Stockton News - April 18, 2025 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - April 18, 2025

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Statewide Child Welfare Education Program Celebrates 20 Years

More than 20 years ago, the unsettling case of 7-year-old Faheem Williams’ remains being found in a Newark basement sent shock waves throughout New Jersey’s child welfare system, leading to calls for major structural and programmatic reforms.

Stockton and several higher education institutions in New Jersey accepted the challenge and formed a consortium to support the next generation of social workers through financial and academic assistance.

Since then, Stockton’s Child Welfare Education Institute (CWEI) has continued to lead the federal- and state-funded Baccalaureate Child Welfare Education Program (BCWEP) and has provided tuition and valuable internship experience within the Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P) for more than 600 eligible undergraduate Social Work students statewide.

During the program's 20th anniversary recognition ceremony on April 11, Provost Michael Palladino called the partnership between the consortium, the New Jersey Department of Children & Families (DCF) and the NJ chapter of the National Association of Social Workers “vital for social work education.”

Workshop Provides ‘Eye-opening’ Fun for Disability Studies Students

Dana Grasso became a little sentimental when talking about Stockton’s first Access to Art Disabilities Workshop with the Atlantic County Special Services School.

“I know that one parent shared with the teachers that they were very emotional because they felt as though this was the only opportunity their young adult would have to be on a college campus, and it was really meaningful for them to have this opportunity,” said the teaching specialist in the university’s School of Education.

Grasso helped organize the visit of about 40 Special Services students last week to take part in the Access to Art program. Access to Art was created last year by the Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University thanks to $70,000 in funds from the Atlantic Center for Independent Living (ACIL), a Galloway-based nonprofit that advocates and provides life skills training and services for people with disabilities.

📸View more photos on flickr.

Rising STARs of Stockton Celebrated in New Event

Stockton students from six different departments and programs were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership and impact at a ceremony on April 14.

The Rising STAR Awards Ceremony is a new event, spearheaded by the Student Transition, Access and Retention (STAR) branch of Student Affairs. STAR encompasses many student support offices and programs, including the offices of Career Education & Development, Military & Veteran Success Center, Academic Achievement Programs, Student Transition Programs and the Educational Opportunity Fund program.

According to Ana Edmondson, assistant vice president for STAR, by combining all student-recognition celebrations under the Rising STAR umbrella, she and the teams that make up STAR can honor the “rising stars of Stockton.”

“I may not know each of you personally, but I do know what it feels like to sit where you are,” Edmondson said, referencing late study nights and balancing multiple deadlines. “I see you, I get it, and I’m so deeply proud of what you all accomplished.”

Senior Art Students Freely Express Work in New Exhibit

Over the course of two semesters, Stockton Bachelor of Fine Arts students worked hard to put together an art exhibition to be displayed at the Art Gallery. At the exhibition opening on April 13, artists showed off their work and skills to an audience of peers, family, friends and potential clients.

Students worked all week leading up to the opening to put up their artwork and with Art Gallery Exhibition Coordinator Ryann Casey for much longer to make sure they had a game plan for bringing their creative visions to life.

FRAME-WORTHY

Origami Creations On Display in Campus Center

For the first time ever, Stockton students were joined by local fifth graders to showcase unique origami creations throughout the Campus Center’s Grand Hall on Wednesday, April 16.

In addition to collegiate creations, dioramas full of paper birds, trees and other creations created by students from Dr. Joyanne D. Miller Elementary School in Egg Harbor Township were on display.

One of those students, Pierce Morgan, found himself enthralled with the art form despite almost “rage-quitting” his first model, a dragon. Since then, he has moved to creating stunning modular origami pieces that require multiple pieces of paper, patience and a lot of perseverance.

“That’s a dodecahedron, and this is a truncated hexahedron,” Morgan said, pointing to a ball and a cube, both full of curved angles. He pointed to the cube, “This was the hardest to create, and it fell apart, so I had to put it back together before everyone started coming in here.”

📸 View more photos on flickr.

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Instagram: 💧✨ LIMITED EDITION DROP ✨💧 Meet Lake Fred, Stockton’s chillest legend—now in Funko Pop form!

Facebook: Melissa Laurino‘15 ‘18 personally knows more than 500 bottlenose dolphins. Dolphins’ dorsal fins are unique just like fingerprints, which allows her to identify individuals through photo identification for the Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Catalog.

Instagram: Here are some of our #Ospreys favorite resources on campus! 📚 Let us know in the comments what your favorite resource is 👏🏽

Your favorite lake's online... have you given @lakefred1969 a follow yet? 👀

FROM THE SIDELINES

Stockton Downed by Vassar 12-10

The men’s lacrosse team broke out to an early lead but couldn’t sustain the momentum and fell to Vassar College, 12-10. A 16-minute scoring drought proved too much for the Ospreys to overcome.

Riley Burns led Stockton with a team-high three goals, whileConnor Albrecht was the top point producer with four on two goals and two assists.

Burns scored twice early, along with goals from Josh Graham and Hunter VanZant, to build a 4-1 lead. Albrecht and Jack Vandegrift made it 7-5 at halftime. Vassar answered with four straight in the third to go up 9-7.

Stockton closed the gap to one goal three times, including Burns’ third goal with 4:49 left, but the Brewers responded each time. Goalkeeper Ben Blum made 16 saves for the Ospreys. Anderson Eads led Vassar with four goals and one assist; Drew Quinn made 14 saves in goal.

The Ospreys will finish the regular season with a home game against fourth-ranked Christopher Newport at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19.

Stockton Ends Season at Ursinus Conquer the Island

The women’s golf team finished the 2024-25 season with both of its golfers playing in the Ursinus Conquer the Island tournament April 15 at Shawnee Golf Club. The Osprey twosome was part of the 31-player field, with golfers from nine schools participating.

Elenora Byrne finished ninth out of 31 with a 96 that broke down to a 50 on the front nine and a 46 on the back nine. Byrne made two pars on each nine.

Lexi Hughes shot a 68 on the front nine and a 66 on the back nine for a 134. Hughes finished strong, making a par on the 152-yard, par-three 18th hole.

Stockton competed in seven events this year, three in the fall and four in the spring.

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

STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS

Voters Weigh in on N.J. Budget, Property Tax Relief

Property tax relief maintains strong bipartisan support and majorities support some tax increases to raise revenue, but voters are split on other measures to balance the New Jersey budget, according to a poll released April 16 by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.

Majorities also said the affordability of housing and utilities is getting worse in the state and that government officials should do more to address the problem. Voters also weighed in on cell phone policies in schools, congestion pricing and other state issues.

“In an election year, especially, it’s important to understand where the voters stand on some of the top issues in New Jersey,” said Hughes Center Head of Research Alyssa Maurice. “This gives policymakers a blueprint.”

The poll of 667 registered voters has a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points.

Seeds for Change Event Plants Growth and Reflection at Kramer Hall

Stockton’s Kramer Hall in Hammonton welcomed students for Seeds for Change on April 3, a planting event hosted by Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. – Zeta Chapter. The event encouraged reflection, growth, and connection through the simple yet powerful act of planting.

Seeds for Change invited participants to plant seeds from a flower of their choice while engaging in guided conversation. As students got their hands in the soil, they also reflected on the symbolism of growth, renewal, and transformation, making the activity both a tactile and thoughtful experience.

A shuttle transported students from the Galloway campus to Kramer Hall, further bridging Stockton’s off-campus and main campus communities. The event highlighted the role of Stockton’s Hammonton location in creating space for inclusive programming, personal development, and community-building.

OSPREY NOTES

MSOT Students Present Research at National Conference

All 56 current Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) students from Stockton attended the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) annual national conference, AOTA INSPIRE 2025, held in Philadelphia from April 3–5.

With over 8,000 occupational therapy practitioners and students in attendance, the event offered a dynamic environment for learning and professional development.

Two student groups from Stockton had the opportunity to present their research posters at the conference.

Christopher Shaw and Keishla Sanchez presented “Get FIT: A Health and Wellness Program Designed for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).”

Casey Liming, Courtney Masker, Thayana Ascencio-Cruz, Emily Green and Bethannie Lopez presented their poster, “Living the High Life: The Effects of Cannabis on Health Management in Adults.”

“The students had the opportunity to attend a variety of sessions, from workshops to poster sessions. All offered opportunities for the students to integrate classroom learning and network with OT practitioners from around the country,” said Mary Kientz, associate professor of Occupational Therapy at Stockton.

Faculty, Staff Discount for Gala Extended Through April 18

The special faculty and staff discount ticket price for the Scholarship Benefit Gala has been extended through Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m.! Get your tickets for $175 with code FACULTYSTAFF at checkout.

The Gala will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, in the Campus Center. Join colleagues and community members for an unforgettable evening of gourmet food, live music, dancing and entertainment. See you there!

Fun Fact Friday: 🧘🏻‍♀️🏋🏾‍♂️💪🏾🏃‍♀️National Exercise Day, celebrated on April 18, is a reminder to get moving and prioritize physical health. Whether it’s a brisk walk (hey maybe around Lake Fred!), a gym workout or a dance session in your living room, the goal is to encourage everyone to incorporate more movement into their day. Regular exercise improves mood, boosts energy and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. This day is a great opportunity to try a new activity, join a local fitness event or simply stretch and breathe. No matter your fitness level, National Exercise Day is about taking that first step toward a healthier lifestyle.

POLLING ALL OSPREYS

Thanks to everyone who took a paws last week to take the National Pet Day poll, it was our most popular one yet! One thing is clear, Ospreys love their animal sidekicks, of all types, but there was no bones about dogs being the clear winner at 45.2%. Cats came in at 25.8%, no animals for me at 12.9%, tiny critters at 9.7%, and scaly, coldblooded & feathered friends both came in at 3.2%.