Stockton News - May 21, 2026
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
Graduates Encouraged to Lead as ‘Changemakers’ at Commencement
From first-generation college students to aspiring changemakers, Stockton University’s Class of 2026 was celebrated on May 15 for the determination, leadership and community spirit that defined its path to graduation.
The university hosted two ceremonies on May 15 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the more than 2,300 Class of 2026 graduates earning bachelor’s degrees.
President Joe Bertolino praised graduates for the impact they have already made and the leadership they will carry into the future.
“You adapted. You persisted. You grew. And you did something remarkable. You earned a Stockton degree.
“And while today is about you, it is also about all those who helped get you here,” he said. “The families and friends who cheered you on. The faculty who challenged you. The staff who supported you. The mentors who saw something in you before you fully saw it in yourself. When you walk across this stage, you are bringing a whole community with you.”
Calling graduates “changemakers,” Bertolino encouraged them to lead with compassion, trust and courage.
“Your success will not come only from what you know,” he said. “It will come from how you use what you know. How you treat people. How you build trust. How you show up when it counts.”
📸 View photos from the morning ceremony.
📸 View photos from the afternoon ceremony.
In the News: The Press of Atlantic CIty
Stockton, Community Colleges Launch South Jersey Higher Education Alliance
Stockton and four regional community colleges launched a transformative partnership Monday designed to make college transfer more seamless, affordable and centered for students across southern and central New Jersey.
Presidents from Stockton University, Atlantic Cape Community College, Brookdale Community College, Camden County College and Ocean County College signed a Memorandum of Agreement establishing the new South Jersey Higher Education Alliance. The agreement creates a collaborative framework focused on expanding educational opportunities, strengthening transfer pathways and improving student success throughout the region.
The Alliance is designed to help students move more efficiently from associate degree programs to bachelor’s and graduate degree opportunities through stronger coordination among participating institutions. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to reducing barriers that can delay graduation, increase student costs and create confusion during the transfer process.
Haiti Selects Stockton as Team Base Camp for FIFA World Cup 2026
Stockton announced that Haiti has selected the school’s athletic facilities as its Team Base Camp training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Haiti, the only Caribbean nation to qualify for the World Cup twice, last played in the tournament in 1974.
“Stockton University is honored to be selected as a Team Base Camp for the FIFA World Cup 2026. This recognition affirms the strength of our athletic facilities and the dedication of our staff, who have worked tirelessly to create an environment where the world’s best athletes can train, learn and feel at home,” said Stockton President Joe Bertolino. “We welcome Haiti to our beautiful campus this summer to participate in the largest sporting event in the world.”
The Haiti National Team, also known as the Grenadiers, are in Group C and will arrive at Stockton on June 8. Their first World Cup game is in Boston on June 13 against Scotland. They will play Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and finish group play June 24 against Morocco in Atlanta.
Stockton is one of four Team Base Camp sites in New Jersey for teams playing in the World Cup. Brazil will practice at the Columbia Park Training Center in Morris Township. Morocco will train at the Pingry School in Basking Ridge, and Senegal will train at Rutgers University.
SPOTLIGHT ON: SCOTT BENCZE
When you think of Stockton, a lot of things come to mind: beautiful campuses, unique
programs and maybe even maple syrup. But what about an award-winning chef?
For the second year in a row, Chartwells Senior Executive Chef Scott Bencze won Best Professional Chef for his entrée at Let’s Get Cookin’ 2026, a fundraiser that benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
During the event, Bencze competed alongside chefs and culinary teams from more than 40 restaurants and organizations across the Atlantic City region, helping put Stockton on the culinary map once again.
In this interview, Bencze discusses what it felt like to win again, the family favorite that inspired his award-winning dish and the partnership between Chartwells and Stockton.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
InstaFred: Enjoying these summer vibes 🌞
Facebook: We asked our first-generation students who they’re walking for 🥹💙
LinkedIn: Where will we find you reading the first issue of Stockton Magazine?
FROM THE SIDELINES
Six Ospreys to Compete at NCAA Championships
Six Stockton track and field competitors qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held May 21-23 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Joie Buxton, Kayla Kass, Emma Petrolia and Elaina Styerwill represent the women’s team.Ahmad Fogg and Bryant Nelson will compete for the men’s team.
Kass will run the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the fourth straight year. Petrolia qualified in the 400-meter hurdles for the third straight year.
Fogg, who was voted NJAC Outstanding Field Athlete for the second straight year, will try to add to his three previous All-American honors: 2025 Second Team outdoor long jump, 2026 First Team indoor long jump and 2026 Second Team indoor triple jump.
Styer will compete in the heptathlon, an event in which she is ranked fourth in the nation with a school-record total of 5,050 points at the TCNJ Invite and Multi on April 9.
Buxton is fourth overall and the top freshman in the country in the javelin with a personal best of 44.25 meters at the NJAC Championships on May 2. She was chosen NJAC Rookie of the Year.
Nelson is ranked 17th nationally in the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 14.69 meters at the NJAC Championships on May 3.
WATCH LIVE: Starting today, fans can follow the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships through the NCAA’s live video coverage and live results. Watch the men’s coverage and watch the women’s coverage.
Softball Season Ends After Historic NCAA Run
The Stockton softball team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament with a 7-6 setback to Albertus Magnus (Conn.), bringing an end to a memorable season highlighted by an NJAC regular-season title, NFCA national ranking and NCAA Tournament berth, all for the first time in school history.
Stockton staged a late rally from a 5-1 deficit, scoring five runs over the final two innings to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh. Albertus Magnusanswered with two unearned runs in the bottom half to secure the win.
The Ospreys fell behind 4-0 in the first four innings before an RBI bunt single by McKenna George got Stockton on the board in the top of the fifth. Albertus Magnus added a run in the bottom half for a 5-1 lead.
Stockton finished the season with 30 victories, its highest win total in a decade. The Ospreys cracked the NFCA national poll for the first time on March 31 and remained ranked for the rest of the season, climbing as high as No. 15.
Stockton won its first NJAC regular-season title and earned its first NCAA Tournament berth with a ranking of 17th out of 393 teams in the NCAA Power Index. Seven of the 11 Ospreys who played in at least 30 games were freshmen or sophomores, signaling a bright future for the program after a historic 2026 season.
ICYMI: 🥹 Since graduating Ospreys were unable to attend Commencement because of the tournament, a special ceremony was held at their hotel. It’s definitely worth a watch.
Ospreys are collecting honors, awards and postseason milestones across Stockton Athletics.Check out the latest accomplishments and cheer them on. Go Ospreys!
SOARING FORWARD: IN ACTION
Strategic Planning Strengthens Cross-Campus Connections
Stockton University’s strategic planning process continues to bring our campus community together in meaningful ways.
One of the most important outcomes of the implementation process so far has been the breaking down of long-standing information silos, notes Britny Dileo, IRB Administrator and Co-Lead of Inspire Minds. She describes the process as creating opportunities for more meaningful communication across divisions, leading to stronger collaboration and more comprehensive insights.
Alyssa Maurice, assistant director of the Hughes Center for Public Policy and member of the Data & Assessment team, notes that strengthened communication and relationship-building may be one of the most lasting impacts of this work. She hopes that the channels and connections established through the strategic planning process continue well beyond the initial implementation phase, supporting cross-divisional collaboration as teams move into action.
Justine Ciraolo, director of Energy & Sustainability and member of the Empower Student Success team, describes the team as engaging and collaborative, which has led to cross-campus solutions and ideas for successfully supporting students.
“The committee is just a phenomenal team. They've been fully collaborative and integrative, and working with everybody across campus has been a breath of fresh air,” Ciraolo said. “Right now, we're trying to create pathways so that the students fully feel engaged in their academic programs and research, and that they know what resources are available for them. We also hope to bring back more alumni to come and talk about their success stories.”
Ciraolo also appreciates how involved the University community has been in the Strategic Planning process. “The best part is knowing that everybody's truly listening,” Ciraolo said. “Everybody's perspective is so valuable, and it's not just administration. They truly want to listen to the community, the students, the staff and the faculty, and that's what I love most about it.”
This shared ownership of the process strengthens both the plan itself and the university’s ability to successfully implement it. “It’s really critical that everyone has a voice and that they are driving these changes,” Maurice said. Dileo shared that even more members of the campus community will be engaged in the fall as divisions begin to implement strategies and actions.
Another central focus of the planning effort has been data and assessment. Priority Teams are working alongside the Data & Assessment Team to ensure that accountability and measurable outcomes are embedded throughout the plan. By establishing clear metrics and gathering baseline data, divisions will be better equipped to evaluate progress, demonstrate impact, and make informed decisions moving forward, Maurice describes.
As implementation continues this summer, the campus community can expect a strong focus on practical, achievable strategies and actions. Much of the work ahead will center on refining metrics, establishing baselines, and aligning ongoing efforts with the university’s priorities. In many cases, this work builds on initiatives already underway, demonstrating that Stockton is already making progress toward its goals.
Teams are working carefully to ensure that these efforts are both ambitious and realistic, balancing innovation with sustainability.
Overall, the message is one of optimism and momentum. As Maurice shared, “I hope people view this as an exciting and positive process.” The continued commitment of Stockton’s faculty, staff, and leadership reflects a shared belief in the power of collaboration and a collective vision for the university’s future.
Read previous Implementation Updates here.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
Roth Family Honors Parents with Holocaust Studies Scholarship
More than anything, the Roth family fears their parents’ story will be forgotten.
It’s a story of World War II, deportation, concentration camps and death marches, but also of liberation, love, resilience, a journey to America, the starting of a family and the building of a highly successful business in southern New Jersey.
With the establishment of the Sam and Elizabeth Roth Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Holocaust Studies, their story will live in perpetuity at Stockton University.
“We support Holocaust education to ensure that the past is never forgotten and hopefully that it will never happen in the future. Our parent’s biggest concern, one of their biggest concerns in life, was that what they went through — being taken from their homes, losing their parents and their brothers and sisters in a murderous way — that a story like that should always be remembered,” said Ed Roth, who joined his brothers Carl and Henry and their wives to celebrate their $25,000 commitment to the Stockton University Foundation last week.
OSPREY NOTES
Graduate Admissions Moves Under Graduate Studies
Graduate Admissions has been realigned under the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, effective immediately.
The transition supports Stockton's continued efforts to advance graduate education and strengthen student success by creating a more integrated, student-centered approach to the graduate student experience, from initial inquiry through degree completion.
The work will be carried out in close partnership with Moses Goldmon, vice president for Enrollment Management, and Naima Hall, dean of the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, to ensure a coordinated, data-informed approach to graduate enrollment and student success.
Through the realignment, the university aims to better connect recruitment, admissions and student success efforts to strengthen persistence, retention, graduation and placement across graduate programs.
The shift also supports Stockton’s strategic priority to grow graduate programs across all schools through stronger coordination and targeted enrollment strategies.
Help Reimagine Stockton’s Alma Mater
Stockton is inviting students, alumni, current employees and retirees to submit original compositions for consideration as the university’s new alma mater.
As Stockton continues to grow, the Alma Mater Refresh offers the university community an opportunity to help shape a musical tradition that reflects Stockton’s spirit, energy and vision for the future.
Submissions are due by Sept. 16, 2026. The top three entries will be performed on campus during University Weekend, held Oct. 9-11, 2026.
Visit the Alma Mater Refresh website for submission details. For questions, email alma-mater-refresh@stockton.edu.
Complete Spring Compliance Trainings by June 3
The June 3 deadline is approaching for employees to complete required spring compliance trainings in Vector Solutions.
Required trainings include:
- Digital Accessibility Training
- Discrimination Awareness in the Workplace
- Drug Free Workplace
Please log in to Vector Solutions to review and complete your assignments by the deadline.
Time to Confirm Your Ospreys
Happy Summer, faculty! As the summer semester has begun, it's 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 Sessions I, II, IV, and the EDUC session is to be completed by Tuesday, May 26. The process for Summer Session III is to be completed by Monday, July 6. 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.
On This Day: National Notebook Day 📓
Whether it’s meeting notes, story ideas, grocery lists or the one brilliant thought you swear you’ll remember later, today is National Notebook Day.
Get your favorite writing utensil out for this small celebration of jotting things down before they vanish into the abyss.
UPCOMING EVENTS
💻 Professional Development Opportunities
🖼️ Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Now-May 22: "What Does it Mean to be an American" exhibit
May 27:Jersey Shorecast
June 3-5:Second Biennial Mid-Atlantic Intergenerational Conference
June 10:Dr. Yitzhak Sharon Retirement Reception
June 11:Business is Great When We Gather Downtown!
June 13:18th Annual G Larry James Legacy Bike Ride
June 16: Vera King Farris Documentary Screening
June 18: Alumni Achievement Awards 2026
