The Bergen Community College Newsletter | Summer 2020 • Vol. 7, Issue 3
Virtual Commencement, Real Celebration T housands of Bergen graduates, their families, friends and those from around the world watched the institution’s virtual commencement live stream event on YouTube May 18, hearing the graduates’ names called, a keynote address from U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D – NJ) and well-wishes from Bergen faculty and staff. Thousands of additional social media followers shared photos, memories and videos using #BergenGrad. “Class of 2020, you are going to do amazing things,” New Jersey’s first African-American senator, Booker (pictured), said. “But life is not about a destination, it’s about what you bring to the journey — and I hope you bring your power. Your power of love. That’s what this world needs right now — it needs light in darkness.” The class of 2020 featured more than 2,000 candidates for graduation, including valedictorian Maciej Szajwaj (pictured), a nursing student with a 4.0 GPA who has worked as an emergency medical technician during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Even though we are not walking across the stage dressed in our graduation cap and gown, the significance and memory of this day will go down in history and be a reminder of the
time period in which we lived and of how we came together—all while being six-feet apart,” he said. Student Government President Bernadette Duran spoke at the ceremony, too, offering a reflection on self and place. “Bergen became our home; it became our escape; it became our sanctuary when things in our life weren’t going right,” Duran said. “As much as it hurts to say goodbye to the friends that we’ve made and to the memories we cherish, know that if you want to change the world, you have to leave home.” Bergen Interim President Dr. Tony Ross served as the master of ceremonies, while Bergen County Executive James Tedesco III and Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Mary Amoroso provided remarks. Nursing professor Carmen Cruz-Torres, who has spent her non-teaching days working as a per diem nurse taking care of high-risk obstetric patients and screening for COVID-19 at St. Joseph’s Family Health Center, opened the ceremony as grand marshal. Bergen Board of Trustees Chair Gerard L. Carroll and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brock Fisher also spoke at the ceremony; respiratory therapy class of 2020 graduate Kerianne Villareal performed the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The College presented commencement 2020 as the most global, most social and most unique graduation ceremony in its history with social distancing guidelines effectively cancelling the in-person celebration originally scheduled for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Graduates embraced the move online and even submitted photos and messages (pictured) to include as part of the ceremony as well. The event will remain on Bergen’s YouTube page for those who missed the live stream. n
COVID Can’t Stop #BergenCourage!
They're on the front lines so we can remain healthy at home. The #BergenCourage campaign, in partnership with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' #NJCCHeroes initiative, has, among other spotlights, celebrated students, faculty and staff working at the FEMA drive-through testing site at the main campus, employees who gathered more than 134,000 pieces of personal protection equipment for front-line workers and alumni providing mental health services in the community. Know someone with #BergenCourage? Email lhlavenka@bergen.edu. n
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Summer 2020 Sessions Summer II.............July 1 - Aug. 4 Summer III ........Aug. 5 - Aug. 20
Fall 2020 Sessions Fall 1 ..................Sept. 2 - Dec. 21 Flex 1 .................Sept. 2 - Oct. 26 Fall 2 ................Sept. 23 - Dec. 21 Flex 2 .................Oct. 27 - Dec. 21
Honor Students … Honored
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n what has become an annual tradition at Bergen, high-achieving Phi Theta Kappa honor students have notched numerous awards. Among many recognitions: • Luis Cedeno Vera earned the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship - the 12th Bergen student to earn the award in recent years. He will receive up to $40,000 per year to complete a bachelor’s degree. Nearly 1,500 students from 311 community colleges applied for the prestigious scholarship; only 50 emerged with the honor; • The New Jersey Council of County Colleges named three students to the 2020 New Jersey All-State Academic Team, awarding one with a top scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation: Erisa Ganellari, Jenna Santacroce and
Burritos Bought for Healthcare Workers
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Mary Flannery
he Student Government Association (SGA) pledged $3,200 in funds accumulated for philanthropic efforts toward purchasing meals for front-line healthcare workers at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. The students authorized using the funds as their annual “Bergen Gift,” an initiative the SGA completes to leave a lasting impression. SGA members selected Tito’s Burritos & Wings, also in Ridgewood, to provide 200 dinners
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Everybody Counts
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FACULTYFOCUS ongratulations to biology Professor Mary Flannery, who earned the 2019-20 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award! Flannery has worked to integrate the application of science into students’ lives through learning experiences on civic engagement on national health issues, community outreach programs in biology and microbiology education and utilizing millennium development goals in biology education. n
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e need to count everyone! Every 10 years, the United States fulfills its constitutional mandate by counting the populous through the Census, which assists
Living the Virtual Life
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he pandemic brought about some exciting new initiatives to support communication, engagement and community relations efforts, including “Virtual Life @ Bergen,” a directory of off-campus remote events and activities and a complete makeover of the College’s social media accounts. Bergen has maintained the most-followed New Jersey community college social media presence since 2011. n
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Jade Tollis. Tollis also secured a $1,250 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation as the New Jersey New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar, which celebrates the most outstanding workforce-bound student from each state; and • Finally, the Alpha Epsilon Phi chapter has earned both the international and regional “Distinguished Chapter Team” award, continuing a decade of record-setting success for the group. n
Inside Bergen • The Bergen Community College Newsletter |
Summer 2020
for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals at the hospital April 30. n
the federal government set congressional districts, allocate aid and delegate resources that ultimately affect colleges like Bergen. Make sure you file your Census form – even, for the first time, online! n