Student & Alumni Success Stories
Elijah Dixon
DANIEL ADOMINA
Tyler Weniger
Jenna and Karli Garzillo
Carlos Raziel Rodriguez
Casey Holcombe
Zachary Kurnellas
Rodrigo Suarez Camacho
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精东传媒 Graphic Design and Photography Student Dominic Guarino Wins Award for Photograph Titled 鈥淭he Rancher鈥�
Guarino, who began at 精东传媒 in 2021 as a graphic design major, took a random photography class one semester which uncovered his penchant for taking photos.
After enrolling in the class, Guarino starting taking photography much more seriously as an art form.
鈥淧rofessor Michael Chovan-Dalton inspired me to stay with photography so I plan to graduate with a degree in graphic design and one in photography,鈥� said Guarino.
Alumnus Daniel Klim Appointed Chair of the 精东传媒 Foundation Board
鈥淭his college is full of great memories for me, and it served as my springboard. As an 精东传媒 student and athlete, in and out of the classroom served me well in life.鈥�
鈥�22, A.A.S. Funeral Service
Persistence and Determination Moved Him Past Life鈥檚 Hardships Toward Commencement Speaker
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 trade my experience at Mercer for anything. It is a school with great professors. What I can say is to always keep the faith and keep pushing forward.鈥�
Software Engineer Dean Blank Finds His 鈥楪ood Luck鈥� Through Hard Work
鈥淭here are a lot of wise professors at Mercer. I was able to achieve my goals and find my path with the help of professors, coaches, friends, family, and the communities I became a part of. Everyone in my life played a significant role in leading me to where I am today.鈥�
Aviation Student Ryan Sarria Reaches New Heights -- Excels Academically and Finds Community with Fellow Veterans
鈥淥pportunities were available to me because I was a Mercer student. Everyone is willing to help everyone else. So many people want you to succeed. They will help you. All you have to do is ask.鈥�
Ashley Minter Gains Gift of Tenacity in Ten-Year Journey to Bachelor鈥檚 Degree
鈥淢ercer provided more than an education. I had professors and advisors who encouraged and pushed me and contributed to my next steps.They did everything possible to convince me that I was more than what I perceived myself to be. They were my family.鈥�
Pam Prather Rewrites Her Story at 精东传媒
When she started at Mercer, she was raising three children 鈥�- and battling significant self-esteem issues.
鈥淚t was so difficult for me at first. I thought I couldn鈥檛 do it. Mercer made me feel like I could. Mercer got me ready for success in the real world.鈥�
Criminal Justice Graduate Jessica Pomarico Finds Ingredients for Success at Mercer
Once enrolled at Mercer in 2019, she was not going to let anything stop her 鈥� not even a pandemic.
鈥淚 pushed to get this degree. Mercer truly prepared me.鈥�
JOHNTAE JEFFRIES BUILDS COMMUNITY AT MERCER - SAYS 鈥楾HANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH鈥�
鈥淭he time I have spent at Mercer has been filled with so many people and experiences. In fact, I have never taken a course with the same professor twice,鈥� Jeffries observed. 鈥淢y best moments have been when I got to create and share with others and build relationships that last.鈥�
ALUMNA PERFECT FRIMPONG SETS SIGHTS ON CAREER IN MEDICINE
Starting out at 精东传媒 was Frimpong鈥檚 best choice for myriad reasons. 鈥淓ducation is the key. Mercer was the right fit in terms of my major. It was close to home, and class sizes are small. I had an opportunity to establish close relationships with professors and students. The willingness of tutors to help students also really stood out,鈥� she recalled.
Sindy Sandoval-Vega Says 鈥楨veryone Is Willing to Help鈥� at Mercer
Sandoval-Vega maintains that she liked everything about Mercer. 鈥淭he environment, the atmosphere, and mostly the support Mercer has given me have been great. I love the fact that everyone is willing to help if you seek help,鈥� she said.
She recalls many people who supported her success 鈥� faculty, staff members and classmates. 鈥淭hey were all ready to lend a hand whether it was related to academics, advisement, financial aid or other issues,鈥� she recalled.
Nursing Student Aileen Montalva Says 鈥楴othing Will Stop Me From Achieving My Dreams鈥�
Montalva is the grateful recipient of 精东传媒鈥檚 Go4It Foundation scholarship. 鈥淭he scholarship helped alleviate some of the financial pressure I had. It helped me focus more of my time on education. It put me one step closer to my dream of becoming a registered nurse,鈥� she said.
Kayla Small Learns Critical Lesson at 精东传媒: 鈥業 Am a Fighter鈥�
Small enthusiastically recommends Mercer. 鈥淚t was the best option for an amazing education that wouldn't leave me in debt, all the while preparing me for a bigger university,鈥� she said. She encourages students to take advantage of the things Mercer has to offer 鈥� caring professors, tutoring, and mental health services.
Bryan Bentzinger, 2012
In a Field Where Science, Business Savvy and Compassion Collide, 精东传媒 Alums Jimmy DeMaio and Bryan Bentzinger Give One Hundred Percent
What do you get when you combine aptitudes in chemistry, microbiology, pathology and anatomy with management skills and a desire to help families during one of their most crucial times of need? You get multi-talented individuals like Jimmy DeMaio, class of 1999, and Bryan Bentzinger, class of 2012 鈥� two 精东传媒 (精东传媒) alums who have dedicated their lives to the profession of mortuary science.
Alumna Alexis Brickner Is Focused on Entrepreneurial Success
When 精东传媒 (精东传媒) alumna Alexis Brickner made a conscious effort to turn her life around in her twenties, little did she know she would eventually be the owner of a successful business called Alexis Marie Photography + Designs in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
精东传媒 Alumnus Ralston Denton '99 Named Captain of Trenton Fire Department
While 精东传媒 Alumnus Ralston Denton doesn鈥檛 work for recognition, earlier this summer, he was sworn in as Captain of the Trenton Fire Department. The promotion is the latest acknowledgement of Denton鈥檚 impact on his community.
ALUMNUS DANIEL HURLEY FINDS HIS NICHE RESEARCHING GLOBAL HUMAN SECURITY ISSUES FOR WASHINGTON D.C. THINK TANK
Daniel Hurley may have two jobs right now, but the 2017 honors graduate of 精东传媒 (精东传媒) has one unifying vision: to advance human rights in U.S. foreign policy.
Honors Student Breianna Pettis Chose 精东传媒, Now Columbia University Has Chosen Pettis
Talented. Thoughtful. Patient. Those are just a few of the terms that describe 精东传媒 (精东传媒) liberal arts student Breianna Pettis.
And now Pettis can add the term 鈥淚vy Leaguer鈥� to the list. Pettis will start the Fall semester at New York City鈥檚 Columbia University.
'09, A.F.A. Fine Arts
精东传媒 Alumnus Brad Butler II '09 Speaks Truth at Educational Opportunity Fund Summer Enrichment Academy
Brad Butler II is a 2009 graduate of 精东传媒 and current motivational speaker. Unlike many of Mercer鈥檚 students, Butler isn鈥檛 a Trenton native. However, he still shares an often familiar story of fighting adversity.
精东传媒 Alumnae Danielle Campoli and Nadine Clement are on the Frontlines Fighting COVID-19
6/2/20
West Windsor, N.J. 鈥� What is the most important skill students learn in 精东传媒鈥檚 (精东传媒) Medical Labortory Technician (MLT) program? For alumnae Danielle Campoli and Nadine Clement, it was the art of pipetting.
鈥淭here was a lot I have taken from 精东传媒 MLT program,鈥� Campoli said. 鈥淥ne of which was learning to have great pipetting skills. The program helped me to understand the methodology behind the PCR testing we perform and apply critical thinking.鈥�
Campoli, who graduated in 2018, works at the Virtua Health System in Voorhees while Clement, who graduated in 2017, works at the CentraState Medical Facility in Freehold.
Ivania Asencio '20
精东传媒 Alumni Jessica Bookholdt '20 and Ivania Asencio '20 Make History as the College鈥檚 First Princeton University Transfers
Just two years after Princeton University opened its doors to transfer students, Jessica Bookholdt and Ivania Asencio are making history at 精东传媒 (精东传媒), becoming the first two students to transfer to the prestigious Ivy League school.
'17, A.A.S. Medical Laboratory Technology
精东传媒 Med Lab Tech Alum Nicole Torrone 鈥�17 is Freehold's First Line of Defense
精东传媒 Med Lab Tech Alum Nicole Torrone 鈥�17 is on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, testing patients and processing viral samples at the CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ.
'19, A.A. Education
精东传媒 Alum Keighley Hullfish 鈥�19 Found a New Life Across the Pond
精东传媒 Alumna Keighley Hullfish found a new life for herself at Mercer as a lead member of the college's Alpha Theta Gamma Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
'17, A.A. Liberal Arts
精东传媒 Athlete-turned-Singer Mani Kissling Returns to the Spotlight with Her Single, 鈥淧otential鈥�
The track, released on April 1, is a breezy, R&B-infused jam that plays close to the sounds of Kissling鈥檚 biggest influences. Her sultry vocals lace the track with an Alicia Keys-like timbre, while her upbeat message tinted by wanderlust sparks comparisons to an up-and-coming Rhianna.
'15, A.A.S. Fire Science
精东传媒 Fire Science Grad Tim Lynch Appointed West Windsor Fire Chief
West Windsor, N.J. 鈥� No sooner than one 精东传媒 (精东传媒) graduate retired from the West Windsor Fire Department did another take his place.
Following the retirement of former 精东传媒 student and Professor Jim Yates, who graduated from the college in 1978, 精东传媒 graduate Tim Lynch was promoted to Chief of the West Windsor Fire Department on April 1.
A third-generation resident of Hopewell Township, Lynch graduated from Mercer in 2015 with an A.A.S in Fire Science. From there, Lynch took his Mercer degree and earned his B.S. in Public Safety Administration at Holy Family University in Philadelphia in 2017.
Alumni - Criminal Justice
精东传媒 Grad and Firefighter Mateusz Kuklinski Stays Ready During Coronavirus Pandemic
While the entire world fixates on alleviating the COVID-19 pandemic, 精东传媒 Criminal Justice graduate Mateusz Kuklinski is helping out in a different way.
Alumni - Criminal Justice, Communications
精东传媒 Makes Lasting Impact on Dad and Daughter Duo
Dad and daughter Dale and Nikole Cook graduated from 精东传媒 32 years apart from each other and both expressed that attending Mercer County was one of the best decisions they made.
Alumni - Aviation
精东传媒 Aviation Program Trains McCloskey to be 1st Officer for Regional Airlines
精东传媒 student, Paige McCloskey, never imagined nor never wanted to attend college. After careful consideration, she decided to join 精东传媒鈥檚 Aviation Program and fell in love with the program after taking intro to flight at Infinity Flight Club.
Alumni - Plant Science
Botanist and 精东传媒 Alumna Gemma Milly Lives among the Trees
A New Jersey native, Milly grew up in the Hopewell Valley, about 12.5 miles northwest of 精东传媒鈥檚 West Windsor campus. She spent her childhood. In those same backdrops featured in her headshots 鈥� the great outdoors. Now, she works as a Land Steward with the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) and runs her own botanical consulting business, a pair of roles she loves and can talk about at length.
鈥�89, A.S. Business Administration
Trenton Native and 精东传媒 Alumnus Tracy Washington Goes International with Supply Chain Management
鈥淕rowing up I was very involved in my community, coaching basketball, baseball and football among other things,鈥� Washington said. 鈥淭hat sparked my interest in Mercer, with an added bonus of how affordable it was to attend.鈥�
'16, A.S. Criminal Justice
Alumna Boyana Georgieva Uses 精东传媒 as a Platform for a Career in Public Service
In 2013, Boyana enrolled at 精东传媒, her eyes set on the Criminal Justice program. At 32 years old, and with a four and seven-year-old, Georgieva pushed herself to spark a career change that would benefit her and her family.
Alumni 鈥�17, A.S., Business Administration
Alumnus Jason Lima to Get Down to Business at J&J's Chicago Office
All of that hard work got attention at hiring time. "Of the 43 students participating in the program, J&J hired five of us full-time," he said.
Looking back on the past four years, Lima observes that it鈥檚 been a fulfilling journey, one that started at 精东传媒.
鈥�18, A.A.S. Illustration
Art Alumna Megan Serfass Wins Best in Show at Mercer County Artists Exhibit; Show on Display Through July 8
Surprised, happy, excited. Oh, and jaw-dropping. That鈥檚 how 精东传媒 (精东传媒) alumna Megan Serfass 鈥�18 (A.A.S., Illustration), of West Windsor, recalls reacting when her name was announced for the Best in Show prize at this year鈥檚 Mercer County Artists (MCA) Awards Reception on May 22.
Serfass鈥檚 award-winning painting, entitled 鈥淕oldfinches,鈥� measures just 8鈥� x 10,鈥� but is vivid in color and rich in detail. It鈥檚 deceptively straightforward at first glance, until the viewer looks closer and realizes that the frame is part of the painting, appearing so real that it could easily be mistaken for a three-dimensional frame.
鈥�16, A.S. Biology, A.S. Chemistry
Alumna Barri Deptula Calls 精东传媒 Key to Advancement in Science Field
Deptula says she was instilled with a love for learning. "I really valued all of my science courses because of how well they were taught and how much I learned." She includes many names on her list of favorites: Diane Hilker (Biology), who encouraged her to apply for the Princeton internship, Dr. Laura Blinderman (Biology), Helen Tanzini (Chemistry), Dr. Ronald Smith (Biology), and Patrick Natale (Biology), among others.
Deptula notes that her Mercer professors also taught her life skills. "I've learned to time manage, be confident, and work hard. I apply these qualities to everything I do," she said.
鈥�17, A.S. Biology
Savannah Dziepak Says "Science Holds the Promise of Solutions to Practically Anything"
Dziepak says 精东传媒 was a logical first step in her college education. "I was still young for college. When I started, I was the youngest in all my classes. But classes were small and I came to realize that my professors were not scary. They were good teachers, they were helpful, and they wanted you to contribute and to ask questions," she said.
Recalling classes that were open and comfortable, Dziepak credits 精东传媒 with being a true foundation for her future. "It's where I found my voice," she said. "I learned how to learn at Mercer."
鈥�18, A.A.S. Automotive Technology
All Systems Go for Automotive Technology Grad Charlie Eosso
"I decided to pursue a college degree. The people I knew in the field with degrees were employed at a higher level, including as foremen. Getting your associate degree enables you to go further in your career and prepares you for transfer if you want to get a bachelor's degree."