Galloway, N.J. – As smooth sounds by the Stockton Music Union and the smells of turkey and gravy filled the Campus Center Event Room, attendees of the 40^th annual Student, Faculty & Staff Dinner talked and laughed amongst themselves.

The dinner, a cherished tradition born out of Stockton University’s Hillel student organization’s desire to celebrate friendships they formed with various faculty and staff members on campus, included reflective speeches and an awards ceremony for faculty and staff of the year.

Students Andrea Sandoval and Gabe Depaor set the tone of the evening with welcome remarks that centered on gratitude.

“Tonight, as we come together, let's take a moment to reflect on all the great things we have here in the Stockton community. With Thanksgiving in mind, I want to acknowledge the effort, commitment and support that each of you contributes to our collective journey,” said Sandoval, the Student Senate president.

“This dinner is a time to celebrate not only the success that we've achieved together but also the connections we've formed and the kindness we share,” said Depaor, vice president for the Campus Religious Council. “We truly appreciate each one of you, and tonight is just our little way to show gratitude to all of you.”

President Joe Bertolino described the dinner’s continued presence on campus as a “testament” to Stockton’s inclusive campus and talked about witnessing the relationships between students, faculty and staff while he met with various Stockton alumni who all shared a commonality.

“Every single person that I met with mentioned a faculty or staff member who made a difference in their lives while they were here at Stockton,” Bertolino said. “Every single one of them could tell a story of an individual or individuals who had an impact on their lives during their journey here, and in many cases, those individuals were still engaged in relationships, conversation and dialogue.”

He urged attendees not to underestimate the impact that they all have on each other.

“Whether you are an inviter or an invitee, you are here because of this spirit of community and the impact your relationships have made on Stockton,” Bertolino said.

Sandoval and Hillel President Hannah Schairer presented the awards for faculty and staff of the year. Before revealing the recipients – Professor of Computer Science Duo Helen Wei and Tara O’Keefe of the Wellness Center – the students shared the winners’ nominations with the audience.

“Her teaching goes beyond academics. She fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment where students feel empowered to grow intellectually and personally. What truly sets her apart is for genuine care for her students. She has always made time to offer guidance, whether it's her research, career advice, or personal development. Her unwavering commitment to helping us succeed both in and out of the classroom has been invaluable,” Schairer said of Wei, who was nominated three times by her students for the award.

O'Keefe leads programming and initiatives that encourage sobriety on campus, including Stockton’s nonalcoholic Halloween event, Lolla-No-Booza, and Narcan training for students in fraternities and sororities.

“As an addictions counselor supervisor, she has rapidly become a vital resource for students, fostering a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for those on their recovery journey,” Sandoval said. “She exemplifies Stockton’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Approaching her work from an intersectional feminist perspective, her dedication to student support, resilience and building recovery focus programs, and her unwavering belief that each student's potential makes her an outstanding candidate for this recognition.”

The entire program took place under the watchful eye of Yitzhak Sharon, distinguished professor of Physics who emceed over 30 of the dinners before passing the baton to Brian K. Jackson, vice president of Community Engagement.

On Zoom, Sharon shared a special video presentation in which he regaled the students with the tale of the first dinner that took place in the G-Wing cafeteria and had guests such as Vera King Farris, the third president of Stockton, and Gail Rosenthal, the late director of the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. After his presentation, Sharon was presented with a new award for his continued dedication to the dinner tradition and his “extraordinary love and kindness” to the Stockton community.

Soon, Jackson called for the room to finally begin breaking bread. As the crowd filled their plates with turkey and mashed potatoes, Sharon looked out over the room and smiled down on the beautiful tradition that he and his students created all those years ago.

– Story by Loukaia Taylor

– Photos by Susan Allen

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