Essex College Students Take Pledge

More than 1,000 Essex County College students kicked off their commitment to earn their college degree at a rally held at the Newark campus.

Students in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society took part in a national program called the Community College Completion Challenge. It asks students to sign a commitment pledge to earn an associate’s degree or professional certification within three years of enrolling in college.

The rally, held last week, unveiled a display of mock diplomas to symbolize those students who made the commitment to graduate. Students who signed the pledge were also given green wristbands as a symbol of their goal.

Honor Society President Carla Alvarez said that when the students began collecting signatures, they were expecting about 300 to sign the pledge, “It’s impressive that so many students signed and makes us happy that we have classmates who really care about their education.”

Essex County College President Edythe M. Abdullah praised the students, “There is a certain camaraderie that the students are feeling as a result of the Completion Project. Those students who have pledged to complete their degree are getting a real sense of the support system that is available to them - not only from the faculty and staff that provide ECC's excellent student support services, but also from their fellow students, who are equally motivated to complete their education."

"Having served as superintendent  at both the municipal and county levels, I am extremely impressed by both the motivation and determination of these honor students who have shown such drive in motivating their fellow students to complete their college degrees,” said ECC Board of Trustees member Dr. Lawrence Feinsod who is currently Executive Essex County Superintendent.  “I have full confidence that their forward momentum will encourage students to graduate in three years.”

According to Phi Theta Kappa International, nearly 100 community colleges in North America have signed on to the project. President Obama and higher education leaders have pledged to boost college completion rates by 50 percent over the next 10 years. The honor society is heading the student-led initiative to raise awareness of the importance of college completion, not only for the students themselves, but for the colleges and the communities they serve.