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In a Place Full of New People and Change, Meet a Few Familiar Faces on Campus |
By Allison Rekuc
Photos by Marc Brodsky
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Meet Joe Noonan. You may recognize him as the security guard giving parking directions; maybe it’s his lively presence; maybe it’s the Notre Dame baseball cap. While we complain over parking limitations, Joe is working hard to see that the lots do not become more chaotic. He explains, “It’s frustrating out here when everyone starts parking wherever they want. Maybe our security guards aren’t getting paid what they should” he hints, considering he is one of the longest staying employees of security at 15 months.
Originally from New York City, Joe found the transition to New Jersey rural life a cinch. When asked if he misses hometown NYC he says, “Do you notice how nice and quiet it is out here? How nice the drivers are?” But these are not the only places where you might bump into Joe Noonan; he is a cultured traveler, “as far west as Hawaii and as far east as the holy land.” He asked, “Do you know what five things I’ve set out for?” and answered himself saying, “Ireland, Rome, and the holy land,” leaving a little mystery about the other two plans.
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Meet Walter Vroom. Walter has been here at Raritan Valley for 19 years, with varying duties from working in the testing center to his current job as media aide. Walter is responsible for keeping the media rooms running and “delivering equipment to the classrooms that need it. After being here for almost two decades Walter has witnessed many changes such as “security changing locations and the bookstore looking a lot better.”
Looking back Walter comments that the “helpful and friendly staff here at Raritan” made the transition to work here an easy one. Now he is a part of the proactive staff, where he fully enjoys “helping teachers and students.”
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Meet Chandra Goring. She is Raritan’s information specialist and our own friendly face. After switching departments she can now be found at the Welcome Center guiding the way for lost students and faculty. “I like that I can be in a position to help people … a lot of people that come here are lost and need help.” She said, adding that “It feels good to be able to see them find their way and eventually I see so many familiar faces around.”
Chandra comments on how she got started here: “I was only suppose to be here for three days and the next thing you know I’m here for two years.” She had planned to go into real estate but RVCC stole her heart. “The people in my office are really really nice,” she said. An active church member juggling three daughters and some event planning for fun, Chandra always come to work full of life. “I enjoy the people … I’m always talking with someone.”
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Meet Nick Wingler. Assistant manager of the cafeteria, you can often see him working any position there. “I’ve been cross trained to do pretty much anything here,” he said. Nick began his career at a poolside cafeteria and from there took flight, “Food service isn’t science, it’s art,” he said. “You have to enjoy it, roll with the punches as you go.” Other than the culinary art, Nick has enjoyed playing a baritone for 26 years. In his drum and bugle corps, Melrose Blackhawks, Nick finds “lot of fun and comradeship, just like any band.” |
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