Essex County College Commencement Held Wednesday

Newarkers were among the most accomplished of the more the 1,400 students to receive diplomas Wednesday during Essex County College’s commencement ceremony.

The school’s 44th annual commencement was held at the Prudential Center.

Yafrainy Familia, who is graduating with a 3.98 average and an associate in science in social sciences, was the class salutatorian and a member Phi Theta Kappa. The Newark resident was awarded the 2012-2013 Distinguished Chapter Member Award for PTK’s Middle States Region, was president of the college’s Dominican Student Association and plans to transfer to Rutgers, Smith College or Amherst College this fall.

Fellow Newarker  Diego Cruz-Burbano is a recipient of this year’s Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship, a $30,000-a-year scholarship for up to three years. He is graduating with an associate in science in engineering and a 3.98 grade point average. He was named to the 2013 New Jersey All-State Academic Team. With a career goal of becoming a civil engineer and hopes to transfer to Georgia Tech this fall.

A total of 358 students graduated with honors, while 75 graduates are at least 50 years old.