EDISON — Luke Agojo said that without support and guidance from school administrators and professors at Middlesex County College (MCC), he would not be on the path he is on.
“I went into the U.S. Air Force when I graduated from Edison High School in 2013,” he said.
After serving as a troubleshooter for the F-16 fighter jet in South Carolina and Texas with the Air Force, Agojo, 23, returned home, not sure what his next step would be.
Agojo was one of 1,480 students who graduated from MCC at the 51st annual commencement exercises held at the Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway, on May 17.
A total of 1,514 degrees and certificates were awarded to the students in front of approximately 3,500 guests.
Valedictorian Sindhu Murthy, of Highland Park, delivered the class welcome, sharing her experiences and aspirations. Murthy, who graduated in January and is now attending Rutgers University, was a physics major.
“This school has been a springboard for many of us; it has helped us launch ourselves toward the future in ways we never imagined,” she told the class. “We have achieved this milestone after bouts of uncertainty, toil and strain. I have shared classrooms with people struggling with multiple jobs, illness, and financial distress who still took the time and effort to work their way toward college graduation.”
Murthy said their time at MCC is a small yet momentous investment toward their dreams.
“So let us celebrate it,” she said. “It is also important that we continue to maintain hope and ambition in the future. Some of us have dreams, while many of us don’t know what we want to do, but what really matters is that we make the most out of this education.”
Agojo arrived at MCC and soon became more involved. He served as the community service chair of the college’s student government and as student president during the 2015-16 school year. He also served as vice president of MCC’s chapter Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges.
Agojo served as president of Democracy House and was a member of the College Assembly. He was also the liaison for local organizations that needed college volunteers.
The Edison resident put in between 400 and 500 hours of service a year.
“Community service started even before I came to the college,” he said. “I was involved when I was in high school and in the Air Force.”
Agojo traces his interest in community service to his family.
“My family was poor,” he said. “My grandmother, who lived in the Philippines, worked five jobs and went to school at the same time. I’ve seen what it’s like to not have a lot. So it’s important for me to help others.”
He also believes service helps those who serve.
“It’s one of the best ways to connect with someone,” Agojo said. “It’s a connection you can’t fake. It provides a positive impact on people to work together to achieve a common goal.”
Some of the organizations he volunteered with include Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Elijah’s Promise and Clean Ocean Action.
When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September, Agojo was instrumental in organizing a fundraiser. The Middlesex County Sherriff’s Office personally sent donations collected during the fundraiser to Puerto Rico, Agojo said.
Agojo graduated with a degree in liberal arts with highest honors and will attend Kean University, Union, with a concentration in sociology and social work. He plans to go into higher education administration and help guide others just like the school administrators and professors who guided him at MCC.
“The school administrators and academic professors really shaped what I want to do,” he said. “They made it easy to get involved.”
Agojo said he will never stop focusing on service.
“It’s a huge part of my life,” he said.
Approximately 725 members of the Class of 2018 participated in the exercises, representing the 333 graduates of August 2017, 422 of January 2018 and 725 of May 2018. Participants included several students who fulfilled the requirements for more than one degree or certificate during this academic year.
Mark McCormick, vice president for academic and student affairs, presided during the ceremony. Greetings were delivered by Joann La Perla-Morales, MCC president; Dorothy K. Power, chairman of the MCC Board of Trustees; and Ronald G. Rios, director of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The ceremony was the end of an era. Professor Robert Colburn, the last remaining member of the college’s 1966 original faculty, led the academic processional as grand marshal. He is retiring this year.
McCormick presented the candidates for graduation and La Perla-Morales conferred the degrees and certificates. Earlier in May, the college held an honors convocation for students with the highest academic achievement in each program.
MCC also presented the Chambers Awards to graduates with the highest GPA. The graduates included Murthy and salutatorians Jamie N. Donato, of South Plainfield, and Marvi Niaz Abbasi, of East Brunswick.
The other students included Jeanna T. Alemany of Monroe Township, Justine Burnett of Woodbridge, Eunice S. Camerino of Spotswood, Samantha Marie Casano of the Parlin section of Sayreville, Vinnicius B. Coelho of South River, Harpreet Kaur of Carteret, Heather R. Kelleman of South Amboy, Rocio A. Mantilla of New Brunswick, Kaelyn Patel of the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, and Anthony A. Pensak, of Edison.
Contact Kathy Chang at kchang@newspapermediagroup.com.
