By: Isaiah S. Showell, Follow South Jersey Multimedia Journalist/’What’s Good’ Host
SEWELL, N.J. — Graduation for 1217 students at the Gloucester County’s Rowan College of South Jersey took place with several students bringing to a close that was for some a very long and challenging road. Graduates Yeison Gamuz, and Daquan Ridley were the students I caught up with to see what’s next in their academic journey, and Ridley has huge aspirations not just academically, but sports related as well.
“My plans are to go to a HBCU and play football,” said Ridley. “As far as academically, I want to go to law school, get my law degree, and become a defense attorney.”
Ridley is from Camden and expresses pure joy for his academic success because he says not a lot of people from Camden make it to where he is, and his achievements mean the world to him.
Yeison Gamuz is a part of Rowan Choice and also a Giveback Scholar. Rowan Choice offersincomingfreshmenthe chance to take classes at Rowan College while staying on main campus for a lot less tuition. In the program, students can earn 24-30 college credits. Now that his credits are complete Gamuz is overwhelmed with gratitude for Giveback and his mentors because he is the first in his family to graduate from college.
“If it were not for Giveback, I wouldn’t be here,” said Gamuz. “I was a Rowan Choice student, so I was living on campus with meals. They paid for everything; still there were times I wanted to give up, but now that I’m here, I’m very proud.” Gamuz is from Cumberland County and a part of First Star Academy, a program aimed at helping foster youth graduate high school and go on to college. Now that he’s graduated Gamuz is looking to find a job in computers because he’s loved computers since he was a child.
Congratulations to the 2022 graduating class at Rowan College! All of you are definitely What’s Good in South Jersey!
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