Commencement Honors First Online M.B.A. Graduates
Berkeley College celebrated the more than 2,300 students who have been awarded Certificates, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees during the 2018 Commencement ceremony at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on May 11, 2018. The Commencement ceremony also included the second graduating class of those receiving Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Management degrees, as well as the first class of online M.B.A. graduates.
The graduating class included more than 140 military and veteran students, and 180 international students, who represent 40 countries. Two hundred and ninety-eight graduates received Certificates; 757 graduates received Associate’s degrees; 1,248 graduates received Bachelor’s degrees; and 58 graduates received Master’s level degrees.
“Know that the future isn’t written for us. The future is written by us,” said Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College. “In your heart, you truly need to understand that the only person you are destined to become … is the person that you decide to be.”
The Berkeley College Class of 2018 reflects a diverse population from all walks of life. Many are the first in their families to earn college degrees. Others are not native English-speaking. The average age of a Berkeley College graduate in 2018 is 29.6 years. Just over 31 percent of the graduates entered Berkeley as first time, full-time students; and, more than 82 percent identify as minorities.
Randy Luing, Vice Chair, Berkeley College Board of Trustees, spoke about a shift to job automation, and the need for graduates to adapt to change.
“You are going out into a world where technological advances are creating extraordinary opportunities, but not without challenges,” Mr. Luing said. “Continue to pursue knowledge, whether through formal education or simply by following your curiosity to explore something new.”
Berkeley College graduates join a network of more than 60,000 alumni and receive lifetime career assistance.
Alumna Jessica Mahoney, Esq., of Middletown, NY, received the 2018 Alumni of the Year award. The award is presented annually to a Berkeley College graduate who has enjoyed professional success and fulfillment through community service.
Ms. Mahoney was on the fast track when she graduated from Berkeley College with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies – Criminal Justice in 2011. She took courses at two Berkeley College campuses and online, pursuing her childhood dream to become a lawyer.
“I knew Berkeley College was the right choice for me,” Ms. Mahoney said. “I was able to live at home, work part-time, and obtain an internship at a local law office while earning my degree.” Ms. Mahoney graduated from Albany Law School in 2014, the same year she sat for the New York State Bar Exam. By 2015, she was sworn in as an Attorney and Counsellor at Law by the Second Department of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. In September 2017, Ms. Mahoney opened her own firm.
Photo Caption: The 2018 Berkeley College Commencement at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Photo Caption: The 2018 Commencement ceremony included the second graduating class of those receiving Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Management degrees, as well as the first class of online M.B.A. graduates. (Below) Jessica Mahoney, Esq., receives the 2018 Alumni of the Year award. Also pictured are Michael Iris, Berkeley College Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations and Career Services (left), and Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College.
