Stockton News - May 29, 2025
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Research Project Empowers Youth to Document Their Communities
Following a semester-long research project aimed at empowering underserved communities and exploring academic resilience, photos taken by Atlantic City youth were displayed in two exhibits in late April.
According to Assistant Professor of Psychology Nordia Scott, the “Photovoice” project follows a community-based participatory action research methodology that uses qualitative research and photography to “enable people to identify, represent and strive to enhance their community.”
Through the lens of fourth- and fifth-graders enrolled in the Stanley Holmes Village Homework Completion Program, Stockton students then analyzed factors that either impeded or facilitated students’ motivation to pursue and excel in education.
“The project's aim was to shed light on ways to improve community-level conditions that are related to the academic resilience of the young people who live in Stanley Holmes Village,” Scott said.
Picture Stockton…Digging for Clues to the Past
When students enroll in Bobbi Hornbeck’s Archaeological Field Methods course, they become project collaborators for the Museum of Cape May County’s Digging History Project.
The museum has questions about the property’s past, and students get hands-on experience digging for the answers.
The museum is situated on land that was part of the Indigenous Lenapehoking territory and includes the colonial era Cresse-Holmes House, a barn and a research library.
In his time, the property owner, John Holmes, was the second wealthiest person in the county, a financier of privateer ships in the Revolutionary War and a co-owner of at least one salt work in Cape May County, but Hornbeck suspects there is more to his story.
“We're looking for evidence of maybe a merchant store that sold goods that were necessary during the war like iron, or nails, or musket, or maybe he was involved in ship building on his property,” she said.
Living Learning Communities Build Bonds Beyond Classroom
Starting college can be exciting, but also daunting. At Stockton, a newly revived residential initiative is helping first-year students find their footing, their people and their purpose.
Formerly known as Themed Living Communities, the reimagined Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are designed to create intentional spaces where students live together in the same dormitory halls, learn with one another in the same first-year seminars, and grow together as individuals.
Now piloting with three focused communities, the updated LLC model prioritizes student connection, retention and success through shared experiences and support.
FRAME-WORTHY
Staff Bash Brings the Fun —Rain or Shine
Staff gathered May 22 to celebrate the end of the academic year with food, music, ice cream and, yes, a mechanic bull, at the 2nd Annual Multi-Union BBQ held in the Campus Center Event Room. Fun was had by all despite the cooler temps and rainy weather.
📷 Check out more photos on flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Instagram: Transfer Jam may have been a little rainy, but that didn’t stop 71 potential future Ospreys from flying in!🦅
Facebook: RE-CAP of the most cap-tivating grad looks! Swipe through to see some of our favorite caps from graduation day!
X: Pedal for a purpose! Join us for the Stockton University GLJ Legacy Bike Ride!
FROM THE SIDELINES
Avagnano & Gmitter Chosen ABCA/Rawlings All-Region
Two baseball teammates Nick Avagnano and Joe Gmitter were selected to the ABCA/Rawlings Region 4 Third Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Avagnano and Gmitter added the all-region recognition to their NJAC Second Team honors after helping Stockton to a 19-19 overall record, including seven conference wins this spring.
Avagnano, who played at least one game at five positions (C, 1B, 3B, RF, DH), led the Ospreys and tied the school record with 44 runs. The junior batted .373 with 53 hits and 36 RBIs, leading the team in doubles (12), home runs (6), slugging percentage (.599), on-base percentage (.471), and OPS (1.070). He ranked in the NJAC top 10 in nine categories and started all 38 games.
Gmitter, a junior transfer from Mercer County College, led Stockton in batting average (.405), hits (60), and RBIs (44), becoming just the fifth Osprey with a 60-hit season. His RBI total tied for the third most in program history. Gmitter added 11 doubles, one triple, two homers, and 19 runs while hitting safely in 30 of 37 games played.
Both players tied for the team lead with a 14-game reached base streak.
Kass Nets Fourth Career All-American Honor
Stockton juniorKayla Kass became an All-American for the fourth time in her career by finishing seventh in the final of the 800m at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, May 24. The NCAA Championships took place at SPIRE Academy.
Kass ran a time of 2:09.21 that was the second fastest in a career that spans a total of 36 800m races (17 outdoor, 19indoor) so far. The junior qualified for a First Team All-America spot by finishing in the top eight at the NCAA Championships. Just five hundredths of a second separated Kass from fifth place.
Kass qualified for All-American status for the fourth time in her career (2024-25 indoor 800m, 2024-25 outdoor 800m), becoming the fourth Osprey female ever to earn at least four All-American honors in track & field (Kim Marino, Lisa Shepherd, Chelsea Vaughan) and first to do so in running events.
Kass earned two First Team All-American honors this year, placing sixth in the 800m at the NCAA Indoor Championships and seventh in the 800m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
SIPET Institute Focuses on Teaching and Peer Observation
The Stockton Institute for Peer Evaluation of Teaching (SIPET) is a three-day intensive summer institute focused on assisting faculty in completing required peer observations of colleagues to promote effective teaching practices at Stockton.
Held May 20–22, it was facilitated byKathy Klein, executive director of the Center for Teaching & Learning Design; Liz Shobe, professor of Psychology, andMeg White, professor of Education.
This year’s participants included Lauren Balasco, associate professor of Political Science; Bradley Forrest, associate professor of Mathematics; Christy Goodnight, assistant professor of Business Studies, Management; Quynh Nguyen, assistant professor of Computer Information Systems; Nancy Reddy, associate professor of Writing and First-Year Studies; Erin Sappio, assistant professor of Counseling; Dan Tulino, assistant professor of Education; Hannah Ueno, professor of Art; and Chenyan Xu, associate professor of Computer Information Systems.
Participant satisfaction was high, based on a post-institute survey. Comments included, "I really enjoyed the structure of the program. The Blackboard course was clearly outlined. The daily agendas were clear and followed. The resources provided on Blackboard were useful. The simulations allowed us to put the ideas into practice and receive real time feedback on the process," and, “The most useful aspects of the institute were the simulations, the models, and the interaction with colleagues. Further, the organization and modalities of the institute were well planned and even better executed.” Another participant stated, “I will always remember the overarching guideline — we do observation to support our peers.”
Additional information and resources about peer observation at Stockton are located on the Center for Teaching & Learning Design website.
Alumna Visits Woodstown Elementary for ‘Meet the Artist’ Series
Artist Tania Pomales visited Woodstown Elementary School for a “Meet the Artist” series, sponsored by the Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University. Pomales is a New Jersey-based Puerto Rican artist and a Stockton alumna (’12, BFA in painting with program distinction).
On May 21, she kicked off the programming by presenting to 160 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. She demonstrated, step by step, how to draw a portrait. Students drew along with Pomales and were able to ask her questions about her experience as an artist. Her message to students emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in their own art:
“Growing up, on TV and in video games, I didn’t see any characters that looked like me. It’s so important to create art that people can identify with.”
This event is one of many leading up to the Woodstown School District’s Juneteenth celebration. Sixteen more presentations, also sponsored by the Noyes, will continue this week for groups of 30 middle and high school students in the Woodstown schools. Pop-up exhibitions are also installed at each Woodstown school, featuring diverse selections from the Noyes permanent collection.
Read the SCOSA June Newsletter
Read the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA)'s June newsletter for interesting upcoming events and newly added programming.
OSPREY NOTES
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. If you are teaching a course(s) in Summer Sessions I, II, IV, V and/or VI, please complete the Academic Engagement process ASAP. The process for Summer Session III is to be completed by Thursday, July 3. The Office of Financial Aid is in the process of using this information to make adjustments to student financial aid disbursements based on each student's confirmed number of credits.
Each instructor is 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: Today is National Paperclip Day—celebrating a small but mighty office hero!
Did you know the original paperclip design dates back to 1899, created by William Middlebrook? Remarkably, it has remained largely unchanged ever since.
Take this as a sign to finally tackle that paper pile… or simply admire your stationery stash. Here are some unconventional ways to use paperclips.
And let’s not forget Microsoft’s infamous virtual assistant, Clippy(officially named Clippit), who made his debut in 1997. Although his swan song came in 2001 due to his intrusive nature, he remains an iconic figure in tech history.
POLLING ALL OSPREYS
Thanks to everyone who took part in our BBQ bite poll last week! Ospreys were definitely excited to get their grills out. A variety of savory snacks got some love, but 🍖 classic BBQ ribs came in first at 36.4%. We had a tie between 🍗 grilled chicken and 🌽 corn on the cob at 27.3%, and then 🍢 grilled veggies at 9.1%. If you ask me, they all belong on one plate! Happy grilling and chilling, Ospreys. I swear summer is coming.
UPCOMING EVENTS
👩💻Professional Development Opportunities
🖼️Art Exhibits hosted by the Noyes Museum of Art
Now - Aug. 1: Art Exhibit: The Dean’s Showcase
June 5:🏆Alumni Achievement Awards
June 14:🚲 G. Larry James Legacy Bike Ride, Stockton Reunion at Bar-A
July 16-30: Children’s Summer Playhouse
July 17:🍺Young Alumni Pour & Explore: Dr. Brewlittle's Beer Co.
July 18: Pinelands Summer Short Course
