May 11, 2016,
Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will hold its 39th
Annual Commencement ceremonies at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at New
Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ.
At 1,154
graduates, the HCCC Class of 2016 is the largest graduating class in the
College’s history. The valedictorian is Steven Galarza of Union City.
The keynote
speaker that evening will be Dr. Nancy Cantor, the Chancellor of Rutgers
University-Newark. Dr. Cantor is recognized nationally and internationally as a
distinguished leader in higher education who advocates for colleges and
universities developing partnerships that will achieve higher education’s
promise as an engine of discovery, innovation and social mobility.
That evening, the
2016 Hudson County Community College Heritage Award will be presented to Dr.
Howard Parish, a Hudson County native who taught physics and geology at New
Jersey City University for more than 35 years, and who has served on the boards
of United Way of Hudson County, New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, Palisades
Nature Association, Habitat for Humanity of Hudson County and the Hudson County
Community College Foundation. The Heritage Award recognizes members of the
community who have made significant contributions to the College, its students
and the people of Hudson County.
Reverend Victor P.
Kennedy will lead the invocation that evening. Fr. Kennedy is the pastor of
Immaculate Conception Church in Secaucus, and has served at several parishes
throughout Hudson County.
Additional
details about the HCCC 2016 Commencement Exercises will be made available
within the next few days.