2022 Commencement

Christina Scillieri’s journey at Rowan College at Burlington County was forged in tragedy. Nine months before the start of her first semester she lost her mother and shortly after that the world shut down for COVID. Lost as a person she decided to break free from the cycle of trauma and overcome her hardships on her own. Being a first-generation college student, non-traditional student over the age of 30 and not having been in an education setting in 13 years, Scillieri knew she was going to have to push herself to be successful. 

As she worked hard to gain success in the classroom she also engaged on campus by being a student representative for the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges, the college’s Grade Appeal Committee, serving on the Student Government Association (SGA) Board, serving a term as the SGA president and working in the college’s food pantry. In addition to serving on various committees, Scillieri was a member of the The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), winning a $1,000 essay scholarship, Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), earned selection to the All-New Jersey Academic team and nominated to the All-USA Academic Team.

Emerging through this journey, now knowing her worth, Scillieri sets her sights on continuing her educational journey. She's planning to attend Seton Hall University Law School’s Pre-Legal Summer Institute through support from RCBC’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program and then plans to transfer to Stetson University in Florida. Her long-term goals are to get her master’s degree or attend law school. She plans for her future career to have lasting, positive change for people with a focus on reducing poverty, child abuse and human rights violations

When you look at Gia Carosiello’s impressive resume during her time at Rowan College at Burlington County, you would never guess the obstacles she has had to overcome to get her to this point. As a first-generation student, Carosielllo earned a degree in Human Services, an Addiction Counselor Certificate, while achieving membership in the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society.

Carosiello’s passion and goals, aimed at helping others, are deeply embedded in her own story of overcoming addiction to alcohol and drugs. As she prepares to walk the stage to accept her degree she is also celebrating five years of sobriety. Volunteering has been a huge part of her recovery and journey, and she wants to apply those skills into her future profession. After Carosiello’s internship at Hope Sheds Light ended, she continues to volunteer her time to help provide support to others who are battling addiction. She also supports the soup kitchen at Urban Promise in Camden.

Carosiello has already begun her studies at Rowan University where she aims to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services. Her future career goal is to become a substance abuse and addiction counselor and eventually obtain a master’s degree in social work. 

She wants her fellow classmates to know they should never give up, even on their darkest days. Six years ago, she never believed she had a bright future ahead of her and after overcoming something as difficult as addiction, it is possible to get straight A’s and succeed.

Aaron Caldwell has been challenged in many ways, but he accepted the challenge and Rowan College at Burlington County gave him the chance to push himself into finding his passion. After struggling in high school, almost dropping all of his courses his first semester at RCBC, he found his passion for exercise science and knew he wanted to help lift people up physically, mentally and spiritually. 

Wanting to a find a community on campus, Caldwell has served as the vice president and president of the Chess Club, president for Campus Crusade for Christ, as well as being inducted into the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) at RCBC. He also used his athletic passion to start a running club on campus.

Attending RCBC has challenged him to do his best and given him a fresh start to prove he’s the kind of student, and person, he knew he could be. With his new confidence, he took on a coaching role at King’s Christian School and was able to apply what he’d learned at RCBC to train students to improve their athletic skills.

Caldwell has already been accepted into Rowan University and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. He wants to apply his passion for helping and motivating others into a future career focused around kinesiology, strength and conditioning. His message to his peers is to never limit yourself or let others limit you. You’re more than a label and so much out there will try to stop you, but your willpower is stronger and never let a barrier get in your way. Caldwell lives this mantra every single day as he wants to break the mold on his potential and let his accomplishments speak to who he is instead of being defined by what people might assume about labels like autism.