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

MAYS LANDING — The OceanFirst Foundation presented Atlantic Cape Community College with a generous $40,000 donation that will go towards providing 40, $1,000 scholarships to Atlantic Cape students during a ceremony at the Mays Landing campus on Thursday, December 7.

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, Ed Geletka, Stephanie Toal and Katherine Durante, as well as a dozen Atlantic Cape scholarship recipients for the check presentation.

“We are very happy that you are here today. This is a great opportunity for our students and we really appreciate OceanFirst’s generosity in helping our students,” said Gaba, who praised OceanFirst’s numerous available careers. “There are so many careers that are available including marketing, communications and cybersecurity.”

Gaba suggested to the students in attendance that they should take advantage of the internships that OceanFirst offers to explore career paths and get hands-on experience.

Since the inception of this partnership in 2017, the OceanFirst Foundation has provided $320,000 in donations to Atlantic Cape, which has awarded $1,000 scholarships to 320 incoming students to the college.

“OceanFirst Foundation is committed to supporting Atlantic Cape Community College and its student scholars. Since 2017, we’ve awarded more than $3.7 million in scholarships to students attending one of our nine partner schools, including $320,000 in scholarships to Atlantic Cape students. We look forward to continuing this work in 2024,” said Katherine Durante, Executive Director, OceanFirst Foundation.

The OceanFirst Foundation began in 1996 and they have awarded more than $46 million in grants for endeavors, 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.

The scholarship recipients in attendance were all very thankful for the opportunities that their $1,000 awards will provide for their academic futures.

“I am just very thankful that I got this scholarship in the first place. It’s very hard to get scholarships nowadays. The standards are very high for a reason. I am just very fortunate that I was able to reach that criteria and make my college experience a lot more affordable,” said Mark DaGrossa, a freshman Video Game Design major from Egg Harbor City.

“This scholarship means a lot to me because it is giving me the opportunity to continue my education here so I may eventually graduate and transfer to Stockton University,” said Daniella Contreras, a sophomore Business major from Hammonton.

“Getting this scholarship is going to help me continue my education here so I can go to Rowan University,” said Nayeli Lopez, a sophomore Communications major from Pleasantville.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.