Virtual Commencement Will Celebrate Milestone for Berkeley Grads
Friday, May 1, 2020
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY WILL CELEBRATE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF BERKELEY GRADUATES
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Berkeley College will hold a virtual Commencement ceremony to celebrate graduates receiving Certificates, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees on Friday, June 5, 2020. The ceremony will be an opportunity for graduates to share the milestone with family, friends and the Berkeley College community remotely.
At Berkeley College, “Commencement is always the best day of the year,” said Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College. “No matter the circumstances, it is essential that we recognize every one of our graduates and their outstanding achievements.”
Each Berkeley College student was invited to create a Commencement slide featuring personal messages, videos and photos that will be shared during the virtual ceremony. Students also have access to a Berkeley College SnapChat filter, where they can wear a virtual cap and gown.
Virtual attendees will hear from Berkeley College speakers and honorees, including a special video message from New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
The Berkeley College Class of 2020 reflects a diverse population of graduates who will join a network of more than 60,000 Berkeley College alumni eligible to receive lifetime career assistance. Berkeley College offers a career-focused educational experience with students able to take advantage of traditional classes and online education, with programs in more than 20 fields of study.
This year’s Berkeley College graduates will be invited to walk across the Commencement stage during the 2021 ceremony.
Student Honorees
Photo Captions: (Left) Josephine Cornacchia of Woodland Park, NJ, will receive the Outstanding Student Award during the virtual Berkeley College Commencement ceremony on June 5, 2020. (Right) El-Medhi Bendriss of Bloomfield, NJ, will address the graduates as the Student Speaker.
During the 2020 virtual Commencement ceremony, Berkeley College will award Josephine Cornacchia of Woodland Park, NJ, the Outstanding Student Award. The award is presented annually to a graduate who has met high standards of academic excellence while overcoming personal, professional or financial obstacles.
After graduating from high school in Bohemia, NY, Cornacchia enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served five years in satellite communications for a combat communications squadron. She faced hardships, but overcame her challenges to earn a Certificate in Culinary Arts at Eva’s Kitchen in Paterson, NJ. During her time at Berkeley College, she served as Vice President of the Berkeley College Spartans, a club affiliated with the Student Veterans of America. Cornacchia will receive a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration – Management.
El-Medhi Bendriss of Bloomfield, NJ, will serve as the Student Speaker during the ceremony. An Honors student, Bendriss worked in the Berkeley College Government Relations office and has aspirations to work in politics. He will receive a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies.
Faculty Speaker and Alumnus of the Year
Photo Captions: (Left) Gloria Davy, PhD, Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, Berkeley College School of Liberal Arts, will address graduates during the virtual Commencement ceremony on June 5, 2020. (Right) Troy Scott of Manhattan, NY, Berkeley College Class of 2011, was named the 2020 Alumnus of the Year.
Gloria Davy, PhD, Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Liberal Arts, will serve as the Faculty Speaker during the ceremony.
Davy was recognized with a Faculty Award at the 2019 Veterans Graduate Gala for her guidance and support of the College’s military and veteran students. She received a Berkeley College Faculty of the Year award in 2014. Davy is a resident of Irvington, NJ.
Troy Scott of Manhattan, NY, was named the 2020 Alumnus of the Year. The award is presented annually to a Berkeley College graduate who has enjoyed professional success and fulfillment through community service.
Scott, who graduated from Berkeley College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration – Management, is employed as a Professional Mentor for Friends of the Children, a national organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through mentoring. He is the author of “Change is Nature,” published in 2016.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, NY, as well as in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 5,700 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for seven consecutive years. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers.
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