Atlantic City, N.J. — From first-generation college students to aspiring changemakers, Stockton University’s Class of 2026 was celebrated on May 15 for the determination, leadership and community spirit that defined its path to graduation.

The university hosted two ceremonies on May 15 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the more than 2,300 Class of 2026 graduates earning bachelor’s degrees.

President Joe Bertolino praised graduates for the impact they have already made and the leadership they will carry into the future.

“You adapted. You persisted. You grew. And you did something remarkable. You earned a Stockton degree.

“And while today is about you, it is also about all those who helped get you here,” he said. “The families and friends who cheered you on. The faculty who challenged you. The staff who supported you. The mentors who saw something in you before you fully saw it in yourself. When you walk across this stage, you are bringing a whole community with you.”

Calling graduates “changemakers,” Bertolino encouraged them to lead with compassion, trust and courage.

“Your success will not come only from what you know,” he said. “It will come from how you use what you know. How you treat people. How you build trust. How you show up when it counts.”

Student speaker Sadia Mihi of Atlantic City reflected on the shared growth experienced by members of the graduating class during their time at Stockton.

“We all have our own stories, and today we honor those experiences and celebrate this momentous occasion, together,” said the graduating Criminal Justice major who spoke at the morning ceremony.

She recalled how the Stockton experience transformed students through “late-night study sessions, coffee runs, club meetings, making new friends, making mistakes and winning.”

“It is incredible seeing how much growth we have made since that first day,” said Mihi, who was also a member of the selective Engelberg Leadership Scholarship Program at Stockton.

Abby Crawley, a first-generation college student, shared her personal journey and credited Stockton with helping her realize lifelong ambitions when she addressed the afternoon graduates.

The Pemberton native highlighted the support she received through programs such as the Educational Opportunity Fund and professional development courses, as well as an internship in Washington, D.C., that helped bring her career aspirations into focus.

“Stockton didn’t just move me forward — it pushed me higher,” she said. “Being in D.C. and working in a professional environment showed me that the dreams I had since childhood were not distant possibilities. They were real, reachable and already beginning.”

She reminded fellow graduates that their accomplishments reflect not only personal determination, but also the support and sacrifices of others.

“Every graduate sitting here represents someone’s labor,” Crawley said. “That is why this degree is bigger than a diploma. It is proof of early mornings, late nights, doubt confronted, fear faced, and growth chosen over comfort.”

Crawley, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, encouraged her classmates to move boldly into the future.

“Ospreys, you are not defined by your past. You are not limited by expectations. You are defined by what you choose to do next,” she said. “So, chase what scares you. Apply for positions that feel out of reach. Start the business. Write the book.”

Keynote speaker Roxanne Passarella ’00 shared her own story of humble beginnings as a first-generation college graduate to becoming President and CEO, Business Administration and Operations at Club Boardwalk Resorts, which includes two hotel resorts in Atlantic City and one in Brigantine.

“I remember someone who was determined and knew she wanted more. Someone who recognized that where you start in life and where you finish can be two very different things if you are willing to work hard,” she said.

“I didn’t have a roadmap. I didn’t have all the answers. But I had a willingness to start,” Passarella said. “If you put your head down and work harder than you ever imagined, one day you’ll look up and be shocked at how far you’ve come.”

Bertolino also presented Presidential Medals of Distinction to Passarella and retiring faculty Yitzhak Sharon and Beverly Vaughn.

Sharon spent more than 50 years at Stockton University as a distinguished professor, mentor, scholar and advocate for interdisciplinary education. He helped establish Stockton’s Physics program while inspiring generations of students through engaging, accessible teaching and a deep commitment to student success. 

Beyond the sciences, Sharon contributed to Stockton’s Jewish Studies and Holocaust Studies programs, fostering global awareness, historical understanding and compassion through education. His leadership, scholarship and mentorship enriched thousands of students and strengthened Stockton’s enduring commitment to teaching excellence and community engagement. 

Vaughn devoted more than four decades to Stockton as a Distinguished Professor of Music, internationally acclaimed performer, mentor and cultural leader. Through her dedication to academia and leadership of Stockton’s Vocal and Choral Program, the Stockton Oratorio Society, and the longstanding tradition of presenting Handel’s “Messiah” in Atlantic City, she advanced the arts while inspiring generations of students, singers and community members through the unifying power of music. 

Members of the 50th anniversary class – Golden Ospreys – were invited to participate in the ceremony. Twenty-nine 1976 graduates marched with the Class of 2026 and attended the morning ceremony.

Photos from the Morning and Afternoon ceremonies will be added to Flickr throughout the next week.

-- Story by Stacey Clapp, photos by Susan Allen