Stockton News - Dec. 13, 2024
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Three Receive BOT Fellowships for Fall
Three students were named the latest recipients of the Board of Trustees Fellowship for Distinguished Students at the December board meeting.
The fellowship program was established in April of 1986. Since then, the program has supported student-initiated projects of undergraduate research and/or creative work in keeping with the educational philosophy and mission of Stockton University. Fellowship awards in amounts up to $1,000 each are provided semi-annually contingent upon available funds.
Tom Itaas, associate director of Academic Achievement Programs and Success Scholars Program, considers the fellowship a high-impact practice that provides students with important skills that will prove valuable once they graduate.
The students are Ashley Truesdell, a senior majoring in Geology; Corinne Westenberger, a junior majoring in Geology; and Nicole Brown, a senior majoring in Business Administration.
"These three projects will provide BOT FDS awardees with valuable hands-on experience in research, community engagement and environmental stewardship, all of which are essential skills in today’s job market,” Itaas said.
EOF Peer Mentoring Proves Successful in Retention, Belonging
“Growing up, I felt like I was never heard. With my mentees, I always felt heard. They would take my advice and apply it to their lives, whether it was something small or something serious. I could tell that I was really their comfort person when they needed someone to talk to.”
When pitching the idea for a peer mentorship program designed to build connections between cohorts of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) students, Student Success Coach Naheel Naber couldn’t have predicted the positive impact that it would have on students like Biology major Emelie Mayorga, who signed up to become one of the first mentors of the program.
With encouragement from her colleagues, Naber submitted a grant application to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s Special Project Fund, proposing a program designed for students to receive academic and social/emotional support and career guidance while developing their leadership skills and getting involved on campus.
Now in its second year, the EOF peer mentorship program is supported by a total of $79,250 in grants.
PHOTO: Mayorga (right) meeting with her mentee, Anaisa Grullon.
Symposium Allows Graduate Students to Showcase Research
Stockton graduate students showcased the results of their extensive research and hard work during the fall semester at the annual Graduate Symposium on Dec. 5 in the Campus Center Event Room.
Five programs were featured at the symposium, including American Studies, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Data Science & Strategic Analytics, and the Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Throughout the room, a variety of projects, including both oral and poster presentations, highlighted diverse and interdisciplinary research.
Many of the students developed a deep interest in their topics and were eager to share their findings with others in the Stockton community. Margvinatta Senesie, a student in the Data Science and Sociology Analysis program, shared her project, which focused on monitoring the diet of harbor seals in New Jersey using fish oil DNA.
STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY
Transitional Living Skills Program Students, Staff Visit Stockton AC
Students and staff from the Transitional Living Skills Program at the Atlantic County Special Services School District visited Stockton Atlantic City last week, where they got a first-hand look at all the campus has to offer. Brian Jackson, vice president for Community Engagement, and Alex Marino, director of Academic Operations, Atlantic City, provided a tour to the students, all Atlantic City residents, and talked with staff about establishing a partnership with the school. The program, geared for students 18-21 years old who have completed their high school requirements, provides instruction and skills necessary for successful transition to adult life. In addition, the program provides specific job, life, and social skills, work-based learning experiences, and opportunities to identify future goals.
SPOTLIGHT ON
Faculty Present at International Gerontological Conference
Stockton faculty made quite the showing at the Gerontological Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting (GSA) Nov. 13-16 in Seattle, Washington, where they presented symposium papers and posters on various topics and were among distinguished honorees. The international conference hosted over 4,500 practitioners, scholars, administrators, policymakers, and educators in gerontology from over 40 countries, with this year's theme being "The Fortitude Factor."
Stockton Professor Emeritus of Psychology and founding director of the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) David Burdick received the Mildred M. Seltzer Distinguished Service Honor from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), along with outgoing GSA president Judy Howe, and this year’s Clark Tibbitts Award recipient Joann Montepare. Burdick received the Tibbitts Award in 2019.
Burdick reflected on the recognition. "It was an honor to be selected for this recognition along with Judy and Joann as we retire from our primary academic jobs. We all plan to continue our scholarship and service in various ways,” he shared. "AGHE and GSA have been my professional home for nearly 40 years.”
Additional faculty who presented at the conference were Christine Ferri, director of SCOSA and associate professor of Psychology; Duo (Helen) Wei, professor of Computer Science and faculty associate in SCOSA; and Kaite Yang, associate professor of Psychology and coordinator of the Childhood Studies Minor.
PHOTO: Ferri presents during the Gerontological Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting (GSA) in November.
FRAME-WORTHY
❄️ Festive Fun at Holiday Party
Faculty and staff enjoyed food and festivities at President Joe’s Holiday Party on Dec. 12 in the Campus Center Event Room and Grand Hall of the Galloway campus. Partygoers brought nonperishable goods that would be donated to the Student Food Assistance Program. President Joe and the Stockton Music Union reprised their performance of "What a Wonderful World" before debuting this year's holiday video. View more photos from the event on flickr.
This year’s holiday video captured the essence of our campuses with a focus on the Sounds of the Season found in Stockton classrooms, residence halls, and more.
In case you missed it, take a look and listen here
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
X: Stockton was well represented in Atlantic City’s Winter Wonderland Parade this weekend on the Boardwalk.
Facebook: Good luck, Ospreys! 🦅🍀 Give it your all for finals week.
Instagram: Watch the inaugural episode of Osprey Journeys: Stories of Alumni Success featuring Cookie Till ’83, co-founder of @reedsfarm in Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
FROM THE SIDELINES
#23 Stockton Holds On for 87-82 Victory
The men’s basketball team won their fifth game in a row, Dec. 11, with a hard fought 87-82 win over New Jersey City. Martin Anguelov led a trio of Ospreys in double figures with a game-high 29 points. The Ospreys are ranked #23 nationally by d3hoops.com.
Stockton started strong until the 5:14 mark of the first half when the Gothic Knights took a 34-31 lead. The Ospreys outscored the visitors 19-8 the rest of the way for a 50-42 margin at the break. EJ Matthews-Spratley led the team with 19 points, including 4-7 from behind the arc to top the squad.
The Ospreys looked to run away with the contest, leading by as many as 16 at 73-57 with 7:52 left in regulation before the Knights clawed their way back once again. A furious rally closed the advantage to 84-82 with just 20 seconds remaining, but Anguelov sealed the game with three free throws to give the home team the 87-82 win.
Stockton will take to the road when the Ospreys face Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, Dec. 14. Game time is set for 6 p.m. in Newark.
Stockton Tops NJCU 45-44 in Overtime
The women’s basketball team tied the game on a clutch three-pointer by Imene Fathi on Dec. 11 with six seconds left and prevailed 45-44 over New Jersey City in overtime. The Ospreys scored the first four points of OT and stayed in front from there.
Skylar Fowlkes led Stockton with a team-high 10 points plus eight rebounds. Freshman Jameelyonna Horace contributed career highs of nine points and 10 rebounds.
Freshman Aiyonna Alexander also recorded career highs with eight markers and 10 boards. Fathi finished with eight points and six rebounds. The Ospreys dominated the glass 53-38.
The lead changed hands six times in the fourth quarter before Fathi's timely three-pointer tied the game 36-36 with six seconds on the clock. Fathi and Alexander then scored the first two baskets of overtime for a 40-36 advantage.
Stockton's final game before Christmas will come on Saturday, Dec. 14, when the Ospreys visit Rutgers-Newark for an NJAC game that tips off at 4 p.m.
RECORD BREAKER: Sophomore transfer Elaina Styer made an outstanding Stockton debut by setting a school record with 3,383 points in
the pentathlon at the Lehigh Fast Times Before Finals. Styer, who competed for Cornell
University last year, topped the previous mark of 3,369 points by Lisa Chatman in 2006.
Styer finished second out of eight competitors overall with a point total that was fifth in NCAA Division III during the first weekend of the season and should qualify her for the NCAA Championships. Of the five events in the pentathlon, she won two (800m, 60m) and finished second in the other three (high jump, shot put, long jump).
🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅
OSPREY NOTES
Fall 2024 Issue of Celebrate Diversity Digest
December’s issue of Celebrate Diversity features fresh new perspectives – from students discussing the importance of civic engagement and democracy to scholarly conversations surrounding safe places, intergenerational learning and the hidden complexities of healthcare, there’s something for everybody to enjoy in the digest. Along with insights from our valued contributors and a recap on Stockton’s summer on campus in Valerie’s Library, our staple Committee on Campus Diversity & Inclusive Excellence (CCDIE) member highlight illuminates the work and vision of the inaugural director of the Stockton Women’s Gender & Sexuality Center (WGSC), Laurie Dutton, whose work on gender equity and LGBTQ+ inclusion has been instrumental in making Stockton an inclusive campus for all.
Chartwells' Upcoming Hours of Operation and Bean's List Update
For upcoming hour changes during finals week and the 2024-25 winter break, visit the Chartwells website.
Additionally, beginning in January, The Bean’s List will be temporarily closed due to the Library Learning Commons renovation project.
2025-26 FAFSA is Available Now
Attention faculty & staff! The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available now at fafsa.gov. We ask that you please encourage your students and their families to not only complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA, but also utilize the resources and helpful information listed at stockton.edu/fafsa before they complete the application.
Any student or family member who needs assistance completing their section of the FAFSA is invited to attend one of two evening FAFSA Completion events hosted by the Office of Financial Aid this spring! Students and their family members will receive in-person assistance in completing their sections of the FAFSA during these events.
Please feel free to share the below registration links with your students. Please note that students will need to log in with their goStockton portal credentials to register.
Fun Fact Friday: ☕ As we creep closer to Winter Solstice, Dec. 13 ushers in a celebration worthy of the winter holidays with National Cocoa Day.
UPCOMING EVENTS
👩💻 Professional Development Opportunities
Now-Jan. 5: “Still Here: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape and Powhatan-Renape Nations of Southern New Jersey”
Dec. 13-14: 💂🩰 The Nutcracker
Dec. 14: 🍁Second Saturdays - Make it Maple
Dec. 14-15: Noyes Holiday Market & Gingerbread Village
Dec. 15: ❄️Holiday Expressions
Dec. 16: 🎷 Ed Vezinho & Jim Ward Big Band: A Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute
Dec. 18-Jan. 17: Winter Semester begins
Dec. 25-Jan. 1: ☃️Winter Break
Jan. 17-20: Murphy Writing Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway
