As a seasoned pianist and music educator, the very last thing Kristy Whilden expected was to lose her hearing. Whilden was a music and piano teacher for ten years before receiving a shocking prognosis in 2014, which informed her that she was beginning to develop progressive sensorineural hearing loss.

Since piano had been her primary outlet for self-expression for the majority of her life, the musician spiraled into fear that she was about to lose her love and outlet in music forever. 

As the end of spring semester approaches and deadlines and exams naturally cause a spike in daily tension, students wanting to burn off some of their stress can make use of RCBC’s new RECWELL Center opening later this month in the Student Success Center on the Mount Laurel, New Jersey campus. 

The brand-new recreation and wellness room will soon become a hub for circuit training sessions, including a variety of group instruction classes led by RCBC’s student wellness coordinator, Shannon Violetti.

New Jersey native and Rowan College at Burlington County student, Boaz Matlack, earned the Civility Award for his honorable work as an activist fighting for equal rights among all individuals. 

At the age of four, Boaz Matlack was adopted into an Irish Catholic family from Medford and was raised in a family that demonstrated liberal beliefs. Unfortunately, growing up in a neighborhood that lacked diversity made schooling difficult at times. It was in middle school where he first became aware of academic discrimination being taught in class. 

There is an intricate path between an RCBC student’s first day of classes and the first day of their future career. As the average student juggles academics, jobs and personal responsibilities, having a helping hand when it comes to reaching their dream job is invaluable.

Madeleine Armstrong was a teacher’s pet in high school, but not in the traditional way. While her teachers adored her, it was also well-known that she did not use her full potential to her advantage.

As a youngster, Riverside native, and RCBC nursing student, Taylor Fritz recalls the common after-work chatter between her parents, both EMTs at the time, and now, the everyday conversations with her sister center around her job as a patient care technician. It was almost prescribed that she too would enter into a career in healthcare. 

If ever there was a Renaissance student graduating from Rowan College at Burlington County, Sarah Heil encapsulates that role in stride. Heil is a member of several honors societies on campus, pursues personal scientific research and even beekeeping, all while balancing an art business and a full-time job as a classroom behavioral analyst and aide. Not only that, but she’s also maintained a perfect 4.0 throughout her academic career at the college, which earned her recognition as a 2023 President’s Award winner.

Anthony Jones has been all over the world and even out on the street. He’s been in literal wars and uses positivity to overcome the discrimination he’s faced as a Black man and veteran who transitioned to civilian life. With the help of his girlfriend, Shavone Warren (who introduces herself as his No. 1 fan), Anthony, or  A.J., has found his place at Rowan College at Burlington County as a serial entrepreneur and an older student who challenges his instructors and mentors the younger students in his class. In each role, A.J.