Future health care workers, scientists, tradespeople and artists were among the NewBridge JobsPlus Class of 2026 graduates who celebrated the perseverance that helped them earn their high school diplomas.
NewBridge JobsPlus honored 25 graduates during its commencement ceremony Tuesday at Morristown Beard School, with 19 graduates participating in the celebration.
“JobsPlus is a place to start over,” said Amy Sheppard, Director of NewBridge JobsPlus, which has helped Morris County youth overcome challenges and pursue their goals for 43 years.
“Whatever obstacles or challenges they have experienced in the past, we are here to provide a nurturing and supportive environment so they can be the best version of themselves, and move forward with the tools and confidence they need to be successful,” Sheppard said.
Graduate Kasiem Mollette embodies that determination. He spoke openly to his peers about battling depression, surviving attempts to end his life and the challenges he faced finding his way forward. He urged classmates to prioritize their mental health and never give up, even when facing difficult times.
“I stand here today as a product of making it back,” said Mollette, recipient of the Perseverance Award.
Getting the Right Support
Sisters Mariana Matos and Virginia Leal were homeschooled but neither had earned their New Jersey high school diplomas.
Working full time for several years, Matos said she kept putting off preparing for the exam. NewBridge JobsPlus gave her the structure she needed. “They cater to what you need and to where you’re at,” she said.
Matos, who earned her diploma in November and works as a pharmacy technician, was awarded a $1,500 Parker Endowment Scholarship to attend County College of Morris, where she plans to study environmental science. She deferred enrollment as she prepares to welcome her first child this summer.
Two months after Matos earned her diploma, Leal enrolled in NewBridge JobsPlus. She had struggled to pass the high school exam on her own, and support from instructors helped her grasp concepts that eluded her.
“I was able to finally pass this. It was one of the things I wanted most in the world,” said Leal, named Associate of the Year. She is in the process of enlisting in the Marine Corps.
Justin Lopez, who plans to train in HVAC, received the $1,500 James Ryan Memorial Scholarship Award. NewBridge Board of Trustees President Debbie King bestowed the honor, which is named for her father, one of the nonprofit’s founders.
Natali Quintuna received a $1,500 scholarship given in memory of longtime NewBridge trustee Isobel Wayrick. Quintuna plans to study pre-nursing at Bergen County Community College.
Christian Garcia Martinez received a $1,500 Parker Endowment Scholarship, named in honor of retired NewBridge CEO Robert Parker and funded by his sister, Kathleen Parker. Garcia Martinez plans to study fashion design and music production at CCM.
Sal Hildebrand, recipient of the $1,000 Alumni Appreciation Scholarship Award, plans to study biology at CCM and pursue a career working with animals. The award is funded by Fran McEnerney, the father of a 2008 NewBridge JobsPlus graduate.
A Lasting Impact
Alumna Celeste Tuvi spoke to the graduates, including her brother, Tiago Gauthier, about coming to NewBridge JobsPlus in 2017 struggling with mental health and academic challenges, unsure what sort of future she would face. In a video-recorded message, Tuvi described how NewBridge helped her rebuild her confidence and opened the door to opportunities.
“Today you have proved to yourself that you can set your mind to something and you can accomplish it,” said Tuvi, who works in luxury property management in Florida.
Yasell Castillo had dreaded going to high school. He didn’t relate to classmates and began skipping days not long after starting. At NewBridge JobsPlus, the 16-year-old flourished with support from staff and the friendships he formed.
“The time in NewBridge was some of the best time of my life,” Castillo said. “It made me love school.”
Castillo, who earned his diploma in April, plans to begin an apprenticeship as an electrician and is saving for a car while working at Walmart preparing online orders.
NewBridge JobsPlus is the longest-running program of its kind in Morris County. Participants learn at their own pace while receiving academic support, career and college coaching, life and professional skills training, and counseling. Based at the NewBridge Parsippany Center, the free program serves area young adults and provides transportation to Morris County residents.
NewBridge JobsPlus is funded by the Workforce Development Board, Morris-Sussex-Warren Employment Training Services and NewBridge supporters.
###
