Caldwell University Class Of 2016 Celebrates Graduation Day

Caldwell, NJ – Congratulations, class of 2016.

Caldwell University celebrated its 74th annual commencement on Sunday, May 15, during which 435 students earned their undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.

Newark resident Anabela Santos delivered the student address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

“Caldwell University have shaped us into better thinkers and leaders, helped us discover our passions, and helped us realize potential that we may not have seen in ourselves on our own,” said Santos.

She quoted from the 1990s television sitcom “Boy Meets World,” in which the history teacher, Mr. Feeney, advises his students to “Believe in yourselves, dream, try, do good.”

“During this four-year journey, we have each met, in some way, our own version of Mr. Feeney who encouraged us to dream big, believe in ourselves, try our best, and taught us the importance of using our talents to do good,” Santos told her classmates. “As we prepare to go out into the world, we should embrace and act upon Mr. Feeney’s advice.”

University officials took the opportunity to present an honorary degree to Ernani Sadural, director of Global Health for the RWJBarnabas Health System and a member of the Rotary Club of the Caldwells.

“A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Sadural is co-founder and chief medical officer of the Life is Great Global Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing medical and non-medical volunteers to underserved populations throughout the world,” university officials stated in a news release.

“He and his wife, Dr. Sarah Timmapuri, were inspired to start the organization following the suffering and deaths caused by the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Dr. Sadural has participated in or led over 50 medical missions across several countries including Haiti, Dominican Republic, India, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Grenada, Peru, Nepal, and Honduras.”

“I applaud your hard work and academic achievements and I share your love of learning,” Sadural told graduates. “But what I really admire about Caldwell University is your mission of service.”

The grand marshal of the graduate ceremony was Tom Keen, professor in the Business Division, and the grand marshall for the undergraduate ceremony was Sally Jo Weber, professor in the Department of Modern Languages.

Honored alumni from the 50th anniversary class of 1966 were recognized at the undergraduate ceremony.

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Photos courtesy of Joseph DiCarlo, Caldwell University