2020 Virtual Commencement

Prior to the Ceremony:

• Everyone who is receiving a degree or certificate will recieve an email with important information about the ceremony.  Part of this email will include a personal link to submit a photo, and quote for a celebratory slide that will be presented during your Virtual Commencement. The slides will be played during the ceremony as your way of "walking across the stage" so your friends and family know when to cheer your accomplishment! 
• You will also receive, in your email, information about how to record your name so it is pronouced properly during the ceremony.
• Along with watching your inbox watch your mailbox. RVCC will mail you a commencement cap and tassel. You can wear them for your graduatation photo and during the ceremony.

The Ceremony:

When: Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 10:00am
Where: Online Watch the RVCC 2020 Commencement
Cap & Tassel: Will be mailed to you prior to the cermony for you to wear as you watch.  As is tradition you will be guided as to when you move your tassel to show you have officially graduated
Tickets: Are not needed.  Everyone can watch and celebrate with you!
Celebrate: See below for various social media ways to celebrate how proud you are of earning your degree!  #RVCCGrad 

 

After the Ceremony:

Video: After the Commencement is aired at 10 am, you will be able to rewatch the event.
Diploma: Diplomas will be mailed approximately one to two months after the ceremony. You will be notified of the exact date by mail.
Transcripts: Please be advised that transcripts requested will be available after grades are posted and GPAs are calculated.  Transcript orders must be placed online at www.raritanval.edu/transcripts.

 

Still have Questions?

Email your inquiries to commencement@raritanval.edu

Commencement Speakers:

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Governor Phil Murphy, as he says, “grew up in a family that was middle class on a good day,” the youngest of four children with only one parent who graduated high school. His upbringing – where religion, a strong work ethic, education, and civic awareness were pillars of family life – shaped his values, his priorities, and the leader he is today.

Since taking office, Governor Murphy has focused on building a stronger and fairer New Jersey that works for every family. He has signed legislation putting New Jersey on the path to a $15-an-hour minimum wage, enacted the nation’s strongest equal pay law to combat gender wage discrimination, ensured all workers have access to paid sick days, and expanded the state's Paid Family Leave provisions.

Governor Murphy has put a new emphasis on restoring the state’s dominance in the innovation economy by reinvesting in workforce development and supporting the growth of innovative and start-up companies.

Under his leadership, New Jersey is also emerging as a leader in combatting climate change through the deployment of offshore-wind energy technologies and banning offshore fossil-fuel exploration and drilling, among other measures to spur growth in the clean and renewable energy sectors.

Governor Murphy has reversed prior years of budget cuts and increased funding for both New Jersey’s top-ranked public schools and NJ TRANSIT. And, he restored state funding for Planned Parenthood and women’s health programs, including family planning services.

He has made New Jersey a national leader in tackling gun violence, and has expanded protections for the state’s immigrant and LGBTQ communities, among others.

Prior to taking office, Governor Murphy had long been deeply engaged in civic life and philanthropic pursuits. He has led and supported charities to lift up troubled teens and domestic abuse survivors. Nationally, he served proudly as New Jersey’s sole representative on the board of the NAACP, the world’s oldest civil rights organization, and as Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee. The Governor has also led national and state task forces, respectively, on education and public employee pensions and benefits.

In 2009, he answered President Obama’s call to service and, following his confirmation by the United States Senate, became the U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, where he served until 2013.

Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy live in Monmouth County and are the parents of Josh, Emma, Charlie, and Sam.

A proud public-school product, Governor Murphy holds degrees from Harvard University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Faculty Commencement Speakers: Beryl and Elliot Stetson

Beryl Stetson

Professor of Nursing Beryl Stetson, who has been teaching at RVCC for over 24 years, will be retiring from the College in January. A Registered Nurse for 48 years, Beryl Stetson specializes in oncology and maternity nursing. She is certified as a National League for Nursing nurse educator; Oncology Nursing Society chemotherapy and biotherapy nurse; American Nurses Credentialing Center medical/surgical nurse; and Lamaze International childbirth educator and lactation consultant. Stetson has chaired RVCC’s Health Science Education Department and has served on several College committees. She received an A.A.S. in Nursing from Kingsborough Community College, a B.S.N. in Nursing from the College of Staten Island, and an M.S.N. in Nursing from S.U.N.Y. Health Science Center, Brooklyn.  A strong believer in lifelong education, Stetson is currently completing research for her EdD. 
 
“Being a member of the nursing profession is my heart and my existence; my patients live in my heart. Having the additional honor in my career to teach future nurses has been so fulfilling.” -- Beryl Stetson
 

Elliot Stetson

Associate Professor of Nursing Elliot Stetson, who has been teaching at RVCC for 17 years, is retiring from the College in July. The Navy veteran also served as a comptroller for a Manhattan-based company. A Registered Nurse for 34 years, Stetson specializes in critical care, trauma, and medical oncology. He holds certifications in critical care nursing and medical/surgical nursing. Stetson also has been running blood drives at RVCC for more than six years. Stetson received a B.S.N. in Nursing from Adelphi University and an M.S.N. in Nursing from S.U.N.Y. Health Science Center, Brooklyn.
 
 
“It has been so gratifying to teach future nurses and then see them working by my side in the hospital.”  -- Elliot Stetson

Student Commencement Speaker: Anabela Cerqueira

A married mother of two young children, Anabela Cerqueira is a native of Portugal who moved to the United States in 2007. Family obligations initially prevented her from attending college. However, uncertain about her English or even her computer skills, Cerqueira enrolled at RVCC in 2017 in the College’s brand new Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She even took a leadership role at RVCC, serving as Secretary for the Student Occupational Therapy Assistant Association. Today, she is graduating magna cum laude and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. She hopes to find employment as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, working with geriatric patients.

ACCOUNTING
Tracy Ulate

ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Marcellus Christian Pangalangan

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 
Gary Krause

BIOLOGY
Edward Michta III

BOOKKEEPING CERTIFICATE 
Karen Stagg

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – GENERAL BUSINESS
Jennifer Barrantes Perez

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT – MIS
Manawwar Sayed Roshan

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT – SUPPLY CHAIN
Thauane Freire Silva

CHEMISTRY
Aldona Malkinska 

CHEMISTRY
Avery Kilpatrick

COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Lily French-Gonzalez

COMPUTER SCIENCE
Korban Smith

COMPUTER SCIENCE
Graham Wandless

CPA EDUCATION REQUIREMENT CERTIFICATE
Jomil London

CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Taylor Nicole O’Connor

DANCE
Alexandra Dougherty

DIGITAL MEDIA/FILM STUDIES
Gabrielle Taylor

ELECTRIC UTILITY TECHNOLOGY 
Jacob Busher

ENGINEERING
Vatsal Patel

ENGLISH
Tiffany Figgs

ENGLISH 
Taylor Dasilva

ENVIRONMENTAL Science 
Anthony J. Washkwich

EVENTS PLANNING/MEETING MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE 
Lenore Harris

EXERCISE SCIENCE
Morgan Rebernik

FITNESS SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE 
OF COMPLETION 
Margaret Yorkgitis

GAME DEVELOPMENT
Joseph Truelove

GENERAL SCIENCE/PRE-HEALTH PROFESSIONAL 
Elizabeth Gershater

GENERAL SCIENCE/PRE-HEALTH PROFESSIONAL 
Jack Scala

GRAPHIC DESIGN 
Maya Forman

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
Michele Macanka

INFORMATION SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY
Christopher Reyes Carrera

INFORMATION SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY
Kenoi Smalling

INTERFACE DESIGN AND WEB DEVELOPMENT
Carla Moules Rocha

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Alexis Chyz

LIBERAL ARTS – ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Nicholas Greco

MATHEMATICS
Jessica Seelinger 

MUSIC
Rafael Alvarez 

NURSING
Laimis Naujokas 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Dianne Henderson 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Yulia Bekiyants 

PARALEGAL STUDIES
Brittany Rek

PARALEGAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE
Beth Palmisano

PHYSICS
Jason Nitti 

PRE-MEDICINE
Iuliia Senkina 

PRE-PHARMACY
Hien Thi Thu Ngo

VISUAL Arts
Christa Baldino



 

Commencement Speakers:

Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer is an award-winning performing artist who, for more than 25 years, toured the world with one of the largest and most successful theatrical illusion productions in the U.S. He left behind a trail of accolades in his wake, including 2009 “International Illusionist of the Year,” 2015 “International Magician of the Year,” and “Performing Arts Entertainer of the Year,” an honor he received six times. 

At the pinnacle of his career, Spencer stepped away from the stage and into classrooms and hospitals. As an educator, artist, consultant, and researcher, he works to create inclusive communities where everyone experiences an authentic sense of belonging and no one – for any reason – is relegated to the margins. 

His work focuses on using the art of magic to impact change in the lives of children with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual challenges, emotional disturbance, and those who have experienced trauma. His program, Hocus Focus™, was a 2020 nominee for the “Zero Project Award,” which recognizes innovative practices and models that improve the daily lives of people with disabilities. 

Spencer is a leading voice in the performing arts industry (recipient of the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents – NAPAMA – Artist/Agent of the Year in 2020); a Fulbright Specialist on arts integration for special populations for the U.S. Department of State; a faculty member in the department of education at Carlow University in Pittsburgh; a research consultant for the Occupational Therapy department and the Institute for Arts in Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for the American Occupational Therapy Association. He is considered the leading international authority on the therapeutic benefits of magic tricks in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation. 

He received a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Liberty University, VA, and an M.Ed. in Arts Integration from Southeastern University, FL. He is a PhD Candidate in Special Education at Liberty University. Spencer also received a Certification in Autism Studies from the College of Applied Human Services, CA. 

In 2016 he produced a short documentary, Powerful Medicine: Simply Magic, that showcases individuals of varying abilities who, through the art of magic, have overcome physical, developmental, and intellectual challenges. The documentary has earned 18 international film festival awards and continues to inspire audiences around the world. 

Kevin Spencer has dedicated his life to making a difference in communities around the world – both on and off the stage. He is a pioneer who addresses the inequality of individuals with disabilities with creativity, confidence, and courage.

Faculty Commencement Speaker:

Student Commencement Speaker: