Student Athletes Honor Faculty, Staff & Administrators

On Thursday, February 9th, the Brookdale Community College Athletic Department held its inaugural event Student-Athletes Honor Jersey Blue Employees in the Robert J. Collins Arena. Thirteen Jersey Blue employee honorees were sent invitations to enjoy, along with their nominators, first-class seating, food, and camaraderie in the Arena’s beautiful VIP Suite.

“You have been pivotal in my Brookdale journey,” said Joie Bauman, a Jersey Blues Cheerleader to Associate Professor Dr. Christine Greco-Covington, while handing her the invitation in the opening of testimonial interviews that Brookdale Television conducted about the event.

In the interview, Professor Greco-Covington said, “We ultimately hope to change one student’s life trajectory. Knowing that I have impacted Joie’s journey is enough of an honor.”

The ceremony’s purpose was to thank and celebrate the employees who supported and made the student-athletes experience at Brookdale extra special.

Ryan Murray invited Associate Professor Geri Girard. “I am inviting you because you are one of the great professors I had. Every day I came to your class I enjoyed it and I left with a smile on my face.”

The student-athletes had the opportunity to select faculty, administration, and staff members across the six campuses while expressing gratitude during the men’s and women’s double-header basketball games that evening.

“When I read the email, I felt like I just won the Oscar award,” said Assistant Professor Michael Nolan

In the testimonial interviews of many honorees, they expressed that they understand the importance and educational value of athletics in student-athletes lives and feel humbled to receive this honor.

“Athletes bring a certain joy to the classroom, they have a spark about them that comes out when they are in the classroom,” said Professor Jess Levine.

The following is the list of Jersey Blue Employee Honorees and their Student-Athlete Nominators:

Dr. Christine Greco-Covington, Associate Professor – Psychology
Selected by Joie Bauman – Cheerleading

Jacquelynn Seely, Associate Professor – Criminal Justice
Selected by Carissa Reyes – Women’s Basketball

George Reklaitis, Professor – History
Selected by Carissa Reyes & Rahkhia Mack – Women’s Basketball

Suzanne Rauso, Associate Director – Academic Advising
Selected by Zoey Hagan – Softball

Kevin Squires, Instructor – Computer Science
Selected by Alyssa Sigler – Softball

Howard Finkelstein, Professor – Sociology/Intellectual Communications
Selected by Jasmine Sullivan – Women’s Basketball, Niles Halliburton & Andre Wells – Men’s Basketball, Liam Stewart – Men’s Soccer

Geri Girard, Associate Professor – English
Selected by Krystina Barnes & Ryan Murray – Women’s Basketball

Jess Levine, Professor – History
Selected by Nick Williams, Kareem Irby, & Jayden Cabrera – Men’s Basketball

Barry Glickman, Adjunct – Speech
Selected by Ryan Lasko – Baseball

Marie Jones, Student Success Coach – Academic Advising
Selected by Christian Bauman – Baseball

Marie Maber, Professor – Art
Selected by Grace Broderick – Women’s Soccer

Kasey Lardieri, Adjunct – Math
Selected by Addy Hornberger – Women’s Soccer

Michael Nolan, Assistant Professor – Math
Selected by Rebecca Arleth – Women’s Volleyball/Cheerleading