The Bergen Community College Newsletter 2015, 2016 & 2017 NCMPR Medallion Winner
CONNECT. NJ’s most social community college. 20,000+ followers. Join the conversation. | Summer 2019 • Volume 6, Issue 3
Opportunity Defines Class of 2019 T
he Bergen Community College class of 2019 and the state’s tuition-free Community College Opportunity Grant initiative took centerstage at the institution’s May 23 graduation ceremony at MetLife Stadium, led by a grant recipient and one of the state’s top champions of the program. The class, which featured 2,139 students, included Community College Opportunity Grant awardee and class valedictorian Lindsey Njanja (pictured). “It was never easy for me to feel comfortable in a school setting or even go as far as referring to a school as a home,” Njanja said. “However, all that changed when I came to Bergen. I met amazing professors who were willing to nurture my talents and mold me into the person I am today.” Njanja overcame personal tragedy to become the class of 2019’s top student – both of her parents passed away from AIDS when she was two-years-old. Since then, she has aspired to become a doctor and hopes to conduct research on the disease that claimed her parents’ lives. Njanja recently earned the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which will provide her with up to $40,000 to study at a four-year institution. New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Zakiya Smith Ellis, Ed.D., (pictured) delivered the keynote address at the event, focusing
Best in the World! Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Epsilon Phi Chapter Bergen’s honor society earned an institution-record 23 honors, including the international and regional “Most Distinguished Chapter” awards, making this year’s members No. 1 in the world!
her remarks on the state’s renewed support of higher education – including the Community College Opportunity Grant. She applauded Bergen for its rollout of the grant program, which ultimately provided a tuitionfree college experience to 500 of the institution’s students during the spring pilot. “Our job is to expand access to higher education to ensure that more residents across the state can benefit from the power that comes from higher education,” Smith Ellis said. “We know that education is powerful. The piece of paper you have earned has the opportunity to be a life-changing kind of powerful.” Bergen President Michael D. Redmond, Ph.D., served as master of ceremonies; Bergen County Executive James Tedesco III and Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Germaine Ortiz also provided remarks. Retiring professor Joan McManus led the procession as grand marshal. Bergen’s class of 2019 featured: • Seventy-one students with a 4.0 GPA; • High school students from the Bergen County Applied Technology High School and North Arlington High School earning associate degrees from the College; • Members of the No. 1 ranked Phi Theta Kappa chapter in the world; • Students who published research in an international journal;
Bergen Community College Month in Bergen County
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ergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III and the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders each signed proclamations recognizing April as Bergen Community College Month in Bergen County. n
• Study abroad scholarship winners; • Members of the award-winning student newspaper, the Torch; • Students who will transfer to Ivy League institutions such as Columbia University and other top-tier schools such as the University of California-Berkeley and NJIT. For the first time, the entire class wore eco-friendly caps and gowns made from 100 percent, post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. n
STEM Center Sets Students for Success
A Community leader Krista Flinn has joined the board of trustees. … Mikiko Freund, Won Joon Kang and Lindsey Njanja have earned the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides up to $40,000 per year for college. … Torch Editor-in-Chief Katy Temple and Copy Editor Ally MacConchie won the Iron Reporter competition, while the paper at-large won an additional five awards from the New Jersey Press Foundation. … More than 175 students received $216,000 in Bergen Community College Foundation scholarships this semester. … Twelve state, county and municipal government officials attended the second annual “Legislative Lunch” April 30. The event featured a meal prepared by culinary students and a roundtable discussion on workforce development, training and early college programs. … The Korean Community Center celebrated the 150 members of the inaugural class of graduates from the learning community outreach program that began this semester in partnership with the College.
ssisted by a student-constructed robot and joined by Bergen County government officials, faculty, staff and institutional leaders, President Michael D. Redmond, Ph.D., cut the ribbon on the $1 million STEM Student Research Center April 30 at the College’s main campus. SUEZ sponsored the opening ceremony, donating $5,000 to support the College’s STEM programs. “This is not just a STEM Research Center — it’s a student research center,” President Redmond said. “Our students are our future, and we invest in them because it’s the smartest way we can prepare for tomorrow.” Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III and Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Germaine Ortiz also spoke at the opening. In addition to county chapter 12 funds, the U.S. Department of Education and Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust helped support the construction of the $1 million facility, which features large “showcase”
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windows that enable observation from outside the center, a drones/ robotics wing, a MakerSpace and mini-course classroom. STEM has remained a focus area for Bergen, as it secured numerous grants to enhance its offerings. More than 2,000 enrolled STEM students take advantage of programs such as engineering science, computer science and biology while completing research projects in- and outside the classroom. Projects have included converting a softball field house into a workshop, high-altitude balloon launches, retrofitting a gas combustion truck and motorcycle into electric vehicles and conducting experimental testing with wind turbines and solar panels. n
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1. Dental hygiene professor Joanna Campbell, RDH, FAADH, earned the 2018-19 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award.
3. The Bergen Community College Foundation unveiled the award-winning $50 for 50 donor wall recognizing more than $131,000 in contributions for student scholarships.
2. Pathways Scholars Program students, along with their PepsiCo employee professional mentors, completed their first annual, yearlong Women-in-STEM Mentorship Program.
4. Professor Gina Costa presented student Han Eul (Robin) Yoo with the president’s award for best speaker at the 11th annual speech competition.
5. Members of the Community Coalition for Student Success sponsored a food drive to help students in need. 6. History Professor Phil Dolce, Ph.D., has received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who.
InsideBergen is a publication of the Office of Public Relations. Send feedback to lhlavenka@bergen.edu.