ECC students have a sense of belonging and successful alumni have made themselves a part of ECC’s extended family.

"At Essex I found affordable tuition, small classes, a nurturing environment, and indeed a family atmosphere! My dream deferred has become a dream fulfilled, thanks to the education, support, and encouragement from ECC.”

Bertheleau Ngakam (2007 Valedictorian) graduated with an A.S. in Biology/Pre-Med (4.0 GPA) and was the fifth ECC student in seven years (Susan Stepney in 2001, Claudia Ordonez in 2005, Jose Medina in 2006, Kerry McCann, also in 2006) to be recognized on the All-USA Community & Junior College Academic First Team. Bertheleau was also the second ECC student to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship of $90,000 for three years of baccalaureate studies. He is now a junior at Cornell University.

"Essex is like my second home. Its population is so diverse, reflecting so many cultures. It has been very rewarding coming here. Essex is truly a good start in one’s career and the academic experience is great! The teachers are very knowledgeable, caring, supportive, and understanding.”

Gladys Durand (Class of 2006) graduated with honors in the summer of 2008 from NJIT’s Civil Engineering program. She has already secured a full-time position as an engineer in the ECO Restoration Group of the New Jersey engineering firm Louis Berger Group, Inc. in Morristown. She will be involved in environmental mitigation projects, particularly wetland mitigation and hydraulic design. While working full-time at the firm, she will also be taking master’s level courses part-time in NJIT’s Civil Engineering program, focusing on water resources and hydraulics.

"Coming to ECC has helped me tremendously. If you take advantage of all the activities and academics available here, you can really go far. Financial considerations made me choose ECC. Once I got here, the college opened my eyes and helped me achieve so much in a relatively short time.”

José Medina (2006 Valedictorian), ECC’s first recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke F oundation scholarship ($90,000 for three years), is in his final year of engineering study at Georgia Tech. In the summer of 2008 he interned for John Deere in Iowa, working on power train systems. In Fall 2008 he started another internship in Illinois with Caterpillar, Inc. in its division of power motion and controls. Medina, who graduated from the engineering program at ECC, was the third ECC student to be recognized in the All-USA Community College Academic First Team.

"I will always be grateful for opportunities bestowed upon me while I attended ECC. Being the recipient of the Open Door and Dingler scholarships allowed me to broaden my future and excel. I am deeply appreciative.”

Bosede Olaogun (Class of 2002), pictured here with Dr. Benjamin Carson, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial Center, completed her baccalaureate with honors from Johns Hopkins University in May 2005 and then her master’s in Information Systems and Telecommunications from Johns Hopkins (3.86 GPA) in May 2007. Currently she is working as an IT Specialist for the Social Security Administration in Maryland. Bosede next plans to attend New York Institute of Technology to pursue a master’s in Business Administration.

“Essex has given me what it takes to succeed in life.”

Orlando Osorio (Class of 1998) graduated from the CET program at ECC, went on to NJIT, and graduated from there in 2005 with a BS in Construction Engineering Technology. He is now employed by Parsons Brinkerhoff in the Newark office where he has been for the past five years. Currently, he is involved with the Atlantic Yards, Brooklyn Arena project, the new home of the Nets basketball team. The project involves the utilities that will run the LIRR maintenance yard.

"I particularly enjoyed the cultural diaspora that existed at ECC. The Essex experience made assimilation easy for me. I found the professors to be highly insightful in their areas of specialty and easily accessible for help."

Gail Ann-Allen (Class of 1994) was a Biology-Pre Med major at ECC. She graduated with a cumulative GPA of 4.0, not only from Essex but also from Rutgers University. She graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Dental School in May 2000 and is now a certified orthodontist.


"Coming to Essex was crucial to my development as both a student and a person. I was returning to school after a few years and ECC provided the foundation I needed to grow. The faculty gave me guidance because I was originally unsure of the academic direction to take. Campus life was also great and I was encouraged to get involved. ECC was definitely the right place for me to start my college career."

Jerome Winston Powell (Class of 1994) is currently a corporate attorney specializing in forensic accounting. After gaining an associate degree in Liberal Arts from ECC, he moved on to New York University where he received his undergraduate degree as a double major in English and philosophy. He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina and has been practicing law in New York City ever since.


"All of my achievements were because I started here. ECC provided the fundamental tools that allowed me to progress successfully in my career today. Our program was rigorous and faculty were very demanding, but also very caring. Many people and patients I come across are grateful to ECC for educating at a compassionate level. I am grateful as well."

Oscar Pozzoli (Class of 1993) graduated with honors from ECC’s Physical Therapist Assistant program. He went on to become a certified PTA at the Rehabilitation Unit of Christ Hospital in Jersey City where he worked largely with diabetic Latinos and African-Americans and developed an interest in creating proper footwear to prevent the risk of amputations. He is currently a certified pedorthist (specialization in diabetic foot, footwear anatomy, and gait analysis) and also a certified clinical instructor in this field. He and his wife, a physical therapist, operate physical therapy clinics – Omni Therapy Centers – in Bloomfield and Verona. He has also worked as an International Market Manager of Aetrex Worldwide Corp., specializing in orthopedic footwear.

"Educationally and socially, ECC was good for me. The faculty provided a strong foundation. Classes were organized and well-structured. Professors offered me one-on-one attention, and tutors provided extra help. The Biology professors also introduced me to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Summer Biomedical Careers Program for Minority Students which enabled me to have a smooth transition into medical school."

Lisa Price (Class of 1993) received her M.D. from UMDNJ and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Meimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. She is currently in private practice in Atlanta and is also affiliated with Emory University.