Congratulations To Bergen County’s College Graduates!
’Tis the season for pomp and circumstance, and there was plenty to celebrate this month at our local universities and colleges.
Many consider December to be the most wonderful time of the year, but we have a soft spot for spring celebrations—especially graduations. This year is no different, and we were excited to see the pomp and circumstance surrounding the recent college graduations throughout Bergen County.
Below is a recap of this year’s local college graduation ceremonies:
Ramapo College
In Mahwah, 1,160 Ramapo College graduates received their undergraduate degrees during a ceremony on May 22 at Prudential Center in Newark. The program included commencement speaker, New Jersey Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin, as well as an address from Cindy Jebb, Ramapo College president, who spoke about being bold, being kind and being a team player.
“Being bold means stepping forward even when you’re not 100 percent sure of the outcome,” she said. “Being kind means using your voice to lift others up, not shut them down. And being a good teammate? That’s where the real magic happens—because nobody changes the world alone. We need one another.”
Check out more scenes from Ramapo’s 2025 graduation ceremony as well as the school’s Arching Day event, symbolizing the end of the students’ college experience.
Felician University
During graduation exercises held Thursday at The Rink at American Dream in East Rutherford, 443 students received their undergraduate degrees. Sarita E. Brown, a nationally recognized advocate for educational equity and co-founder of Excelencia in Education, delivered the keynote commencement address.
“Tapping into your empathy, your kindness, your personal strength and your commitment for service to others—that and all that you’ve learned is what you carry forward,” Brown told the graduates.
See the entire Felician University graduation here.
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Rain couldn’t dampen the joy at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s graduation, which took place May 14 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. More than 2,710 undergraduates received their degrees while listening to inspiring words from keynote speaker Eric LeGrand, a former Rutgers University football player who was paralyzed during a game in 2010. Since then, LeGrand has raised more than $3 million for spinal cord injury research and advocacy.
“Things won’t always be easy and fun,” LeGrand told the graduates. “We’re all going to face some kind of adversity. But you can always live your life to the fullest and impact other people. Be proud of where you are right now and what you’ve accomplished.”
Watch the entire 2025 FDU graduation ceremony here.
Bergen Community College
Bergen Community College kicked off graduation season on May 13 at MetLife Stadium, where about 1,100 students received their associate degrees. Commencement speaker Howard Haughton encouraged graduates to follow their passions, while class valedictorian Francesco Maneri spoke to his classmates about the importance of treating one another with kindness.
“In life, skill is second…kindness is first,” Maneri said. “Knowledge means little if it isn’t shared generously. Learning is richest in collaboration. The best of us lifts others up rather than leaves them behind.”
Watch Bergen Community College’s 2025 graduation in its entirety here.
Share your graduating students’ photos and videos with us on Instagram @bergenmagnj.
