ECC Alumnus Shares His Experiences with Current Students

From left: Ton Duong, ECC Math Professor Ines Figueiras, and Math Professor Monica Matos. Professor Figueiras taught both when they were ECC students,.

Ton Duong listens to a student’s question

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It’s been 10 years since Ton Duong graduated from Essex County College with an Associate degree in Engineering. Since then, he has earned three degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology, including a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

But he has certainly not forgotten his first collegiate alma mater. On June 13, Ton stopped by Professor Monica Matos’ MTH 121 (Calculus with Analytic Geometry I) class to talk to her students about his academic experiences and what they can expect in college and beyond going forward.

“It’s always a pleasure to come back to ECC and meet with students.  I want to share my story with them. Many faced the same challenges in their journey as I have in mine,” said Dr. Duong. Since graduating from ECC, he has returned to campus to meet with students on a number of occasions.

He has known Professor Matos ever since they were both students, and members of the Class of 2014, at Essex County College.

“It’s amazing what Ton has accomplished. It’s wonderful that he is willing to give of his time to return and meet with our current students,” said Professor Matos.

In July, Dr. Duong is headed to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, in Maryland, where he will be a research engineer.