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New Jersey State Senator Benjie E. Wimblerly told the graduates in the Class of 2026 that the education they have earned is a commitment to help shape the future during his keynote address at William Paterson University’s 2026 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on May 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
More than 2,200 graduates, who ranged in age from 19 to 70, were recognized during the ceremony, which ended in a hail of orange, black and white confetti and balloons. They hailed from 27 states and 69 countries and included 25 veterans and active service members.
Wimberly, who represents the 35th District in the New Jersey State Senate and holds a teaching certification from William Paterson, told the graduates the country rises and falls as one nation. “That idea, that we are connected, is not just inspiring. It is necessary. Because the challenges we face today cannot be solved alone,” he said. “They require people willing to listen. To lead. To serve. People like you. So, as you leave here today, ask yourself: Not just ‘What will I achieve?’ but 'Who will I become?’ And even more importantly, ‘Who will be better because I was here?’ Because your legacy will not be measured in titles. It will be measured in people, in lives impacted, in doors opened, in hope sustained. You are not waiting for the future. You are responsible for it.”
The senator quoted the University’s namesake, William Paterson, the New Jersey patriot and statesman, who wrote, “Without morals, there can be no order, and without knowledge, no genuine liberty.”
“Those words are not just history,” Wimberly said. “They are instructions. A reminder that knowledge without character is incomplete and that your responsibility does not end today, it begins. So go forward as Hope Keepers. Choose courage over comfort. Choose integrity over convenience. Choose purpose over applause. And wherever life takes you, be it boardrooms, classrooms, hospitals, studios, laboratories, or communities, remember this: You do not walk alone. And you do not succeed alone.”
During the ceremony, Wimberly was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of “his distinguished achievements as a public servant, his initiatives promoting higher education access and affordability, and his leadership and commitment to improving the lives of all citizens in the State of New Jersey.”
On hand to celebrate Wimberly’s honorary doctorate was New Jersey Congresswoman Nellie Pou, who previously served in the New Jersey Senate. Pou shared her own words of advice and congratulations with the graduates. “Go forward boldly. Dream fearlessly. Lead courageously, and never underestimate the power of your voice, your purpose, and your potential,” she said. “The world needs your ideas. It needs your compassion. It needs your leadership. And we cannot wait to see all that you will accomplish.”
Also recognized at the ceremony was Dr. Miki Cammarata, vice president for student development, who received the President’s Medallion, the highest honor bestowed at the University. Cammarata, who is retiring in June following 12 years of service on campus, was honored for her “leadership, her extraordinary work on campus and in collaboration with faculty and staff, and her continued exceptional and devoted service to William Paterson University and its students.”
In his address at the ceremony, University President Richard J. Helldobler called the occasion an opportunity for meaningful reflection. “We know what kindness looks like and feels like; we know what caring for others looks and feels like; we know what dignity and integrity look and feel like,” he told the graduates. “While I am confident our faculty have prepared you to be successful in your career pursuits, we above all want you to be good humans to your family, your neighbors, and those who look, worship, and love differently than you do.”
President Helldobler gave the Class of 2026 some advice. “Combine your career success with personal fulfullment, surround yourself with people who will lift you up as you lift them up, and you will create a rewarding life for yourself, your family, and your community. Congratulations, William Paterson Class of 2026! I can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll do!”
Viola E. Smith, a May 2026 graduate with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and financial planning and wealth management, summa cum laude, was selected as the undergraduate student speaker.
She applauded her fellow graduates for their hard work in obtaining their degrees. “The work was not easy and the road to get here was long but you all persevered and made it to this very moment,” she said. “You should be very proud of yourselves. In working for this degree, in not giving up, throughout years of finals, group projects, and discussion boards, you’ve invested in yourself. And it’s an investment that will only grow in value over the years.”
Smith encouraged the Class of 2026 to, focus on making the right choices for themselves. “I hope you can all find success in choosing your own path,” she added.
During the ceremony, the William Paterson University Foundation presented President Helldobler with a new University orb as a symbol of the president’s authority, responsibility for the care of the University community, and stewardship of its resources. A modern version of the medieval orbs that were symbolic renditions of real maps used by scholars to understand the world in the Middle Ages, the orb replaces the University mace, which was formally retired. It features the official University seal on the front and the orange WP graphic on the back.
In addition, three faculty were honored for excellence. Cyril S. Ku, professor of computer science, received the 2026 Faculty Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Expression Award; Danielle Wallace, associate professor of Africana-world studies, received the 2026 Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, and Balmurli Natrajan, professor of anthropology, received the 2026 Faculty Excellence Award for Service. Alumni from the Class of 1976 also processed with the graduates and were acknowledged for their milestone 50th reunion.
Approximately 50 percent of the graduates are first-generation college students, and the majority worked while earning their degrees. More than 560 students graduated with the Latin honors of summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude for achieving consistently high, or perfect, grade point averages during their studies at William Paterson.
The event, which drew more than 10,000 family and friends, marked the University’s 203rd Commencement ceremony.
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