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First-Generation Students Honored at New Pinning Ceremony

Students at last year’s National First-Generation Week Reception learned just how large of a community they have at ��˾�������� when Christopher Catching, vice president for Student Affairs, shared that around 50% of the students here identify as first-generation students.

“Being first-generation is part of the DNA here,” Catching said. “This institution was founded in 1969 and officially opened in 1971, and it’s always served first-generation and post-traditional students. Based on this year’s numbers, about 4,700 students identify as first-gen.”

First-generation students are students whose parents or immediate families don’t currently hold a four-year college/university degree. This can impact one’s college experience, as explained by Priya Parikh, a student and treasurer for First Ospreys.

“Being a first-gen student comes with many struggles, some of which include being unaware of college processes and filing the FAFSA,” Parikh said.

However, being a first-generation student at ��˾�������� doesn’t have to be a struggle but an identity to be proud of. After getting support from offices such as Career Education and Development and Financial Aid, both Parikh and Aleyshka Barbosa, president of First Ospreys, can attest to that.

“Being first-generation has been more of a strength of mine here at ��˾�������� and our campus culture,” Parikh said. “Being able to present your first-generation identity on our campus is something to be proud of, and I hope you all leave here today feeling proud to wear it on your sleeve.”

“I hold (being a part of First Ospreys) super dear to my heart and, my friends will tell you, being first gen is one of my biggest identities,” Barbosa said. “I’m very proud of it, and I hope that you all can feel how proud I am of you all. This is a big thing to celebrate.”

Catching’s sentiments about the reception mirrored Barbosa’s, as he considered it a “momentous occasion.”

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Career Fair Returns in Person

“I came here with five resumes, and now I’m going to have zero left.”

Dharamavtar “D.A.” Khullar of Galloway, like most of the students who attended the Career Fair last October, had a successful time meeting different employers and organizations looking to hire ��˾�������� students.

The job fair was Khullar’s first one; he usually has part-time and seasonal employment, but he’s now looking for something more permanent that encompasses his interests in either medical malpractice law or developmental psychology. He says that he was unsure about what the fair was going to be like, but six business cards later, he is happy to share that it has been very beneficial.

“It went better than I expected,” Khullar said while filling out an application. “Everybody was super nice, and it’s been really good. I’m hoping everything pans out.”

Ashlee Roberts, then acting director of the Career Education and Development office, said the office implemented changes to the fair’s structure to make it run smoother for both students and employers. This was the first in-person fair since February 2020.

The biggest change was shifting the dress code from suits required to business casual.

“It is important our students know the language of dress codes and what they entail, but we also must foster their ability to assess the expectations of their chosen career fields,” Roberts said. “Everyone isn’t expecting a suit. This change increased access to more students by removing a potential financial barrier and supported earlier exposure for first and second-year students.”

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Inaugural Conference Demonstrates Strength of Student Leaders

The first cohort of the Cultural Engagement Ospreys (CEO) interns held the inaugural Inclusive Leadership Conference on April 14 in the Campus Center.

The conference included live music, free sessions on thrifting and headshots, an interactive fair about the art of origami, henna and gaming, and other educational sessions throughout the day. In addition, the conference included two keynote speakers who are also Educational Opportunity Fund alumni — Anyelis Cordero, CEO of Propel on Purpose Coaching, and Akeem Lloyd, CEO of A Leadership Journey. 

The conference also provided students from Ocean County College, Rowan College of Burlington County and Hudson Community College an opportunity to check out ��˾�������� University and the programs/initiatives that are offered here on campus. 

Ana Edmondson, assistant vice president of Student Transitions, Access and Retention Programs, supported the students in organizing the conference, which she said has prepared them for the world after graduation by developing their National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career competencies.

“The conference schedule has been organized in such a way to be dynamic, immersive, interactive and entertaining to excite students to learn more about this crucial topic on diversity and inclusion and educate the attendees on the value of becoming inclusive leaders,” Edmondson said. “The CEO Interns are strengthening their skills in communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology.” 

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Gilchrist Urges Students to Move Forward Fearlessly

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear, “WTF?”

Well, for motivational speaker Erika Gilchrist, it’s her brand and the mantra that she created to empower herself and others: women thriving fearlessly.

The fearlessness and ease that Gilchrist exudes were palpable – the students, staff and faculty who came to listen to her story in the Campus Center Board of Trustees Room on March 20 were enthralled with her confident presence.

“Erika came out, and she helped everybody feel more comfortable and empowered from being her authentic self,” Sean Trin, a Finance major who attended the program, said. “She got everybody laughing and that really set the tone for the rest of the presentation.”

The presentation, “Moving Forward Fearlessly,” was the second part of the power-based personal violence (PBPV) awareness series created by Tierra Houston of the Women’s Gender & Sexuality Center (WGSC).

In her talk, Gilchrist began her story with her early years of struggle: she was orphaned by age 3, sexually assaulted and abused while under the care of her grandparents, suffered from houselessness and domestic abuse at the hands of two partners, and even survived a suicide attempt.

“Y’all, I was out of here,” Gilchrist explained. “I had mentally and emotionally said goodbye to my family and everything – I was done. But when I came to, I said to myself, ‘I don’t want to do that again.’ My life actually started that day. When I came to and my head lifted, only one word came to my mind: ‘unstoppable.’ That moment is when the unstoppable woman was born, and I had a lot of work to do.”

Highlights from ��˾��������'s Veteran Community

��˾�������� Again Receives Military Friendly Designation

��˾�������� earned top honors for its outreach to military veterans by receiving the Military Friendly School Gold designation.

It’s the second year in a row the school accepted a Military Friendly designation, but the first time it received the Gold award. The designation is for the 2023-24 year in the small public school category. Last year, the school was awarded Silver status. The designation comes from the Military Friendly Schools survey, which is the longest-running and most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students.

“This designation proves ��˾��������’s continuing commitment to supporting military veterans seeking higher education and providing them with resources to be successful,” said Michael Barany, director of the Military and Veterans Success Center at ��˾��������. “I’m especially thrilled that ��˾�������� has been upgraded to Gold status for this very prestigious designation.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly Schools Awards designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-24 survey and only 250 schools were selected for “Gold” award status for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs.

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Picture ��˾��������... Introducing Our Military Community in Portraits

William Cousins, a first-year student, brought an X-ray showing the bar of titanium in his hip. 

Karl Schute, a senior History major, brought a stack of century-old books and a Civil War-era Union Army dress hat adorned with a brass infantry bugle that he bought in Gettysburg. 

Kenia R. Euba-Ruiz, a Master of Arts in Counseling graduate student, brought her son, Arturo, her mother, Carmelita, and a pile of books on therapy, aging and counseling. 

Last October, 36 students and employees came to the Military and Veteran Success Center to have a portrait taken for the Faces of ��˾��������'s Military Community Photograph Project.  

Michael Barany, director of the Military and Veteran Success Center, asked that participants wear or bring something that defines who they are and shares a piece of their military experience. 

"There are stereotypes of what a veteran looks like. We don't all look alike. We are all different in our own way, and people might not even realize we are veterans," he said. 

Barany brought his Stetson cav hat that he wore during his time in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Scout. 

Cousins used his X-ray to show us that not all disabilities are visible. 

Schute is a history buff and couldn't wait to share a few of his favorite antiques that illustrate U.S. military history. 

Euba-Ruiz is a mother, veteran and a student and wanted to show how she balances her life. 

"I wanted to show off our military-affiliated community," said Barany, who is also working to create a faculty and staff military affinity group. 

There are some people who have been working here for years, and not everyone knows about their military service, he explained. 

��˾�������� employee veterans work in University Advancement and the School of Business to the Campus Police Department and the Learning Access Program.

The images were on display during Veterans Week and are archived online.

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Picture ��˾��������... Honoring its Military Families

Sarah Wyatt, a Health Science major, came to the Military and Veteran Success Center in F-105 with her commencement cap and a framed portrait of her father, Mark Wyatt, pictured as a young man smiling in his brown leather aviator jacket and U.S. Navy service hat. 

Wyatt's late father wouldn’t get to see her graduate, but she proudly wore her cap and held his photo as she sat down for a portrait session honoring both her father's service and her own sacrifices as a child of a military service member. 

April is the Month of the Military Child, designated by the Department of Defense, to recognize the sacrifices and the challenges that military families overcome. ��˾��������'s Office of Military and Veteran Services invited military dependents and their parents from the ��˾�������� community to share their stories by posing for a portrait.

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Student Wins Competitive Scholarship to Study in Greece

As sophomore Eline Xia researched ways to help with studying abroad expenses, she came across the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program awarded by the U.S. Department of State.

When the Political Science and Sustainability double major from Egg Harbor Township learned it was open to all U.S. citizens, she immediately thought, “There’s no way I’m going to get it,” so she didn’t apply.

However, after receiving several encouraging emails from Jiangyuan “JY” Zhou in ��˾��������’s Office of Global Engagement, Xia decided to give it a shot. In about a week, she pulled together everything she needed and submitted her application.

Out of the 30 ��˾�������� students who worked on applications for the highly competitive grant, 10 successfully submitted applications. Xia was the only ��˾�������� student to win one.

“I felt a sigh of relief and also really, really excited,” Xia said when she found out she was awarded a scholarship. “A bunch of first-generation students and students of color don’t get to study abroad for a multitude of reasons — a lot of it being financial backing — so that was just another burden lifted off me.”

Xia arrived in Greece in January to start her spring 2023 semester abroad. She studied at the American College of Greece in Athens until early May.

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Engage NJ Announces Nine Students as Kesselman Fellows

Engage NJ selected the first Kesselman Student Fellows for the Advancement of Democracy, including a team of three ��˾�������� students.

The fellowship program was established last spring and named in recognition of former ��˾�������� 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 ��˾��������, 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, ��˾��������’s on-campus student pantry, to improve the overall health, well-being and dignity of the students it serves.