Stockton News - May 31, 2024
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Five Students Receive Spring Board of Trustees Fellowships
The five spring recipients of the Board of Trustees Fellowship for Distinguished Students were announcedat the May 1 meeting.
Each student will receive a $1,000 award to support their projects.
“We have an impressive slate of projects and endeavors in this current crop of Board of Trustee Fellows. From an esports conference to an artificial intelligence study to marine science research, we have really captured a wide array of remarkable high impact practices,” said Ian Boie, director of Academic Achievement Programs. “I am very excited, along with many others at Stockton, to see the results of these projects at some point in fall 2024.”
The fellowship program was established by the board in 1986 and supports student-initiated projects of undergraduate research and/or creative work in keeping with the educational philosophy and mission of Stockton.
The spring cohort includes Taina Altagracia-Paris, senior, Literature/Secondary Education;
Jesus Causing, senior, Business Administration; Gabrielle Czyzewski, sophomore, Marine
Sciences; Riya Goyal, junior, Computer Science and Mathematics; and Michaela Spain,
junior, Liberal Studies Education.
Exhibit on Area Drag Culture Debuts at Noyes Museum
A bold new exhibit just in time for Pride Month titled “Drag is Not a Crime” challenges societal norms and celebrates the vibrant world of drag as a form of self-expression and empowerment.
“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to showcase the drag community, a vibrant and essential part of our society and queer culture. Our exhibit blends history with glamour to educate and entertain. Its rich legacy and dazzling vignettes will captivate viewers while highlighting the importance of diversity, acceptance and self-expression,” said Maximilian Rodio, president of Hammonton Pride.
The free exhibit, which will be displayed at the Noyes Museum of Art at Stockton University Galleries at Kramer Hall from June 4 to Sept. 29, will feature a collection of visual artwork, fashion designs, photography and performance pieces, and it seeks to dismantle prejudice and stereotypes surrounding drag culture.
Alumni Achievement Awards Highlight the Power of Community
Stockton honored10 of its outstanding graduates during the annual Alumni Achievement Awards on May 16. Nearly 200 guests celebrated the diverse accomplishments and contributions of the honorees to the university, their communities and professions.
“We are proud to shine a spotlight on Stockton alumni making an impact throughout the region,” said Dan Nugent, Stockton’s vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the Stockton University Foundation. “These extraordinary Ospreys highlight the very best of Stockton and what we hope for all our students as they leave campus and head off to embark on their next chapters.”
More than 65 nominations were submitted for this year’s awards, which recognize the ways Stockton alumni make a difference both on campus and beyond. The Stockton Alumni Council on Engagement (ACE) reviews the nominations and selects recipients.
Grants Reaffirm Enterprise’s Commitment to Career Readiness
Through providing networking opportunities such as the annual Career and Internship Fairs, reviewing hundreds of resumes and perfecting pitches at networking boot camps and hosting various employers on campus, Stockton's Career Education & Development (CED) officeworks to prepare students for their career journey following graduation.
During the 2023-24 school year, these activities were enhanced by a $1,500 grant from the Enterprise Mobility Foundation, which works to build and support communities by supporting charitable causes such as higher education. Due to their successful collaboration this year, the Enterprise Mobility Foundation awarded a second $5,000 grant, which will support the 2024-25 school year.
According to Dayna DeFiore, assistant director of the CED, their partnership with Enterprise Mobility has been consistent over the last decade, and she praised them for always being “a great partner to work with” on campus.
“They don’t just attend career fairs — they donate their time and talents to support our students in developing (National Association of Colleges and Employers) career readiness competencies that will help them in their post-graduate career journey,” DeFiore said.
SPOTLIGHT ON: NAZ ONEL
Research Wins First Place at International Conference
Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be a driving force in news headlines and technology almost daily. This type of simulation is not going anywhere anytime soon, and one Stockton professor's research on AI as it relates to consumer behavior and sustainability recently won first place for the Societal Impact Award at the MBAA International Conference in Chicago.
Naz Onel, associate professor of Business Administration at Stockton, shares why this research is so important and the significance of receiving this type of award on an international level.
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Facebook: What is your favorite memory at Lake Fred?
X: If you haven’t caught the latest episode of Think Tank with Steve Adubato, it features yours truly talking about Stockton, college affordability, civility and more.
Instagram: Views from our AC campus dorms ☀️🌊
FROM THE SIDELINES
Women’s Rowing Christens Dr. Stewart Farrell Shell
Stockton Women's Rowing held a ceremony at the Brigantine Beach Rowing Club on May 18 to christen the program's newest shell. The boat was named Dr. Stewart Farrell in recognition of the retired faculty member who helped found the Marine Science program in the early days of the University's existence.
The boat is a 2023 Vespoli VHP 8+ that is rowed by the Stockton women's varsity eight, which recently earned the bronze medal in the DIII V8 Grand Final at the famous Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the nation.
The donation to secure the boat was made by Jack Scheurich, a student of Dr. Farrell's at Stockton in the 1970's. Scheurich is the owner of The Cove Restaurant, a local eatery in Brigantine that has supported the Stockton rowing program and the Battle of Brigantine regatta for the past two years.
Miller Chosen ABCA All-Region 4 Second Team
Junior Reece Miller was chosen ABCA/Rawlings All-Region 4 Second Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association for the 2024 season.
Miller added the all-region accolade to the NJAC Fireman of the Year award that he received at the beginning of May. He went 2-0 with eight saves, 26 strikeouts and a 2.91 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched as Stockton's closer this spring. Miller won or saved 10 of Stockton's 22 victories (45.5%).
Miller led the NJAC and ranked sixth in NCAA Division III in saves. His save total was the second-highest for a season in Stockton history. The righty did not allow a run in 12 of his 17 appearances overall, and he ended the season with a scoreless streak of 6.2 innings in his last seven appearances of the year.
Miller moved into second in Stockton history with 11 career saves in two seasons as an Osprey.
Kass Earns Second Team All-America Spot at NCAA Meet
Sophomore Kayla Kass finished ninth out of 22 runners in the prelims of the 800m run at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Kass ran a time of 2:10.92 and qualified as a Second Team All-American.
Kass finished third in her heat of eight runners. With the top two in each heat plus the next two fastest times overall qualifying for the final, Kass had the top non-qualifying time and missed earning a spot in the final by just three tenths of a second.
Kass entered the NCAA Championships ranked 11th in the nation with a school-record time of 2:09.39 in April. She made her second straight appearance at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships after finishing 19th as a freshman last year.
Kass earned a First Team All-America spot in the indoor 800m in March and also competed in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in the fall. For the outdoor season, she was USTFCCCA All-Region with the top 800m time in the Metro Region plus NJAC First Team in the 800m and NJAC Honorable Mention in the 4x400 relay.
IN MEMORIAM
Stockton Athletics mourns the loss of former volleyball coach Eric Illjes, who passed away over Memorial Day weekend due to cancer. Illjes was instrumental
in building the Stockton volleyball program, first as an assistant coach under Sue Newcomb for six seasons before succeeding Newcomb as head coach in 1999.
Illjes was the head coach of the Ospreys for seven seasons from 1999-2005, posting an impressive 157-90 overall record (.636 winning percentage). He was selected NJAC Coach of the Year three times (1999, 2000, 2005) and led the Ospreys to 20 or more victories in six of his seven seasons as head coach.
Illjes steered Stockton to NJAC championships and NCAA Tournament berths in 1999 and 2000, his first two seasons as the head coach. The NCAA tournament appearance in 1999 was the program's first. Illjes led Stockton a step further in 2000 when the Ospreys topped King's College (Pa.) in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional for the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
"To play for someone so knowledgeable in the sport and someone who loved the game as much as I did, made me want to be a better player," said Stockton Athletics Hall of Famer Whitney (Verduin) Drown, who was a two-time NJAC Player of the Year and 2002 NJAC Rookie of the Year in four seasons playing for Illjes.
"I can't help but keep picturing coach's warm smile from the sideline. He was always so supportive and proud of the players that he coached. He truly made Stockton my home away from home. He was my on-campus dad, always looking after me both on and off the court. For that, I will always be so grateful for Eric and will cherish our memories together forever," Drown added.
Stockton went 152-75 (.670 winning percentage) in the six years from 1993-98 that Illjes served as an assistant coach under Newcomb. The 1996 squad won the program's first NJAC title and set a school record with 32 victories that remains to this day, having been tied by the 2015 team but never topped.
Illjes resigned in December 2005 and was succeeded by current Stockton head coach Allison Walker. He remained connected to the program in the years that followed by hosting the Ospreys at his Ocean City residence for breakfast following their annual preseason run on the boardwalk.
"As my coach, I've never grown more as a player. He challenged me and pushed me to be the player I was then and in the future," said Alicia Trombley, who played for Illjes in 2001-02 and now serves as Associate Director of Development at Stockton. "He was a wonderful coach, and even when not coaching, a part of the Stockton culture and family."
The Office of Human Resources shared the following message with the Stockton community
on May 31:
We are sad to learn of the passing of retired Associate Professor of Health Sciences Carole-Rae Reed.
Reed, an Absecon resident, passed on May 23 at the age of 73. She was a member of the Stockton family from 2013 until her retirement in July of 2021.
Our thoughts go out to her family, as well as her friends and colleagues here at Stockton, especially those in the School of Health Sciences.
Services will be held this evening and tomorrow. Please see the obituaryfor more information.
OSPREY NOTES
🎬 Your Next Eye on Stockton is Here!
The semester may be over, but there's so much to celebrate and look forward to! The latest installment of Eye on Stockton - our video series recapping some of the great things happening at the University - highlights the second half of the spring semester and our plans for the summer.
Read the SCOSA June Newsletter
Read the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA)'s June newsletter for interesting upcoming events and newly added programming.
Fun Fact Friday: Today happens to be National Smile Day. Smiling releases endorphins, can help lower
blood pressure, relieve stress, and is contagious! Take today to share a smile with
a friend, family member or even a stranger. That feeling of instant happiness creates
a bright spot for someone else (and you), and better yet, is FREE. Thanks for coming
to my TED Talk. Smile on. 😊
UPCOMING EVENTS
👩💻 Professional Development Opportunities
June 1: 🚲 16th Annual G. Larry James Legacy Ride
June 15:EQUILIBRIO
June 17: Juneteenth Celebration
June 28: 🌲 8th Annual Pinelands Summer Short Course
July 5-26: Atlantic City Walking Tours
July 10-Aug. 7: Children’s Summer Playhouse
