Locals Graduate From Centenary College

Local residents graduated from Centenary College at the 137th May Commencement on May 12, 2012.

The students are as follows:

Kaitlin Oringer from Chester graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Jennifer Yeager from Chester graduated with a Master of Arts degree.

Laura Borisow from Chester graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree.

Anthony DiFazio from Chester graduated with a Associate in Arts degree.

Senior Meteorologist for Channel 7 Eyewitness News Bill Evans addressed Centenary's 508 graduates who participated in the ceremony.

As a senior on-air weather personality, Evans has written and produced numerous documentaries on hurricanes, severe weather and the impact on the environment. In the course of his research, he has flown in "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft during major storms. He was presented with the annual Outstanding Meteorologist Award by the National Weather Service for his research and reporting efforts.

All of the books that he has authored have themes related to the environment. Evans' debut novel Category 7 was published in 2008 and became a New York Times bestseller. His other works include Frozen Fire, Dry Ice and a weather book for children titled It's Raining Fish & Spiders. His fourth novel, Blackmail Earth, is set for release next week.

Evans has won 12 Emmy Awards for his entertaining and informative weather reporting. In addition to his television broadcasting duties, he does the weather for RadioDisney, ESPN Radio, WGCH-AM, WPLJ-FM and appears on ABC radio in major markets throughout the United States, as well as filling in on Good Morning America.

He is a member of the Friars Club and the Washington Speaker's Bureau. A true believer in the importance of community service, Evans is a board member of Leak and Watts Family and Children's Services of the Bronx and Yonkers. He is also an avid supporter and fundraiser for such children's charities as Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia University Medical Center, Special Olympics of New York, the National Young Adult Institute, Junior Achievement of New York and Connecticut, Kids in Crisis of Greenwich, Ronald McDonald House, Juvenile Diabetes of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Mt. Vernon Hospital and Boy Scouts of America.

Evans holds a B. A. from Mississippi State University and a degree in Meteorology from Jackson State University.

Additional honorary degrees were awarded to Michael Halpin and Michael Lavery.

Michael Halpin is the former Chairman, CEO, and Director of Skylands Community Bank, and is a current Trustee of Centenary College, serving as a member of Centenary's Finance Committee. He is a former Trustee of Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, where he chaired the Finance Committee. As a local resident and community leader, he has helped develop relationships for Centenary College with businesses and individuals in the area.

Mayor Lavery is an Executive Board Member of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Board Member of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and Heritage Conservancy, and has served on the Hackettstown Area Chamber of Commerce, Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as boards of Hackettstown Regional Medical Center and its Foundation.

"I am so pleased that we are able to honor these individuals in this way," says Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, Centenary College President. "Also, I would like to congratulate our graduates for their dedication and hard work and want to welcome them as alumni of this fine institution."

The graduating class included undergraduate and graduate students from the main campus in Hackettstown and the Centenary College School of Professional Studies learning centers in Parsippany and Edison. Degrees that were awarded to the 264 graduates participating in the ceremony are as follows: 21 Associate of Arts; 39 Bachelor of Arts; 2 Bachelors of Fine Arts; 82 Bachelor of Science; 33 Master of Arts; and 87 Master of Business Administration. Four of the graduating seniors were from Centenary's School of International Studies.