In honor of Veterans Day, Ramapo College shares the story of United States Marine Corps Veteran Solangel Valdez Geraldino ‘26, who transferred to Ramapo to pursue her college aspirations.

November 11, 2025

by Lauren Ferguson

When United States Marine Corps veteran Solangel Valdez Geraldino ‘26 was in high school, she knew she wanted to pursue higher education, but she also knew it would be difficult financially.

So in 2016, straight out of her Brooklyn, NY high school, Valdez enrolled in the Marine Corps, with a plan to serve for a few years and earn benefits that would fund her college degree.

As a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, Valdez served as a food service specialist and assistant building manager. She was stationed at Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps’ major West Coast base in San Diego County. She also spent months on deployment at sea supporting the United States Navy, supervising and participating in feeding about 1,600 military personnel, and she was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

“On my deployment, we stopped in Guam, Bahrain, Jordan, Japan, Thailand, and we went to Hawaii twice,” said Valdez .  At one point, the ship spent nearly two months at sea between ports. The comradery with her fellow troops made the experience for her, she said.

“I believe what made my military experience were the people that I met there. I believe you go through many unique experiences there and what helps you out a lot is those next to you,” Valdez said.

Marine Corps veteran Solangel Valdez Geraldino ‘26, third from left, said the people she met in the military helped her through the experience.

After Valdez’s four years of active duty service came to an end, she enrolled in community college. And when she transferred to Ramapo from Bergen County Community College, she knew she found the right fit.

“The guidance was there right from the beginning, and that’s what I want, what I look for anywhere,” Valdez said of Ramapo. “Walking into an environment where people are willing to help, and willing to work with others, I didn’t feel like I was in the dark, and that’s the main reason I chose Ramapo.”

Ramapo’s Assistant Director of Transfer and Veterans Nicole Pedoto was especially helpful in her transition, Valdez said.

“She created a plan for me to see the order of which classes I should take, and at no point have I felt lost in that sense,” she said. “Right now, my senior year, I still go back to that same plan … I feel like I am still on track from all the help she gave me.”

Valdez is working toward her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management. She is also minoring in finance. She commutes to the Mahwah campus from her home in Orange, NJ, and often takes advantage of the Veterans Lounge on campus.

“I already know my destination, as soon as I am done with classes and I have a little break, it’s good to go eat there, and decompress and do homework. I think it is very helpful in terms of studying,” Valdez said of the lounge.

Valdez also said the networking opportunities that Ramapo has provided, as well as exposure to professionals in the IT field, have cemented her plans post-graduation.

“Ramapo has exposed me to different careers, jobs, the career fair. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to network with other people,” she said.

Her goal: become a network administrator in the IT field.

With Valdez’s personal drive, military discipline, and the Ramapo community behind her, she is well on her way.

Marine Corps veteran Solangel Valdez Geraldino ‘26 stands in front of the historic Havemeyer Arch on Ramapo’s welcoming campus.

Ramapo College of New Jersey earned the silver award as a military-friendly school by 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools. Of the more than 12,000 schools nationwide approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, only the top 15 percent were recognized as military friendly. Ramapo was noted for its services to veterans that include reasonable transfer of credit, financial benefits, veterans clubs, credit for military training and nationally recognized testing programs, flexible class schedules, and membership in the Service Members Opportunities Colleges.

For more on how Ramapo supports veterans and military-affiliated students, visit https://www.ramapo.edu/military/.