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Princeton NJ Back to School Announcements

Newark Mayor Cory Booker to Speak at Mercer County Community College’s Commencement May 24

WHEN:  Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m.  Students will begin lining up in cap and gown at 5 p.m.
 

WHERE:  The college’s central quadrangle on the West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.  (In the event of rain, ceremonies will be held in the Physical Education Building and telecast to Kelsey Theatre and the Communications building.)

WHO:

• The college estimates that 1,084 students will be graduating this year.

• The keynote speaker will be Newark Mayor Cory Booker
• The student speaker will be Norman Glover of East Windsor, a mature student and Vietnam veteran who achieved his college education while working full time and raising a family.
• During the ceremony one of Mercer's faculty members will receive the MCCC Distinguished Teaching Award. Each year the name of the awardee is kept secret until the presentation. 

Honors:  Also on May 24, an Honors Convocation begins at 3 p.m. at Kelsey Theatre for top students who are receiving scholarships and awards. 

Keynote Speaker: Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor, City of Newark

The Honorable Cory A. Booker is the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey who took the oath of office July 1, 2006. He was re-elected to a second term on May 11, 2010. He says his mission is to set a national standard for urban transformation by marshalling resources to achieve security, economic abundance and an environment that is nurturing and empowering for individuals and families.

Mayor Booker’s political career began in 1998, after serving as Staff Attorney for the Urban Justice Center in Newark. He rose to prominence as Newark’s Central Ward Councilman. During his four years of service from 1998-2002, then-Councilman Booker earned a reputation as a leader with innovative ideas and bold actions, from increasing security in public housing to building new playgrounds. This work was the foundation for his leadership as Mayor.  For this work, he has been recognized in numerous publications, including, among others, Time, Esquire, New Jersey Monthly (naming him as one of New Jersey’s top 40 under 40), Black Enterprise (naming him to the Hot List, America’s Most Powerful Players under 40) and The New York Times Magazine.

Reflecting his commitment to education, Mayor Booker is a member of numerous boards and advisory committees including Democrats for Education Reform, Columbia University Teachers’ College Board of Trustees and the Black Alliance for Educational Options. Mayor Booker received his B. A. and M. A. from Stanford University, a B. A. in Modern History at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed his law degree at Yale University.