Stockton News - June 19, 2025
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
OCC, Stockton Build New Pathways for Arts and Humanities Students
A series of new articulation agreements signed last week by Ocean County College (OCC) and Stockton will provide students in the arts and humanities with a direct pathway between an associate degree at OCC and a comparable bachelor’s degree program at Stockton.
The agreements are designed to facilitate transfer for students who have earned an associate of arts at OCC in Music, History, Fine Arts, Graphic Arts, Design & Media, and Philosophy & Religion into corresponding academic majors at Stockton, where they can complete their four-year degree.
“The arts and humanities inspire us to question, to create and to understand the human experience. Through these 2+2 agreements, students can achieve their educational goals efficiently and affordably and graduate with timeless skills that apply across industries,” said Michael Palladino, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Stockton.
Stockton Police Chief, K-9 Partner Place Third in National Competition
Stockton Police Chief Tracy Stuart and her K-9 partner Freya traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to compete in a national detector dog trial, where they took home third place overall this month.
The dynamic duo’s award comes on the heels of their recertification through the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA), which took place on Stockton’s Galloway campus in March.
The competition is similar to the recertification in that the odor recognition tests consisted of cans, rooms, parcels and vehicles. Teams from across the country were evaluated in their ability to search for and identify explosive materials effectively and efficiently.
The dogs begin with a pass/fail exercise in which they search for six explosive materials among 18 cans and 11 distracting items.
Passing teams then participate in three operational exercises – a parcel search for two explosive materials out of 15; a vehicle search for two out of 15; and a room search for two out of three.
FRAME-WORTHY
Stockton Terrapin Conservation Reaches Next Generation
When John Rokita ‘78 got to his Stockton office at 7 a.m., a voicemail from the Margate Terrapin Project greeted him.
The group wanted to deliver two deceased northern diamondback terrapins carrying eggs.
A few hours later, a delivery arrived with 10 terrapin eggs nested in a box of sand along with a second container carrying a live adult terrapin with a badly cracked carapace (upper shell). The VanWingerden family rescued the eggs from a construction zone in Ocean City and found the injured female who was hit by a car on her way to or from nesting. She might be carrying eggs, too.
Rokita, assistant supervisor of the Vivarium and Collection Room Facilities, performs egg extractions on road-killed terrapins and incubates their eggs. For injured adults he uses epoxy to repair shell cracks.
“It’s like a triage system. You have to go with what you think needs your attention first and then you go from there. The phone is ringing off the hook usually from May until the end of August,” which is prime time for terrapin nesting, Rokita said.
📷 Check out more photos on flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Instagram: I fall asleep to the sounds of a barred owl 🦉 calling, bullfrogs 🐸 croaking and deer 🦌 rustling leaves in the woods.
Facebook: Happy #NationalMascotDay to Talon.
TikTok: Brazil has entered the chat ⚽️ CR Flamengo is here training for the FIFA Club World Cup.
FROM THE SIDELINES
Eight Ospreys Obtain CSC Academic All-District Honors
Eight student-athletes from three different teams received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in the at-large category, which includes sports such as lacrosse, field hockey, rowing and golf.
Lacrosse players Lilly Alessandro, Margot Costello and Emily Deworsopcomprised half of Stockton's CSC Academic All-District Women's At-Large selections.
Field hockey playersErika Roura, EB Rafferty and Miana Alessandroni completed the group of six female Ospreys who earned CSC Academic All-District Women's At-Large accolades.
Lacrosse teammates Michael Hoey and Hunter VanZant were Stockton's CSC Academic All-District Men's At-Large honorees.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
South Jersey Economic Review Reports Atlantic City Job Growth at 4.2%
The Atlantic City economy posted strong job growth of 4.2% year-on-year in this year’s first quarter according to the Summer 2025 edition of the South Jersey Economic Review, which was released June 17.
First-quarter job gains were broad based, with those in restaurants and bars and retail trade recording the largest increases.
In addition to surveying the regional economy’s current conditions, the newest edition of the Review discusses some of the implications of the newly redefined Atlantic City metropolitan area, which now combines Cape May and Atlantic counties.
“While there are some analytical costs associated with the new redefinition, such as the inability to parse out the impacts of events that may affect the two counties differently, the redefinition underscores the importance of thinking in broad regional terms,” said Oliver Cooke, editor of the Review and associate professor of Economics at Stockton.
OSPREY NOTES
Riders Raise Money for Stockton Scholarships
More than 80 riders participated in the 17th annual G. Larry James Legacy Bike Ride on Saturday, June 14, and raised more than $12,000 to provide scholarships for Stockton students.
The ride started and finished at the university’s Galloway campus and featured three different distances — 12, 30, and 62 miles — through the Pine Barrens. The race carries on the legacy of James, Stockton’s former Dean of Athletics and a 1968 Olympics gold medalist. All of the proceeds benefit the G. Larry James Legacy Endowed Scholarship.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many staff, student volunteers, EMTs, and police who helped make this event possible,” said Steve Radwanski of the G. Larry James Legacy Bike Ride Committee. “Their time and dedication played a key role in ensuring a successful day for all.”
🗓️ Radwanski said next year’s race will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Confirm Your Ospreys in Summer Session III
Happy Summer, faculty! As Summer Session III is about to begin, it's almost time to Confirm your Ospreys!
Faculty are reminded to complete the Academic Engagement (formerly Roster Verification) process by confirming student attendance/academic activity. The Academic Engagement process for Summer Session III is to be completed by Thursday, July 3. 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.
🧠 Did You Know? Pineapples used to be so fancy, people actually rented them for parties?
🍍 Back in the 1700s, pineapples were super rare and expensive, so some hosts would just rent one to show off as a symbol of hospitality and welcome, without even eating it!
Today, the pineapple still stands for warmth and friendliness, which ties right in with Stockton’s Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management program, where students learn how to make people feel right at home.
🔥 Want to celebrate the official start of summer this Saturday? Try this easy grilled pineapple recipe.
UPCOMING EVENTS
👩💻Professional Development Opportunities
🖼️Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Now - Aug. 1: Art Exhibit: The Dean’s Showcase
July 12: 🦋 Second Saturdays in AC: Flight of the Butterfly
July 16-30: Children’s Summer Playhouse
July 17:🍺Young Alumni Pour & Explore: Dr. Brewlittle's Beer Co.
July 18: Pinelands Summer Short Course
July 21: Alumni Author Summer Social
Aug. 1: Black Alumni Reunion Weekend
