Celebrating the Class of 2020

SJC Brooklyn is celebrating the nearly 300 graduates in the Class of 2020.

The graduating class is full of accomplished students, who have spent their time at St. Joseph’s College working hard in the classroom, breaking records on the field and court and getting involved on campus.

Class of 2020 Valedictorian Amarfi Collado

The commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 were postponed until further notice, due to measures taken across the state to stop the spread of COVID-19. SJC President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., is looking forward to the day he can be together with the class and confer degrees for the 201 undergraduate and 93 graduate students in person.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in ways we never thought possible,” Dr. Boomgaarden said. “Postponing our spring graduation ceremonies is one of our greatest disappointments, but we still celebrate and honor our Class of 2020 for all their wonderful accomplishments. Commencement is one of the biggest milestones in students’ lives and we are so proud of this year’s resilient class of graduates.”

Class of 2020: Dedicated to Intellectual Values

Class of 2020 Valedictorian Amarfi Collado said she looks forward to reuniting with her peers to celebrate their hard work, as they move into the next chapter of their lives.

“I’m extremely proud of my 2020 fellow graduates,” said Collado, an Honors Program student graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice, with minors in psychology and philosophy.

“Their resilience is one to be emphasized after their entire lifestyles were turned upside down during the pandemic,” she continued. “When one’s routine is suddenly taken away, most people can’t cope with it, but the Class of 2020 seniors have been coping and working hard to stay focused and maintain traditions.”

Like Collado, many of the graduates belong to an honor society: 17 seniors belong to Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national honor society, and 15 belong to Kappa Gamma Pi, another national honor society. Sigma Iota Chi, the St. Joseph’s College honor society, has 18 graduating seniors as members.

Sigma Iota Chi reviews student’s eligibility to stay in the honor society annually. Students accepted in the honor society at least three times will receive a special Sigma key at graduation. The Class of 2020 has 12 students receiving this honor.