Stockton News - Aug. 14, 2025 - University Relations & Marketing

Stockton News - Aug. 14, 2025

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Hughes Center, Press of A.C. to sponsor District 2 Assembly Debate

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and The Press of Atlantic City will sponsor a debate between State Legislative District 2 Assembly candidates on Oct. 21.

The debate will take place before a live, public audience at 7 p.m. at Stockton’s Campus Center Theatre, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, and will also be livestreamed by the Hughes Center and The Press. A recording will be archived on the Hughes Center’s site.

Major-party candidates, including Republican incumbents Don Guardian and Claire Swift and Democratic challengers Joanne Famularo and Maureen Rowan, have agreed to participate. Other candidates who meet minimum campaign finance thresholds and file campaign spending reports will be invited.

“Hosting the District 2 Assembly debate advances the Hughes Center’s mission of fostering civic engagement and creating a forum for open, informed discussion of the issues that matter most to our community,” said Hughes Center Director Tina Zappile. “These debates help voters make educated choices and exemplify our commitment to amplifying local voices, connecting residents with their elected officials, and providing a platform for rigorous policy dialogue.”

Stockton Recognized for Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being

Stockton recently received, along with 70 other higher education institutions nationwide, the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.

The award is a measure of an institution’s individual programs and initiatives that significantly advance the core values of inclusive excellence and belonging. Stockton will be featured in the September issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.

“The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office at Stockton has always strived to foster a culture of mental wellness and well-being for students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Brooke Zall-Crawford, director of Counseling and Psychological Services. “We are proud to be recognized for our continued commitment to mental health, reducing stigma and providing preventative programming to increase student success, retention and a sense of belonging.”

Guggenheim Fellows Featured in Stockton’s Art Gallery

Stockton's Art Gallery is set to return with a fall exhibition centered on African American history, stories and experiences from four Black Guggenheim Fellows from Sept. 4 to Nov. 8.

The two-floor exhibition, entitled “Diverse Perspectives in Photography: Four Black Guggenheim Fellows in the Philadelphia Region,” will feature the work of Donald E. Camp, who in 1995 was the second African American photographer to receive the Guggenheim Fellowship following Roy DeCarava in 1952. In addition to Camp, the exhibit will have works from Ron Tarver (2021), William E. Williams (2003) and Wendel A. White (2003).

The fall exhibition will open with a free reception and panel discussion moderated by Julie L. McGee at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the lower level of the Stockton Art Gallery. McGee is an associate professor of Art History and Africana Studies at the University of Delaware who specializes in African American art and contemporary African art.

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY

Hailey Bidinger Recognized as 2025 Staller Writing Tutor

Senior Hailey Bidinger was recognized with the 2025 Paul D. Staller ’97 Writing Center Tutor Award for her commitment as a Peer Writer, carrying on a tradition of supporting the Stockton community.

The award was created by the Staller Family of Atlantic City in memory of their son, Paul, a 1997 Communication Studies graduate who found purpose in tutoring his fellow students. The annual ceremony, held July 30 at the John F. Scarpa Academic Center, has become a tradition at Stockton.

“This award is a reminder that Paul’s spirit lives on in the students who carry his legacy forward,” said Alan Staller, Paul’s father. “I had no idea he was tutoring before he passed away, but now, the people we’ve met through this award have given us a new piece of Paul to hold on to.”

WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU

Instagram: Don’t forget to pack your beach chair, Ospreys. We’re looking forward to fall beach days.

Facebook: The Ospreys will be landing in the nest soon. Marissa Morozewicz, who chose #StocktonU for its Dance program and Dance Team, is ready.

InstaFred: In my orange era.🌇

FROM THE SIDELINES

Softball Team Earns NFCA Academic Honors

The Stockton University softball squad qualified for team and individual academic honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for the 2024-25 academic year. The Ospreys finished 19th in NCAA Division III with a 3.73 grade-point average.

Twenty-two of the 25 members of the Stockton team qualified for NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors. The awards are given to any player who achieved a minimum 3.5 GPA during the 2024-25 academic year.

In 2025, Stockton won 26 games for the program’s highest victory total since 2017. The Ospreys went 26-15 overall, including 12-6 in conference play to finish in a tie for third in the NJAC standings.

Stockton pitchers led the conference in strikeouts (254) and finished second in ERA (1.65), shutouts (12) and opposing batting average (.208). In addition to leading the NJAC in homers, the Ospreys were second in batting (.321), runs (256), hits (360), doubles (72) and stolen bases (85), and third in fielding percentage (.965).

Stockton Athletics Celebrates 2024-25 Award Winners

Five Stockton University student-athletes were chosen to receive the athletic department’s annual awards for the 2024-25 academic year.

Men’s basketball player EJ Matthews-Spratley was selected Stockton Male Athlete of the Year, and track & field and cross-country runner Kayla Kass was voted Stockton Female Athlete of the Year.

Baseball player Austin Beard was picked for the SAAC Unsung Hero Award by the Stockton Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a group of student-athlete representatives that provide insight and offer input to athletic administrators and the institution on behalf of all student-athletes at Stockton.

Track & field runners Santana Wittenburg and Paige Baneywere named Male and Female Comeback Athletes of the Year by Stockton Athletic Training Services.

OSPREY NOTES

Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning Updates

Provost Palladino shared the following announcement Aug. 7:

Under the leadership of Executive Director Merydawilda Colón since 2014, the Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (SCCESL) has been connecting students with high-impact educational experiences while supporting our local communities. The Center has housed the Office of Service Learning, helping faculty create transformative learning opportunities for Stockton students. Through these efforts, students engage directly with partners to serve and support local communities. The Center’s impact has also included homework completion programs in Atlantic City and Pleasantville, naturalization classes, planning for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, and community programming in partnership with AtlantiCare throughout Atlantic County.

Effective today, the SCCESL will conclude its work in its current form, with selected personnel and core functions transitioning to the leadership of Brian Jackson, vice president for Community Engagement. This realignment builds on the strong foundation created by the Center and will allow Stockton to deepen its regional impact and expand meaningful partnerships. To ensure a seamless transition, Heather Swenson Brilla, supervisor for Community Programs and Community Engagement Assessment; Trish Collins, Community Engagement liaison; and Shawn Cooper, project coordinator for Community Programs and Leadership will now report to Vice President Jackson.

Additionally, to better support students and faculty, Taylor Coyne, coordinator of Service Learning, will report to the William T. Daly School of General Studies. This move will strengthen the integration of classroom learning with community-engaged academic experiences.

Colón will continue in her role as associate dean for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, a position she has held since 2023.

⏳ On This Day: On Aug. 14, 2003, the Great Northeast Blackout swept across the U.S. and parts of Canada, leaving around 50 million people in the dark.🚦 Cue traffic chaos, candlelit dinners, and a whole lot of neighborly bonding. It even sparked an unspoken challenge: Who’s got the best generator? A wild reminder that sometimes, unplugging the grid makes us connect—just maybe not by choice.