Countdown to Commencement: Berkeley College to Honor More Than 1,200 Students, Including First Master of Science in Nursing Graduate, during 2025 Ceremony at Prudential Center

 

Photo Caption: Berkeley College will honor more than 1,200 graduates during its 2025 Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. 

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Berkeley College will honor the next generation of business, healthcare, and community leaders during its 2025 Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. More than 1,200 graduates will be recognized at the ceremony, including the College’s first Master of Science in Nursing degree recipient. 

DETAILS: 9 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ 

MEDIA CONTACT:
To attend the Commencement ceremony or schedule an interview with an honoree or graduate, contact: 

Kelly J. Depsee
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
973-200-1099 

HONOREES AND SPEAKERS 

Faculty Speaker – Richard Schultz, PhD
Professor, English, Division of General Education

Richard Schultz, PhD, joined Berkeley College in 2000 as a Professor, English. He was named Chair of the Curriculum Committee in 2009 and served as Co-Chair, English, from 2007 through 2020. 

Dr. Schultz has presented at literature conferences nationwide, including “The Film Adaptations of The Scarlet Letter” at the Literature/Film Association Annual Conference and “Plagiarism, Perplexity, and Publication: The Indian Captivity of Fanny Kelly” at the American Literature Association Annual Conference. He also served as a presenter and panelist at the annual Conference of the Consortium for Critical Reading, Writing, and Thinking, hosted by Berkeley College. 

Dr. Schultz received the Faculty of the Year Award for Curriculum from Berkeley College in 2015 and was named Berkeley College Instructor of the Year in 2005. He holds a PhD from Stony Brook University, State University of New York, in Stony Brook, NY; and an AB from Albright College in Reading, PA. He is a resident of Lafayette, NJ. 

Alumnus of the Year – Rui Oliveira, Class of 2009
CEO and Co-CIO, BFA Asset Management and Founder, Academia Santa Catarina

Rui Oliveira, Class of 2009, serves as CEO and Co-CIO of BFA Asset Management and is Founder of Academia Santa Catarina. Oliveira previously held roles with Citi and Morgan Stanley before becoming one of the founding members of the Angolan Stock Exchange. As the CEO and Co-CIO of BFA Asset Management, he oversees a $500 million portfolio focused on fixed income and alternative credit strategies. 

Oliveira is a dedicated advocate for education and African economic development. He serves as Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee for the Berkeley College Foundation Board and has been an active member of the Berkeley College Alumni Association. His commitment to mentorship and financial literacy extends to his role as a mentor for The Founder Institute and the Oxford Business Alumni Network. He is a resident of Luanda, Angola. 

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award Recipient – Emilia Hansson
Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration – Management

Emilia Hansson is an international student from Sweden who currently resides in New York City. She will receive a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration – Management. 

Hansson was recruited by one of Sweden’s top soccer teams, where a victory in the Swedish Championship distinguished her as a standout athlete and team player. When a knee injury ended her promising soccer career, Hansson worked tirelessly to earn the resources to redirect her life abroad. 

At Berkeley College, Hansson embraced leadership roles, sought to empower her classmates, and approached every challenge with determination and purpose. Through her academic efforts, she earned a perfect 4.0 every semester. Hansson is determined to become a successful businesswoman who defies stereotypes, surpasses expectations, and inspires others to dream just as boldly as she has. 

Outstanding Graduate Student Award Recipient – Wanetta Vita
Master of Science in Nursing

Wanetta Vita is Berkeley College’s first Master of Science in Nursing graduate. A 14-year veteran of the nursing profession, she has worked in home care, long-term acute care, step-down care, cardiothoracic surgery, and the emergency room. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she is committed to advancing cardiovascular health and bridging healthcare disparities in underserved communities. 

Vita believes nursing is a true calling. Balancing graduate-level clinical rotations with the responsibilities of motherhood and family life, she persevered through personal loss and her own health concerns with steadfast commitment to her education. A two-time Berkeley College graduate, Vita also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is a resident of Newton, NJ. 

Student Speaker – Gaby Ramirez
Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Services

Gaby Ramirez will earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Services. She was inspired to pursue higher education by two Berkeley College alumni – her sister, who graduated in 2023, and her father, who graduated in 2009. As an Honors Scholar, Ramirez completed research on social justice topics, including the harmful impacts of the fast-fashion industry and the ramifications of excessive screen time in children. 

Ramirez also was an engaged student on campus, completing community service projects such as crocheting hats for newborns with the BerkeleyCares^® initiative and sharing her college journey with prospective students. She is a resident of Passaic, NJ, and a graduate of Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools. 

Ramirez advises incoming Berkeley College students to make the most of their college experience. “Savor every moment, every milestone, and every achievement, whether big or small,” she said. “Earning a degree isn’t just about gaining knowledge, it is also about growing as a person and becoming the best version of yourself.” 

NATIONAL NURSES WEEK (May 6-12, 2025) 

This year, 95 graduates will earn Practical Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or Master of Science in Nursing diplomas during the Berkeley College Commencement ceremony. Graduates were recently honored during a nurse pinning ceremony, where students pledged to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession. 

Steven Alonzo
Bachelor of Science in Nursing and DAISY Award Recipient

Steven Alonzo will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A volunteer firefighter and veteran combat medic in the U.S. Army, he recently received the DAISY Award for his compassionate care and dedication to his patients. He credits his passion for healthcare to his late father, who passed away from kidney transplant rejection complications when Alonzo was 7. 

“I knew I wanted to grow up to help others the way I wished someone could have helped him, especially in his final moments,” Alonzo said. “I strive to be the kind of nurse who brings both skill and heart into every patient interaction – someone who listens, who sees the whole person, not just the diagnosis.” 

At Berkeley College, Alonzo served as a Peer Tutor and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society, which honors high-achieving adult and non-traditional students. As an adult learner, he sought to teach his sons it was never too late to follow their dreams. Alonzo is a resident of Tuxedo Park, NY. 

Brianna Beauchamp
Practical Nurse Certificate

Brianna Beauchamp will earn a Practical Nurse certificate. She served as student speaker for the Practical Nurse cohort during the recent nurse pinning ceremony. The resident of Clifton, NJ, spoke to the strength of those who answer the call to healthcare. 

“I see fighters, dreamers, and future nurses,” Beauchamp told the nursing graduates. “We’re still here. That alone is proof of how strong we are. We are ready.” 

Jessica P. Carchi
Practical Nurse Certificate and DAISY Award Recipient

Jessica Carchi will earn a Practical Nurse certificate. A first-generation college graduate, she also received the DAISY Award for her compassionate care and dedication to her patients. She was inspired to follow her dreams by her young daughter, and she completed the Practical Nurse program with a newborn son. 

Carchi thanked her professors for instilling grit and discipline in her and her cohort. “These professors were able to give us a good foundation,” she said. “Their lessons have helped me evolve into a better daughter, mother, friend, and nurse.” 

Carchi is employed as a Surgical Coordinator at Englewood Spine Associates and plans to continue her education by becoming a registered nurse in the future. She hopes to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Carchi is a resident of Hackensack, NJ. 

ADDITIONAL GRADUATE HIGHLIGHTS 

Cassandra (Cassie) Servitis
Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business

Cassandra (Cassie) Servitis will earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business, Magna Cum Laude. The resident of North Arlington, NJ, is employed as a Finance and Revenue Clerk with the Township of Lyndhurst, NJ. 

Servitis was inspired to pursue higher education by a passion for business and a goal to achieve long-term financial security. She was motivated by her father, who worked two jobs to provide her family with stability after her mother passed away. 

At Berkeley College, Servitis served as President of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, a club that provides a safe space for students, free of bias, stigma or social exclusion. She was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta National Honor Society, which honors high-achieving students in business, management, or administration. She enjoys special effects makeup as a creative hobby. 

Servitis encourages incoming Berkeley College students to engage in the college community and work hard to achieve their academic goals. “Do not be afraid to ask questions, get involved, and make connections,” she said. 

Jianni Enzo DeJesus
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

Jianni Enzo DeJesus will earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. The resident of Roselle, NJ, holds an internship as a graphic designer with Optimal Sports Management, where he creates promotional graphic posters for NCAA football players pursuing the NFL draft. 

At Berkeley College DeJesus served as Student Government Association President, as well as Vice President of the Fashion Revolution Club and was a Federal Work Study student in the Office of Student Development and Campus Life. He was an Honors scholar and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society, which honors high-achieving adult and non-traditional students. DeJesus was active in the BerkeleyCares^® initiative, pursuing service opportunities with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and various charitable walks. 

DeJesus hopes to continue his work as a graphic designer while pursuing additional higher education opportunities and one day opening his own design business. 

“Berkeley College has shown me that I am capable of more than I thought,” he said. “They helped me find the will to push for what I want and not to limit myself.” DeJesus encourages incoming college students to reach beyond their comfort zones and push their limits toward success. 

Sandybel Reynoso Garcia
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies – Criminal Justice

Sandybel Reynoso Garcia will earn a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies – Criminal Justice, completing both a Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree in the same field in only three years. 

Reynoso Garcia serves as an intern in the Interpreter’s Unit of the Passaic County Superior Court, where she assists judges and clerks with interpretation equipment and scheduling interpreters. She previously held an internship with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, supporting its mission to empower people of color through racial and social justice advocacy. 

At Berkeley College, Reynoso Garcia was inducted into the Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society, which honors high-achieving students of criminal justice. She was a member of the Justice League Club and was employed as a Federal Work Study student for the Career Services Department. 

A resident of Wallington, NJ, Reynoso Garcia credits her mother as her biggest inspiration and motivation. Her long-term goal is to obtain a fulfilling career in the criminal justice field. 

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 also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials. 

Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 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 12 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu. 

The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.