Stockton News - Nov. 15, 2024 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - Nov. 15, 2024

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Bertolino Outlines Plans to Be South Jersey’s College of Choice

President Joe Bertolino highlighted accomplishments from the previous year and focused on the needs ahead as he laid out his vision for Stockton in his second annual State of the University address on Nov. 12.

“I set out in my first year to truly listen to our community, and saw our campus come alive with the energy of students, faculty and staff. Every conversation I have, every story I hear, deepens my admiration for Stockton,” Bertolino told the audience of faculty, staff and students.

He shared institutional highlights from each department during the past year before outlining his priorities that would lay the foundation for Stockton to become the college of choice in South Jersey, recognizing both internal and external challenges facing the University.

“Higher education institutions across the nation, the Northeast and, yes, New Jersey, are experiencing a series of compounding challenges. We must continue to work diligently to ensure our own success,” he said. “In this time of rapid change, increasing competition and the need to be more nimble, it is important that we focus our work on the areas most critical to Stockton’s future success.”

‘Indigenous Approaches, Sustainable Futures’ Programs Draw Over 1,000 Visitors

An exhibition unlike any other in the Stockton University Art Gallery will officially close its doors on Sunday, Nov. 17.

In celebration of the conversations on Indigenous identity that it sparked and the programming that welcomed over 1,000 community members both inside and outside of Stockton to campus, the team behind “Indigenous Approaches, Sustainable Futures” hosted a closing reception on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The evening began with students presenting the artwork they created in the exhibition’s associated workshops. Pieces included painted gourds from artist Tyrese “Bright Flower” Gould Jacinto’s course, bandanas that were colored with natural dyes and screen-prints of turtles and trees.

Shortly before his performance of a traditional honor song, Ty “Dancing Wolf” Ellis of the Lenapehoking Revitalization Project (LRP) expressed gratitude for being a part of “Indigenous Approaches, Sustainable Futures’” programming on behalf of the project’s youth program, which visited the campus to perform traditional dances for Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 15 and participated in some of the associated art workshops.

📸 View more photos from the closing ceremony on flickr.

Inaugural ‘Success Pitch 2024’ Draws Student Entrepreneurs

The Stockton Entrepreneurship Club made history with its inaugural pitch competition, "Success Pitch 2024," on Nov. 8.

The Shark Tank-style event began with presentations in the Campus Center Theatre with a welcome from club President Lydia Kai Adjetey. Dinner and an awards ceremony in the Board of Trustees Room with remarks by Provost Michael Palladino followed.

The competition aimed to spark innovation and entrepreneurship among Stockton students, showcasing creative business ideas in front of a panel of judges composed of faculty members and community leaders.

“Participants captivated the judges with pitches that spanned diverse industries, reflecting ingenuity and problem-solving skills,” said Adjetey.

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

Fall Conference Highlights Students, Alumni of Ed.D. Program

“Leading in Diverse and Complex Times,” an inaugural fall conference presented by the Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Program, convened on Nov. 1 in the Fannie Lou Hamer Room of Stockton Atlantic City.

The conference included sessions led by distinguished alumni or students, offering diverse perspectives on leadership. The keynote speaker was Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, president of Suasion Communications Group. Additional speakers included Tonya D. Coston, a K-12 education professional; Walead M. Abdrabouh, director of Information Systems & Business Intelligence at Stockton; and Turkessa L. Lee, a mental health professional. Presentations focused on critical leadership topics, particularly in the areas of diversity and complexity within their respective fields.

📸 View more photos from the conference on flickr.

FRAME-WORTHY

Ospreys Stargaze at Observatory 💫 🔭

Picnic Under the Stars, hosted by S.A.V.E, was held Nov. 7 in conjunction with Veterans Week, as Professor Joe Trout, who runs the Harold E. Taylor Observatory, is a Navy veteran himself. Attendees brought blankets and enjoyed food and refreshments while having the opportunity to catch glimpses of Uranus, Neptune, the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter. President Joe Bertolino even stopped by to partake in the festivities and see some stars.

📸 See more photos on flickr.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Instagram: Cozy up this semester with the @stocktonuniversitybookstore apparel 💙🦅

LinkedIn: Our Stockton University Alumni veterans sent us photos from around the world. Help us thank them for their service. Pictured is Melissa Parmenter.

Facebook: Today is World Kindness Day, and the Stockton Social Work Club encourages the community to “Be the ‘I’ in KIND.” The club began the campaign earlier this month to symbolize how each of us plays a vital role in spreading kindness within our community.

FROM THE SIDELINES

Volleyball Team Advances to NJAC Title Match with 3-2 Win

The volleyball team rallied by winning the last two sets to defeat Montclair 3-2 in the NJAC Tournament semifinals on Nov. 14 and advance to the conference championship match. Trailing 2-1, the Ospreys captured the fourth set 25-18 and then prevailed 16-14 in a thrilling fifth set.

Kate Louer tied her season high with 16 kills and scooped a career-high 25 digs for her third straight double-double and fifth in the last seven matches. Louer was at her best in the clutch, smacking six kills in the fifth set.

Stockton led by two five times during the fifth frame, with the last one coming at 13-11 following a kill by Louer. Montclair answered with three straight tallies and the Ospreys faced match point at 14-13. Another kill by Louer tied it again at 14-14, and a pair of attack errors by the Red Hawks gave Stockton the 16-14 triumph.

NJAC Player of the Year Nicole Palmer spiked 13 kills in the match, followed by Rileigh Wilson with 10 kills. Jaylah Rolle tied her career high with nine blocks and added seven kills.

🏐 Read more game coverage here.

Stockton will play in the NJAC championship match at No. 1 seed William Paterson at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Men’s Rowing Team Finishes Fall Season with Historic Weekend

The men’s rowing team ended its fall season with a historic performance at two regattas last weekend.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the club team brought home its first gold medal ever at the Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta by winning the Novice 4 race over NCAA Division I schools Binghamton, Maryland, Stony Brook and Lafayette. Stockton also took two second-place finishes and a third.

The 16-member team followed that performance with a gold-medal sweep of all four collegiate events at the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta on Sunday. One of those wins was in the regatta’s most prestigious race — the Men’s Collegiate Varsity 4 — to claim the Bill Braxton Memorial Cup. Both regattas took place at Mercer County Park in West Windsor.

“I’m very proud of our athletes and the time and the dedication and the work that they put in,” Coach Joe Maguire said. “Their success is really a payoff of the work that they all put in. It’s great to see them overcome so many obstacles to be able to have a successful weekend like this.”

Stockton Holds On For Win Over Gallaudet

The women’s basketball team withstood a furious fourth quarter rally by Gallaudet University and held on for a 66-60 victory on Nov. 13. Katie Rausch scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Ospreys.

Stockton jumped out quickly, led by Rausch with nine points to forge a 23-10 lead after one period. The Ospreys kept the pressure on the Bison, upping the margin to 39-24 after 20 minutes of play.

The third frame started slowly for both squads as the teams could not find the mark. The first points were by Gallaudet at 5:12 of the quarter, but the Ospreys were able to maintain the lead at 48-36 heading to the final frame.

🏀 Read more game coverage here.

The team will travel to Reading, Pennsylvania, for their next game as the Ospreys will take on Alvernia University at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.

The men's basketball team hits the court tonight in the Widener Tip-Off for Autism Awareness in Chester Pennsylvania.

Go, Ospreys!

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

OSPREY NOTES

Schedule Your Headshot for the New Faculty & Staff Directory

Information Technology Services invites you to schedule a convenient time to have your photo taken during the first round of openings. The photographer will be available from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Thursday, Nov. 18-21, in the Career Education & Development suite located in Campus Center 104; and from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22, in Room 215 of the John F. Scarpa Academic Center at Stockton Atlantic City.

Appointments are expected to take approximately five minutes. Those who work at other remote campus locations and would like an updated photograph can contact Jo Ann Kocher at JoAnn.Kocher@stockton.edu to coordinate a date and time that is mutually convenient.

To secure your appointment, click here to schedule your headshot through Microsoft Bookings.
We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to update your professional photo, contributing to a refreshed and cohesive directory that truly represents our exceptional faculty and staff. Once the photographs are complete, ITS will provide a mechanism for individuals to request a digital copy of their personal photo for personal use.

Dining Services’ Spring 2025 Pilot Programs

Stockton and Dining Services will be piloting two plans in Spring 2025: 1) A-B-C- Meal Exchange, and 2) Osprey Connect Dining Dollars Program.

The current Meal Equivalency Plan will transition to a Meal Exchange, where students can select: A) entrée, B) side and C) beverage. This pilot program will help students to better structure their meal usage, while ensuring a balanced meal.

The second pilot will be the Osprey Connect Dining Dollars Program. This plan is only for full-time, undergraduate students without a meal plan. Students taking courses exclusively at Manahawkin and Hammonton shall be excluded from this plan. The $200 plan provides students with $200 in dining dollars, which can be spent at any of Chartwells’ on-campus dining locations. The goal of the Osprey Connect Dining Dollars Program is to address food insecurity, which is a priority for the University. It will also foster campus engagement, allow students to utilize their financial aid dollars instead of out-of-pocket money, and will result in tax savings by using your ID card. Osprey Connect will automatically be added to the tuition bill, but students can opt out of the plan during the designated add/drop period.

Learn more here.

Strategic Plan: Stockton’s Strengths and Weaknesses Survey

REMINDER: The Strategic Planning Steering Committee (SPSC) invites you to participate in a pivotal survey to help shape the future of Stockton University. Your input is invaluable, and by participating, you’ll directly contribute to identifying Stockton’s Strengths and Weaknesses as part of a comprehensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis.

The Strengths and Weaknesses survey will be open from Nov. 7 - 17, accessible through the Strategic Planning website. Your feedback will inform our strategic goals and priorities, ensuring our plan reflects the voices of Stockton’s diverse community. Stay tuned for a follow-up survey on Opportunities and Threats, coming soon.

Fun Fact Friday: ♻️ The National Day of Recycling, also known as America Recycles Day, is celebrated every year on Nov. 15 with the purpose of raising awareness about recycling and its benefits, such as reducing waste, saving energy, and conserving resources. The National Recycling Coalition started America Recycles Day in 1997, and it became part of the Keep America Beautiful campaign in 2009.