On Assignment: 2011 New Jersey City University graduation

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., MAY 11, 2011 — Commencement for 1,650 NJCU graduates at the IZOD Center. Here, at the age of 84, Evelyn Malzberg, of Jersey City, is the oldest person ever to graduate from the university. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

 Tanya Alves, of Newark, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, decorated her mortar board for the occasion. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Edwin Washington, of Jersey City, shows his excitement. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Giselle Mora, of Union City, waves as her son-in-law, Kenneth Arana, blows kisses to her daughter Veronica Alban, who is graduating with a degree in finance. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

The families of Dominique Cornetta, of Demarest, and Johanna Caraballo, of North Bergen, came prepared with posters of their graduates’ names. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Kenneth Errickson, of Howell, helps his friend John Ryan–who suffers from muscular dystrophy–also of Howell, with his mortar board. Both graduated with degrees in criminal justice. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

With caricatures of themselves displayed on their mortar boards are, from left, Narciso Espiritu Jr., of Jersey City; Stephanie Herrera, of Union City; and Elias Shamir Jimenez, of Bayonne, who all graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Angeline Quinto Pacifico, left, and Alice Lewandowsky Pyka, are recognized for their milestone anniversary as alumni of NJCU. Both graduated in 1940. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Honorary Degree recipient U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis delivers her speech during the graduation ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Evelyn Malzberg, 84, of Jersey City, stands up as Honorary Degree recipient U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis gives her special recognition in her speech. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Honorary Degree recipient Christine Eibs Singer, co-founder and CEO of E+Co, delivers her speech during the graduation ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Graduates walk off the stage after accepting their diplomas. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Lynette Maureen Noel, of Newark, holds up her diploma as she graduates with a masters degree in counseling. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Evelyn Malzberg, 84, of Jersey City, accepts her diploma. The great-grandmother earned a degree in creative writing. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Evelyn Malzberg, 84, of Jersey City, gives her family in the crowd a thumbs-up after receiving her diploma. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Raegan Acevedo, 4, with her father, Peter Acevedo, cheer on her mother, Melanie Torres, as she gets ready to receive her diploma. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Thomas Comey II, son of the Jersey City Chief of Police, walks across the stage after accepting his diploma. He graduated with a degree in chemistry. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

C.J. Diggs, of Jersey City, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Jim Doran, 64, of Bayonne, accepts his diploma, graduating with a Bachelor of Science  in Geology, his third degree after 42 years. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Evelyn Munoz, of West New York, celebrates after receiving her diploma. She majored in International Business Finance with a minor in Economics International Studies. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Cynthia Dawkins, 48, of North Plainfield, poses with her nine-month-old grandson Nolan Nyseer-Harris, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Science. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Newark residents, from left, Shakera Blackwell, Sherise Corrothers and Saida Ahmad, who all have double majors in education and psychology, cheer and wave their diplomas. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Senior Class President Claudia Severino delivers the Response from Graduates. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

The university band, Symphony of Winds and Percussion, plays the recessional,”Regal Procession,” by Clifton Williams. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Graduates exit the IZOD Center at the end of the ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Graduate Tameka Raines, 30, of Bayonne, gets a hug from her girlfriend, Felicia Bordeaux, at the end of the ceremony. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

Cindy Sanchez, of West New York, kisses her son, Justin, 6, outside the IZOD Center after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. (Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)