Stockton News - May 10, 2024
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
🎓 Congratulations, Class of 2024!
Canceled. Postponed. Deferred. These are the words that Stockton’s Class of 2024 faced when beginning their college journey during the height of the pandemic.
Each of the nearly 2,000 students graduating May 7 (Master's/Doctoral) & May 10 (Bachelor's) has their own story of obstacles, hardship and adversity, usually behind masks or online.
Throughout their stories, we see them beat the odds by being conscientious, spirited and versatile in their own unique ways.
Here we spotlight 12 of these students and congratulate the Class of 2024!
Watch Ceremony Live: 🎥 Catch the 2:30 p.m. ceremony on YouTube here. Fly high, Ospreys! 🦅
Full coverage of today's commencement will be included in next week’s edition of Stockton News.
More Than 300 Receive Master’s, Doctoral Degrees
Community and relationships transformed the lives of the students graduatingwith master’s and doctoral degrees, President Joe Bertolino told the graduates and crowd of families and supporters in the Sports Center on Tuesday, May 7.
“What I’ve learned is life and success are all about relationships. These relationships build communities of opportunity. My charge to all of you is to be the leaders who build communities of opportunity wherever it is you are headed next,” Bertolino said. “In your life, personally and professionally, pay it forward by mentoring a student or colleague, sharing constructive feedback, and supporting those around you. Take a chance on someone; you never know what kind of impact you can have by being there, offering a kind word, or making a connection.”
📰 In the News: The Press of Atlantic City, downbeach.com
Business School Celebrates Impact of Internships
Internships build connections and skills for college students, but the experiences can be so much more than a line on a resume.
“I feel like I was a whole different person before I started this internship. I learned so much that will help me in my future,” said Khushi Shah, of Galloway, a junior majoring in Finance who spent the semester interning with Simon & Schuster.
Shah, and students Collin Rieser and Ian Adjangba discussed their experiences at the Annual School of Business Internship Partner Appreciation Breakfast on April 29.
“One of the challenges I had to face was confidence,” said Rieser, a Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management major from Southampton, of his internship as front desk supervisor for Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania. “For me I never had much confidence in a leadership role or in general. I knew getting that position that they saw something in me that I had still yet to see. I was paired with another employee, and she really helped with my confidence issues. In just one week, I felt like I had worked there for years.”
STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY
Summer 2024 Tourism Outlook ‘Pretty Robust’
The general outlook for businesses at the Jersey Shore heading into the summer of 2024 is “pretty robust,” but there are some concerns, especially with no beach concerts in Atlantic City this year and New York casinos looming on the horizon.
That was the overall sentiment from a panel of local experts who spoke at the 16th annual Jersey Shorecast on May 8, sponsored by the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at the Stockton University School of Business. The discussion was held at the Stockton University Atlantic City John F. Scarpa Academic Center and streamed online.
LIGHT Faculty Director Jane Bokunewicz opened the discussion, which was moderated by Bre Young ’20, the event coordinator and project manager for Good Time Tricycle Productions. Good Time Tricycle has put together several events in the Atlantic City area, including the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival.
📰 In the News: The Press of Atlantic City, downbeach.com, OCNJ Daily
'Second Saturdays - Make Your Own Ice Cream' on May 11
Second Saturdays in Atlantic City are a series of family-friendly events hosted by Stockton University Alumni Relations. They are held on the second Saturday of every month at Stockton Atlantic City.
Joseph Trout, associate professor of Physics, will make you want to say goodbye to Breyer’s and hello to homemade treats at this Second Saturdays session from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, May 11, in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at Stockton Atlantic City.
Enjoy a beverage and snack following the activity. Register here.
SPOTLIGHT ON: TOM GRITES
Tom Grites has worn many hats during his nearly 47 years at Stockon—from his notable role as
assistant provost for almost 43 years to holding director and interim dean positions
to currently being an academic advisor to many student-athletes and an adjunct faculty
member.
In addition to the significant impacts he has made as a member of the Osprey community, Grites was recognizedby two separate organizations with prestigious awards in the last six months.
In March, Grites received the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Lifetime Achievement Award during an awards ceremony in Chicago. The following month, his alma mater, Illinois State University (ISU), gave him the Distinguished Alumni Award.
To say it has been an overwhelmingly exciting time would be an understatement.
PHOTO: Susan Nelson-Brown, chairperson of the ISU Alumni Awards Committee, presents Grites with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
FRAME-WORTHY
🥂 Here's to You, Ospreys!
Graduates came out to cheers their accomplishments during the Grad Toast on April 26 in the Campus Center. There were door prize drawings, and Priya Parikh gave the undergraduate toast, while Alexa Raparelli gave the graduate toast. President Bertolino shared celebratory remarks, and Craig Stambaugh, assistant vice president of Engagement and Community Development was the Master of Ceremony. Zach Veneziano, associate director of Alumni Engagement, gave the Alumni Association greeting.
📷 View more photos on Flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Instagram: You mastered it, Ospreys 🎓🦅🎉!
Facebook: And that's a wrap, Ospreys! But it doesn't have to be. There's still time to register for summer ☀️ sessions.
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Finishes Third in NJAC Championships
The men’s and women’s track & field teams finished third out of 10 teams in the NJAC Championships, which were hosted by Stockton at G. Larry James Stadium on May 4-5. The men’s team earned five runner-up finishes and registered a team score of 96.5 that trailed only Rowan (368) and TCNJ (146). The women’s team won four events and earned six runner-up finishes on the way to a team score of 177.5 that trailed only TCNJ (214) and Rowan (187.5).
Emma Petrolia led Stockton by placing third or higher in three individual events and one relay, highlighted by a win in the triple jump (11.59m). The sophomore also was second in the 400m hurdles (1:03.77) and third in the long jump (5.18m).
In addition to her outstanding efforts in three individual events, Petrolia joined Kayla Kass, Emma Conroy and Kayla Sullivan for third place in the 4x400 relay (3:57.32).
Read more about the women’s coverage here.
Marcellus Malloy, Darnell Cartwright, Joseph deBeaumont and Santana Wittenburg finished second in the 4x400 relay (3:22.20), with deBeaumont also placing third in the 800m (1:55.47).
Gavin Lum finished second in the pole vault (4.45m) and Joseph Morales was second in the long jump (6.68m). Kevin Lu-Chua placed second in the decathlon (5,172 points) and Dan Squicciarini was second in the 3000m steeplechase (9:50.89).
Read more about the men’s coverage here.
OSPREY NOTES
'Additional Languages I Speak' Nametag Add-Ons Available
Student Transition Programs has nametag add-ons for use at New Student Orientation and beyond as an inclusive way to create a sense of belonging and identify multi-lingual team members that can support students or families looking to connect for community or clarification of information.
The "Additional Languages I Speak" nametag add-ons are entirely optional for multi-lingual team members to use but are available to any faculty or staff members who would like to be identified as a resource in this way.
If interested in wearing an "Additional Languages I Speak" Nametag Add-on while supporting New Student Orientation and other on-campus events, faculty and staff can visit the Campus Center Information Desk or the F101 Student Transition Programs suite. It is encouraged nametags be saved and reused, when possible, to avoid unnecessary printing.
PHOTO: Sofia Abreu, director of Career Education & Development, wearing a nametag add-on that shows she also speaks Español.
Time to Confirm Your Ospreys
Happy Summer, faculty! As the summer semester is about to begin, it's almost time to Confirm your Ospreys!
New name, same process! Faculty are reminded to complete the Academic Engagement (formerly Roster Verification) process by confirming student attendance/academic activity. The Academic Engagement process for Summer Sessions I, II and IV is to be completed by Monday, May 20. The process for Summer Session III is to be completed by Monday, July 1. The Office of Financial Aid will use this information to make adjustments to student financial aid disbursements based on each student's confirmed number of credits.
Each instructor will be responsible for confirming student attendance or participation in an academic activity. For online courses, faculty are reminded to include an assignment or discussion activity during the add/drop period so that the student's attendance can be confirmed.
The link to complete the Academic Engagement process can be found under the faculty tab within the goStockton portal.
For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit stockton.edu/academicengagement.
Fun Fact Friday: 🦐 Today is National Shrimp Day! Shrimp is so popular that, on average, each person
in the United States eats more than four pounds. Worldwide, at least 9 billion pounds
of shrimp are consumed each year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
👩💻 Professional Development Opportunities
May 10: 🎓 Commencement - Baccalaureate Ceremonies
May 11: 🍁 Mother's Day Maple Festival, Second Saturdays - Make Your Own Ice Cream
May 14-15: 🖋️ FAWN Writing Retreat
May 15: Annual Successful Aging Festival
May 22: 🌞Transfer Jam
June 1: 🚲 16th Annual G. Larry James Legacy Ride
June 15:EQUILIBRIO
