A total of 1571 degrees and certificates were awarded to 1521 students by Middlesex County College Tuesday, May 19 at the 48th annual Commencement exercises witnessed by approximately 3500 guests. The final event of a year-long celebration of the College’s 50th anniversary was held in the Expo Center in the Raritan Center.
Valedictorian Nicole Risoli delivered the class welcome, sharing her experiences and aspirations. Ms. Risoli is a graduate of the Paralegal Studies Program.
“Your hard work has paid off and I commended you for your successes big and small,” she told the class. “So what’s next? For some of us we will go on to other colleges or enter the work place if we aren’t already there. For some of us, like myself, we still don’t know what we want to be when we grow up. And that’s okay too. Because the truth is there is no direct path from the seat you sit in today to where you’re going. There are no definitive answers. Success is what you make of it and only comes when you embrace opportunity when to find it. If you keep your eyes open, I assure you that opportunity will find you. I hope you find happiness, love, and strength along the way.”
Approximately 675 members of the Class of 2015 participated in the exercises, representing the 355 graduates of August 2014, 420 of January 2015 and 746 of May 2015. Participants included several students who fulfilled the requirements for more than one degree or certificate during this academic year.
Dr. Mark McCormick, vice president for academic and student affairs, presided. Greetings were delivered by Dr. Joann La Perla-Morales, College president; Dorothy K. Power, chairman of the Board of Trustees; and Ronald G. Rios, Freeholder director.
Dr. Frederick Montana, professor of Natural Sciences, led the academic processional as grand marshal.
Dr. La Perla-Morales, sixth president of the College, conferred degrees and certificates to the graduates, who were introduced by Acting Dean Jeffrey Herron and Dean David Edwards. Dr. McCormick presented the candidates for graduation.
Earlier in May, the College held an honors convocation for students with the highest academic achievement in each program. MCC also presented the Chambers Awards to graduates with a 4.0 grade point average, and the five individuals were recognized during Commencement. They include Ms. Risoli of South Plainfield, the salutatorian, Matthew R. Spare (Sayreville), and John A. Addeo (Edison), Yulia Forte (Piscataway) and Henry B. Vargas (Woodbridge).
