OceanFirst Foundation Donates $40,000 to Atlantic Cape to Provide for Student Scholarships

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College was the recipient of a generous $40,000 donation from the OceanFirst Foundation that will go towards providing student scholarships during a ceremony at the Mays Landing campus on Tuesday, November 22.

Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba and Atlantic Cape Foundation Executive Director Jean McAlister were joined by OceanFirst Bank and Foundation representatives Dr. Robert Previti, Bill Whelan, Ed Geletka, Jeff Ropiecki, Stephanie Toal and Katherine Durante, as well as some of the Atlantic Cape scholarship recipients for the check presentation.

Over the past six years of the partnership, the OceanFirst Foundation has provided $280,000 in donations to Atlantic Cape, which has awarded $1,000 scholarships to 280 incoming students to the college.

“We, along with the students as they pursue their different careers and educational goals, are very thankful and glad that you can be with us today to honor us with this donation,” Gaba said.

Durante, executive director of the OceanFirst Foundation, stated that since the Foundation began in 1996 they have awarded $46 million in grants for many efforts, such as scholarships, housing, health and wellness, youth development, education, and the quality of life in arts and culture within the communities they serve.

OceanFirst partners with nine colleges and universities across New Jersey. Durante continued, “this year alone we will award about $400,000 in scholarships to students across our entire program and we are really happy to be able to do that.”

Student scholarship recipient Ariqua Gilliss of Galloway is a Business Administration major in her first year at Atlantic Cape after returning to school at age 28.

“There was a giant pause between high school and my two-year degree where I became a mother and I have been married for nine years,” Gilliss said. “I was originally a full-time high school math teacher and now I am full-time in school. I am honored to be here and thank you for giving me the opportunity to receive this scholarship.”

Hannah Showalter of Marmora is a Psychology major in her second year of college, her first at Atlantic Cape after a brief respite. “I had to stop (going to college) due to financial reasons and I wasn’t sure if I could get back. This scholarship has allowed me to continue my education and I hope to go to a four-year college and get my degree in mathematics and do some psychology research,” Showalter said.

About Atlantic Cape Community College