Engage NJ Announces Nine Students as Kesselman Fellows

June 8, 2023

The Food Assistance Program has sites in both the Galloway and Atlantic City campuses.

Galloway, N.J. — Engage NJ selected the first Kesselman Student Fellows for the Advancement of Democracy, including a team of three Stockton University students.

The fellowship program was established this spring and named in recognition of retiring Stockton President Harvey Kesselman, who has been a staunch advocate for the advancement of human rights in New Jersey.

The Kesselman Student Fellowships empower teams of students to work on local community projects that advance democracy by finding solutions to connect people across differences and by removing barriers to opportunity faced by individuals in local communities.

From Stockton University, Olivia Lovett of Somers Point, Lauren Whaley of Port Republic, and Andrea Sandoval of Freehold were selected for their project “Dignity and Access.” Their goal is to increase the resources of the Osprey Pantry, Stockton’s on-campus student pantry, to improve the overall health, well-being and dignity of the students it serves.

“I am very proud that the inaugural teams of Kesselman Fellows include Stockton students whose project will have a profound impact on our community,” said Kesselman, who is retiring June 30.

Teams from St. Peter’s University and Raritan Valley Community College were selected for projects that strive to preserve the cultural knowledge of immigrants and eliminate student food insecurity, respectively.

“We are putting our best foot forward to give these teams of Kesselman Fellows the support and kudos they deserve. They will carry the name with pride and purpose, while their $1,000 award will provide them with the financial resources to achieve their goals,” said Saul Petersen, executive director of Engage NJ.

Each team will conduct their project during the 2023-2024 academic year while being provided opportunities for professional pathway coaching and skills development opportunities, including consensus-building, public speaking and networking.

Engage NJ promotes student action to advance democracy while developing the skills and competencies to thrive in 21^st-century life and work.

About Stockton's Food Assistance Program

The Stockton Food Assistance Program was launched in spring 2015 as a collaborative effort between the Student Senate and the Board of Trustees to help a growing number of students who reported experiencing varying levels of food insecurity.

The Food Assistance Program supports Stockton students through access to its on-campus food pantries, dining dollars and other community resources. Currently enrolled students are eligible to participate in the Food Assistance Program. Upon completing the enrollment form, students can visit both campus pantries.