Class of 2025 Commencement

Graduation Diploma Application

1) Review your Degree Audit (found in the Lion's Den) for accuracy. Should you have any questions regarding your degree audit (incorrect major, outstanding requirements, etc.), please contact your Academic Advisor or the Advising, Counseling and Transfer Services department at ACTS@raritanval.edu.

2) Complete the Graduation Application by clicking on the link below:

https://lionsden.raritanval.edu/launch-task/all/rv-graduation?terms=Graduation&roles=rv-academic-student%2Crv-staff

Without filling out the graduation diploma application, your degree will not be granted. All students must submit a graduation application regardless if you plan to attend the ceremony or not. You need to do this ASAP, the sooner the better. The deadline for spring graduates is April 7, 2025. The deadline for summer graduates is August 4, 2025. However, summer graduates interested in attending the May commencement ceremony must apply by April 12, 2025.

If you fail to apply by the graduation date listed, your degree may not be conferred until the next diploma date. I suggest not waiting until the deadline and completing the process as soon as possible. 
 

Name Pronunciation: If you have concerns about the pronunciation of your name please email Dean Patrice Marks at Academic.affairs@raritanval.edu with subject line “Name Pronunciation” and include in the body of the email your name and a phonetic spelling. Example: Raul Gonzalez: rah-OOL gon-SAH-les  The deadline to submit this request is Friday, May 9, 2025.

Prior to the Ceremony:

Disability Accommodations: If you or your guest require disability related accommodations or arrangements, please contact the Center for Accessibility and Inclusive Education by phone at 908-526-1200 x8534 or by email at caie@raritanval.edu.

Gown, Cap & Tassel: Available at Grad Fest on Monday, May 5.  For more information, see Grad Fest below.

Honors: Honors regalia will be given out to graduates at Grad Fest.  If you receive a medallion, stole or cord; these are yours to keep.  Since spring grades are not yet final, honors have been based on GPA and grades at the end of the fall 2024 semester.  Transcripts will reflect the appropriate honors once grades are final.

Tickets: Graduates will receive four tickets for guests who will have a seat in a general admission guest seating area. Tickets will be distributed at Grad Fest along with your cap and gown.  Additional guests may attend by bringing lawn chairs to a designated area. The entrance gate will open at 9:00 am. No pets or helium balloons are allowed on the Soccer Field. Drones are not permitted on campus.
 

VIDEOS to watch prior to the Ceremony:
     How to wear your cap and gown
     Graduation Day Procedures

The Ceremony:

When: Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10:00am

Where: RVCC Soccer Field. Click here to see campus map. Graduates should park in Lots 1, 2, 8, and 9 while guests are directed to park in Lot 5.  Cars with passengers with physical disabilities will be allowed to drop off guests at the Arts building across the road from the Soccer Field before parking in Lot 5. The ceremony is a rain or shine event, so please plan accordingly.

Time: The ceremony will begin at 10:00 am. The ceremony will last approximately two hours.  Graduates should arrive by 8:30 am and report to the Gymnasium in the Physical Education Building.  Bring your cap, gown, tassel and hood. 

Graduates will be marching from the Gymnasium to the Soccer field and several times across the field itself. Please wear appropriate shoes.

Photography: A commercial photographer will take pictures of each graduate receiving his/her diploma. The college receives no money from any purchase, and you are under no obligation to purchase the pictures.

Live Streaming: The ceremony will be streamed over the internet and can be accessed by clicking here.

Reception: Following the ceremony, you and your guests are invited to a reception at the Basketball Courts next to the Soccer Field.

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 10am, you will be able to rewatch the event.

Diploma: Graduates will receive notifications from RVCC via their personal and school emails once their diploma has arrived on campus. Graduates will have the option to have their diploma mailed or picked up in person. Those instructions will be sent at a later time.

Transcripts: Graduates wishing to order their official transcript as proof of graduation should confirm that all grades and graduation information is posted by checking their unofficial academic transcript through Lion's Den prior to ordering their transcript.

Transcripts can be ordered through Parchment at Raritanval.edu/transcript. Please note: Official transcripts with degree notation and the graduation date for May 2025 graduates will not be available until May 23, 2025.  Degree notation and the graduation date for August 2025 graduates will not be available until August 25, 2025.

Still have Questions?

Email your inquiries to graduation@raritanval.edu

If you were unable to attend Grad Fest: Please come to Enrollment Services (in the Enrollment Center across from Advising, Counseling and Transfer Services)

May 6th-16th between 9am – 3:30pm, Monday – Thursday and 10am – 1:30pm on Friday. 

Graduates will need to pick up their regalia immediately after visiting Enrollment Services in the Bookstore.

____________________

An event to build excitement for commencement as the semester is drawing to a close.  It is designed to celebrate student achievement and increase momentum as a final push to finish strong.  It is fast becoming a nationwide practice across community colleges and universities to aid students in completing their commencement requirements.  Having everything in one place is a convenience.

In a centralized environment, students will have the opportunity to:

• check graduation status
• receive commencement tickets
• pick up regalia including honor awards
• rsvp for commencement
• meet with Transfer Advisors, Career Success, Alumni representatives, the Book Store, Finance and Financial Aid, to name a few.

The best part is that all of the important tasks and discussions will be taking place while graduates get a chance to reflect and celebrate their success with their fellow classmates while enjoying refreshments, door prizes, giveaways, and photos.

Monday, May 5, 2025, Event Center, 12-4 pm

Questions should be addressed to graduation@raritanval.edu
 

When: Saturday, May 17 at 10 am. The ceremony will last approximately two hours. Gates will open at 9 am.

Where: Raritan Valley Community College Soccer Field, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ. Click here to see campus map. Guests will be directed to park in Lot 5. Cars with passengers with physical disabilities will be allowed to drop off guests at the Arts building across the road from the Soccer Field before parking in Lot 5. It is a rain or shine event so plan accordingly. No pets are allowed with the exception of service animals.

Tickets: Graduates will receive four tickets for guests who will have a seat in a general admission guest seating area. Additional guests may attend by bringing lawn chairs to a designated area. The entrance gate will open at 9:00 am. No pets or helium balloons are allowed on the Soccer Field. Drones are not permitted on campus.

Photography: Designated areas will be available for guests to take photographs. In addition, the College has commissioned a professional photographer, Island Photography, to take individual photos of graduates with their diplomas. Graduates are under no obligation to purchase the photographs.

Live Streaming: The ceremony will be streamed over the internet and can be accessed by clicking here.

Reception: Following the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to a reception at the Basketball Courts next to the Soccer Field.

Disability Accommodations: If you or your guest require disability related accommodations or arrangements, please contact the Center for Accessibility and Inclusive Education by phone at 908-526-1200 x8534 or by email at caie@raritanval.edu

Dr. John Sichel, Faculty Commencement Speaker

John Sichel is completing his 16th year of fulltime teaching at RVCC. Before that he was an adjunct faculty member at the College for 10 years. He also served as co-chair of the Arts & Design department from 2017-2023. At RVCC he has taught generations of music students such subjects as music theory, musicianship, composition, and music history. He conducted the RVCC Chorale from 2009-2023.

Professor Sichel received his B.A. in music from Princeton University, his M.A. in composition from Columbia University, and his D.M.A. in composition from the Yale School of Music, where he studied with Jacob Druckman, Martin Bresnick, and Nicholas Maw.

Dr. Sichel’s music has been played at venues around the country, as well as in Europe, Asia, and South America. His recent works include the song cycle Paradoxides, on poems of Don McKay; a Piano Saxophone Quintet, recorded for Ravello Records; and a Sonata for Viola and Piano, which premiered at RVCC. His hobbies include birding, astronomy, and writing fiction, a small sample of which has been published under a pseudonym.  

Vaanya Salwan, Student Commencement Speaker

Vaanya Salwan of Bridgewater, a General Science/Pre-Health Professional major, is graduating from RVCC Summa Cum Laude. She is also graduating from high school this spring in the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been actively involved in campus life through the Pre-Med Club, where she has connected with fellow students pursuing careers in healthcare. Outside of the classroom, Vaanya has engaged in service and advocacy work—from volunteering at local hospitals and hosting public health events, to mentoring young students. She also has been consistently named to the Dean's List at RVCC. After graduation, she plans to attend  Rutgers University Honors College on a pre-medical track with the goal of becoming a physician.

Safa Rizwan, Introduces Faculty Speaker

Safa Rizwan of Princeton, a member of the Honors College, is a first-generation college student graduating Cum Laude with degrees in Biological Sciences and Social Sciences. She served as Vice President of Leadership for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, where she spearheaded initiatives to inspire academic excellence and community involvement. As a participant in the Sanofi Corporate Mentor & Scholarship Program, she gained valuable insights into the professional world while also volunteering as an EMT with the North Brunswick Fire and Rescue Squad. Safa also contributed to the campus community as President of the Activities Board, an Orientation Leader, and an Open House Volunteer. She plans to transfer to Rutgers University to pursue a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Her professional goal is to become a physician.

Click here

Graduation-with-honors designations are based on the student’s grade point average (GPA) as follows.

• Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 Graduates – GPA at the end of the Graduation term.
• Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 Graduates – GPA at end of the Fall 2024 Semester

After all final degree audits are reviewed and degrees and certificates are formally posted to students’ RVCC student records the official academic honors will be awarded.

For questions about the names listed in the program email graduation@raritanval.edu

Summer 25 graduates will not receive honor awards until after their degrees are conferred in August.

ACADEMIC AWARD RECIPIENTS
The following graduates of the class of 2024-2025 are being recognized for their outstanding academic achievement.

Interface Design and Web Development
Alyssa Anderson

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Alexander (Lexi) Anzalone

Computer Networking and Cybersecurity
Keilly Arias

English as a Second Language
Keilly Arias

Interior Architecture and Design
Rachel Beedasee

Nursing
Karolina Burke

Medical Assistant
Cristina Carrano

Social Sciences
Nina Angela Carvajal

Paralegal Studies
Tracy Cavallaro

Music
Karlie Connery

Business Administration
Melissa Cosentino

Game Development
Steven Coss

English
Tanaya Dhumale

Ophthalmic Sciencele
Aimee Domnizky

English as a Second Language
Raddiel Echevarria

Liberal Arts
Calvin Edgar

Business Management - Supply Chain Option
Ummefarwah Fazal

Exercise Science - Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Option
Nicholas Gasparino

Environmental Science    
Miles Giambalvo

Early Childhood Education
Samantha Goldstein

Communication Studies
Archita Gupta

Game Art
Austin Hoos

Biological Sciences
Geri Kain

Theatre
Josiah Kemp

Automotive Technology
Mackenzie Kernan

Health Science
Bogyeong Kim

Ophthalmic Science
Winnie Kuria

Mathematics
Cheng-Chun (Jason) Lee

Fitness Specialist    
Olivia Mahoney

Computer Networking and Cybersecurity    
Russel Malik

Education: P-12
Jennifer Monteiro

Computer Science
Amodh Naik

Exercise Science
Amanda Perez-Vargas

Paralegal Studies
Angela Plummer Jones

Pre-Medicine and Pre-Pharmacy
Anna Quezada

Accounting
Kyle Quinlan

Criminal Justice
Alejandro Ramirez Bedoya

Supply Chain Management
Jeffrey Robinson

Graphic and Interactive Design
Stephanie Stokes

Visual Arts
Morgan Strahle

Computer Programming    
Fhaungfha Suvannakajorn

Business Management - Supply Chain
Maira Aparecida Valentim Mendonca

General Science/Pre-Health Professional
Vaishvik Vidavalapati

Digital Media/Film Studies
Dante Walker