Page 1 2015 Graduation Issue

Volume XLIV Issue The Student Newspaper of Passaic County Community College, Paterson, NJ 2015 Graduation IssueVISIONS

P C C C ’ s

My experience here at Passaic County Community College has been one that will follow me throughout my academic career. Itistruewhattheysaythatthefirstimpressionisthelastingimpression.IfoundthatPCCC is not only a college but rather, it is a community of caring individuals whose aim is to provide each student with a quality education that will carry them on their paths to success. I am proud to be a product of such an institution. As a student I have grown academi-cally, as a student worker I have grown professionally, as a member of the Student Government Association I have developed leadership skills, and as an individual I have learned that I am still learning. I am excited to become a PCCC Alumni. PANTHER PRIDE!—Nafeesah A. Goldsmith

Graduation Statements

Being a Passaic County Community College (PCCC) student has been one of the most significantexperiencesinmylife. WhenIcametothiscountryfiveyearsago,IdidnotunderstandasinglewordinEn-glish. I was lost. I was completely lost until I discovered that PCCC has a program designed to help people like me, people with the need to learn the English language in order to understand and adapt to the culture of this country. The English Language Secondary (ELS) program at PCCC is very well structured. Behind this program, there are many well trained and passionate professors who are willing to go above and beyond to help their students not only to read, write and understand the English language,butalsotobeconfidentwhiletheyspeak. Thisprogramempoweredme,ithelpedmetobemoreindependent,confidentanditalso inspired me to pursue an Associate Degree in Business Administration. OnMay21,2015, I’llbeofficiallyaPCCCstudentgraduate. Iwillalwaysbeveryproud and happy to say that I was a PCCC student and that I was part of an institution that is wellawareandpreparedtodesignacademicprogramsthatfittheneedsofthecommunity.—Enmerlin Pena

One word – just one word to describe your experience here at PCCC. These are the words my advisor asked me to write about, and I found myself speechless. “Where should I begin, with all the experiences I’ve had as a PCCC student?” Maybe I’ll talk aboutthetimeIfirstencounteredtheSGAbackin2012whentheycame to Wanaque for their Appreciation Day and I felt the sense of belonging, as if this group of students had a purpose and made it an intentional goal to better the school and their students’ college experience.OrshallItalkaboutthefirsttimeIdidaschooltourafter getting involved with the volunteer Student Ambassador pro-gram,andmydirectpositiveinfluenceonthosepotentialstudentsled them to eventually enroll in this school. Just one word – that’s all I ask for. “Humbled” from the opportunities I had to travel to Wash-ington, D.C., Hershey Park, Six Flags, Philadelphia, and the over-night leadership training retreats. “Blessed” with the ever-so-help-ful scholarships I earned for the semesters when I was in desperate need of help. “Grateful” for the many tutoring programs and pro-fessors who were willing to go above and beyond for me and othert students who truly showed interest in the subject matter. “Accomplished” to see how impactful a group of strong, dedicated students can be, when they put their minds together and never give up. That’s what I learned from my SGA Executive Board Members. As I end these thoughts and refocus my mind around this one sim-ple word I’m supposed to be expressing, I would have to say that all my experiences happened because of the way in which this school keeps their studentsfirst,witheverychoiceanddecisiontheymake.Fortheseself-less actions that allowed me all these opportunities for personal growth and a chance at a better academically-enriched student life, the word that I choose to describe my experience here at Passaic County Community College, is: unifying. I am just one, and this is my story. But I can change the world,

because I impacted your life. And you can now be empowered to impact someone else’s life. From day one here at PCCC, I noticed the banner that hangs above the exit door at the Wanaque campus. It says: “Something so near, can take you so far.” And that has been ever so true throughout these past three years. Taking the road less travelled has definitely made me theperson I am today, and because of this school, I have found unity with my fellow peers and myself.

By Tyler Solari, SGA President

One Word

In this issueSGA Members............................Page 1Visions Members.......................Page 2Alumni Association...................Page 3PTK Members.......................Pages 4-5Graduation Dance.................Pages 6-7Graduation Trip..........................Page 8

Tyler Solari, SGA President

Enmerlin Pena, SGA Treasurer

Nafeesah A. Goldsmith, SGA Vice President

By Nafeesah A. Goldsmith and Enmerlin Pena

Page 2 2015 Graduation IssueVisions Members

The Fork in the RoadBy Albert Bustos, Visions Senior Editor

My choice to be a student at Passaic County Community College is one I will surely not regret. From forging relationships with my professors, to making new friends, to-being able to learn and complete academ-ic work efficiently, to receiving awardsfor my performance, I can only look back at my experience here with pride. As a new student at PCCC my main objective was getting a degree in graphic design. I started in the Summer of 2011 and I knew back then to not put too much on my plate until I got the rhythm of being a student in college down to a sci-ence. I completed all of the harder courses first.Fromthereonitwouldbeabreeze,so I thought. I was clueless about clubs, orga-nizationsandeventsatPCCC;Iwasalsoclueless of the awards given to people. All I knew was my class and my class’ assignments and I didn’t worry nor knew of anything else. One day a letter from PCCC was mailed to me and oblivious to its contents it was actually a letter stating that I wasontheDean’s list,andacertificateformewas included in the letter. I was excited and hap-py and I showed it to my family, they too were proudofmeforreceivingthiscertificate. As time went on I received more like-cer-tificatesanditmademehappythatIwasrecog-nizedforsomethingpositive.Itwasalsosettinga good example for my younger sisters, nieces,

nephews and cousins to see other than the “mess up” I had been for many years.

After this, my goal was no longer to just simply graduate get my degree and leave, which isn’t wrong, but for me this type of recognition made me work even harder. It made me see that I had the potential to do greater things. It gave me a dose of encouragement to do better by building a responsible reputation and a body of work I could keep as a portfolio for future use. Surely there were many obstacles I had

to overcome. One was being timid and seclud-ed, which got better overtime by meeting fellow

students and people with like interests and life experiences. Transportation was another obstacle. I don’t own a car so I relied on buses to get me to and from the campus and some-times buses are either late or too early;a lot of the times they’re never on time. Whenever I would miss the bus I asked my dad if he can take me to school and I would give him some gas money for his troubles. The evening classes I had were some-what of an obstacle also. I say this be-cause classes ended at nighttime and Pa-terson isn’t the safest place to wait for a bus at 9:45 p.m. My math classes and Web Design class were the ones that gave me the most trou-ble. I would literally spend hours trying to understand a math problem, but once I understood how to get the answer, the following problems were quicker to solve.

Web Design was very confusing to me. It deals with codes and I spent a whole lot of time in the CIS lab getting help from the tutors, nevertheless I got through it and passed with good grades. My main accomplishment was on May 21stwhenIfinallygraduated.Thejourneyget-ting there was just as good as the moment they gave my graduation award.

Albert Bustos, Visions Senior Editor

I entered the doors or Passaic County Community College in Fall 2013. I wasn’t nervous, scared, or worried. I was truly and genuinely excit-ed. This may come off weird and sort of surprising but I was excitedbecause Iwasfinallygoing to my dream school. This is not to say that I aimed low or didn’t want to attend a four year college. But as a young child and up I had al-ways seen PCCC, took many trips to PCCC and I had been a part of many events held at PCCC. For years I wondered what it was like passed the gym and the theater, and what it was like being a student. So when the Fall of 2013 rolled aroundIwasreadytofindout. PCCC is a great school. That mes-sage is to anyone thinking of attending, presently attending, has doubts about attending, or anyone who has already attended. I will repeat again. PCCC is a great school.

Since I began my two years here, I have made friends, I have made connec-

tions. I have laughed a lot and of course I have learned a lot. Every single person that I have crossed paths with has impacted my life in one way or another. The memories I made here will last for a very long time, if not forever. I will never forget dissecting a fetal pig with my best friend in Hu-man Biology. The smell was terrible but the experience was remarkable. And I will always remember my Introduction to Theater class project that was a Spanish Harlem remake of Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of

Fleet Street. I know if we would have actually put that play in production, it would’ve sold out. The learning environment at PCCC is exciting and intriguing. I can honest-ly and personally say that I never had a dull professor. All of my professors truly cared about what they taught, and more importantly, they cared about their students. I would like to give a special thank you to Professor. Elliot Collins for seeing potential in me and pushing me to strive for excellence. During my second semester at Pas-saic County Community College, I took Introduction to Journalism. As a Jour-nalism Major, it was a requirement. The class was taught by Dr. Christine Red-man-Waldeyer, who soon recruited me to join the college’s newspaper. And so in the Spring of 2014 I became a staff

writer for PCCC’s Visions. During my time with Vision’s I gained lots of experience as a work-ing reporter for a newspaper. I have seen the ins and outs that it takes to publish a paper, and have learned a lot from it. With Visions I have made so many friends, and I am glad I got to be a part of that family. We are a close knit group of people and always supported each other when needed. I will miss my fellow Visions members, and wish them all the best of luck in their endeavors. As my journey at PCCC comes to an end I would like to say I am grateful for the opportunity I had to attend this school. Although it hasn’t always been easy. With papers, projects, and articles due, usually at the same time, my stress levels at times would be at a ten. But in the end it was all worth it. My last words of advice would be to anyone at PCCC, you can do it. At times it may not seem like it, but graduating from PCCC and getting a college degree is an accomplishment. There is a beautiful degree with your name on it, and believe you can achieve, and you will.

Achieving at PCCCBy Jada Osgood, Visions Full-Time Staff Writer

Jada Osgood, Visions Full-Time Staff Writer

Editor-in-ChiefX-Zaviour Johnson

Senior EditorsAlbert BustosNicole C. Richardson

Full-time Staff Jada Osgood

Faculty AdvisorsMaria Luisa MarteChristine Redman-Waldeyer

LayoutAlbert Bustos

Contributing WritersNelton BarrettAlbert Bustos Garland CollinsNafeesah A. GoldsmithJanCarlosGutierrezJada OsgoodEnmerlin PenaMelissa PetrinaTyler Solari

(Continued on Page 3)

Contact us at:news@pccc.edu

Page 3 2015 Graduation IssueAlumni Association

Other accomplishments were being a part of Visions Newspaper. In Visions, over-time I was a contributing/staff writer, photographer, cartoonist, senior editor and for one year I served as editor-in-chief. My most recent position was to be the layout person. Visions improved my writing, work ethic and leadership skills. I will forever be thankful to Dr. Christine Redman Waldeyer and fellow-student Randy Jackson, who introduced me and motivated me to be in Visions. In 2013-2014 I received the Student Leader of the Year award for my time as Edi-tor-in-Chief and Visions also won Club of the Year award that same night. In the fall of 2014 I was given the po-sition as Vice President for the Graphic Design and Fine Arts club where I met some very cool people that have a common interest as me, which is art. I think one of my greater accomplish-ments was getting involved in the Honors Pro-gram and being a member of the Phi Theta Kap-pa Honor Society. It’s a privilege for me to be in these programs and I think these certain accom-plishmentswillbebeneficialformenowandlat-er down the road. I think part of me being successful in graduating from college and being a part of all these different clubs and organizations camefrom a decision I made many years ago. I took a step back in retrospect and I was in a low place for a long time, infatuated with the wrong things and it took its toll on me, and my family. There came a time for me where I looked down that road and I saw nothing good. You pay for all your wrongs in this life. Whether you’re in a good place or your situation is messed up the only one you can give credit to or blame is your-

self. For a long time I blamed everyone except me and I was wrong. The change didn’t happen overnight. It startedwitharealizationofwhoIwasandwhereI was at that time. I was raised by both of my parents and I was a smart kid in school, but I was wasting all my time, intelligence and talent by choosing to be with the wrong people, plac-esandthings.Idisregardedallofmyblessings;itwasabackwardsmentality.Therealizationtobetter myself came in early 2000 and it’s led me to be where I am now. I now appreciate and re-spect my parents more and I’m learning to admit when I’m wrong and to let go of negative things. I don’t want to make myself the victim anymore, instead I want to help the real victims in any which way that I can. Our experiences are all different, but if you’re attending college and you are taking the steps to graduate you’re already ahead of the game. Community colleges are special in that they open their doors for you and prepare you for opening other doors after you’re done here. There are many people who would die to be in my position and yours. So,takeadvantageandseizethehereandnow. What you do today, will shape and form who you will be tomorrow. The thoughts in your head become words and your words will become your ac-tions and your actions will form your reality. So sow the good to reap the great, never limit yourself for anyone or anything and go above and beyond than whatever limit-ed expectations people have of you or that you have made

for yourself. I plan to continue. PCCC was just a stage, sort of like avideogamewhenyoufinishonestage and move on to the next one and so on. I congratulate and suggest to my fellow graduates to continue. Things can never be mastered com-pletely and no one on Earth knows everything. Continue to learn and grow, open your mind to things,studyotherperspectivesofyourfield,be-causeknowledgeisinfinite.Becomeprofession-als, scholars, leaders, Master artists and change this world for the better. Don’t think you’re just another grain of sand on the beach and that you don’t matter. Everyone plays an important role whether you see it or not. God gave you a posi-tion to handle, if not he would not have created you. Hopefully William Paterson Universi-ty will be my next stage, if not wherever I end up I must play my part in that particular stage tocontinueon.Nothinginlifeispromised;itisup to you to take the initiative and go after what you want. Congratulations to all my fellow grad-uates;IwishyouallagreatjourneyandIwishyou all much love, peace and the true joy of hap-piness. Godspeed.

(Continued from page 2)Fork in the road

“I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost

My migration from Jamaica W.I. in late 1990 was a huge culture shock. I had a different accent, different pronunciations for words, and different names for a lot of things we come in contact with every day. Be-yond that, I soon found out that even as a remarkable high school graduate, I wasn’t as marketable as I was back in Jamaica. The jobs I was interested in required more than an out of country highschooldiploma.MyfirstreactionwasIamsmart!Iamahardwork-er! I should be able to get the job I think I deserve! I quickly learned that wouldn’t be the case. I also learned quite a bit of assimilation and added effort would be needed on my part to make all my expectations happen. I enrolled at PCCC in 1991 to ease my transition. The initial thought was I would attend PCCC for a semester then resume my job search. I quickly found out that I needed PCCC more than PCCC needed me. The issuesIhadfittinginwereslowlygoingaway.Asthedays,weeksandmonths went by I became more understanding of my new surroundings. PCCC had helped me bridge that gap. During my time at PCCC I was a member of the EOF program and was a part many of EOF activi-

ties including amagazinelaunch and a successful fashion show. I joined the writing club which at the time was very rewarding to me as it was for many others. After three short years I graduated with an A.S. in Business Admin-istration/Management and was able to secure a job as Assistant Manager with a major retail chain. With the skills I learned at PCCC I was able to rise through the ranks and went on to have other successful manage-ment careers in retail, pub-lishing and the wireless in-dustries. After the events of September 11 2001, the job market turned and I found myself turning to PCCC once more. I enrolled in the Human Ser-vices program and in 2003 graduated with a second degree A.S. Human Services. I then went on to William Paterson University where I graduated with B.A. in Sociology and a M.A. in Public Policy and International Af-fairs shortly after. What I have learned at PCCC helped me transition to William Paterson University and stay the course. Today I have a very successful career and give much credit to the skills acquired from the Human Services

From Garland Collins, President of PCCC Alumni Association

Message from PCCC Alumni Association President

Garland Collins, President of Alumni Assoc.

(Continued on Page 4)

“With the skills I learned at PCCC I was able to rise through

the ranks and went on to have other successful management

careers in retail, publishing and the

wireless industries.”

Page 4 2015 Graduation IssuePTK Members

program. On a daily basis I deal with a many different individuals with different backgrounds and different personalities. However I am able to hone my management skills based mainly on the lessons learned from the Group Dynamics, Counselling Techniques and Critical Thinking courses I have taken at PCCC. For the last two years I have been the President of the PCCC Alum-ni Association and proud to be a member of the association since 2011. I know there a many similar stories as mine waiting to be told and my goal as President is to bring awareness to many opportunities this great insti-tution has to offer. If you are a current student or prospective graduate…YES YOU CAN! If you are a graduate I implore you to join the PCCC the PCCC Alumni Association and help us tell these wonderful success stories and more importantly come back and give back to the institution that have given so much to so many.

Join the Alumni Association: Website: pccc.edu/alumniEmail: pcccalumni@pccc.eduPhone: 973-684-5603AlumniAssociationBenefits:• Join annual or lifetime membership• Join a committee• Volunteer• Donate• Tuition remission for one course (up to 4 credits) each semester on a

space available basis* (up to 6 classes per academic year)• Library privileges, including borrowing privileges, shall be available

to members of the Alumni Association, subject to Learning Resources regulations;properidentificationisrequired

• Voting privileges for Alumni matters • Opportunity to be elected to a position on the alumni Executive Board • Opportunities for networking and friendship • 10% off of non-emblematic items at PCCC Bookstore• An opportunity to make a difference in our college and community • Discount prices on alumni-sponsored trips and events • Invitation to annual Alumni dinner • Portal e-mail account

Message from Alumni Association (Continued from Page 3)

WhileaUnitedStatesMarine,andaNCO(Non-CommissionOffi-cer),Neltonservedinseveraltheatersofoperations,specializinginSecu-rity, Supply and Logistics. He is the recipient of several Unit and individ-ual citations and commendations. After honorable discharge he continued to strive to be the best. He has worked directly for and with executives of Fortune 500 companies such as Citibank and has consulted for some of NJ Top Phar-maceuticals companies. As the Economy waned, and business slowed, Nelton decided to get his degree and some more experience so he can start his own company one day.

At PCCC:

• Fall 2013: He Co-Founded the Veterans Club and served as its presi-dent.

• In his second semester, he served as a class room instructional observ-er and Tutor.

• In Spring 2014 he joined the college Newspaper and Phi Theta Kappa and The Honors Program.

• In May of 2014 he was elected the PTK Chapter (Alpha Eta Chi) Pres-ident.

• Some of his notable awards are:• WHO’s WHO among Students in American High School• WHO’s WHO among Students in American Junior Colleges • International Scholar Laureate Recipient (China and Australia)• 2015 New Jersey All-State Academic Team (PTK)• PCCC Honors recipient

PCCC the beginning of a successful journeySelf BioBy Nelton Barrett, PTK Chapter (Alpha Eta Chi) President

My Story: It seems like only yesterday, that I started in the fall 2013, and now another chapter is closing. I remembered choosing my major based on my perception of IT and Business. The current value of the two is price-less, and their future value is immeasurable. At this moment, I believe I have the right foundation that will take me to the next chapter of my aca-demicandprofessionalpursuits.Theendgoalisfinancialfreedomandanon-profit. My A.S. in Business Administration/ Management Information System offers a solid foundation, which allows for proper perspective of both worlds. Thus, on a strategic level, it provided an early competitive edge, as long as I complete my Masters. The title of C E O awaits…Lofty goals for a non-traditional student. While I have been laughed at, smirked at and ridiculed for being an adult student with high expectations, I stood my ground and pressed on forward.Iamconfidentthathavingaplanandworkingtheplanisthekey;and failure is only a small part of the process. I am even more convinced that I will be a CEO someday, thanks in part, to the PCCC’s preparation and mentoring and my mother’s many virtuous lessons. At the end of the day PCCC provided a spark for more knowledge and a bigger drive for excellence. Achieving one’s full potential is a life longjourney.PCCCwasonlythefirststepandnextmaybeColumbiaUni-versity. Where ever I land, success is the only option. Inreflection,Imustthankallmyprofessors,staffsandadministra-tors for the support they have shown. To my new friends, fellow veterans, Kappans and fellow students my message to you… Just remember to start with a vision, dream big, believe, create a plan and work the plan. Last but not least, always seek out a mentor or coach and I will see you over the top!!!

Nelton Barrett, PTK President

Page 5 2015 Graduation IssuePTK Members

I would like to sincerely congratulate the PCCC Class of 2015! You should be extremely proud because not everyone can accomplish something as rewarding as earning a degree. When I enrolled at PCCC in 2009, I was a high school graduate and a recipient of the NJ Stars Scholar-ship. I was the only student from Clifton High School who took advantage of the scholarship and I did not intend to waste the opportunity. MygoalwastofirstearnmyAssociate’sinAccounting,thenmoveon to Rutgers University to earn my Bachelor’s, and later my Master’s in Accounting. I also intended to join school groups/clubs with students who shared my interests and goals. Over the two years at PCCC, I faced ob-stacles that any ordinary person may have given up on. However, just like you, I overcame them, making me a stronger and better student and per-son. Without the help of PCCC’s faculty and staff and my determination, I may not have been able to graduate and succeed as I have. From registering at a college fair with PCCC to sitting with my counselor prior to graduation, PCCC’s faculty and staff were always will-ing to help. For example, Professor Cox, the Chairman of the Business Department, mapped out my last two semesters. He made me a priority and he was personally interested in my success. Since I was transitioning from high school, I focused more on my grades and did not join any clubs until my second semester. In my Com-position 102 class, Dr. Redman-Waldeyer asked me to write an article for Visions. Although my major was not Journalism, I was honored to contrib-ute. When I took Economics 101 with Dr. Bookbinder, he introduced me to Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society for community colleges. With that association, I was able to apply for scholarships once I enrolled at Rutgers University. Being part of a national honor society also made me feel proud be-cause I was part of this prestigious group of students. I was later inducted into the International Golden Key Honor Society for my undergraduate studies and the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society for my graduate stud-ies. I also had the pleasure of serving as the interim treasurer for the Phi Theta Kappa club in which we raised money for the Japan Tsunami Relief and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I am still in contact with Dr. Bookbinder and ask PTK to raise money for multiple sclerosis. Once you graduate, do not look back in terms of how many A’s you

earned. Evaluate your success in how well the College served you and how much you contributed back. Any success story is not complete without obstacles. As a commut-er, I was forced to rely on public transportation. On days when it was easier to not walk to the train station because there was a snowstorm or I did not feel well, I made college a priority. I also had to rely on public transportation for work. Thankfully,PCCC’sclassscheduleswereflexible,butthereweremany times I was almost late. Since work and school were priorities, I had tofindabalance,soIcommunicatedwithbothmyprofessorsandmanag-ers. In addition to this, many professors assigned projects with overlap-ping deadlines. My savior and something I still use today is a weekly plan-ner.Iplannedoutmyweeksandallocatedtimeforspecifictasks.AlthoughIdidnotenjoythoseroughtimes,IamthankfulforthembecauseIrealizedI could thrive in stressful situations. An accounting career requires individ-uals to work successfully and effectively in intense situations. PCCC laid an integral foundation for me. There are many factors that helped me get to where I am today. Currently,IamnearcompletingmyCertifiedPublicAccountantlicense.Earning a CPA is the highest achievement an accounting student can ob-tain. PCCC was the beginning of my success. While its faculty and staff helped me, they also taught me to ask questions. In Professor Pagan’s accounting classes, he was insightful and incorporated personal experiences. However, most importantly, he encour-aged his students to do external research to acquire a better understanding of the topic or task. WhenIattendedmyfirstsemesteratRutgersUniversityin2011,most professors were willing to help, but more often than not, they insist-ed to do other research. By taking the initiative to learn early at PCCC, I

transitioned well into Rutgers and graduated in two years. During that time, I joined ALPHA, which is a student club for ac-countingandfinancemajorsandtheStudentCenterforPublicTrustthatencouraged ethics in business.

As an accounting major at PCCC, I took a Job Seek-ingTechniquesclassinspring2011andthefinalexamwasa mock interview. Unbeknownst to me, my mock interview wasarealinterview.WithoutProfessorCox’sconfidencein me and facilitating an interview with the VP of Finance and Administration, I would not have been able to obtain real life experience in my major. I cannot say this without truly believing it when I say be proud of your accomplishments. If you decide to

pursue a Bachelors degree or to enter the workforce, never settle for less than what you are worth. When you graduate, it is not the end of the road. Life in its purest formallowsanindividualtoreachtheirfullestpotential;youaretheonlyone that can stop you. No matter what background you come from, always believe in yourself and your ability to keep reaching for the stars. When you think of failing, think of the reason why you started your journey and I guarantee, you will not stop. Congratulations!!!

Defining SuccessBy Melissa Petrina

“When you think of failing, think of the reason why you

started your journey and I guarantee, you will not stop.”

Melissa Petrina, PTK Interim Treasurer and PCCC Alumni

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Page 6 2015 Graduation IssueGraduation Dance

The 2015 Graduation Dance took place on May 14 at La Neve’s Restaurant in Haledon, New Jersey. The theme of the night was James Bond 007, and no expense was paid when giving the graduating class a stunning en-vironment and memorable experience. The dinner served at the dance was topnotch, with a variety of different choices, such as mofongo, pork, rice, Kefta Kebabs and steak. Everyone made sure to leave nothing behind from that delectable meal. Once everyone’sappetitesweresatisfied,itwastimetohitthedancefloor,andthat’swhentherealnightbegan. DJNix-in-the-Mix gave us amazing experienceby selecting the right music to get everyone up and hav-ing fun. Different types of music were played that would appeal to everyone, from hip hop, merengue, even down to popular dances like the cha-cha slide played a really big role in uniting everyone on the dancefloor.EventheFacultyweredancingandenjoyingthenightawaywith their graduating students.

Much time was also spent at the photo booth, where students and faculty were taking fun and memorable photos with each other to remem-ber the magical evening. Theentirenightwasfilledwithsmilesandlaughter. This dance was perfect for students who never got a chance to go to their High School Prom, and gives them a chance to live the experi-enceforthefirsttime.ThisisalsoasecondchanceforanyonewhodidmakeittotheirfirstProm,butdidn’t have such a pleasurable time, or for those who just wanted a second chance to make their experience even better than the last. Overall, the night was perfect for giving the

graduating class an unforgettable night with all the friends that they have made throughout their time at Passaic County Community College. Congratulations Class of 2015!

The 2015 Graduation Dance!By JanCarlos Gutierrez

JanCarlos Gutierrez, SGA ––Secretary

Page 7 2015 Graduation IssueGraduation Dance

Page 8 2015 Graduation Issue

Class of 2015!!!

Graduation Trip

Graduates take a trip to NY to see The Lion King MusicalBy JanCarlos Gutierrez, SGA Secretary and Albert Bustos, Visions’ Senior Editor

The 2015 Graduation Trip took place on May16th at 200 West 45th Street, near Time Square in Manhattan, New York. The graduates got to see the famous Broadway Musical, The Lion King at the Minskoff The-atre. Everyone was excited to see this spectacular Broadway musical. It wasagreatopportunityforthemtoseetheirfirstBroadwayperformance. Theperformersdidanamazingjobgivingtheaudienceanenjoy-able experience. The visual artistry was stunning and incredible, some-thing the graduates will most likely never forget. The choreography was impeccable from beginning to end, which

is why it is said to be, “one of the most awe-inspiring productions ever brought to life on stage.” The graduates met up on Saturday afternoon at the Ellison St. en-trance of the main campus. It was a bright sunny day. From there they boarded on the bus off to see the remarkable play. Thiswas the first time formany of the graduates to ever see aBroadway musical, which is why it will be such an unforgettable day for them.Itdefinitelyleftabeautifulimpressiononeveryone.

Images from: www.pinterest.com and www.eshirts.com