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Camden County College Celebrates 56th Annual Commencement

Camden County College’s 56th Annual Commencement was held on Friday, May 10 for the first time at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden. The ceremony included the conferral of degrees and certificates to more than 1,500 students, and over 5,000 family members and friends attended the ceremony.

“The new venue added to the enthusiasm of the graduates, and allowed all of their guests to have a clear view of them on stage,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell, liaison to Camden County College. “We are thrilled to celebrate all of the achievements of the class of 2024.”

The keynote address was given by Camden County College Alumnus, Michael Stanton. Mr. Stanton graduated from Camden County College in 2020, and recently graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Rowan University, a top transfer destination for Camden County College students.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Commissioners, I would like to extend my congratulations and well wishes to all of this year’s graduates,” Commissioner Director Lou Cappelli said. “We are glad that they chose to attend Camden County College, the best educational value in the region and the most comprehensive County College in the state.”

Among this year’s graduates are:

  • 61 graduates that will receive their Associate degree before they receive their high school diplomas
  • A husband-and-wife graduating together
  • 63 students from around the globe representing 28 countries 34 graduating with more than one degree
  • 21 veterans of the United States military
  • 158 that earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average
  • Oldest and youngest members of the class are ages 16 and 78

County Seniors Citizens Art Contest and Exhibition Opens

The 56th Annual Camden County Senior Citizens Juried Art Contest & Exhibition opened on August 3. Submissions from 69 county senior artists are on display at Camden County College’s William G. Rohrer Center, 1889 Rt. 70 East, Cherry Hill. Open to the public, the exhibition runs through August 31, Mondays to Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“I congratulate all of the artists that participated in this year’s contest. The judges certainly had a challenging task, as each work of art is impressive and worthy of recognition,” said Commissioner Melinda Kane, liaison to the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission. “I encourage everyone to visit Camden County College in Cherry Hill during the exhibition.”

County residents age 60 and older, at any level of skill or experience, were invited to participate, including amateurs and non-professionals as well as working artists. Categories of work include acrylic painting; craft; digital art; mixed media; oil painting; pastel; print; photography; sculpture; watercolor; and works on paper (drawing).

Artwork by professional and non-professional artists was adjudicated by an independent panel of professional artists. First place winners in all categories at the County level will advance to compete at the state level in the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show, September 23 to October 27, 2022.

First place winners in the Non-Professional category are Acrylic Painting: Jay Miller, Voorhees; Craft: Donna Moyer, Voorhees; Oil Painting: Mary Christie, Cherry Hill; Pastel: William Lane, Haddonfield; Photography: Rita Wood, Atco; Watercolor Painting: Sharon Buttress, Cherry Hill; Works on Paper: Gloria Swiecicki, Haddon Heights.

In the Professional category, first place was awarded as follows: Acrylic Painting: Kimberly Clay, Somerdale; Craft: Robin Brownfield, Collingswood; Digital Art: Nancy Schmidt, Sicklerville; Oil

Painting: Rhonda Ward, Berlin; Photography: George Cordero, Mt. Ephraim; Watercolor Painting: Peter Ehlinger, Haddonfield; Works on Paper: Riccardo Veggian, Laurel Springs.

The Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission at Camden County College supports the local arts and history that make our communities dynamic places to live and work. The Commission was established by the Camden County Board of Commissioners to act as the designated agency in Camden County to receive and administer the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Local Arts Program and the New Jersey Historical Commission County History Partnership Program.

Camden County College remembers 9/11

Camden County Police Academy Recruit Camille Calupad of BCPO Class #79 singing the National Anthem[/caption]Members of the College Community joined President Donald Borden, Camden County Police Academy Recruit BCPO class #79 and BCCCO Class # 108 to mark twenty years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The ceremony on the Blackwood Campus honored the civilians, first responders, and service members who lost their lives on that fateful day and in the subsequent War on Terror. Remembrances were provided by Camden County Commissioner and Gold Star Mother Melinda Kane, and Joyce Rodak, widow of John Rodak who lost his life at the World Trade Center.

Camden County Police Academy Recruit Camille Calupad of BCPO Class #79 singing the National Anthem

Camden County Police Academy Recruit Camille Calupad of BCPO Class #79 singing the National Anthem

Camden County Senior Artists Win State Honors

Twelve Camden County residents have won top honors in the 54th Annual New Jersey State Senior Citizen Art Show. The winners were selected by jury from more than 300 submissions from throughout the state. First place winning artists from Camden County are: Carol Gooberman (Haddonfield), Professional Oil Painting; Gerard Iannelli (Haddon Heights), Non Professional Oil Painting; Annette Rinker (Winslow Township), Professional Print; and William Lane (Haddonfield), Non Professional Watercolor.

State second place winners include: Robin Brownfield (Collingswood), Non Professional Craft; Bonnie Burbank (Cherry Hill), Non Professional Mixed Media; Henry J. Cummings (Laurel Springs), Professional Sculpture; and Peter Ehlinger (Haddonfield), Professional Watercolor.

Richard Montemurro (Runnemede) won third place in the Professional Digital Art category, and three artists received honorable mentions: Howard Shivers (Haddonfield), Non Professional Pastel; Rita Wood (Winslow Township), Non Professional Photography; and Michael Leathem (Cherry Hill), Non Professional Works on Paper.

Like the Camden County show, the State show is taking place virtually. The State show may be viewed by visiting http://njseniorarts.com/.

Open to citizens age 60 and older, the Annual Senior Art Show begins at the county level, with the Senior Citizens Juried Art Contest and Exhibition. Artists at any level of skill or experience are invited to participate, including amateurs and non-professionals as well as working artists. Artists may submit one entry that has been created within the past three years, is an original creation of the artist, and has not been submitted previously to a county or state art show. The Camden County contest is sponsored by the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission at Camden County College. The state exhibit is a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Mercer County’s Division of Culture & Heritage.

This year, undaunted by the virtual format of the county show, 56 Camden County senior artists submitted original works to the Camden County contest. Works were submitted in 11 different categories of competition, including acrylic painting, craft, digital art, drawing, mixed media, oil painting, pastel, print photography, sculpture, and watercolor. Artwork was judged by an independent panel of artists. Seventeen first-place county winners advanced to compete at the state level.

54th Annual Camden County Senior Citizens art exhibition opens online

An all-virtual format did not deter 58 Camden County senior artists from submitting their work to the Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission’s 2020 Senior Citizens Juried Art Contest and Exhibition. Unlike prior years, the 2020 event is occurring virtually, due to COVID-19 concerns and social distancing restrictions.

View the virtual art gallery here

“This is a great opportunity for our seniors to share their talents with the county,” said Freeholder Melinda Kane, liaison to the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission. “We have some amazing senior artists in Camden County and this is their chance to have their works viewed and appreciated by a larger audience.”

County residents age 60 and older, at any level of skill or experience, were invited to participate, including amateurs and non-professionals as well as working artists. Categories of work include acrylic painting; craft; digital art; mixed media; oil painting; pastel; print; photography; sculpture; watercolor; and works on paper (drawing).

Artists completed an online form and submitted digital images, which were adjudicated by an independent panel of professional artists. First place winners in all categories at the County level will advance to compete at the state level in the New Jersey Senior Citizens Art Show, also to be held virtually, in fall 2020.

First place winners are Robin Brownfield of Collingswood, Non-professional, Craft; Bonnie Burbank of Cherry Hill, Non-professional, Mixed Media; Henry J. Cummings of Laurel Springs, Professional, Sculpture; Peter Ehlinger of Haddonfield, Professional, Water Color; Carol Gooberman of Haddonfield, Professional, Oil Painting; Nancy Schmidt, Sicklerville, Professional, Mixed Media; Gerard Iannelli of Haddon Heights, Non-professional, Oil Painting; William Lane of Haddonfield, Non-professional, Watercolor; Michael Leathem of Cherry Hill, Non-professional, Works on Paper; Jay Miller of Voorhees, Non-professional, Acrylic Painting; Richard Montemurro of Runnemede, Professional, Digital Art; Annette Rinker of Waterford Township, Professional, Print; Bonnie Rovere of Voorhees, Professional, Photography; Janet Brenda Sellers of Pine Hill, Professional, Acrylic Painting; Howard Shivers of Haddonfield, Non-professional, Pastel; Riccardo Veggian of Laurel Springs, Professional, Works on Paper; and Rita Wood of Waterford Township, Non-professional, Photography.

The Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission, founded in 1972, recognizes the role of the arts and local history in making our communities dynamic places to live and work. The Commission was established by the Board of Freeholders to act as the designated agency in Camden County to receive and administer the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Local Arts Program and the New Jersey Historical Commission County History Partnership Program.

Participate in Census 2020

Camden County College, the Freeholder Board and partners on the local, state and federal levels are working together to reinforce the importance of public participation in the 2020 Census and the impact of an accurate count on our community.

“An accurate census count means that our community gets the proper level of funding and the appropriate representation in Congress, but we can only get there if everyone understands what is at stake and participates,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services. “An accurate count is critical to the effective operation of government at all levels.”

Each decade, the United States Census Bureau is required to take a count of America’s population. This count is used to determine how many representatives each state receives in Congress; to redraw district boundaries; to determine the need for new infrastructure such as roads, schools, and emergency services; and by businesses determining where to open stores and locations.

Some populations have historically been more difficult to count than others, including those living in poverty, the homeless, children, and racial and ethnic minorities. The addition of political rhetoric, surrounding a possible U.S. citizenship question that will not appear on next year’s census, has raised concerns that obtaining an accurate count will be even harder than in previous years.

“We have left money on the table for decades because of undercounts in our community,” Rodriguez said. “That causes a ripple effect that touches all government services as we are forced to shift funds from other areas to cover what we lost in federal dollars. This affects everyday social services but also our ability to fund road maintenance and school improvements.”

To ensure an accurate count, officials are emphasizing that the Census is safe, secure and 100 percent confidential. Census data is not shared with other federal agencies, local officials, or law enforcement.

For more information regarding participation in the 2020 Census, how to respond to the Census questionnaire, and why every response is critical, residents are encouraged to visit www.2020census.gov.

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Virtual instruction starting March 30

March 12, 2020 – In order to ensure the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff, along with the larger community we serve, Camden County College will temporarily move classes to remote instruction until further notice.

Classes will be suspended at 2pm on Saturday, March 14 for student Spring Break, which has been extended through March 29 to facilitate the transition to virtual instruction. When classes resume on Monday, March 30, students will attend classes remotely.

“Camden County College will continue to provide essential student services including registration, computer labs, and tutoring,” said Don Borden, President of Camden County College. “The College has been preparing for the impact of the COVID-19 for several weeks, and will use the extended break to finalize our increased webinar and distance learning capabilities to meet the needs of the College community.”

Students will be notified how to access their classes by their instructors. Accommodations will be made for students without access to a computer or the internet.

Utilizing remote instruction for classes allows the College to balance the need for continuation of essential services with the health of the College community. The move also follows guidelines established for social distancing by decreasing the population on our campuses and instructional locations.

Camden County College encourages students, faculty, and staff to avoid unnecessary travel, especially to areas with high concentrations of COVID-19 reports, and to continue healthy best practices such as handwashing and social distancing. All College-related travel has been canceled.

Veteran’s Outpost Lounge opens at Camden City Campus

(Camden, NJ) – Camden County College opened a dedicated area for veterans at the Camden City Campus that provides a quiet respite for studying and rejuvenating before and after classes.

“Camden County College takes its commitment to our nation’s veterans and service members seriously, so we are proud to open the Veteran’s Outpost at the Camden Campus,” said Freeholder Melinda Kane, liaison to the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs. “In addition, Camden County College maintains a Veteran’s Service Center dedicated to assisting veteran students and is a nationally recognized military friendly school.”

The Camden County College Veterans Service Center assists veterans with applications and certifications, including those for benefits available under Selected Reserves, the Montgomery G.I. Bill, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance.

“Camden County College recognizes that higher education is a major step in transitioning from military to civilian life,” said Camden County College President Don Borden. “That is why we have a Veterans Service Center that works with veterans to build a successful future and connect them with services on and off campus.”

The college’s veterans center provides Veterans Administration work-study information and opportunities and access to a special on-campus veterans lounges on the Blackwood and Camden Campuses. The center also provides access to a licensed clinical social worker on campus and provides referrals to the Camden County Department of Veterans Affairs and Camden County Mental Health Services.

Camden County College has once again earned the Military Friendly® Schools designation for 2019. Each year, institutions across the country are identified as top choices for providing post-secondary education to veterans and their spouses.

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year by the VIQTORY organization based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans and responses to the Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions.

Riletta Twyne Cream Learning Theater dedicated in Camden

(Camden, NJ) – Camden County College named the learning theater in the Camden Conference Center in memory of Freeholder and legendary educator Riletta Twyne Cream.

Educators at dedication to Riletta Twyne Cream
“I had the privilege to serve on the Freeholder Board with Riletta Cream and have firsthand knowledge of the passion and dedication she put into everything she did,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell, liaison to Camden County College. “Whether it be improving educational opportunities as an educator, or improving county facilities in her role as freeholder, Riletta Cream had a strong and lasting impact on Camden County and its residents.”

A native of Camden City, Riletta Twyne Cream devoted her time, talents and energy to improving education in the city working as a teacher, supervisor and elementary school principal before serving as the principal of Camden High School from 1972 to 1987.

She continued to champion Camden’s students after her retirement from education by establishing the Riletta Cream Scholarship Fund in 1989. The scholarship supported the higher education goals of students from Camden, Woodrow Wilson, Brimm Medical Arts and Creative Arts High Schools.
In 1994, she was appointed to the Camden County Board of Freeholders, a position she held for five consecutive three-year terms. She served as a liaison to the Department of Buildings and Operations as well as the Department of Education.

Upon her retirement from the Freeholder Board in 2011, she donated the remaining monies of the scholarship fund, totaling more than $104,000, to the Camden County College Foundation to benefit students throughout Camden County. The established endowment ensures that the Riletta Cream Scholarship Fund will continue in perpetuity.

“To acknowledge the contributions of this champion of education, legendary principal and dedicated public servant, Camden County College is proud to honor her legacy with the naming of the Riletta Twyne Cream Learning Theater,” said Camden County College President Donald A. Borden. “Since 2011, the Riletta Cream Scholarship Fund has provided scholarships to 32 Camden County College students from across the county. Her gift will continue to provide educational opportunities for Camden County College students for years to come.”

At her passing, Freeholder Cream left a bequest to the Camden County College Foundation, totaling more than $97,000, to support the Foundation’s efforts to bring affordable and accessible education to all students in Camden County.

The dedication also served as the official launch of the Camden County College Foundation’s Bricks to Buildings fundraising campaign. From placing an engraved brick on campus to naming a building, a sponsor can leave a lasting legacy and provide for students.

The 1800-square-foot Riletta Twyne Cream Learning Theater contains 175 seats and can be used for lectures, graduation ceremonies and special events at the college. It is also available for private event rentals. For more information, please visit www.camdencc.edu

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NJ Alliance for Action – 2019 Walter Rand South Jersey Award Recipient John Hanson

Hanson Recognized for Impact on Local Economy
Camden County College Board of Trustees Chair John T. Hanson was presented with an Eagle Award by the New Jersey Alliance for Action during the 45th Annual Eagle Awards Dinner on October 29, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. Hanson serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and PATCO President. He accepted the 2019 Walter Rand South Jersey Award on behalf of the men and women who work at DRPA and PATCO, Chairman Ryan Boyer, Vice-Chairman Jeffrey Nash, DRPA and PATCO’s Board, and the contractors and consultants who support the Authority. An Eagle Award symbolizes the ability to rise above obstacles and to achieve levels of success beyond the common grasp that make the recipient of this award a leader. Hanson was the recipient of the Walter Rand South Jersey Award which is an Eagle Award category given to an individual who is recognized as making a difference in the local economy.