Bloomfield College celebrates the Class of 2010
Bloomfield College’s 137th Commencement exercises were held on May 27, 2010. Heralded by the South Park and District Pipes and Drum Corps, headed by Bloomfield College alumnus Andy Dickson ’96, 279 students marched up Liberty Street to the Quad to receive either a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.
After greetings by President Richard Levao, the students, families, and guests were treated to three inspirational speeches by the honorary degree recipients: Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-8th District), Carla Harris, and Joyce Carol Oates.
Congressman Pascrell told the graduates that they are tomorrow’s leaders and that they should prepare to challenge accepted protocol and norms rather than to accept the status quo. “You are our new leaders,” he said. “Challenge the norm and look beyond it to offer new ideas. Have faith in your education and do not accept the unacceptable.” Pascrell was given an honorary Doctor of Laws.
Carla Harris, a managing director for Morgan Stanley and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, told the graduates to maximize their success by optimizing their own power through choosing leadership, recovering from mistakes by learning, and owning their own power through their own belief in themselves. She asked the students to repeat the following phrase, “Fear has no place in my success equation.” Her final challenge to the audience was “Expect to have an extraordinary life – expect to win.”
Author and professor Joyce Carol Oates, recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts noted that she, much like many of the graduates, was the first in her family to graduate college. “She challenged the students to “do what you do well, then learn how to do it better.” She spoke of maintaining energy, industry and a prevailing sense of humor throughout life and told the class to tell themselves that they will always persevere.
The senior speaker, former Bloomfield resident Jalikatu Mustapha, who just returned from Washington DC after a semester as a White House intern, recalled the student experience of having people who believed in them, who raised the bar, and who consistently helped them over academic and person bumps in the road. She said, “Look inside yourself. Never forget the feeling you have now of pride and completion. We take this walk not only for ourselves, but for every family member who has not or could not. We are unstoppable.”
After receiving their hoods and diplomas, the new graduates were greeted by John Delucca ’66, president of the Bloomfield College Alumni Association and vice chair of the trustees. He welcomed them to the elite group of Bloomfield College alumni and challenged them to always remember where they came from and where they got their start in life.
To the tune Ode to Joy, the members of the class of 2010 exited into the waiting arms of family and friends and on to the next step in their journeys.
To view the downloadable photos, click here.