The President’s ReportFrom the desk of Mark McCormick, President

June 18, 2019

Alexandria Wonksi always dreamed of going to Princeton University. The Ivy League tradition and rigorous academ-ics appealed to her, plus she loves New Jersey. “I love that Princeton is filled with so many opportunities and brilliant professors,” she said. “There’s a lot of challenge presented there with the rigorous curriculums. I also heard that the math department was one of the best – if not the best – in the world, which is very appealing to me.”But transferring from Middlesex County College to Prince-ton isn’t possible, is it? Now, it is.“Since 1990 until last year, Princeton didn’t take transfer students from community colleges,” said Linda Scherr, Dean of Arts and Sciences at MCC. “This is a recognition that prestigious universities such as Princeton understand that community college students can do first-rate work. It says a lot about community colleges in general and MCC in particular.”So that’s where Ms. Wonski is headed this fall.“It was beyond exciting to hear that transfer admissions had been reopened after such a long period,” she said. Ms. Wonski was among 1,422 students who graduated from Middlesex County College on Thursday, May 23 at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Approximately 725 members of the class participated in the exercises, representing the 350 graduates of August 2018; 364 from January 2019; and 708 of May 2019. Participants included several students who fulfilled the requirements for more than one degree or certificate during this academic year.Ms. Wonski toyed with majoring in Chemistry before choosing Mathematics at MCC. She’d like to combine the two, perhaps studying Theoretical Chemistry or Computa-tional Chemistry at Princeton, where she is receiving a full scholarship. She hopes to eventually earn a doctorate and work in research at a university.While a student at Bishop Ahr High School, Ms. Wonski took a pre-calculus class at MCC through the High School Scholars program.“I loved it,” she said. “So I decided to come here when I graduated high school. I liked the environment and had a great experience here. It was a very caring atmosphere. The

Dream Big: MCC Grads Celebrate Achievements

professors cared about the students and the students cared about their education.”She cited Natural Sciences Professor Phalguni Ghosh, Mathematics Professor Brian Sicilia, and Philosophy Pro-fessor John Roskoski as especially influential. She is gradu-ating from MCC with Highest Honors.Ms. Wonski was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the inter-national honor society for two-year colleges, as well as the Music Club and Dance Club. She plays the piano, guitar and ukulele; she is also an opera singer who has won con-tests and performed at Carnegie Hall.“Since I was a kid I wanted to go to Princeton,” she said. “And now I’m realizing that dream.”

Alexandria Wonksi receives her degree from President Mark McCormick.

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Jeffrey Herron, Acting Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, presided at the Commencement ceremo-ny. Greetings were delivered by Mark McCormick, MCC President; Dorothy K. Power, Chairman of the Board; and Ronald G. Rios, Freeholder Director.Valedictorian Courtney Rohrig delivered the class welcome, sharing her experiences and offering advice. “Wherever your next step takes you – either into a four-year university or out into the real world – remember all that you have learned here,” she said. “Thank you to the professors who have shared advice and guidance, for taking time after class to help us better understand, and for leaving us with a foundation to succeed. Thank you to the advisors for making sure we were on track to graduate. And thank you, Middlesex County College, for preparing us as we take our next step.”She urged her classmates to embrace art.“Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, allow art to become a part of your life,” she said. “It will enrich your daily experience. Take an art class. You will be surprised by the amount that can be learned and the skills that will carry over into your field. You become a team and learn from one another. You gain confidence with each critique. You learn

Grads Look to the Future While Remembering MCC FondlyContinued from page 1 to problem-solve and always have a backup plan.”

Dr. Herron presented the candidates for graduation and Dr. McCormick conferred the degrees and certificates. Earlier in May, the College held an honors convocation for students with the highest academic achievement in each program and presented the Chambers Awards to graduates with the highest grade point average. They include Ms. Rohrig, the salutatorian, Austin S. Brooks, and Matthew J. Cassisi, Amanda N. Fernandez, Julissa Gesumaria, Kaitlin Gray, Matthew M. Guerrero, Isabelle Gunn, Sarai Jacque-line McCullough-Garcia, Larson C. Pushard Hutchinson, Alexander Lewis, Amber Scalera, Rashmiben M. Shah and Kendall C. Westbrook.

Michaela Macauley Receives Alumna AwardMichaela Macauley, who holds two degrees from MCC, was presented the Alumna of the Year Award at Celebra-tion Day, an annual event that honors College employees reaching milestone service anniversaries, two Outstanding Service to the College award winners, as well as the Alum-nus/Alumna of the Year.Ms. Macauley received her first degree in 1997 in Business Administration, and her second in 2003 in Liberal Arts - Social Rehabilitation. She is currently employed by the New Jersey Department of Labor as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, providing counseling services to individuals with disabilities needing rehabilitative services over an extended period of time. She is also a volunteer with Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen in New Brunswick and the United Methodist Church Outreach Program, and she serves on the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, and MICA, a mental health task force.Ms. Macauley has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alumni Association since 1998 and has been an ac-tive volunteer, assisting with numerous fundraising events to support student scholarships. She also volunteers at the MCC Food Pantry and mentors students.

Michaela Macauley (right) with Michelle Campbell, MCC’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement, who presented the award.

Barbara Buccino is an adult student who has always wanted to teach.“I wanted to be a teacher since I was 4 years old,” she said. “But life got in the way.”She came to MCC right af-ter high school but needed three jobs to make ends meet and it got to be too much.“Now, 27-plus years later, I decided nobody and no one is standing in my way, so I came back.” She boasts a 4.0 grade point average since returning. She is on the Dean’s List and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the nation-al education honor society. She is planning to go to Kean University to complete a bachelor’s degree and become an elementary school teacher.“I had an excellent experience here at MCC,” she said. “The professors have been excellent – really fantastic.”She has two children, ages 9 and 11. “My kids and my late father have been my driving force to do this,” she said.

Aya Mansour attend-ed Noor-Ul-Iman School in South Brunswick. Several of her friends who were homeschooled were planning to go to MCC and she de-cided to follow their example. She took a psychology course at MCC while still in high school and loved it, and then decided to matriculate. She had just turned 16 when she stepped into her first class as a full-time student.“Coming to Middlesex was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “I love it here. It was very welcoming and I grew so much. I recently saw my counselor and she said ‘It’s amaz-ing how much you’ve changed. When you came into my office the first time you were so shy. Now look at you!’”She graduated with Highest Honors.

Great Grads

Aya Mansour

Barbara Buccino

forinclusionintheJune2019BoardReport

Making Connections Middlesex County School Counselor Association

President McCormick presented on opportunities at MCC to leaders of the Middlesex County School Counselor Association

Part of an ongoing effort to improve relations with the high school guidance counselors and provide them with up-to-date information about MCC

North Brunswick School District

President McCormick was the guest speaker at the Teacher of the Year Ceremony

Part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the relationship with school districts in Middlesex County

Edison Job Corps President McCormick, Vice President Campbell, and Dean Bucciarelli met with representatives from Edison Job Corps

Explored ideas for additional ways in which MCC can support student enrollment from Job Corps participants

Woodbridge Chamber of Commerce

President McCormick and Vice President Campbell met with representatives from the Chamber

Discussed potential opportunities for MCC to present to members of the Chamber

Recent Recruitment Activities Saturday, May 18 Street Fair Woodbridge Sunday, May 19 Street Fair Metuchen Thursday, May 23 College Fair South River High School Saturday, May 25 Waterfront Arts Festival Perth Amboy Wednesday, June 5 College Fair McKinley School Wednesday, June 5 Allied Health Information Session MCC – Edison Campus Saturday, June 8 Celebrate Middlesex County Roosevelt Park, Edison

Upcoming Events at MCC Thursday, July 4 College closed Independence Day Wednesday, July 31 West Hall, Parkview Room High School Equivalency Graduation

Ceremony Thursday, August 15* Chambers Hall, Boardroom Board Committee meetings Wednesday, August 21 8:30 a.m.

College Center, The Corral Board meeting

Monday, August 26 8:30 a.m. – College Center, Cafeteria (breakfast) 9:30 a.m. – Performing Arts Center (Convocation)

Convocation (and presentation of the L’Hommedieu Award)

*All morning (schedule to be determined)

Athletes Honored for Heroics in the ClassroomMCC had plenty of success on the field and court this year, but also in the classroom.Thirty athletes were named to the All-Region 19 Academic Team, which requires a grade point average of 3.25 in the season of their sport. Forty athletes were named to the All-Garden State Athletic Conference Academic Team, which requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the season of their sport. At right, members of the Garden State team at the annual athletic banquet.