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Bergen Community College alumna Chelsea Valdez, ‘26, explored various paths and opportunities that were made available to her at Bergen.
Valdez, of Garfield, enrolled at Bergen through the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program, which supports economically disadvantaged students as they obtain a college education. As an EOF student, Valdez found a support system that offered her resources to succeed and enhance her education.
She received the “Distinguished Scholar Award” from Bergen’s EOF Program for maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.
“Bergen was able to provide me with the space to create meaningful connections,” said Valdez. “I was able to explore my different interests through flexible degree requirements that allowed me to take on an interdisciplinary approach to my field interests through electives.”
With room to explore, Valdez found her way to Bergenstages and the performing arts. As Valdez earned her degree in the liberal arts, she went centerstage as she was cast in productions such as Murder on the Nile and Hair: The American Tribal Rock Musical.
“My favorite part about being involved in productions with Bergenstages is being surrounded by fellow creative people that became great friends along the way, and that inspired me to continue to work in spaces that encourage artistic expression,” she said.
Valdez will also be studying abroad in Ireland this summer. For her study abroad trip, Valdez received the Dr. Richard Ciccone Scholarship worth $2,000 from the Bergen Community College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization independent of the College that supports the financial needs of Bergen students. She will be taking courses related to the anthropology of Ireland along with the history and politics of early medieval Ireland.
“My study abroad advisor, Amparo Codding, also informed me of the many resources provided by the school as well as outside organizations in order to help me afford my studies abroad,” said Valdez. “I am very excited to be studying in Ireland for the diverse opportunities to connect immersively with local and global students.”
Valdez was also a member of Bergen’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. She also became involved with student clubs, such as Theatre Club, Film Club, and the Mutual Aid Club.
“Being able to get involved with a variety of community activities and student-run organizations supported my interdisciplinary interests and encouraged me to try new things and connect to new people,” she said. “Not only was I able to afford to go to school and continue my education through resources provided by Bergen, I was able to create meaningful connections with others and myself through many opportunities to learn and grow personally, curiously, and creatively.”
Valdez graduated in 2026. She aims to become an interdisciplinary performing and visual artist.
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 24,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.
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