NCC Students Graduate This Spring 2025
BETHLEHEM, PA – During the week of May 19, two ceremonies were held for Northampton Community College (NCC) graduates, one at Bethlehem campus and one at Pocono campus. This spring’s graduating Class of 2025 tops the charts at 708 students, the largest since spring 2019. The class featured diverse graduates ranging in age from 17 to 69 and hailing from different countries including Egypt and Colombia. Twenty-five students graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D., gave the definition of what it means to be NCC strong, saying, “There is demand for NCC graduates because employers and four-year institutions know that when an NCC grad walks through their doors, they’re getting someone with grit, determination, and the skills to succeed.”
“All of you have incredible stories. All of you have overcome some sort of challenge to get to this commencement stage. All of you deserve recognition for your hard work and dedication to pursuing your education and your goals,” Dr. Ruth said to the graduates.
David Robertson was the commencement speaker for the Bethlehem ceremony. As the founder of JOSHWAY, he is reshaping the nonprofit landscape by integrating emerging technologies and empowering the next generation to dream boldly and act courageously. In his address, he said, “You’re not a blank canvas; you’re a masterpiece in progress. Your job is not to accumulate titles or impress people. Your job is to chip away the fear, the doubt, the pressure, until your purpose emerges. So, I ask, ‘how will you choose to play this thing called life?’ The world is sitting on the edge of its seat just waiting for you to rise and take your place. The world doesn’t need another copy of someone else. It needs you, the real you.”
Pike County Commissioner and Pocono commencement speaker, Christa Caceres, made history when she became the first African American elected to the office in the county’s 210-year history, and she encouraged graduates to make history themselves: “Embrace your unique possibility and walk confidently in your destiny. Whatever you do, do not freeze in place. You’ve got somewhere important to be.”
The commencement address at each campus was followed by the presentation of the President’s Commencement Scholarship, awarded to Zach Palomba-Frechette and Brianette Ramirez, given in honor of the ceremony’s commencement speaker. Additionally, Adam Sbardelli was honored with the Trustee Award. Sbardelli was recognized by fellow students and faculty members for possessing outstanding leadership qualities.
NCC enjoys a long-standing tradition of involvement and participation by its alumni in every aspect of college life. William R. Rowe III, class of 2013 alum and global head of electronics communications compliance at Cantor Fitzgerald, welcomed Bethlehem graduates into the Alumni Association as they shifted their tassels from right to left. HR Recruiting Coordinator at Camelback Resort and member of the Class of 2017, Quetcy Dueno, did the same for the Pocono graduates. The NCC Alumni Association is one of the oldest continuously active community college alumni associations in the country, the association boasts 60,000 members and will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall.
Applause filled the campuses as graduates crossed the stage and accepted their diplomas, cheered on by their proud loved ones.
Please see, photos and stories at https://www.northampton.edu/
About Northampton Community College
With an enduring commitment to the regional communities it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College is an educational institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty, and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director, as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students annually from 53 counties, 42 countries, and 25 states. For more information or to apply, please visit northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on X @NCCPresDaveRuth, and the college on LinkedIn, Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege, TikTok @NorthamptonCC, and Facebook.
