Bridgewater Graduate Receives Paralegal Studies Award

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Bridgewater local and 2017 graduate of Raritan Valley Community College is the recipient of the Baker and Rannells Paralegal Studies Student Graduate Award.

The award honors an RVCC student graduating with an Associate of Applied Science or a Certificate in Paralegal Studies who has demonstrated not only academic excellence, but also a commitment to service combined with an ethic of justice, fairness and integrity, according to Stephen Baker, Esq., President of Baker and Rannells, PA.

Lorren M. Rago of Bridgewater was presented with the honor at RVCC's Academic Awards Ceremony, held May 10 at the College's Branchburg campus. The award was established by Baker and Rannells, PA, a New Jersey-based law firm that specializes in intellectual property, trademark and copyright law.

"The firm has hired a number of RVCC graduates from the Paralegal Studies program and has benefited from the good education that the College provides. The award is our way of thanking RVCC," said Baker, who presented the $500 prize to Rago.

Rago, who was previously employed in pharmaceutical marketing, is now dedicated to the area of family law and is employed as a paralegal at Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & D'Onofrio, LLP, in Warren. She earned a 4.0 grade point average in the Paralegal Studies Certificate program. A single mother of two children, she has volunteered her time to working with children who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services.

For additional information about the College’s Paralegal Studies program, contact Maria M. DeFilippis, Esq., Coordinator of Paralegal Studies at RVCC, 908-526-1200, ext. 8239 or Maria.DeFilippis@raritanval.edu.

(Photo provided: RVCC graduate Lorren M. Rago, center, is the recipient of the Baker and Rannells Paralegal Studies Student Graduate Award. She is joined by Stephen Baker, Esq., President of Baker and Rannells, PA, and Maria M. DeFilippis, Esq., Coordinator of Paralegal Studies at RVCC.)

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