Bloomfield College Graduates ‘Largest Class’ Ever

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — More than 330 students received degrees during Bloomfield College’s 144th Commencement Ceremony last week, the largest graduating class in the school’s history, administrators say.

According to a school news release, honorary degree recipients for 2017 included U.S. Senator Cory Booker, award-winning ABC 7 News anchor Lori Stokes, and Dr. Melissa Nobles, Kenan Sahin Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

See photos from the commencement here.

Class of 2017 valedictorian Lidia Wrobel, a graduate of Nutley High School, said that for her – as well as many of the other 333 graduating students – the degree didn’t come easy.

“There were times when I wanted to give up,” she told her classmates. “I do not discuss this often, but I started to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. I even had to miss an entire semester. But the guidance, love, and support that I received during that difficult time from my Bloomfield College family encouraged me to keep moving forward."

“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness,” Wrobel added. “In fact, I believe it is one of the greatest strengths a person can possess."

• See related article: Caldwell University Graduates ‘Largest Class Ever’ For 2017 (VIDEO)
• See related article: New Jersey Triplets Graduate College At Same Time, Make History

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Bloomfield College