Stockton News - May 15, 2026
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
Persistence. Leadership. Passion. These are traits of Stockton University’s Class of 2026.
Each of the nearly 2,000 students graduating May 12 (Master's/Doctoral) & May 15 (Bachelor's) has their own story of obstacles, hardship and adversity that led to the success of earning their Stockton degree.
Here we spotlight 12 of these students and congratulate the Class of 2026!
Catch the 2:30 p.m. ceremony on YouTube Watch Ceremony Live:here. Soar higher, Ospreys! 🦅
Master’s and Doctoral Graduates Told to Lead Through Service and Community
When Richard Maung, pictured left, started classes at Stockton for his master’s degree in Physical Therapy,
he had no idea he would eventually run a nationwide network of more than 600 clinics.
“I had no idea whether I would make any mark on my profession or in my community,” said the clinical director and partner of Ivy Rehab Network at the Stockton University Doctoral and Master’s Commencement Ceremony on May 12. “And I certainly had no idea how many individual lives I would be fortunate to impact in a meaningful way.”
Maung, who graduated from Stockton in 2001 with his master’s and later in 2009 with his doctorate in Physical Therapy, told the graduates that Stockton, “an institution that celebrates knowledge and builds a culture of excellence,” has equipped them to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
“What I see in front of me today are individuals who will seize the day by embracing opportunity. I see leaders who will innovate, inspire others to be their very best, and raise the bar through owning their performance,” he said.
The ceremony, at the university’s Sports Center, honored more than 420 graduates.
📸 View more photos on Flickr.
Johnson & Johnson Donates $100K to Fund Nursing Scholarship
Stockton announced on May 12 that Johnson & Johnson has donated $100,000 to the Stockton University Foundation to fund a new Nursing scholarship and expand programs addressing food and housing insecurity among students.
Half of the donation from the New Brunswick-based pharmaceutical and medical technology company will establish the new Johnson & Johnson Nursing Scholarship, while $25,000 will support student housing essentials and another $25,000 will help fund the university’s food assistance program.
“When you invest in nursing scholarships, food security and housing stability, you are not supporting something on the margins. You are strengthening the very foundation of student success,” said Stockton President Joe Bertolino. “We believe students cannot thrive academically without stability, dignity and a sense of belonging. Through Stockton Cares and other efforts, we work every day to ensure our students have what they need, not just to persist, but to succeed.”
President Bertolino also thanked Johnson & Johnson representatives for believing in the university’s students, about half of whom are first generation and Pell Grant recipients.
FRAME-WORTHY
Cheers to Our Ospreys
Spring graduates raised a glass to themselves and their accomplishments at Grad Toast on April 24 in the Campus Center Event Room. Ospreys enjoyed raffle prize drawings, light refreshments and opportunities to connect with Alumni Relations.
Samantha Whitehurst, director of Content Strategy at Stockton, served as toastmaster for graduates earning master’s and doctoral degrees, and Ahnjeles Maldonado served as toastmaster for undergraduate students.
📸 View more photos on Flickr.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
InstaFred: That feeling when you hit 1,000 followers. 🔥
Facebook: Look no further than Lake Fred during the spring to watch ospreys diving for fish. Happy World Migratory Bird Day, Ospreys! 🦅
Instagram: What advice would you give your first-year self? 💙🦅
FROM THE SIDELINES
Stockton Earns First-Ever NCAA Tournament Berth
The softball team added to its season of firsts by earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth. The NCAA bid is yet another milestone for a team that entered the national rankings for the first time and won its first NJAC regular-season title this season.
Stockton will play in a four-team pod at No. 12-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. After Thursday’s opening game was postponed, the Ospreys will face UMass Dartmouth today at 1:30 p.m. The regional, which also includes host WPI and Albertus Magnus, follows a double-elimination format and continues through Sunday, if necessary.
Stockton qualified for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament with a No. 17 ranking in the NCAA Power Index on the strength of a 30-7 record, which marks the team’s highest win total since 2016, when the Ospreys won 32 games. Stockton began the 2026 campaign with 10 straight victories on the way to a 17-1 record in the first half of the season.
Stockton won the NJAC regular-season title for the first time with a 16-2 league record and entered the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll for the first time in school history as well. The Ospreys are currently ranked 18th in the NFCA national poll.
Follow the Ospreys live as they open NCAA Tournament play today at 1:30 p.m. 🥎
Seven Rowers Earn MARC Honors
Seven members of the women’s rowing team earned honors from the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference for the 2025-26 season. The Ospreys received three all-conference accolades and five all-academic laurels.
Senior Ashley Timm was chosen to the All-MARC First Team, while sophomore Olivia Wagner was selected to the All-MARC Second Team. Freshman Maddy Mehler was tabbed All-MARC Novice.
Wagner, seniors Megan Baldwin, Sydney Rowand and Reese Weirick, and junior Maria Fazio qualified for the MARC All-Academic Team.
To qualify for the MARC All-Academic Team, rowers must be sophomores or higher with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.50 and have raced in at least 75% of the team’s competitions. Fazio, Rowand and Weirick qualified for the MARC All-Academic Team for the second straight year, while Baldwin and Wagner were first-time honorees.
As the spring season wraps up, Ospreys are collecting honors, awards and postseason milestones across Stockton Athletics. 🏆 Check out the latest accomplishments and cheer them on. Go Ospreys!
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
Event Highlights Power of Cross-Generational Relationships
Stockton junior Kenny Robinson didn’t grow up with grandparents or many older adults in her life.
That’s why the Psychology major signed up for an intergenerational project with the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA) this spring. She joined several area seniors to read and discuss the book “Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals.”
“We shared so much wisdom, and I feel like everyone discussed how we all felt and how we learned from each other, which was really life changing,” said the Galloway native. “These are people you’re meeting and building a connection with and sharing sensitive things with. That was really important for me to get that perspective because I didn’t have that growing up.”
Robinson participated in a panel discussion with other Stockton students and seniors to talk about what they learned from a series of intergenerational projects during SCOSA’s annual Successful Aging Festival on May 8 in the Campus Center.
Several hundred people attended the festival, which featured a keynote by 70-year-old powerlifter James Maguireand about 60 exhibitors and vendors, including Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties and the Atlantic County Office on Aging.
📸 View more photos on Flickr.
OSPREY NOTES
Traffic Alerts for Lakeside Lane, Vera King Farris Drive Next Week
️ Campus community members should allow extra travel time next week due to two planned roadway projects on the Galloway campus.
Lakeside Lane will be temporarily closed to vehicle traffic from the Arts and Sciences Building through the I-Wing loading dock from Monday, May 18, through Thursday, May 21, to allow for deliveries related to the Library Learning Commons Project.
The closure will be in effect daily from 7:30 a.m. to noon. During this time, access through Lakeside Lane will be restricted and detours may be required. The Lakeside Lane parking lot will remain accessible through Lot 7.
In addition, guardrail repairs will take place on Vera King Farris Drive along the 30 mph curve on Monday, May 18. Police officers will be on site to assist with traffic control. Drivers should use caution, reduce speed and be prepared for possible delays.
Emergency access will be maintained during both projects. Visit the Facilities & Construction Project Alerts webpage for additional updates.
It’s Almost Time to Confirm Your Ospreys
Happy Summer, faculty! As the summer semester is about to begin, it's almost 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, V and VI 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.
Foodie Friday: National Chocolate Chip Day
May 15 is National Chocolate Chip Day — which feels fitting for a week full of sweet endings, proud families and one very large batch of new Stockton graduates.
Celebrate with an easy, no-bake chocolate chip cookie dough dip, perfect for graham crackers, vanilla wafers or whatever snack vehicle gets the job done.
POLLING ALL OSPREYS
Ospreys have spoken: According to last week’s poll, the ultimate must-have for commencement day is a pair of comfy shoes, earning 60% of the votes. A fully charged phone followed at 20%, with sunglasses at 12% and coffee at 7%. Tissues, apparently, were not a necessity. Bold choice.
Wishing our commencement day Ospreys all their must-haves and a fabulous day of celebration!
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 15: Undergraduate Commencement
May 16: Third Annual Stockton Maple Festival
May 20:Transfer Open House, Democratic 2nd Congressional District Debate, Factors that Impact Financial Aid
May 27: Jersey Shorecast
June 3-5: Second Biennial Mid-Atlantic Intergenerational Conference
June 10:Dr. Yitzhak Sharon Retirement Reception
June 13: 18th Annual G Larry James Legacy Bike Ride
June 16: Vera King Farris Documentary Screening
June 18: Alumni Achievement Awards 2026
