Moe Hamdeh ‘19 “Believing in yourself is the first step to success and William Paterson University instilled in me a tremendous confidence. I’ve learned that although some people will doubt or overlook over you, what’s crucial is that you continue to persevere. I am a finance and professional sales major who recently won the William Paterson University Pitch Tank competition and went on to represent the University at the state-wide U-Pitch NJ. I was honored to compete on behalf of William Paterson University as I had the confidence to go out and show the state that WP is a force to be reckoned with and success is our destiny! If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will? Go out and make your dreams a reality!”

“I got accepted into the only university I applied for and I couldn’t be happier! 🧡🖤 I am now starting my journey as a future educator! 👨🏽‍🏫 Even though I’m sad to leave the kiddos in the fall that have impacted me and that I have impacted in the span of a couple weeks of just working with them at Mercer Elementary, I know that I’m doing this for THEM! I can’t wait to meet some new people, grow as a new person and future educator. So, cheers to new beginnings!” #WPAccepted Shared by @kris.givs on Instagram

“I couldn’t be happier to say I’m able to begin the next chapter of my life at my first choice of a school. I’ve already met a few great people beforehand and I can’t wait to get to know some more and grow as a person and a future nursing major. Being a future Pioneer (and as a bonus being accepted into the Honors College) has been a goal of mine since the first day of freshman year and I’m very happy to say I’m #WPAccepted ♥️🏥💉” Shared by @cxxsie on Instagram

Meagan Trozzo ‘19 “William Paterson University has given me the foundation to grow in ways I never thought possible. This year I competed as part of a team of two students representing William Paterson at the Russ Berrie Institute’s 12th Annual National Sales Competition. I was so proud when our team won first place in the competition, as WP has only won this competition two times in the past 12 years. Individually, I also earned first place for the sales role play event, and came in second place for the individual overall competition out of 130 students from 40 schools from all over the world. Based off of this, you might think I was some kind of veteran at these competitions, right? Wrong. This past fall, I competed for the very first time in William Paterson’s Professional Sales Challenge Triathlon. At first I was terrified and actually had to force myself to participate. But I knew I had to summon my Will. Power. and take the leap, and I was determined to be as prepared as possible. In advance of the competition, I joined the Professional Sales Club and enrolled in a Professional Sales class. My hard work paid off as WP gave me the opportunity to not only compete in the Triathlon, but to qualify to compete in the National Sales Challenge. The faculty and staff of William Paterson took me further. After qualifying, the faculty dedicated nine hours each week to train us for the competition. They didn’t have to do this – they were adding this to their regular schedules. But, because of their dedication, I gained the confidence to compete. And we won. All thanks to Will. Power.”

Hershell Williams ‘20 “William Paterson is a great environment; everyone is super helpful. When I first started here, I took a leap of faith: I had never taken an art class, ever. The professors really took the time to explain things to me and help me develop myself. More experienced students in class would check on me every day, see how my work was coming, and make suggestions. My skills have come a long way, and I’m looking forward to an internship in animation.”

The WP Bowling team captured their first major victory of the season when they took home first place at the 2018 Lehigh Valley Collegiate Classic Championship this past weekend. Well done! #WeAreWillPower

Johan Von Ende ‘19 “The first time I came to William Paterson was in the fall of 2010. I was attending my Eagle Scout dinner where I was recognized for being a leader. I didn’t know it at the time, but William Paterson would continue to play an important role in molding me into the leader I am today. I transferred to WP from Bergen Community College in the fall of 2016. At first I was nervous about adjusting to a new school, but thanks to the Will. Power. I found as a student in the communication department, I was quickly able to adapt to my new environment and rise to meet the challenge of my academics. I overcame my struggles when I joined our tv station, WPTV-6, and became a parent orientation leader. My Will. Power., combined with the support of the University, helped me to succeed. To me, my Will. is my ability to succeed, fight and persevere against anything that comes at me in life. My Power. is my ability to never give up on my dreams. I believe that if you can empower someone to believe in themselves, they can do anything. I will soon be graduating with my bachelor’s in media production, and I cannot thank WP enough for pushing me past my limitations and believing in me. William Paterson will always be my heart.”

“Last week I had the opportunity to compete in my final sales Triathlon at the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales. Extremely excited to announce that I took first place in every event in the advanced category! Thankful for all of the people who helped along the way, truly excited to graduate in December and make some real sales!” Shared by Michaela Campo on LinkedIn.

Yazan Jubran ‘21 “Graduating high school and transitioning to William Paterson was one of the scariest and most exciting experiences of my life. My graduating high school GPA wasn’t where I wanted it to be and I knew that college was going to be much more challenging. With this in mind, I walked into my first day of classes with a new determination to achieve higher academic success and take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. I am pursuing a double major in finance and professional sales and the classes I am taking in the College of Business are interesting, challenging and fun. The feedback I receive from my professors, partnered with innovative technology like the sales lab, is preparing me to excel in my career. One of my greatest accomplishments came when I achieved fourth place in the advanced role play category of the RBI Sales Triathlon. I was the youngest student to place in the top four this year. Now, after an inspirational freshman year, I have earned a 3.4 GPA and landed a number of leadership positions across campus. In addition to my work as a Student Government Association senator, orientation leader, treasurer of the professional sales club, peer leader, tutor and student ambassador, I was also one of 60 first-generation college students selected for a fellowship with America Needs You, a two-year career development and leadership training program. I am confident that with the help of William Paterson’s academic services, friends, and my strong Will. Power., I will make my university community proud.”

Financial planning students Jonathan Hommes, Maria Velarde Ku and Robert Wolfe competed against teams from the country in the final round of the Financial Planning Association Challenge in Chicago. Learn more: wpunj.us/SYFbwT

Anna Onday ‘19 “I had no idea what to expect when I first came to William Paterson University as a freshman in 2014. It was my first time being away from home and I was terrified to be living in an unfamiliar place. Thankfully, my roommate was my best friend and we took on the college experience together. Along the way, I met so many amazing people. I am so grateful for everyone I met here who entered my life. From my High Mountain East residence hall, to my intramural volleyball teammates, to the members of the Filipino club (FACE), to those I met tutoring and in my nursing association. Even when I experienced low moments, having loyal friends and a strong support system helped me get through anything. After the first semester of my junior year, I hit my lowest point when I failed one of my courses and was held back a semester. I felt like quitting and giving up, but so many people encouraged me to stand back up and continue my journey. Thankfully, I listened, and today I am the president of the Nursing Student Association. After graduation, I plan to take and pass the NCLEX exam which will determine my ability to become a nurse. I am so grateful to my professors who encouraged me to never give up and gave me the confidence to know I will become a great nurse who will change lives.” I am preparing to graduate in a few short months and the idea of leaving William Paterson is heartbreaking to me. This University started as an unfamiliar place I was hesitant to begin and has since become a place I find difficult to leave. This campus has become my second home. I will never forget the common hours, late nights in dining hall, all-nighters studying for finals in the library, the surplus amounts of food my friends and I would consume in 1am runs, the laughs that would come echoing from my group in the student cafe, the “have a nice day’s” I would receive after a good workout at the campus gym, and every other little thing that made me into the person I am today. My experience at WP was four years long but felt like just four months. While I was enjoying the college experience, time flew by right before my eyes. Everyone at William Paterson has their own Will. Power. story, and this is mine. And I don’t regret a single second of it.”

Bree Testa ‘19 “Coming to William Paterson University, I was the shy girl who had a lot to say but was too scared to speak to a crowd, let alone perform on a stage. So I’d turn on my music, put my headphones on, and let music speak for me while I played my guitars in my room. That all changed when I stepped foot into Hobart Hall and found Brave New Radio. When I joined the radio station I thought of it as a stepping stone towards a career in radio broadcasting and audio engineering. I was welcomed with open arms into a community of such talented people. Everyone wanted to do what they love, just like me. A month after becoming an official DJ/legal operator, I got my own radio show, “The Girl with the Rock Show,” and people loved it. I was so surprised by how many people enjoyed listening to my favorite music and talking about my favorite thing in the world! Then, two months after that, I took a chance at becoming a production director at the station, and I fell in love with the world of radio and audio engineering even more. I found my place and my voice. When people would say, “You’ll never make it in radio,” or “You won’t be a famous guitarist,” I’d always joke that someday I’d be winning awards for my work. In March 2018, I was a finalist for three Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards for my radio show and work in the Production Department. Brave New Radio was named Best College Station for the second year in a row. It was my moment of triumph, it was our moment of triumph. Now, going into my senior year, I still hold onto those big dreams and plan to have my name become known. It was because of my Will. Power. and college radio that I found who I’m supposed to be. Always remember to shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars.”

Eleni Lutas ‘18 “When I transferred to William Paterson three years ago, I made the tough decision to take a year off from softball and focus solely on my academics. I became William Paterson Softball’s biggest fan. I followed every game and prepared myself for the day that I’d be able to get back on the field again. I can still remember the first day I showed up in the gym and told Coach Hallie Cohen that I wanted to be a Pioneer softball player. I can’t thank her enough for believing in me when I needed it the most. She helped me grow into the female student-athlete I am today and held me to standards that I will forever remember. For me, softball has always been something that added structure and meaning to my life. I came from a school where no one knew who I was and it was easy to slip through the cracks. William Paterson provided me with faculty who truly cared about me, not only as a student but as an athlete. The amount of time and support they invested in me is endless and will help me in my future endeavors. I look back at my time at William Paterson and wouldn’t change one part of my journey. I met coaches who supported me on and off the field and professors who pushed me in the classroom. I made friendships that will last me a lifetime. I became a part of a winning culture. A family with one heartbeat.”

Marthe Emogene ‘18 “I’m studying communication sciences and disorders to become a speech-language pathologist. When I obtain my certification and license, my ultimate goal is to work with stroke survivors and young children in early intervention. During my time at William Paterson, I have been able to serve as a student-leader in different sectors including clubs, organizations, new student orientation events, and off-campus projects and jobs. The main organization I have been a part of is Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (which has been at WP for 45 years!) I’m a servant-leader who has been given the privilege to be a part a campus legacy. WPUIVCF has allowed me to meet new people, attend leadership retreats, and grow as an individual and a person of faith. William Paterson University has truly become my second home. Not only have I been able to meet wonderful, talented students, but I’ve also made connections with genuine and dedicated staff members and friendly, knowledgeable faculty. I’ve met many cool people here, some who are for sure lifelong friends. As a lifelong pioneer, I will be reppin’ orange and black wherever I go!”

Annelise Malgieri ‘18 “At William Paterson University, the effort you put in is what you get out. As a psychology and exercise physiology major on the honors track, I came in with big hopes and goals, and WP has supported me in achieving them. When I’m working in the field for my classes, I always feel like a professional thanks to the preparation I’ve gotten from my professors. By creating relationships with so many professors and campus mentors, I’ve gotten a really great educational experience, a well-rounded one, academically and personally.”

Michele Ciz ‘18 “Going into William Paterson University as a transfer student, I never expected to do anything other than go to class and go home. I had no plans to go out of my way to make friends or be involved. However, when I arrived at WP I had a complete change of heart. Within weeks I was able to form connections with my professors, make friends with awesome people, and become involved with so many wonderful clubs and organizations. I went from being a stereotypical loner to discovering the benefit of putting in hard work and communicating with others. Fast forward one year later and I was able to put the knowledge that I gained in class to practice by participating in post-hurricane humanitarian social media work in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Through striving to get good grades, volunteering my time, and becoming close with my professors, I was given the opportunity to spend a week in January on a sunny island providing the locals with meals and hearing their stories on a service learning trip with an amazing group of WP students. The trip showed me how often we take things like hot running water and ample food for granted. The experience was humbling and made me realize just how important giving back can truly be. At William Paterson we are taught the tools we need to really make a change in the world. Now that I’m in the homestretch headed toward graduation, I’ve made the decision to continue my time at WP by committing to graduate school. I’m so grateful for all the people I’ve met and the opportunities that WP has provided me. William Paterson University will always be my home.”

Yusef Justice ‘18 “Growing up, I was raised by a single mother who is the strongest woman I know. Seeing her work tirelessly so that I could have a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my stomach are the images that motivated me to come to college. Because of her struggles, I will be the first man in my family to graduate from college and I know I will be successful in all of my endeavors. Although I have experienced many obstacles and came so close to giving up, my support at William Paterson has pushed me to grow into the person I want to be. I am a brother/philanthropy chair/treasurer of Tau Kappa Epsilon; treasurer of the Public Health Coalition; senator in the Student Government Association; Pesce Family Mentoring Institute mentee, and an employee in hospitality services. WP is the best place to be because it is a community of people who will truly help you grow. It is where you find your family and your Will.Power. I am proud to be considered a leader on campus and am even prouder to call myself a Pioneer.”