The OceanFirst Foundation continued its longtime support of Stockton University students by presenting a check earlier this month for $40,000 to fund 16 scholarships.
“Since 2017, OceanFirst Foundation has been committed to supporting Stockton University students by investing in scholarships. I’m pleased to share that, to date, OceanFirst has awarded $320,000 in scholarships to Stockton students,” foundation Executive Director Katherine Durante said. “We look forward to continuing this valuable partnership in 2024.”
OceanFirst Bank President of Community & Retail Banking Vincent D’Alessandro said the foundation was established to support the needs of the families that live in the bank’s footprint.
“We want to be a bank that’s first considered to be an organization that cares about community,” he said. “We hear the stories from the kids who benefit from our scholarships and how meaningful it is.”
Stockton President Joe Bertolino thanked the OceanFirst Foundation for its continued support of the scholarship, which has benefited 128 Stockton students over eight years.
“The vast majority of our students come from working-class families. Even with scholarship support, many of our students still have to work to make ends meet and to meet the responsibilities of their families,” he said. “The stressors on individuals have changed in a post-COVID world. I think anything we can do to help support students, alleviate their stress and remind them that they matter, and they are valued is extraordinarily important.”
Recipients of a $2,500 scholarship for 2023-2024 are Sydney Ables, Brendan Bradley, Nicholas Brennan, JaQuez Carr-Morton, Abby Dreyer, Gabriella Petris, Dylan Geronimo, Louden Jobes, Caitlin Kisielius, Laura Leonel, Christopher Liguori, Trevor Magill, Josephine Mitchell, Lily Natalino, Cameron Radcliffe and Javier Vega.
Scholarships not only support students financially, but also help with their mental health, said foundation board Chairwoman Brigid Harrison, Class of 1988.
“This kind of encouragement and vote of confidence is something students will carry with them into their careers and into their personal lives,” she said. “Your corporation is to be commended for prioritizing that as a mission and listening to the community.”
