. The award honors an alumnus who has graduated from MCC within the past 10 years. Mr. Giorgi, an Army veteran who was very active in the MCC Veterans Association, Earth Science Club, Phi Theta Kappa and Quo Vadis (the school newspaper), is now attending Columbia University. He graduated from MCC in 2016. Upon receiving his award Rob said:”The time I spent at MCC help make me the man I am today. The teachers fully prepared me to enter Columbia University. What you people have at MCC is outstanding. Not only is it a great learning environment, but everyone I’ve met that works there makes it also feel like home.” He is flanked by College President Joann La Perla-Morales (left) and Alumni Association President Dorothy Bitetto ’69.

Robert Murdock, a 1979 graduate of Middlesex County College, was named the 2017 Alumnus of the Year for Contributions to the College, its Alumni Association or its Foundation. The award was presented during Celebration Day, an annual event that honors College employees reaching milestone service anniversaries, two Outstanding Service to the College award winners, as well as the Alumnus of the Year.

Mr. Murdock graduated with a degree in Accounting and went on to Rider University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He is a founder of the band “The British Invasion Years” (formerly “The British Invasion Tribute Band”) and he sings and plays the bass guitar. He is also the business manager for the group and says the accounting skills he was taught at MCC and Rider made him the logical choice to manage the band’s financial affairs.

“On February 9, 1964 when my parents sat me down in front of the TV to watch the historic first appearance by The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, I knew I wanted to be a musician in a band,” Murdock said as he accepted the award.

His parents hired a teacher, who taught Murdock to play the guitar, bass guitar and piano.

“As I got older, I discovered that music is more than just an art form, it is also a business,” he said. He came to MCC in 1977.

“It was one of the wisest decisions I ever made,” he said. “Because of the great business fundamentals and foundation I learned here, I am now able to wear two hats in my career, managing the business of the British Invasion Years and performing the music I love with a great bunch of musicians and friends. For that, I have to say thank you to MCC for the helping me to get to this point. I owe a huge debt of gratitude for all I learned here in just two short years.”

The British Invasion Years now travels the nation at theaters, performing arts centers and many large community summer concerts series, some in New Jersey. They also donate their talents for numerous charitable events each year.

The band has performed at two MCC events: the Alumni Association reunion of the classes of the 1960s and 1970s in 2013, and again at the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2015.

At the MCC Annual Alumni Dinner meeting which was held on June 2, 2016 at the Pines Manor in Edison, Jonathan Finnerty– Class of 2015 was honored as the 2016 Recent Alumnus of the Year.

Jonathan graduated from MCC in 2015, with an associate degree in Philosophy. He was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society as an officer; he was the managing editor of award-winning student newspaper Quo Vadis; he was a member of the Political Debate Club, and started the Faculty/Student Debate series.

Jon was also featured in the 50th anniversary book “endless possibilities” as an exemplary student at MCC. His most noteworthy accomplishment is his selection as Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship recipient, which is a prestigious award given to community college students wishing to transfer to a four-year school..

Jonathan attends Rutgers University and is a full-time Classics/Philosophy Major.

Jon has also been a volunteer firefighter with the Metuchen Fire Department,

Jon has distinguished himself as a community leader, academic scholar, and volunteer for fundraising events. He has immense respect for MCC, and is grateful for the opportunities offered through the college. He maintains relationships with former professors, administrators and friends by visiting the campus, and takes great pride in being an alumnus.

(Jonathan is pictured with Dorothy Bitetto, MCC Alumni Association President and Joann La Perla Morales, College President.)

Jessica Cortese – Class of 2008

Each year, the Middlesex County College Alumni Association honors one of its graduates for his or her outstanding career, professional and community service achievements, and positive contributions to the College, its Alumni Association, or its Foundation.

Jessica Cortese arrived at MCC in the fall of 2006 as a nervous student in the Project Connections Program. She left as a graduate with highest honors.

After completing MCC, Ms. Cortese continued her education at The College of New Jersey where she earned a dual Bachelor’s Degree in English and in Women and Gender Studies. Jessica continued her studies at TCNJ where she earned her Master’s Degree in English, graduating with a 3.95 grade point average. In 2012 she published an article, “Third World Feminism: Finding Solidarity in the Global Market,” in TCNJ’s Journal of Student Scholarship.

While attending grad school, Jessica was also an adjunct English and Student Success instructor at MCC and she worked in the First-Year Experience Department helping students register for classes and piloting the Summer Scholars Program. She was then an administrative assistant at the MCC Foundation.

She is now assistant to the director of the Plainsboro Township Recreation Department. She assists with grant writing, public relations, and program development and implementation. She also teaches yoga.

Jessica is very active in the community. She is the treasurer of the Human Relations Council of Plainsboro, which addresses the social needs of the community and plans events that celebrate Plainsboro’s diversity. A member of MCC’s Alumni Association Board, she participated in the Association’s Habitat for Humanity building project last summer, worked at MCC’s 50th Anniversary Community Day Celebration, and, for the past two years, has entertained guests as “Lady Luck” at the MCC Foundation’s Casino Night.

Kim Silva-Martinez was presented the Recent Alumna of the Year Award at the Middlesex County College Alumni Association dinner meeting in June. The award is given annually to a graduate of the past 10 years. Ms. Silva-Martinez, who graduated from MCC in 2014 with highest honors, earned two degrees: journalism and English. She transferred to Montclair State University, where she is majoring in English. She has maintained her allegiance to Middlesex, assisting with several Alumni Association projects. In addition, she wrote a book to celebrate Middlesex County College’s 50^th anniversary. The work, called “endless possibilities: Middlesex County College 1964-2014,” chronicles the life of the College over its history. In addition, she created a display of photos and artifacts for the College’s fundraising gala and community celebration this spring. From left: Dorothy Bitetto, president of the MCC Alumni Association; Kim Silva-Martinez; and College President Joann La Perla-Morales.

Donna Marie Gardner of the Natural Sciences Department at Middlesex County College, received the 2015 Alumna of the Year Award for Contributions to the College, its Alumni Association or Foundation. The award was presented during Celebration Day in May, an annual event that also honors College employees reaching milestone service anniversaries and two Outstanding Service to the College award winners. Professor Gardner, a member of the MCC class of 2000, is a superb teacher who motivates and inspires her students. She is an innovative educator who brings many different learning and teaching styles to her classroom. She is respected, admired and liked by her students, both science and non-science majors. In 2014, she was awarded the MCC Excellence in Teaching Award. “I’m honored, flattered and privileged to be recognized,” Professor Gardner said. “This is an important award for me because of how I feel about Middlesex. The College is my home; it transformed my life.”

At the College’s Celebration Day ceremony on May 12, MCC alumnus Damian Gonzalez received the award for Outstanding Service to the College for Staff and was presented the award by College President, Joann La Perla-Morales. Damian is the Graphic Services Coordinator in the Marketing Communications Department.

From left: Ms. Rosa; Ms. Conde-Hernandez; Dorothy Bitetto, president of the MCC Alumni Association;
and Joann La Perla-Morales, president of Middlesex County College.

Marisol Conde-Hernandez a 2008 graduate of Middlesex County College, who was presented the Recent Alumna of the Year Award at the Alumni Association’s annual dinner meeting on June 11. The award recognizes the accomplishments of someone who graduated within the past 10 years. “I have known Marisol for years,” said Evelyn Rosa, the director of the MCC New Brunswick Center, who nominated her for the award. “She is a strong advocate for immigrant families and has mentored high school college-bound students.” Ms. Conde-Hernandez graduated from Middlesex with highest honors and from Rutgers summa cum laude. She is now at Rutgers University School of Law and expects to graduate in 2017.

Lacey Plichta is flanked by Veronica Clinton, director of development and alumni relations (left), and Middlesex County College President Joann La Perla-Morales.
Lacey Plichta, a 2006 graduate of MCC, was named the 2014 Alumna of the Year for Contributions to the College, its Alumni Association or its Foundation. The award was presented during Celebration Day, an annual event held each May that also honors College employees reaching milestone service anniversaries and three Outstanding Service to the College award winners.
Ms. Plichta was a member of the first class of New Jersey STARS, which is a scholarship program for high-achieving high school students who attend their community college. She graduated with honors from MCC and Rutgers, where she went for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She is now teaching in the Princeton school system. She also owns her own business, Lacey’s Gourmet Cupcakes. She has been involved with the Alumni Association since graduation and is now treasurer. She was also an officer of the Middlesex chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. “My experiences at Middlesex have been nothing but wonderful, I had excellent professors who inspired my creativity and ‘outside the box’ thinking.”

David Brogan is flanked by Barbara Bernard, vice chair of the Foundation (left),
and Middlesex County College President Joann La Perla-Morales.

David Brogan, a 1993 graduate of Middlesex County College and the first vice president of economic development and taxation for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, was honored as Alumnus of the Year for Business/Professional/Community Achievements at the 44th annual Scholarship Gala held March 1 at the Imperia, Somerset. The Gala will be held Saturday, March 1 at the Imperia, 1714 Easton Ave, Somerset, NJ. The event begins at 6 p.m. The entertainment includes “The Best of Broadway” starring Barbra Russell and Ron Sharpe, stars of Broadway’s “Les Misérables.”

Mr. Brogan attended MCC from 1991 to 1993 before transferring to Rutgers University, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1985-1989.
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association represents more than 21,000 member companies, with over 1.5 million employees making it the largest employer-representative association in the nation. It provides information and services for its members, but it is also known as the premier lobbying association for business. “We take positions on bills and regulations that will have the greatest benefit for the largest number of our members,” he said.

During his tenure, Mr. Brogan successfully advocated for $2.3 billion in tax cuts and incentives for business, as well as the largest overhaul of New Jersey’s economic incentive programs in over two decades.