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Dr. Billy Taylor

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and jazz great Dr. Billy Taylor received honorary degrees at William Paterson’s 185th commencement ceremony held on May 20 on Wightman Field. The event featured a commencement address by Senator Menendez whose message to the students advised them to not take the easy way out, but to challenge themselves.

It also included the dulcet tones of a composition written and performed on piano by Dr. Taylor. The notes of the song floated out over the colorful umbrellas held by some of the 1,750 graduates and scores of well wishers.

Taylor’s gospel-tinged composition, I Wish I Knew How It Feels to be Free, performed by him with Winard Harper on drums and Steve La Spina on bass, set a fitting tone for the ceremony. Dr. Taylor, whose career as a jazz pianist, composer, and educator, spans more than six decades, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Senator Robert Menendez

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, New Jersey’s first Hispanic senator, gave the commencement address. He left the graduates with a singular message. “The easiest way to find success in your life is to spend it doing things that are hard.  Sometimes, you’re not going to have a choice. You’ll have to sign contracts you don’t enjoy reading, you’ll be required to do assignments at your job you don’t enjoy doing, or asked to vote for politicians whose positions are more complicated than they want you to believe. As citizens, you’re going to confront enormous challenges. The secret to doing what is hard is remembering that it brings great rewards further down the line,” he said. “Fortunately, it’s clear you already know this. Because that’s what college is all about. It’s practice doing things that are hard.”

Menendez, who began his career as a public servant as a nineteen-year-old college student when he resolved to reform his local school board, received an honorary doctor of laws degree for his “humanitarian attitude, (and) zealous commitment to the health, economic advancement, and overall well-being” of the people of New Jersey and the nation.

President Arnold Speert encouraged the graduates to use their educations as calls to action. “A call to action for the years to come… action in your careers, action in your families, action in your communities,” he said. “Yes, you can celebrate your achievement of a bachelor’s degree, but today is about that and more. It’s also your vision of the role you will play in the years to come. It’s about how you will build upon today’s achievement.”

Tamara Issak, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English, and certification in secondary education, delivered the address for the Class of 2008. She was president of the Muslim Students Association, and won numerous academic awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Syria. “As I stand here addressing you as a young Muslim woman, I want to remind you of the infinite opportunities this nation offers,” she said. “More importantly, I would like to remind you that we have to get beyond prejudices and stereotypes that threaten the very heart of our country. In this election year, we have the potential to change the course of history. With a woman and an African American man running for president, we have made great strides.”

Joyce Powell '80

At the graduate ceremony, held in the late afternoon in the Rec Center, 303 students were awarded master’s degrees. Joyce Powell, M.A., ’80 gave the commencement address. Powell, who is president of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), received a President’s Medal for her “courageous and insightful leadership, unwavering commitment to teachers and students, and eloquent and passionate advocacy for children with special needs.”

Priyadarshini Ravichandran, who graduated with a master’s degree in public policy and international affairs, addressed the graduates. “If there is one thing that I have learned from this journey, it is this: as hard as it is for us to question our purpose, our dreams and our goals, stopping for a moment and analyzing them might help us get a job, a good paycheck, and a comfortable life.”

Powell urged the students to take on challenges. “I don’t want you to forget the value of becoming part of something larger than yourself,” she said. “Something where others are just as dedicated, just as talented, just as motivated as you have agreed to join their efforts together to tackle challenges that none of us could tackle alone.”