Mother, Son Accomplish Rare Feat Graduating Together from RCSJ

Graduation ceremonies are special occasions when students get to shine and celebrate their accomplishments with their family and friends. Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland’s (RCSJ) 2026 Commencement Ceremony presented the institution with one of its rarest moments: a mother and son receiving their degrees on the same day. 

Vineland residents Brenda and Branden Zeitone are just one of the few mother-son duos to graduate from RCSJ together, during the same ceremony. 

“It felt really amazing to graduate with my mom. I feel like not a lot of people can say that,” Branden, 23, said proudly. “I think it’s probably one of the better moments of my life. It is really up there.”

“We hold on to each other. We support each other,” his mom added. 

“Earning our degrees was a family, team effort. We would not have been able to do so without the loving support of my husband, Malik Zeitone, and the flexibility of our employers who played a key role in our journeys.”

Brenda, 53, contemplated going to school for years, but was reticent. Branden’s character helped her make her decision. 

“As a mom, I felt guilty,” Brenda, who earned a degree in Health Science, said. “I thought that going to school would take away from my time with my son – but [he] is very mature, very responsible.

“Then I thought – I can do this. I can take on the challenge, continue to be a full-time mother because he is my priority and at the same time reach for a higher degree.” 

Brenda, who works at Advocare DelGiorno Pediatrics in Mullica Hill, is on the road to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). 

“I have been on a mission for many years [regarding] health. I have lost family members due to [bad] health,” she said. “I believe that I can make a difference and inspire others to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Branden was unsure of his life’s path when he graduated from Vineland High School in 2020. He found his passion after enrolling in RCSJ classes. 

“I want to be a filmmaker when I grow up,” the Radio, Television and Film student revealed. “I want to make movies that touch everybody, that everybody can relate to.”

Branden, a student in RCSJ’s efficient and affordable 3+1 program, was also inspired to make films by his father who showed him the critically acclaimed movie “Reservoir Dogs” by Quentin Tarantino. 

“Then from there, that was just like the gateway into all these films by all the older [directors] like Tarantino, [Martin] Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, [and] Spike Lee,” he said. “Even newer [directors] like Christopher Nolan.” 

As the mother and son duo – who were both inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society – partook on their higher educational journey, they employed the mindset of always searching for more. RCSJ was ready to help. 

“I like the fact that they offer so many courses. They have online, in-person and hybrid classes,” Brenda shared. 

Branden, who works at the Maplewood III in Vineland, noted that RCSJ’s convenience was a great selling point for the Zeitones. “[My mom and I] are only like 10 minutes away from here. It’s a beautiful school. Beautiful people. Beautiful courses. For a local college, it’s really ideal.”

“In addition to what my son said, after my first semester here, I realized how much support there is here, too. The professors really do make a difference here,” Brenda said. “As a student coming back at an older age, you face different challenges and responsibilities.

“Knowing that you have that support mechanism just makes the process easier.” 

Brenda has navigated through an interesting journey on her way to earning her degree. She and her parents migrated from El Salvador to the United States in the late 1970s, early 1980s to escape a civil war.

“We literally lived in caves, covering our ears, not knowing when it was going to be our turn to die,” she recalled. “I am proud to be an immigrant.”  

Brenda’s father, who passed away in 2021, whole-heartedly supported her decision to come to RCSJ. 

“My father was my hero [and] always a great inspiration to me,” she disclosed. “When I said I want to go back to college, I know I can do this, his response was ‘you’re doing great. When is graduation?’

“My father wasn’t here the day of graduation physically, but spiritually – I felt him.”

The Zeitones spoke glowingly about the totality of their RCSJ experience. They now consider the school a home away from home. 

“It was interesting [to] see people from all walks of life,” Branden said. “You see people that are 18, fresh out of high school. You see a single mom of three. You see a guy that served in Vietnam. It just shows that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.”

“I enjoy how I feel when I’m here. I enjoyed the convenience of having the library here [and] the tutoring center,” Brenda remarked.“I enjoy the staff, the atmosphere, the tranquility I find when I come here, the sense of peacefulness that I feel – just the overall vibe.” 

Mothers and sons graduating college together is a rare feat. RCSJ–Cumberland’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony is a day the Zeitones will soon never forget. 

“Graduating with my son was just an amazing experience. As a mom, you want to see your children succeed. It came as an extra blessing that we graduated together,” Brenda said. 

“It makes it more special that we did it together as mother and son and I hope that what we’ve done together can inspire others to do the same.”