RCBC Graduation Set For Next Week

Rowan College at Burlington County’s year-long 50th birthday celebration will continue next week, when more than 1,300 students receive their degrees during the college’s 49th annual commencement ceremonies, college officials announced.

“Graduation is a wonderful time to celebrate our students’ accomplishments of the past, present and future,” Rowan College at Burlington County President Dr. Michael A. Cioce said. “Our graduates have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals, and we look forward to honoring them.”

There will be three ceremonies, all of which will take place outside on the Mount Laurel Campus Quad in front of the Student Success Center with live streaming available in the Student Success Center and online at rcbc.edu.

The graduation ceremony for Health Sciences students takes place on Thursday, May 16, 4 p.m. Deborah Heart and Lung Center CEO Joseph Chirichella is the keynote speaker.

The ceremony for Liberal Arts students commences at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 17, followed by the ceremony for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and Liberal Arts and Sciences students at 2 p.m. the same day.

Robert C. Messina Jr., the college's longest-serving president from 1987 to 2012, will be the keynote speaker for both of the ceremonies on Friday. All events are sponsored by Whole Foods Market, which is providing refreshments for all three ceremonies.

The valedictorian is Chemical Engineering and Physics student, D’Jana Wyllis, who emigrated from the Caribbean island of Domenica. She has been active on campus and in her studies and earned distinction as a finalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke transfer scholarship. Wyllis plans to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, Caris Norway and Lauren Turse will receive the President’s Award for their achievements. Norway received the college’s Althea E. Albert Nursing Award, the New Jersey League of Nursing Scholarship Award and recently passed the licensure exam to become a registered nurse. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Norway hopes to serve as a pediatric nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Turse will earn three associate degrees in Biology, English and Psychology before she earns one high school diploma next month.

“Rowan College at Burlington County is a tremendous resource for our county that provides access to affordable high-quality education,” Burlington County Freeholder Director Tom Pullion said. “On behalf of the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, I congratulate all of the graduates and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments.”

A total of 140 graduates will continue their education at Rowan College at Burlington County through the college’s innovative 3+1 program, which allows students to earn a degree through Rowan University while attending classes on Rowan College at Burlington County’s campus at a significantly lower cost.

These students are on their way to join the first 92 3+1 students who have saved $3.3 million while earning their associate and bachelor’s degrees, according to college officials.

For more information on Rowan College at Burlington County’s commencement ceremonies, click here.