Galloway, N.J. — For many incoming students, the transition to college can feel overwhelming. Stockton University’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Summer Academy helps turn some of that uncertainty into confidence by giving students the tools, support and community they need before their first semester begins.

The four-week residential program prepares incoming EOF scholars academically, socially and personally, creating a strong foundation for long-term success. This year’s class features 85 students, with 59 living in Galloway and 26 in Atlantic City, said Ana Patricia DeNise, the director of Stockton’s EOF program.

“The EOF Summer Academy reflects Stockton’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity and student success. By investing in students before classes begin, the university helps improve retention, foster leadership, and create an inclusive campus community where every student has the opportunity to flourish,” DeNise said, noting that last year’s first-year cohort had a second-semester retention rate of 95%.

The EOF in New Jersey was created in 1968 as a state-funded program to assist students from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. It provides supplemental financial grants, counseling and tutoring to help students successfully graduate from college. Stockton supported 537 EOF students during the 2025-2026 academic year with 128 of them graduating in May.

DeNise said this year’s Summer Academy shifted from the previous model of offering math and writing foundation courses to providing a variety of General Studies courses that meet a graduation requirement. Some examples of those courses include “Reggae and Culture,” “Existentialism and Film” and “Langston Hughes and Rhetoric of Race.”

For the first time, the academy is also offering enrichment sessions focusing on growth mindset, college skills, college norms and expectations, and getting to know campus partners and resources. There will also be group twice-weekly coaching sessions to help students build the skills and confidence needed to pass their math course in the fall.

Housing, meals, textbooks and many academic supplies are provided at no cost for the summer academy, removing financial barriers and allowing students to focus on learning and growth.

“The program not only changes the lives of participating scholars but also strengthens Stockton by cultivating resilient, engaged and academically prepared students who contribute to the campus community from their very first day,” DeNise said.

The academy also featured a series of events for EOF students. One highlight was a Networking Bootcamp to increase students' knowledge of professional communication skills, including conducting confident handshakes, engaging in networking conversations, writing professional emails and application materials, and incorporating specific examples when answering interview questions. Students heard from current and prior EOF participants and interacted with staff from Stockton’s Career Education and Development office, said Luiza Abbamonte, the EOF program coordinator.

Other events included a Police Challenge Day that offered a hands-on look at how law enforcement works through interactive demonstrations, scenario-based activities and open conversations with Stockton University police officers. Students learn about safety practices, career pathways, and the real‑world decision‑making that shapes policing.

Through cultural workshops, dialogue circles and collaborative activities, EOF students also explored the richness of their own backgrounds while learning from one another during activities with the Multicultural Center.

— Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Susan Allen