County College of Morris graduates 1,100
RANDOLPH – More than 1,100 eager students, along with their proud friends and family, packed the County College of Morris gymnasium Friday for the school's 46th commencement ceremony.
Some students decorated their caps with notes of their future careers or the college they planned to transfer to, while other caps carried words of wisdom including "patience is a virtue" and "on my way."
Many Class of 2015 graduates - who received a two-year associate's degree in either arts, fine arts, science, or applied science - will transfer to a four-year college to earn their bachelor's degree at public and private New Jersey schools, and out-of-state options including the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
The most popular programs for this year's graduates were humanities social science, business administration, nursing, criminal justice, biology and exercise science. About 350 of the 1,100 graduates participated in Friday's commencement ceremony.
County College of Morris President Edward Yaw, who is set to retire at the end of the next academic year, was to deliver the commencement address but could not be attend due to a death in the family.
In his place, Bette Simmons, vice president of student development and enrollment management, delivered Yaw's planned address about "making success happen."
"At some point, every one of you in the 2015 graduating class decided to pursue a goal through higher education," Simmons said. "You started with the simple belief that you were capable of succeeding, and today we bear witness to how you and the universe successfully conspired to make that happen."
In the speech, Simmons highlighted several successful graduates from the class, including Renata Mauriz who moved to Succasunna from Brazil when she was 12 years old.
"As an undocumented immigrant, she lived in constant fear of deportation but knew she wanted a college education," Simmons said. "When CCM changed its policy to allow undocumented immigrants to attend as international students, a door opened for her and others, albeit an expensive one."
Mauriz, who was part of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society, helped create a scholarship specifically for undocumented students at CCM. She is also a member of Wind of the Spirit, a Morristown-based advocacy group for immigrants.
"My graduation means much more to me than just taking the next step on my educational journey," Mauriz said. "As an undocumented student, receiving this tremendous scholarship is a victory to my whole immigrant community. My accomplishments are symbolic of our resilience."
Mauriz received a $40,000 annual scholarship to attend the school of her choice this fall. She is deciding between either Brown University or Pomona College and plans to become an immigration lawyer working for social justice.
Simmons said she wished she had the time to spotlight every graduate in attendance.
"You represent a rich mosaic of our community and its aspirations for enlightenment and success," Simmons said. "As you leave here today, no matter how many challenges you may confront in life, remember, once you decide where you want to go, you are already well on your way to reaching your destination."
Board of Trustees Chair Stanley Omland urged students to remember their CCM roots upon graduating.
"For some of you, school may be over," Omland said. "But life's education never ends."
He also told students to reach out to Yaw since he could not make it, saying CCM would not be what it is without his three decades of dedication. Omland said Yaw would be a hard person to replace once he retires next summer.
Morris County Freeholder Director Kathryn DeFillippo talked of continued success at CCM, even in the wake of budget concerns for the school. Last month, 22 positions were cut in an effort to close part of a $4.3 million budget gap for the upcoming 2015-16 fiscal year beginning July 1.
"Never stop trying to achieve," DeFillippo said. "This is the beginning of many special days."
CCM also recognized the winners of its Peace Prize at the ceremony, Louis Heineman, of Wharton, and Matthew McCloskey, of Flanders, for their joint project consisting of a video and a mural of a peace sign made from students' handprints. The two received a $1,000 reward and had their names added to a permanent plaque of Peace Prize winners located in the Student Community Center.
The Peace Prize was established following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in an effort to make a positive statement about the importance and pursuit of world peace.
Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com