Stockton Professor Donates Fannie Lou Hamer Statue to A.C.

Thanks to the donation of a Stockton professor, the legacy of civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer has been permanently enshrined in the place where she changed history.

An over-7-foot-tall resin statue of the woman who fought for voting rights for Black Americans was unveiled Oct. 10, 2023, during a ceremony at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The hall was the site of the 1964 Democratic National Convention, where Hamer made history by giving testimony in opposition to an all-white Mississippi delegation.

“It’s going where it belongs,” said Patricia Reid-Merritt, a Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work, before the ceremony. “For all the great things and contributions that Fannie Lou Hamer made to the civil rights struggle, what she is known for is that speech in Atlantic City. It’s a tribute to her legacy and Stockton’s efforts to uplift her legacy.”

The statue is a resin mold of a Hamer statue designed by Brian Hanlon, an acclaimed Toms River-based master sculptor. The original statue was erected in Hamer’s hometown of Ruleville, Mississippi, in 2012 by the National Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Statue Committee. Reid-Merritt was the chair of that committee, and Hanlon felt it was fitting to donate the resin statue to her.

“This statue will both educate and inspire young people here,” Hanlon said. “They should learn more about Fannie Lou. I don’t think her story is told enough. The spirit of her as a woman in encouraging other women to get involved with politics and voter rights is very important.”

More than 150 people watched as the statue was unveiled as part of the Atlantic City Experience historical display created by the Atlantic City Free Public Library. Robert Rynkiewicz, the library’s director, said the statue is an important reminder that “Atlantic City isn’t just about celebrity. It’s about history.”

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University Foundation Sets Record, Raises More Than $440,000 from 1,100 Donors

The Stockton University Foundation hosted its sixth annual 24-hour day of giving campaign, Ospreys Give, during October 2023 and exceeded its goal of 1,000 donors.

More than 1,100 individuals contributed over $440,000 toward scholarships and programs from 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4 through 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. The theme was gratitude, encouraging supporters to express their appreciation for Stockton, its programs, and the support it provides to its students and the communities it serves.

Senior Tamara Farrow encouraged her fellow classmates to join her in making a gift.

“Joining in on Ospreys Give and donating for the first time felt great. I'm happy to give back to Stockton. This place has had a huge impact on who I've become,” said Farrow, a Business Studies major.

A number of alumni, board members, faculty, staff and others provided match and challenge gifts to inspire others to participate and provide the opportunity for some gifts to be doubled and more. Leading the effort was Spencer's and Spirit Halloween, which provided a $250,000 challenge gift when the campaign reached its goal of 1,000 donors. The gift will support the School of Business, and a check presentation took place at the company’s headquarters later that month.

Fun and free events on Stockton's Galloway and Atlantic City campuses celebrated the spirit of giving, including a Kick-off Party, Talon Taxi offering riders the opportunity to win money for their favorite programs and causes, and "Cup of Joe with President Joe,” a morning event allowing guests to meet and mingle with President Joe Bertolino while enjoying coffee and doughnuts.

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Alum Expands Scholarship for Speech Pathologists

As a young professional, Alex Kaganzev still remembers the awful feeling he would have during work meetings.

“The first thing you do is you go around the room and introduce yourself, and I remember the dread I would feel because I could not say my last name,” said the 1990 Stockton University graduate, who has been a lifelong stutterer. “The closer it got to me, the more nervous I became. It was almost unbearable.”

 

For years, Kaganzev struggled with his stutter, and as a child he was very shy and quiet.

“For a lot of severe stutterers, it’s easier for us to be mute, or not talk, rather than to stutter. Everything that we do in life is predicated on the ability that we are able to communicate with people,” said the Vineland native, who now lives in Mays Landing.

But a chance encounter with a state speech pathologist named Seeta Voorakkara would change his life.

Kaganzev also worked for the state at several developmental centers when Voorakkara approached him. She wanted to help him with his stutter. Voorakkara worked for New Jersey for over 30 years after emigrating to the United States from India and was known for selflessly helping others.

“I didn’t know who she was. I can’t even remember first meeting her,” he said. “But she welcomed me into her house every Saturday morning and provided me with free speech therapy. We became friends, and I got to know her two kids.”

Kaganzev was so moved that he wanted to do something to remember her, so in 2020 he established the Seeta Voorakkara Communications Disorders Memorial Scholarship with the Stockton University Foundation, which provided a $1,000 scholarship to one Stockton student each year.

“I always wanted to do something special for her,” he said. “I was just amazed how this woman did what she did. I can’t even imagine anyone today doing that.”

On April 10, 2024, he expanded the donation to $25,000, which will provide two $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing a degree in Communication Disorders and a career in speech pathology. Kaganzev also reconnected with Voorakkara’s son, Sid, who also contributed to the scholarship.

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Foundation Gala Adds to Scholarship Fund

The Stockton University Foundation held its annual Scholarship Benefit Gala, bringing together more than 500 Stockton alumni, students, faculty and community members to raise funds to support student scholarships.

The April 20, 2024, event was held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, the event’s top sponsor for a third year. It raised nearly $400,000 to support the Stockton Foundation’s Scholarship Benefit endowment, which now totals more than $5 million.  

Laura Leonel, a first-year student and scholarship recipient from Long Branch, expressed her gratitude, saying, “This was an amazing opportunity to interact with donors as a scholarship recipient. The gala is something not every student gets to attend, and I felt honored to be there. I am so grateful for the scholarship and all the opportunities it has provided.”

Stockton’s students and faculty showcased their talents at a variety of interactive exhibits. Guests participated in painting a mural of Stockton’s Lake Fred with the Noyes Museum, sampled Stockton maple syrup, played Mario Kart with the esports team, made sherbet with help from Physics students, enjoyed port wine tasting and dessert pairings with Hospitality and Tourism students, and experienced a glimpse into Stockton's farming practices with representatives from the Sustainability Farm.

President Joe Bertolino thanked guests for their continued investment in Stockton. “It is inspiring to see our community come together to support the future of education. This gala not only celebrates academic achievement but fosters a sense of belonging for the students who benefit from your generosity.”

The annual gala also served as a platform for furthering meaningful connections and networking opportunities, underscored by live music from Philly’s Finest, raffles, a putting contest and a variety of food and decor representing Stockton’s presence in the Pinelands and on the beach.  

Scholarship to Benefit Holocaust Studies Students

Like many Jews, Judith Kochavi faced a dangerous life in 1940s France.

Germany had just invaded, and her husband, Israel, had been taken away with other men considered “enemy nationals” to an old fort outside of Paris.

Her son, Daniel, born in 1937, was only 2 when the German occupation began, but because Judith and Israel had lived in Palestine and had British identity papers, Kochavi family members were considered British subjects and were initially subject to fewer restrictions.

Unlike most Jews, they didn’t have to wear a yellow star. Judith used that special status to work with the resistance to help other Jews escape by hiding them in their apartment until smugglers could be contacted.

“Yes, I survived, but my mother was the lead survivor of the story,” said Daniel Kochavi, who now lives in Philadelphia. “Our parents lived under dangerous circumstances, but we survived due to Judith’s courage, bravery and resourcefulness. She decided to do what she could do to help other Jewish refugees and help them escape.”

It became important for Daniel and his sister, Monique Richardson, to memorialize their parents. That led them to donate money to the Stockton University Foundation to create the Judith and Israel Kochavi Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The fund will provide an annual scholarship to students in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton.

“It’s an honor to be here with you today in this space that speaks to the importance of history and the importance of remembering at a time when there are fewer and fewer survivors of the Holocaust,” said President Joe Bertolino during a gift-signing ceremony on Sept. 29, 2023, at the University’s Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. “The support that you provide matters in that we are able to keep the story alive for generations to come.”

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Faculty Member Gift Endows Travel Scholarship

Faculty Member Gift Endows Travel Scholarship

Faculty Member Gift Endows Travel Scholarship

Mary Lou Galantino’s first international travel experience came as an undergraduate physical therapy student at the University of Pittsburgh in 1979.

“It just took one trip to Comitan Chiapas, Mexico, to cultivate my absolute love of traveling and contributing to underserved communities,” said Galantino, distinguished professor of Physical Therapy and program coordinator for the Integrative Health minor at Stockton University.

That first study tour led to continued study abroad and a clinical rotation in Sweden, with other amazing opportunities and international travel. After joining Stockton in 1991, she turned the tables and later led and participated in service-learning trips to Haiti, China and Colombia with Stockton students. Two Fulbright fellowships and ongoing research, education and service brought her to South Africa six times.

Galantino said as a first-generation student at the University of Pittsburgh, Latin American and Scandinavian scholarships were essential to her study abroad experiences.

Faculty Member Gift Endows Travel Scholarshi

“I want everyone to appreciate that traveling opens our eyes to the beauty of humanity, yet great disparity across various cultures and communities. It takes one to their knees to see the richness of resources we have, both in our communities and at Stockton, and yet experience impoverished regions of the world that require our contribution,” she said. “We depart with a greater appreciation of various cultures and personal growth.”

This led her to establish the Galantino Global Grant with a $25,000 commitment to the Stockton Foundation. Future stipends will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in fields within health sciences to support opportunities to study abroad.

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Students and Donors Celebrate Scholarship Impact

The impact of a scholarship isn’t just felt by student recipients – donors are forever changed when they use their time, treasures and talents to support the future of students. 

This was evidenced when Manisha Roy took the stage to discuss how the Arman Roy Foundation works in partnership with the Stockton University Foundation to financially assist students through the Arman Roy Foundation Hope Scholarship and carry on the memory of their late son. She spoke during the annual Scholarship Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in the Campus Center.

“[Stockton] got to know about our beautiful son, Arman, who had an extraordinary gift and passion for technology,” Roy said. “He was humble and kind and helped everyone he knew. Even at a young age, he recognized the issue of the digital divide and how bridging that gap could really change lives. He knew instantaneously that's what he wanted to do with his life.

“So, when we tragically lost him in April of 2019, we had to find a way to turn our incredible pain into purpose by carrying forward his dream of empowering underserved students with technology, resources and education, enabling them to be successful in today's digital world.”

The recipient of this year’s Arman Roy Foundation Hope Scholarship, Evita Vasquez Reyes, is a sophomore in the Computer Science program. In her speech, she talked about the hardships her mother went through to support their family after emigrating from Guatemala. Thanks to the scholarship, the first-generation student has been able to “break generational barriers” and become an active student on campus with groups such as the Student Senate, Los Latinos Unidos and the Chemistry Society.   

The Roys aren’t the only donors attempting to make a difference in students’ lives. A new endowed fund named after the late Gail Rosenthal, who for more than three decades directed the internationally recognized Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton, was announced at the dinner. Dan Nugent, vice president for University Advancement, talked about the legacy Rosenthal left on campus. 

“Gail’s impact reached beyond academia as she led transformative study tours and cultivated connections with institutions worldwide. She was instrumental in securing substantial philanthropic support for student scholarships, and now, thanks to her work, more than $100,000 is awarded annually to students in Holocaust & Genocide Studies and Jewish Studies, and that number continues to grow,” Nugent said. “I'm very proud to share with all of you that Gail’s friends, colleagues and family have established an endowment in her memory to support future programming at the Holocaust Center that will continue her commitment to these students.” 

During his remarks, President Bertolino commented on how common memorial scholarships are at Stockton and how it has inspired him to honor the memory of his late mother, Eileen Bertolino, ’77, with a scholarship that will benefit students in the Nursing program.