As a child, Bret Weeden never considered joining the military or moving to New Jersey. However, when he learned that his family was about to be evicted from their home in Philadelphia, he knew he had to change and start anew.

Shortly after, Weeden relocated to New Jersey and resided with his sister in search of a fresh start for his upcoming phase in life. He aimed to forget all the poor choices and hardships he had faced due to lack of guidance from his family and was keen on living in a safer locality than the Kensington area of Philadelphia.

Amanda Hartman, a recent addition to the RCBC Strategic Marketing and Communications team, bravely shared her personal story as a military dependent and veteran, along with the challenges and obstacles.

Having a father in the Army, Hartman moved around a lot at a young age – starting with her birthplace in Montana, Arizona, Texas, Utah and Germany, all before age 15. Unfortunately, her father became injured while stationed in Germany, and his mental and physical disability weighed on him, ultimately leading him to take his own life. 

Erkan Batti, originally from Turkey, completed his nursing associate degree program at RCBC in 2006. During his time at RCBC, he was actively involved and valued the hands-on approach of the program. When he enrolled, he knew the college's excellent academic reputation and supportive environment.

Various RCBC faculty and staff truly impacted his career, but he mainly spoke highly of Former Instructor Janet Briggs and Assistant Professor Joyce Rittenhouse. 

For someone who paused her education to raise her family, Christine Ortega has quickly filled up her academic bona fides: college graduate, Rowan College at Burlington County Dean’s List and a 3 +1 communications student on the verge of earning her bachelor’s degree. 

Lately, her journey has taken her on a tour of the Burlington County region’s hidden history through The Town Tourist, a YouTube project she created for a class assignment. 

Katherine Ruelan served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years before attending Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC). Before joining RCBC, she worked as a supervisor at an engineering manufacturing company, where she gained valuable experience. Initially, she was uncertain about her life's direction and whether returning to school was the right choice. However, her manager recognized her potential and actively encouraged her to pursue higher education.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Services recently awarded Richard Bendel the 2023 Prehospital Educator of the Year. He has served the community since 1973 as a dedicated public servant. Currently, he holds the NJOEMS EMT Course Coordinator position for the RCBC EMT Program. 

When asked what this award means, Bendel responded, “It’s so rewarding because I enjoy teaching and interacting with the students, especially when you see that lightbulb go off.”

Rahaf Alsharif’s journey has been one of immense courage and determination. Coming from a city in Syria, where fear was a constant companion, she faced unimaginable hardships. But despite all the odds, she pursued her dreams and achieved one of her most significant accomplishments: becoming one of Rowan College’s 2023 Winter Commencement Presidential Award Winners at Burlington County.
Alsharif will speak at RCBC’s Health Sciences Commencement at 1 pm on Wednesday, December 20, in Votta Hall.