“These students have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in getting where they are today,” said Dr. Jianping Wang, president of MCCC. “We are proud of their achievements, and we look forward to hearing more about their future accomplishments.”

Willever, a Nursing student who will graduate in the fall of 2016, said he looks forward to earning his degree and then passing the exam to receive his nursing certification. He said he wants to gain some experience in the field before pursuing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing, with the ultimate goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. He credits Mercer with guiding him toward his chosen career path.

“It’s been eye-opening,” Willever said of his MCCC education. “Mercer has opened a lot of doors to things I didn’t think were possible, opportunities like PTK, scholarships, and service within the community.”

Then he added: “Not to mention cool advisors to take care of me,” noting MCCC PTK advisors Jingrong Huang and Jennifer Cook.

Dlugowski, a Physics major, has been accepted to Purdue University for the fall, where he will pursue a degree in Nuclear Engineering. The son of immigrant parents and a first-generation college student, Dlugowski said he first enrolled at Mercer primarily as an affordable option to a four-year college. But he adds that he graduates feeling he received a high-quality education.

“It has been an amazing experience,” Dlugowski said. “I have received an education that exceeds what my high school peers received at four-year institutions, and I have experienced a lot of personal growth.”

Each year the NJCCC hosts the event to recognize the state’s 40 best community college students as members of the New Jersey All-State Academic Team. The event is sponsored by PTK, the international honor society for community colleges, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and the New Jersey Education Association.

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