Marshall Boggio, 75, of Point Pleasant, graduated with a doctorate in civil engineering just a month before celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.

Elaine Nicole Lalane, of Newark, who graduated with a doctorate in physics, is one of the few African-American women in the country to earn that degree.

These were just three of 852 students who were graduated from NJIT during a May 27, 2003, ceremony held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Newark.

During a morning ceremony, the university awarded 469 bachelor’s degrees and 16 doctoral degrees. In an afternoon ceremony, it awarded 367 master’s degrees.

Nicole Marie Fusco, of Rockaway Township, an Albert Dorman Honors College student, who received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, was the undergraduate speaker. Lyudmyla Barannyk, of Newark, who received a doctorate in mathematical sciences, was the graduate speaker representing the doctoral students. Yashvind Bhasin, of Iselin, who received a master’s degree in information systems, spoke for the master’s students.

Moreover, nine students, all with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, tied for valedictorian: Joseph Bentivegna, of Tuckerton; Marie Bentivegna, of Tuckerton; Steven Burroughs, of Mount Holly; Rocco Ciccolini, of Newark; Geoffrey Cox, of Montclair; Farai Muronda, of Merchantville; Rakshita Patel, of Galoway; Swatee Singh, of New Providence; and Adriana Surugiu, of Beverly.