Atlantic City, N.J. — Being called down to the principal’s office this month was unexpected for Atlantic County Institute of Technology seniors Sarah LoVullo and Shaina Mendonsa.

“The principal (Joseph Potkay) actually walked into my classroom, and I was kind of shocked by that,” said Mendonsa, who lives in Ventnor.

“I’m not typically a person to get called down, so I didn’t think I was in trouble, but then he said to close the door behind me, and I was like, ‘Well, now I may be in trouble,’” said LoVullo, of Absecon, with a chuckle.

But it was only good news for the two seniors, as well as two of their classmates, Shabiha Wardi and Azul Peralta Lopez.

The four were selected to receive the first scholarships as part of the Levine-Gormley STEM Scholars Pathway Program at Stockton University. The program, established in January, provides each of the seniors with a scholarship to major in science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree programs at Stockton.

The program will also provide funding for 22 ACIT juniors to take dual-credit classes at Stockton Atlantic City over the next year. All 26 students were recognized by the program’s donors, the Levine and Gormley families, at a ceremony on June 15 at Stockton’s Atlantic City campus.

Lee and Sandra Levine and Senator Bill and Virginia Gormley committed $2 million to the Stockton University Foundation earlier this year to establish the program. They have been longtime Atlantic County residents and community leaders with a long history of civic engagement and philanthropy in the region.

“My first reaction, honestly, was I didn’t even say anything,” said LoVullo, who plans to major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with the hopes of becoming a pharmacist. “I didn’t have anything to say. I was just speechless.”

Lopez, of Atlantic City, is most excited to come to Stockton because of its graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders and she wants to become a speech pathologist.

“This scholarship has completely opened new doors for me, and I can’t even put into words how excited I am to come here,” she said. “I know the sky’s the limit.”

Stockton President Joe Bertolino thanked the Levines and the Gormleys, saying the program is a “powerful example of partnership.”

“Your generosity reflects a deep belief in our students and in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities,” he said. “When Stockton, our schools, our community and dedicated supporters come together around students, we create something far greater than any one of us could accomplish alone.”

Dan Nugent, Stockton’s vice president for University Advancement and the executive director of the University Foundation, highlighted the program’s unique potential for growth and partnership.

“This initiative was created in response to a clear opportunity — to ensure that talented local students have not only access to STEM pathways, but that they also have the structure and resources they need to succeed,” he said. “By collaborating with other Atlantic County anchors like AtlantiCare, who will make the program’s first internships available through their partnership with Oracle, we are providing students with experiences they may not otherwise be able to access.”

ACIT Superintendent Philip Guenther mentioned how both Lee Levine and Ginny Gormley once attended the original Atlantic City High School, which stood on the site of Stockton’s Atlantic City campus. Levine founded a prominent Atlantic City law firm, while Gormley had an impactful career as a social worker in the courts and in healthcare.

“Tonight, the Levines and the Gormleys invest again on a more personal level in the potential of the county that they have called home for decades,” he said. “Tonight, they will see the faces of the future of our county. And our students will learn, perhaps one of life’s most important lessons, about never forgetting where you came from, and to pay it forward to create opportunities when you can at some time in the future.”

Lee Levine said he sees the program as part of Stockton’s ongoing commitment to Atlantic City, and that the university is a key factor in shaping the city’s future.

“By educating talented local students right here, this program creates a real opportunity for them to remain in the area. Over time, that could help build a tech-focused city and county that attracts others,” he said. “My hope is that this initiative gives these students access to the kind of high-quality education a great university can provide.”

Bill Gormley said this program would not be possible without the vision and commitment of several people who care about Atlantic City and Atlantic County.

“I want to thank Jon Hanson and Chris Palladino for their leadership in developing Stockton’s Atlantic City campus and helping create real opportunity here,” he said. “I’m especially grateful to my lifelong friend Lee Levine, whose generosity and passion for helping young people continues to make a lasting difference. I also want to recognize Sen. Vincent Palladino, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, the Atlantic County Commissioners and President Bertolino for their ongoing support of initiatives that invest in our students and our future. When we all work together like this, we give the next generation a real chance to succeed and to give back to the community that shaped them.”

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Abbigail Erbacher