(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Members of the Ocean County College community gathered on the campus’s Gateway Building lawn to celebrate the Class of 2022 at the College’s 55th Annual Commencement ceremonies.

The annual Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony took place on Tuesday, May 24, with graduating students from OCC’s nursing program receiving their nursing pins and reciting their Dedication Pledge. Graduates successfully completed a two-year course of study leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing during December 2021 and May 2022. Approximately $30,000 in awards and scholarships were presented to graduating nursing students during the ceremony.

OCC’s 2022 Awards Ceremony, held on Wednesday, May 25, recognized the outstanding achievements of graduating students with awards and scholarships totaling more than $75,000, made possible by supporters within the OCC community, community partners, and donors through the OCC Foundation. 

The events concluded on Thursday, May 26 with OCC’s 55th Annual Commencement Ceremony. More than 1,400 students received associate degrees during the ceremony, which featured a keynote address from U.S. Congressman Andy Kim, Third Congressional District of New Jersey. 

Dr. Jon H. Larson, President of OCC, welcomed the graduates and delivered the President’s Remarks. Father G. Scott Shaffer of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, offered the invocation, and Gianna Mancuso, a graduating student from OCVTS’ Grunin Performing Arts Academy class of 2022, sang the National Anthem. Speakers included OCC Board of Trustees Chair Jerry Dasti; Dr. Lamont O. Repollet, President of Kean University; Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, Ocean County Board of Commissioners and member of the Ocean County College Foundation Board of Trustees; and Student Commencement Speaker, Hailey Sadowski, from the Class of 2022.

OCC’s official Commencement programs, complete with all graduates’ names, awards and other designations, may be found at go.ocean.edu/graduation. 

Commencement Week ceremonies are streamed online on the College’s website and broadcast on Ocean TV-20 via Comcast of Toms River and Long Beach Island (channel 20) and Verizon FiOS of Northern Ocean County (channel 24). Video for each ceremony remains available for online viewing and recordings will be rebroadcast through the remainder of the month. For full details, visit go.ocean.edu/graduation.

For more than 50 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that prepare and empower diverse learners to contribute to and succeed in global societies. OCC invests in and fosters academic, economic, and cultural excellence, and ensures financial strength by generating new revenue streams, engaging in national and international university and corporate partnerships, and cultivating a technologically progressive and entrepreneurial spirit.