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Raritan Valley Community College awarded associate degrees and certificates to more than 1,200 graduates at its commencement on Saturday, May 17. The ceremony was held on the soccer field at the College’s Branchburg campus.

The program featured of Vaanya Salwan as the student commencement speaker. Dr. John Sichel, Professor of Music, delivered the faculty commencement address.

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, Salwan 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.

Dr. John Sichel, a resident of Mountainside is completing his 16th year of fulltime teaching at RVCC. He previously 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.  

Safa Rizwan of Princeton also participated in the commencement ceremony. Rizwan, 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 prestigious 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. Rizwan also contributed to the campus community as President of the Activities Board, an Orientation Leader, and an Open House Volunteer. With a strong commitment to service and healthcare, she plans to transfer to Rutgers University to pursue a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Her professional goal is to become a physician.

Ranked by WalletHub.com, Intelligent.com, and CollegeEvaluator.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community and environmental stewardship. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute, and 3M Observatory; a Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers approximately 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2025

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #99