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Monday, November 25, 2013

Stockton College Scholarship Recipients Thank Donors at Annual Recognition Dinner

Galloway Township, NJ- Nearly 150 student scholarship recipients met the donors who have generously supported their academic endeavors at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s annual scholarship recognition dinner Nov. 20.
The Stockton College Foundation awarded 224 students with awards totaling $504,000. The Stockton College Foundation provides merit and needs-based awards made possible by institutional funding and private donations to outstanding freshmen, upperclassmen, and transfer and graduate students.
Eighty percent of students receive financial assistance and the college provides $11 million in financial awards to deserving students.

One representative from each of Stockton’s eight academic schools delivered a speech to thank their donors and to share their stories. The student speakers were Dimitar Dimitrov, of Atlantic City, representing the School of Arts and Humanities, Michael Kramer, of Linwood, representing the School of Business, Deneen Piotrowski, of North Wildwood, representing the School of Education, Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, of Ventnor, representing the School of General Studies, Sara Passaro, of Manahawkin, representing the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, Katelyn Iveson, of Barnegat, representing the School of Health Sciences, Jeniffer Allen, of Egg Harbor City, representing the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Kadeisha Pinkney, of East Windsor, representing the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.   
Kadeisha Pinkney, recipient of the Stockton Foundation Scholars award and the Gholam Hussein Ghorashi Book Award, said, “I would not be standing here today if Stockton had not seen potential in me and provided me the opportunities to be a distinguished scholar.”

Although an Economics major, she has aspirations to enter the field of medicine. “I’m majoring in something that I love and am passionate about. I did not want to choose between the two, so I integrated both disciplines,” she said.                                                                                       
Her goal is to start a non-profit organization “to help impoverished individuals in Third World countries elevate their socio-economic status by providing fundamental necessities pertinent to growth and development.”

Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez, a recipient of multiple scholarships including one from the college’s Council of Black Faculty and Staff, told the audience in fluent English that just 13 years ago he only spoke Spanish. Hard work and a strong support base have brought him to where he is today, which is just one year away from being the first in his family to graduate from college.

“I make a promise that I will make this world a greater place to live. Thank you for believing in us and investing in our futures,” he said.

Nancy Messina, assistant dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, who met her recipient Dimitar Dimitrov at the dinner, said, “As a donor, employee and alumnus, I have the pleasure of celebrating two positives—acknowledgement of a very deserving student, and recognition of the Dominick A. Messina Memorial Endowed Award in memory of my husband, who was a longtime Stockton employee and alumnus.”   

In his speech, Dimitrov said, “Here at Stockton we are given the confidence that our dreams and ambitions can be achieved through education, creativity and determination. Most of all, we are taught to never settle for less and always give our best to what we do.”

Donor-supported awards are determined by a presidential-appointed scholarship committee of faculty, administrators and representatives of the Foundation Board of Directors. Award recipients maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and are fully matriculated students.

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