Stockton News - Feb. 21, 2025 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - Feb. 21, 2025

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Stockton Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Becoming a University

On Feb. 18, 2015, there was standing room only in the Campus Center Grand Hall as the Stockton community gathered to celebrate their college becoming a university.

Every phone camera was watching the second-floor balcony to capture history unfurling on a banner announcing the new name and logo. Rainbow confetti exploded like fireworks, Talon took selfies and baseball caps sporting the new name in embroidery were tossed into the crowd.

As Stockton embraced its new name and designation, one thing did not change. Stockton would remain a place for students from all backgrounds to reach for their career aspirations in a friendly, academically challenging and socially engaged community. Stockton has always been a place large enough to explore the depth and breadth of each major and small enough for all voices and perspectives to be heard.

📰 In the News: Downbeach.com, New Jersey Stage

Maple Syrup Project Continues to Grow Thanks to New Federal Grant

After more than 12,000 gallons of sap collected and more than 150 gallons of maple syrup created, Stockton has proved that Vermont isn’t the only place in the United States that can make a sweet breakfast brew.

Now, it’s time to see what else the Stockton Maple Project can make with its maple syrup. And that will require some partners.

Five years after its start thanks to a series of federal grants, the project recently received another nearly $500,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. This grant will primarily go toward improving the marketing of domestic-made maple syrup both in New Jersey and in Vermont, said Judy Vogel, the project’s director.

“While the first two grants (totaling nearly $1 million) were really focused on production and research involved in production, with the new amount we use that knowledge to focus on direct-to-consumer consumption,” Vogel said. “It’s about increasing consumer awareness now of maple syrup and promoting the sale of domestic maple syrup, whether it’s ours or Vermont’s.”

📰 In the News: The Press of Atlantic City, Breaking AC, The Bergen Record

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

Black History Month Event Highlights Music for Elementary Students

Donnetrice Allison, professor of Communication Studies and chair of the Africana Studies program, and Brian Jackson, vice president for Community Engagement, co-hosted a Black History Month event for over 150 fifth- and sixth-graders and teachers from Richmond Avenue School on Feb. 6 in Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room of Stockton Atlantic City.

Allison presented the workshop, “From Lemons to Lemonade: Black History & Music,” along with her graduate assistant, Lily Nickens, who provided an interactive history on the influence of black music.

After the workshop, students were provided refreshments and invited to view the special exhibit, “This Little Light of Mine - The Black Church,” displayed in the lobby of the John F. Scarpa Academic Center.

The exhibit was from the African American Heritage Museum of South Jersey, and sponsored by The Office of Community Engagement/Atlantic City Campus Operations.

The workshop was a partnership between the Office of Community Engagement/Atlantic City Operations, the Africana Studies Program and Richmond Ave School.

SPOTLIGHT ON: NOEL CRISCIONE-NAYLOR

Noel Criscione-Naylor, associate professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies at Stockton, was recently selected as one of the 50 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality by The International Hospitality Institute for the second year in a row.

It is not surprising when reflecting on her thriving career with Caesars Entertainment, where she had the opportunity to work in various roles at the property and corporate level, which fostered her love for education.

"During my last six years with Caesars, I worked across Las Vegas, Tunica, Chicago, and Atlantic City to name a few. I collaborated with some of the most talented and innovative executives and teams. In fact, I became known for building and developing high-performing teams across the enterprise. This experience fueled my passion for education — I take great satisfaction in identifying individual talent and helping others maximize their potential," she said.

💭 Read the full Q&A here.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Facebook: Considering Stockton this fall? New first-year and transfer students are eligible for a $2,000 housing scholarship if you live on campus!

LinkedIn: Students in Professor Jennifer Tartaro’s class got a firsthand look at the challenges of aging through powerful sensitivity training exercises.

Instagram: Commencement is almost here 🎓 Don’t forget to order your Regalia!

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Takes Overtime Win Over Rowan 104-101

The men’s basketball team grinded out a tough 104-101 overtime victory over Rowan University in the final NJAC regular season game on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for both teams. Freshman Jahmir Payoute led five Ospreys in double figures with 16 points and a career and game-high 20 rebounds.

Stockton jumped out early in the first half leading by as many as 14 points before settling in with a 37-29 halftime lead. Eriq Campbell topped the home team with 13 points at the break on 5-8 shooting as the Ospreys shot 43.8% (14-32) from the field in gaining the advantage.

The Ospreys kept a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half, leading 77-67 with 4:57 remaining in regulation, before Rowan started their comeback. The Profs knotted the contest with a 15-5 run in a span of 2:30 for an 82-82 draw. The squads battled to the end of regulation, tied for the third time at 87 points each, sending the match to the overtime period.

Stockton took control scoring the first nine points in the extra frame, six by EJ Matthews-Spratley and three by Christian Armstrong-Thomas for a 96-87 lead with 1:03 left.

🏀NJAC Playoffs Start Tomorrow: The Ospreys will host Rowan in the opening round of the NJAC Playoffs at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Sports Center.

🎫 Electronic ticketing will be used for this tournament through the NJAC website and cost $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. Faculty and staff must have an E-ticket (by phone or print out) to enter the game.

For more tournament information or to watch the game live, visit here.

Stockton Wins Season Opener 17-10

The women’s lacrosse team built an early 5-2 lead and stayed ahead the rest of the way for a 17-10 victory over Neumann University in the season opener on a frigid Feb. 18. Seven different Ospreys scored goals in the game.

Madison MacGillivray led Stockton with career-highs of five goals, six points, and five draw controls, while Shyanne Nucifora produced three goals plus game-highs of four assists and seven points.

Julia Gibson, a transfer from Palm Beach Atlantic, tallied four goals and two assists for six points in her first game as an Osprey. Isabella Marinello scored twice and Margot Costello added one goal, one assist and a game-high seven ground balls.

Stockton will be home again on Saturday, Feb. 22, for a matchup at 1 p.m. with Haverford College, which will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

🦅 For more athletics news and upcoming game information, visit here.🦅

OSPREY NOTES

Annual Tuition Hearing Set for March 4

Prior to determining tuition and fees for the upcoming year, the Finance and Professional Services Committee of the Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing as required by New Jersey statute. The University’s Annual Tuition Hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 4 at 4:45 p.m. in the Campus Center Event Room. This is an opportunity for the views of the Stockton community to be shared with members of the Board of Trustees.

University leadership has prepared several tuition and fee scenarios for your consideration. You can view these scenarios in the Portal. You will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed FY 2026 tuition and fee increases during the March 4 meeting. If you would like to make a public comment, either by appearing in-person, or by having your comment read during the meeting, please register in advance to ensure time is allotted for your comment. Registration to attend the meeting is not required. The hearing will also be available via a Zoom webinar, but please refer to the above instructions should you wish to make a public comment. Comments will not be accepted via Zoom.

Graphics Template Platform Marq to End in March

University Relations & Marketing (URM) will be sunsetting its current graphics template platform, Marq, effective March 22, 2025.

As an alternative, faculty and staff are encouraged to explore Canva for any graphics needs outside of the materials typically created by the Graphics team. Canva offers both a free version and a paid Pro version with expanded features. You can find more information here about Canva and resources for proper file set-up and tips on creating basic graphics. Refer to Stockton's brand guide for additional information.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to continuing to support your creative needs.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Ed Wuillermin, director of Creative Services at Edward.wuillermin@stockton.edu.

Strategic Planning Update: Defining Stockton's Edge

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee shared an update on Feb. 14:

With the Fall 2024 phase now behind us, we're excited to share the progress we've made together. Thanks to the hard work of our planning groups, we’ve identified five key themes that will shape the foundation of Stockton’s future. These themes reflect who we are as a university and where we want to go, guiding our next steps as we refine our priorities and set a course for the years ahead.

Stockton is more than just a university — a community, a launchpad for innovation, and a place where students, faculty, and staff thrive. But what truly sets us apart? And how do we continue to stand out in the years ahead? As we shape our next strategic plan, we want to hear from you! What qualities make Stockton special today, and what bold steps should we take to define our future? Your voice matters, and together, we’ll ensure Stockton’s story is one of growth, impact and opportunity.

Share your thoughts and ideas on what sets Stockton apart on the Strategic Planning website.

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 by the below deadlines, but also utilize the resources and helpful information listed at stockton.edu/fafsa before they complete the application.

March 1 is the priority date for students to complete the FAFSA to be considered for aid programs with limited funding for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.

April 15 is the deadline for students who received the State Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and/or the Stockton Promise in the 2024-25 academic year to complete the 2025-26 FAFSA at fafsa.gov or NJ Alternative Application for Financial Aid (NJ Dreamers only) at hesaa.org to be considered for state aid as well as the Stockton Promise in the 2025-26 academic year. Students who miss this deadline could miss out on thousands of dollars in grant funding!

Any student or family member who needs assistance completing their section of the FAFSA is invited to attend an evening FAFSA Completion event hosted by the Office of Financial Aid on Tuesday, March 25! Students and their family members will receive in-person assistance in completing their sections of the FAFSA during this event. Register for March 25 here!

Students can also register for a one-on-one FAFSA Completion Appointment by using the “Get Assistance” button in the Ospreys Navigate account.

Please feel free to share the information on how to register with your students. Note that students will need to log in with their goStockton portal credentials to register.

Fun Fact Friday: 😋 🥟Today is a day everyone can get on board with -- it's National Sticky Bun Day! A day worth the aftermath of 1,000 napkins. This delicious confection, a Philadelphia specialty initially known as "Schnecken" (meaning snail) are thought to have been brought to the United States by German settlers in the 18th century. Often served for breakfast, Sticky buns are sometimes known as cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls or monkey bread. Celebrate by supporting your local bakery or making your own. Best served with tea, coffee or hot cocoa.