Area Students Graduate from Centenary

The following Lake Hopatcong residents will graduate from Centenary College in Hackettstown at the commencement ceremony to be held this Saturday, Jan. 14:

Maryann Tompkins, Master of Business Administration

Donna White, Bachelor of Science

Miluka Lewis, Bachelor of Science

Edgar Toro, Bachelor of Science

Stephanie Marshall, Bachelor of Arts

The graduating class will include undergraduate and graduate students from the main campus in Hackettstown and the Centenary College School of Professional Studies learning centers in Parsippany and Edison. Degrees that will be awarded to the 264 graduates participating in the ceremony are as follows: 21 Associate of Arts; 39 Bachelor of Arts; 2 Bachelors of Fine Arts; 82 Bachelor of Science; 33 Master of Arts; and 87 Master of Business Administration. Four of the graduating seniors are from Centenary's School of International Studies.

The keynote speaker, Rochelle Hendricks, acting Secretary of Higher Education for the State of New Jersey, will address a graduating class of 264 students.

Hendricks was named acting Secretary of Higher Education for the State of New Jersey in May 2011. Hendricks recently served as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education, provided critical leadership in the search for the Newark Superintendent of Public Schools and worked closely with interim Superintendent Deborah Terrell during the transition period. During that time, she was also instrumental in helping the Governor's education reform plans, including the creation and appointment of the Educator Effectiveness Task Force.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College is an independent, coeducational liberal arts and career studies college distinguished by an accomplished faculty, small class size and diverse student body. Centenary is the only baccalaureate and master degree granting institution in northwest New Jersey.

Centenary College's main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J. with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary College School of Professional Studies program offers accelerated degree completion programs in Parsippany, with an additional facility in Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.