Galloway, N.J. – Eighteen years ago, the Friends of Encore Learning (FELS) of Stockton University started small.

“Initially, classes were held in people’s homes,” said Meryl Baer, the president of the nonprofit that offers educational courses for lifelong learners with proceeds benefitting Stockton student scholarships. “Now most of the classes are held at the Margate Public Library or at the Stockton Atlantic City campus. We have grown quite a bit.”

Today, the group offers between 17-20 classes a year with about 200 people signed up. The nonprofit’s success has led to increased annual support for students, and FELS made its largest ever annual award directing $25,000 for scholarships to be awarded for the 2026-27 academic year.

“You have built a thriving community of lifelong learners and that same spirit is helping our students chase their goals,” said Dan Nugent, Stockton’s vice president of Advancement and executive director of the Stockton Foundation.

The Foundation held a March 6 event on campus to recognize FELS for its support. Since 2008, the nonprofit has given, through the Foundation, more than $150,000 to nearly 120 scholarship recipients — mostly full-time junior and senior students in the School of Education who demonstrate strong academic performance and a commitment to their studies. Over the years, FELS has also contributed money to Stockton’s Food Assistance Program, the Foundation Scholarship Benefit Gala and Student Relief Fund.

“We’re deeply grateful for their enduring partnership and commitment to making higher education accessible,” Nugent said. “It’s been a long relationship with Stockton, and we are all excited to continue to work with you.”

FELS originally started as a group that would donate money to scholarships to another university, but over time “it just made sense to make a connection with Stockton to support the university and its students,” Baer said.

“I’m so grateful and so happy that we’re able to do this for the university and for the students,” said Sondra Mandel, the vice president of FELS. “It’s really heart moving for me”

“Every time I come to Stockton, I just feel inspiration,” said FELS board member Arlene Halpern. “I love the students and the diversity.”

The nonprofit presents classes during the fall, winter and summer that vary in cost from $25 to $65 depending on the subject matter. Recent classes include “Art Appreciation,” “Current Events and Constitutional Issues” and “American Composers of the 20th Century.” Other classes focus on literature, movies and religion.

Baer said most of the students are senior citizens who live in Longport, Margate, Ventnor or Atlantic City, but the group has also started to see signups from Ocean City, Northfield, Linwood and Egg Harbor Township.

“We try to have an interesting group of classes,” Baer said. “A lot of them are just for enjoyment, watching a movie and discussing it, for example. But the people love the social interaction and social gatherings.”

President Joe Bertolino expressed his gratitude to the group and shared his appreciation for the enthusiasm of their work.

“We’re delighted and honored to be partners in this endeavor with you,” he said, adding that he would like to sign up for a couple of classes. “We are grateful for your generosity and support of the institution and our students.”

Bertolino added that the group’s work aligns perfectly with Stockton’s new Strategic Plan, which emphasizes being an Anchor Institution for the Atlantic County community.

“When students see you interacting with each other and building community, that serves as a model for students who otherwise may see a challenging world,” he said. “Know that your generosity is helping this community right here, right now, and it’s supporting students who we hope someday will participate in the community themselves.”

Read more about FELS and what classes the nonprofit is offering.

The Stockton Foundation is dedicated to supporting Stockton University by providing scholarships, funding academic programs and enhancing the student experience. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation helps remove barriers to student success. For more information about the Foundation and how to support students, visit stockton.edu/foundation.