The RVCC student honorees take the stage during the College’s Nota Bene event. Photo courtesy of RVCC

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) recognized the creativity, talent, ingenuity, and academic excellence of its students at the annual Note Bene awards ceremony, held April 16, 2025 at the College's Nash Theatre.

Latin for "noteworthy,” Nota Bene acknowledges the creative strength and ingenuity that is prevalent at Raritan Valley Community College.

Each year, faculty members nominate exceptional students whose work spans a wide array of disciplines, such as poetry and essays, scientific research, musical performances, and visual arts. This year, the event honored 27 students whose work included short stories, sculptures, voice performances, and dance choreography. One of the honorees used Minecraft to bring an animal cell to life in a fusion of science and digital design. Another initiative revitalized a local playground to create a safer, more welcoming space for the children who use it.

RVCC student Alicia Chapman performs “Songs of the Seasons,” accompanied on piano by Dr. John Sichel, RVCC Professor Music, during the Nota Bene event. Photo courtesy of RVCC

The honored RVCC students included: Gabriella Graziano-Lo Presti; Alexander Acevedo; Raddiel Echevarria; Ava Hixon; Carys Law; members of the Student Occupational Therapy Assistant Association (SOTAA); Shruti S. Patel; Piyada Sribunphol; Alyssa Bhimsen; Glenneca Hall; Sara Rasmussen; Natalie Gerstein; Deyeleiny Batista; Kaitlyn Eckhart; Gianna Bovino; Rachel Floden; Alicia Chapman; Cara Copeland; Marcel Mancheno Vence; Cynthia DiMarco; Martina Cruz Mora; Sarah Black; Noah McAvoy; Madelyn Blau; Stephanie Stokes; Virginia Nicole Baldi; and Maia Kavtaradze.

Nota Bene was hosted by English Department faculty member Izabela Zieba and service learning students working on projects through The Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement. The event was attended by the honorees’ family and friends, who were able to enjoy presentations of student projects, as well as a dessert reception.

To view the honorees’ works, visit the virtual exhibition here. It contains essays, short stories, videos, art and design, and projects.

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, New Jersey.