By Lara Newton
Correspondent
The four years you spend in college flash in the blink of an eye. The 1,600 members in the graduating class of 2026 are about a month into their last year at the College, and have much to say about their bubbling emotions.
For Emily Delmonaco, a senior education and sociology major, “It’s crazy that I have started my last year at TCNJ. I’m just trying to soak up all of the first-lasts and appreciate the little moments.”
Delmonaco is currently a full-time student teacher in South Brunswick, and was previously a member of Alpha Xi Delta at the College.
“It is scary to think about what comes after college and the unknown,” Delmonaco said.
Each year of college brings a new set of emotions. Senior year has a taste of bittersweetness and nostalgia, which can be shadowed by the looming reality of graduation.
When asked about graduation, Alyssa Filipponi, a senior marketing major, said “It’s nerve-racking thinking about entering the post-grad world, but I am also so excited to jump-start my career in sports marketing. TCNJ has given so many networking opportunities, which have led to the current internship I have now.”
Filipponi is a commuter at the College, currently interning for Jomboy Media at its New York City office. She is expected to graduate a semester early.
When asked about how she’s feeling about senior year, speech pathology major Jess Cichino said she is “just excited to enjoy this last year — sad too. I want to relish every moment, whether it be living with my housemates or just hanging out with my friends, it’s the moments I will miss the most.”
Cichino is a member of Alpha Xi Delta, the secretary of the National Speech Hearing and Language Association and a member of the TCNJAM special events committee outside of her studies. She plans on attending graduate school for speech pathology following graduation.
“I have also made so many friends within my major and am so positive that this is what I want to do as a career,” Cichino said.
“Leaving Ewing and all of my friends at college is going to be hard because I have made such a life here,” Cichino also added.
Some students who report stress about the uncertainty of what comes after leaving the College said in order to stay grounded, they remember that every stage of life promises new opportunities and moments to look forward to.
“Of course it’s sad, but I think it’s important to look at what I gained rather than what I am losing,” communications major Brooke Stollsteimer said.
Stollsteimer is currently a member of Kappa Delta, the Alt Chair for College Union Board, an ArtsComm Connector, president of club field hockey and lacrosse and the president of Lambda Pi Eta.
When asked what their favorite specific memory at the College was, seniors had different answers.
Cichino said “Definitely meeting all of the friends that I have now, it will be the hardest to leave them.”
Stollsteimer looked back fondly on the College’s annual fall concert. She said, “I would probably say staffing the Swae Lee concert sophomore year for CUB, it was so much fun and it was rewarding to put so much work into it to then see how much students enjoyed it.”
Filipponi said, “Being able to go on trips and attend the events on campus with my friends was such a great experience.”
Delmonaco said her favorite memory was “attending Funival freshman year. It’s such a great way to close the school year and the memory of it resonates with me to this day.”
The Class of 2026 can use the words of their fellow classmates as a reminder of the good that lies ahead.
“I will forever cherish TCNJ and the people I’ve met through my experiences here — it feels like a scrapbook of memories I will always have forever,” Stollsteimer said.
As this senior class navigates its final year, students hold onto memories and opportunities at the College as they look ahead to their next chapters of life.
