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by Lauren Ferguson
More than 1,160 newly-minted 69色情视频 of New Jersey graduates accepted their undergraduate degrees Thursday, May 15, during a vibrant commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ 鈥 where speakers stressed the value of being bold, being kind, and being good teammates.
鈥淏eing bold means stepping forward even when you鈥檙e not one hundred percent sure of the outcome. Being kind means using your voice to lift others up, not shut them down. And being a good teammate? That鈥檚 where the real magic happens鈥攂ecause nobody changes the world alone. We need one another,鈥 69色情视频 President Dr. Cindy Jebb told the packed arena of more than 8,000 graduates, alumni, family members, trustees, professors, and other stakeholders and supporters.
鈥淲hat a moment this is. Let鈥檚 just take a second to breathe it in,鈥 Jebb instructed the crowd after the excited graduates filed onto the arena floor to cheers, waves, applause and flashing cameras.
The electronic banners around the perimeter of the arena lit up with the names of each school, as groups of graduates were led into the arena by their respective deans and members of the Honor Guard, graduates selected by their deans for their scholarship and contributions to the college.
For Accounting major Keith Hurst 鈥25 of Camden, NJ, the entire day felt 鈥渇antastic.鈥
鈥淚 finally did something that I was super excited to do since childhood,鈥 Hurst said while standing with fellow graduates of Ramapo鈥檚 Anisfield School of Business. Hurst said 鈥渕y entire family鈥 of about ten people made the trip to Newark to witness him walk across the stage and be handed his diploma.
Some proud parents arrived at the arena early to guarantee the best views of their children and the milestone celebration.
鈥淭his feels great. There is nothing like it,鈥 said Rene Raymond, of River Vale, NJ, whose daughter Olivia Raymond 鈥25 was awarded her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. 鈥淪he is our first daughter graduating college, and we were here when the doors opened.鈥
Christopher Moss of Hawthorne, NJ, wore a camera around his neck to capture shots of his daughter, Marketing major Megan Moss 鈥25 on her big day. 鈥淚 am really proud of her, and I鈥檓 just looking forward to seeing what will happen next,鈥 he said.
The undergraduate commencement ceremony officially began when Grand Marshal Stephen Rice, professor of American Studies, held up the College Mace. The handcrafted mace, featuring Ramapo鈥檚 seal on a silver medallion, is carried by a faculty member who leads the processional for Ramapo鈥檚 annual major academic ceremonies, Opening Convocation, Undergraduate Commencement and Graduate Programs Commencement.
Members of the dais party on stage during commencement also included keynote speaker Honorable Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, D-19, the longest serving speaker in New Jersey history, Assemblyman John Azzariti, D-39, Harlem Globetrotters CEO and Chair of the Ramapo Board of Governors Keith Dawkins 鈥94, Board of Trustees Chair Susan Vallario, Provost Dr. Michael Middleton聽and members of the Board of Trustees.
After missing major high school milestones like prom and graduation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the class of 2025 entered Ramapo together with President Jebb in 2021, her first year at the helm of RCNJ. They all embarked on their Ramapo journeys at the same time, but with their own paths ahead.
鈥淵ou began your journey under the shadow of a pandemic, navigating uncertainty and a world in flux,鈥 Jebb reminded graduates from the stage. 鈥淵ou witnessed powerful movements for justice, global conflicts that redefined diplomacy and civility, and technological revolutions that will shape every field from science to social work. Through it all, though, Roadrunners, you didn鈥檛 just make it through鈥攜ou grew!鈥
On stage, Jebb was robed in academic regalia, including RCNJ鈥檚 Chain of Office which represents the history of presidential leadership at the College. The chain bears the College seal and includes the names of Ramapo鈥檚 four past presidents.
鈥淵ou learned how to adapt and how to advocate; how to listen and how to lead,鈥 Jebb told graduates. 鈥淎nd that matters, because the world you鈥檙e entering as alumni doesn鈥檛 need more noise. It needs clarity and civility. It doesn鈥檛 need more division. It needs courage and empathy. And let me say this: the world desperately needs you鈥攊n boardrooms, classrooms, clinics, labs, media, the arts鈥 it needs people who can disagree without being disagreeable, people who can collaborate to solve problems, and people who can build and lead diverse teams.鈥
The ceremony featured stirring renditions of the Star Spangled Banner, sung by Music majors Ayden Mossmann 鈥25, of Mahwah, NJ, and聽 Christopher Scanlon 鈥25, of Wappinger Falls, NY, and the 69色情视频 Alma Mater performed by Marketing major Lindsey Ruggiero 鈥25, of Fair Lawn, NJ.
For the graduates and their families, the spirited, emotional ceremony marked the culmination of years of hard work and hands-on learning alongside Ramapo鈥檚 mentoring, experienced faculty.
鈥淥ur time at Ramapo has taught us that college was never only about getting the right answers on an exam; it was about the relationships that shaped us, the experiences that challenged us, and the differences we made in the lives of others,鈥 student speaker Nikita Hanover 鈥25, told the crowd. Hanover is a first-generation student from Guyana who earned her degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology.
Hanover shared how she struggled when she first arrived on campus. But when she began to get involved with clubs and organizations, her college experience improved, she embraced her own identity and became more of her authentic self. And through her service on campus, 鈥淚 was able to make a difference, empower other students, and in turn, I became happier and more fulfilled.鈥
鈥淚 hope we can all realize that the challenges, pressures, doubts, and fears over the last four years have helped shape us into the people we are today,鈥 Hanover said.
The graduating class was also addressed by keynote speaker Assembly Speaker Coughlin, who told them to 鈥渂e proud of what you鈥檝e done. Be thankful to the people who helped you get here. And now, go be a great success.鈥
Coughlin shared how despite repeated challenges, his career has gone well, and he gets to do work that matters to people.
鈥淭ruly great success鈥攖he kind that matters most鈥攊s about making a difference. And there is no limit on the way you can achieve great success,鈥 Coughlin said. 鈥淚t can be by curing cancer or writing a book that changes lives. But it can also be raising a great family. Helping your neighbor. Standing up for someone who can鈥檛 stand up for themselves. And know that you can change someone鈥檚 day鈥攎aybe even their life鈥攚ith a kind word, a helping hand, a smile.鈥

New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin delivered the keynote address during RCNJ’s 2025 Undergraduate Commencement.
He told the graduates to root for other people鈥檚 success and 鈥渂e the kindest person you know in every room you walk into. In every job. With every person. Kindness builds. It heals. It lifts people up.鈥
As each school was called up to the stage, the proud graduates lined up to receive their diplomas. Their names were called, one by one. Some danced off stage, smiled, hugged and took selfies with each other.
Students, prepared to enter graduate school, law school, and careers in diverse fields, accepted degrees from the Anisfield School of Business, School of Contemporary Arts, School of Humanities and Global Studies, School of Social Science and Human Services, and School of Theoretical and Applied Science.
In a moving moment, the graduates 鈥 robed in black gowns and mortarboards 鈥 were then led by Mathematics Professor Amanda Beecher, American Studies Professor John Gronbeck-Tedesco 鈥 who were recently promoted to full-time professors 鈥 and Provost Michael Middleton to turn their tassels to the left symbolizing that they earned their degrees.
鈥淲e are so proud of all you have accomplished over the years,鈥 Chair of the 69色情视频 Foundation Board of Governors, Keith Dawkins 鈥94, told the graduates before officially welcoming them as members of the 69色情视频 Alumni Association.
鈥淲ith no further ado, 69色情视频 class of 2025, toss your caps,鈥 Dawkins instructed.
Graduates tossed their caps in celebration as maroon and white confetti rained down.
鈥淚 toss my cap for my mom. I toss my cap for my best friends and I toss my cap for women in law who have come before and after me and have paved the way for me to be able to live my dream,鈥 said Law and Society major Giovanna LaMonica 鈥25, of Wharton, NJ.
鈥淚 toss my cap for number one, God, number two, my family, my mom and my sister, they’re here. And then number three, everybody here who’s supported me along the way,鈥 said Law and Society major Victor Oluwagbemi 鈥25, who served as president of the Student Government Association and a member of the Honor Guard.
For a gallery of commencement photos, visit Ramapo鈥檚 Class of 2025 Undergraduate Commencement page.
-Liz Mendicino 鈥26 contributed to this story
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