2,800 Degree Candidates To Walk At Bergen Community College Commencement

Approximately 2,800 students will walk in Bergen Community College’s commencement ceremony Thursday.

Mariia Alibekova from Elmwood Park is this year’s valedictorian. She is one of only 90 students in the United States to earn a $40,000-a-year scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. She emigrating to the United States from the Ukraine in 2012. She became a leading member of the school’s student union. She plans to study chemical engineering.

Ridgewood resident Michael Nehring is this year’s salutatorian.

Nehring is one of 72 students to earn a 4.0 grade point average. He was made a member of the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association. The association only accepts the top one percent of business majors in the state. Hewill will transfer to Rutgers Business School.

Paramus resident Rhonda Richardsen is one of only 20 students to be named to the 2015 All-USA Community College Academic Team. She also won this year’s Coca-Cola New Century Scholar Award, making her, according to the college, the best college student in New Jersey.

Cid Wilson, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility will give the keynote speech.

The ceremony will be held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center for the first time.