Before the game, a unique rendition of the National Anthem was performed on trumpet by RVCC Honors College graduate Justin Britten (Class of 2025), left, an inaugural mentee in the Insmed Mentorship Program at RVCC, and RVCC Trustee, James Von Schilling.
(BRIDGEWATER, NJ) -- Despite a weather delay—which ended with two glorious rainbows—Raritan Valley Community College was celebrated at a recent Somerset Patriots game with an evening honoring the College and its programs and featuring performances by members of the RVCC community. The July 8 event was held at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, where a home crowd watched the Somerset Patriots beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by a score of 5-1.
With “The Big Parade” as its theme, the event brought attention to the College’s departments and programs with information tables, staff, and faculty from such areas as the RVCC Planetarium, Athletics, the Arts & Design department, Admissions, Student Life, Workforce Training, the Honors College, the Children’s Campus Preschool and Childcare Center, and more. The evening’s activities also included a “Big Parade” with RVCC employees and families, students, alumni, friends, and supporters in a procession around the field before the game.
In addition, the event inspired the creation of "The Big Parade Scholarship at RVCC"—which was established with proceeds from the sale of 208 “RV Tickets,” a 50-50 promotion at the Ballpark, and a generous gift from RVCC Foundation Vice Chair, Dan Van Tran. The $3,500 scholarship will be awarded for the upcoming academic year to a worthy RVCC student.
The pre-game festivities included a special performance of Soul Train: The Soul Siblings, choreographed and performed by Cedric Thomas (Class of 2027), left, and Arianna McLean (Class of 2026), both students in RVCC’s Dance program.
“The Big Parade celebration at TD Bank Ballpark was a wonderful way to honor the College, showcase our students and the RVCC family, and demonstrate our role in the greater community,” said RVCC President Dr. Michael J. McDonough. “We’re grateful for all who came out to show their support, and we especially appreciate the on-field check presentations by Labcorp, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Insmed Incorporated, and J.S. Henderson Memorial Adult Scholarship board—their collective generosity is more affirmation of RVCC’s standing as a premier academic institution in Somerset and Hunterdon counties and throughout the state.”
Members of the RVCC community were featured prominently in the pre-game festivities, which included a special presentation of Soul Train: The Soul Siblings, choreographed and performed by Arianna McLean (Class of 2026) and Cedric Thomas (Class of 2027), both students in the College’s Dance program. A unique rendition of the National Anthem was performed on trumpet by RVCC Honors College graduate Justin Britten (Class of 2025), aninaugural mentee in the Insmed Mentorship Program at RVCC, and RVCC Trustee, James Von Schilling.
RVCC Men’s Basketball Head Coach Kevin Ryan, who was named Region XIX Coach of the Year and whose team earned the program’s first trip to the National Tournament in March, threw out the first pitch.
Also featured in pre-game ceremonies were on-field check presentations to RVCC from Deirdre Blaus, Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset; Bill Haas, Senior Vice President, Labcorp; Lindsay Bevan, Associate Director, Social Impact & Philanthropy, Insmed Incorporated; and Andy Manno, former RVCC Professor and President of the J.S. Henderson Adult Memorial Scholarship Board of Directors, representing the newly established “J.S. Henderson Memorial Adult Scholarship at Raritan Valley Community College.”
Pictured, from left, are, Michael J. McDonough; President, RVCC; Mike Marion, Executive Director, RVCC Foundation and RVCC Alumni Association; Andy Manno, former RVCC Professor and President of the J.S. Henderson Adult Memorial Scholarship Board of Directors; Allan Boomer, Chair, RVCC Foundation Board of Directors; and Gary C. Woodring, member, RVCC Foundation Board of Directors.
Pictured, from left, are, Michael J. McDonough; President, RVCC; Deirdre Blaus, Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset; Allan Boomer, Chair, RVCC Foundation Board of Directors; and Mike Marion, Executive Director, RVCC Foundation and RVCC Alumni Association.
Pictured, from left, are: Michael J. McDonough; President, RVCC; Lindsay Bevan, Associate Director, Social Impact & Philanthropy, Insmed Incorporated; Polly Owens, mentor, Insmed Mentorship Program at RVCC; Mike Marion, Executive Director, RVCC Foundation and RVCC Alumni Association; Gary C. Woodring, member, RVCC Foundation Board of Directors; and Allan Boomer, Chair, RVCC Foundation Board of Directors.
Photos courtesy of RVCC
