Galloway, N.J. — The three recipients selected to receive the spring Board of Trustees Fellowship for Distinguished Students were announced at the May 7 meeting.

The students’ projects range from communication studies to dance to history, and they will each receive a $1,000 award to support their projects.

“This semester’s Board of Trustees Fellowship recipients are using their personal stories, passions and talents to drive meaningful projects that reflect larger social and cultural issues,” said Ian Bouie, director of Academic Achievement Programs. “Their work is a powerful example of how high-impact practices — like undergraduate research, community engagement and creative expression — can transform students’ academic journeys. They embody Stockton’s commitment to inclusive excellence and community impact, and we’re proud to support them.”

The fellowship program was established by the board in 1986 and supports student-initiated projects of undergraduate research and/or creative work in keeping with the educational philosophy and mission of Stockton.

The spring cohort and their projects are:

Guivenchiali Saint Jean, sophomore, Africana Studies and Political Science, Livingston

Project: The Northside Rises: The Black EJackson xcellence of Atlantic City

The Northside of Atlantic City was a thriving Black community that, despite segregation, became a cultural, economic and social hub offering a home to Black-owned businesses, influential leaders, and legendary entertainment venues like Club Harlem. In honor of the Northside of Atlantic City’s legacy, the project will create a museum exhibit in the John F. Scarpa Academic Center. This immersive and educational experience will bring the atmosphere of the Northside to life through historical artifacts, photographs, multimedia elements and artistic representations showcasing its cultural and economic contributions to Atlantic City.

From Guivenchiali: “It’s important to highlight this because it’s a part of Atlantic City history that goes overlooked when we talk about the city’s current state. We need to know that it wasn’t always like that and that our people can thrive in Atlantic City.”

Advisor: Donnetrice Allison, professor of Africana Studies and Communication Studies

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Laura Leonel, sophomore, Communication Studies, Long Branch

Project: Women of Color in Leadership and Media

Women in Leadership and Media is an initiative dedicated to empowering women, particularly women of color, in leadership and media careers. This project aims to highlight the challenges and successes of women in these fields through a multimedia campaign featuring a limited podcast series, professional portraits and visual storytelling. The podcast will include interviews with six to eight women, discussing their experiences, followed by a portrait session. The resulting images and stories will be compiled into a digital campaign on Google Sites.

From Laura: “I chose to do this project because of two aspects of my life — being in leadership and working in media. As a Latina aspiring to work in communications, I wanted to explore the work of women in that field, especially women of color, because I know their stories aren’t as expressed in the Latino community. I plan on not only featuring Latina women, but other women of different minority cultures and backgrounds.”

Advisor: Toby Rosenthal, teaching specialist, Communication Studies

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Jackson O’Brien, junior, Dance, Cape May

Project: José Limón Dance Company 2025 Summer Intensive

The José Limón Dance Company is considered one of the greatest modern dance companies in the world, since it was founded in 1946. This proposal will cover the benefits of attending the intensive from June 30 to July 3 in New York City at the Everett Center for the Performing Arts, gaining information on the professional dance world, and how this experience will connect to future opportunities. Participating in the José Limón Dance Company Summer Intensive will provide insight into the artistic and technical development of the Limón technique, information that can be taught to other institutions around the community, and support pre-professional dancers with the audition process.

From Jackson: “Thiscompany came in October (2024) to do a dance residency for the Stockton Dance program, and I just fell in love with the style and how human their sort of dance style is. I was encouraged and pushed by my professors to look into the Summer Intensive. I didn’t think I was going to get in because you had to audition for it. But I was just so happy to get that email saying you made it. It’s going to be interesting to see a part of the dance world that I’m not that accustomed to.”

Advisor: Rain Ross, professor of Dance

— Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Susan Allen