ĢƵ News - June 25, 2026
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
Students Receive First Levine-Gormley STEM Scholarships
Being called down to the principal’s office this month was unexpected for Atlantic County Institute of Technology seniors Sarah LoVulloand Shaina Mendonsa.
“The principal (Joseph Potkay) actually walked into my classroom, and I was kind of shocked by that,” said Mendonsa, who lives in Ventnor.
“I’m not typically a person to get called down, so I didn’t think I was in trouble, but then he said to close the door behind me, and I was like, ‘Well, now I may be in trouble,’” said LoVullo, of Absecon, with a chuckle.
But it was only good news for the two seniors, as well as two of their classmates, Shabiha Wardi and Azul Peralta Lopez.
The four were selected to receive the first scholarships as part of the Levine-Gormley STEM Scholars Pathway Program at ĢƵ. The program, established in January, provides each of the seniors with a scholarship to major in science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree programs at ĢƵ.
In the News:
Several ĢƵ Alumni Honored for Leadership and Impact
ĢƵ alumni were recognized for their leadership, volunteerism and profound impact at the annual Alumni Achievement Awards June 18.
“Thank you for showing the world what it means to be an Osprey, not just in name, but in purpose. We’re proud to recognize you, celebrate you and weave your story into ĢƵ’s story,” said Scott Francis ‘98, the event emcee.
Throughout the evening, honorees were invited to the stage to receive their award from last year’s recipients and share remarks, beginning with Andrea Sandoval ’25 presenting this year’s Future Leaders Awards to 2026 graduates Alexander Eckmeder and Ahnjeles Maldonado.
A common thread among the recipients was a deep appreciation for their years at ĢƵ and the community they built as students and continued to foster after graduation.
View photos from Friday's event on .
Haiti World Cup Team Enjoys ĢƵ’s World-Class Facilities
Aidan Pereira couldn’t hide his smile. The ĢƵ senior had just taken a selfie with two of the stars of the Haiti national soccer team — Wilson Isidor and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
“It’s so cool. It’s crazy how they are here at ĢƵ, using our field. It’s awesome,” said the midfielder for ĢƵ’s men’s soccer team. “I mean those guys also play in the English Premier League.”
Pereira, along with teammate Joseph Carbone, spent the last two weeks on campus working at Haiti’s Team Base Camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team arrived on June 9 and practiced at G. Larry James Stadium until June 22, preparing for games against Scotland (June 13), Brazil (June 19) and Morocco (June 24).
Pereira and Carbone set up equipment and the goals on the field, filled up ice baths for the players to recover after practice and moved exercise equipment into the Sports Center for the team to work out.
STOCKTON UNIVERSITY ATLANTIC CITY
Noyes Arts Garage, African American Heritage Museum Celebrate Juneteenth
The Noyes Arts Garage of ĢƵ partnered with the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey for its second annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 19 and 20.
Friday’s activities were led by Brian Jackson, ĢƵ’s vice president for Community Engagement, and included remarks from Yolanda Melville, director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights; Kaleem Shabazz, president of the Atlantic City chapter of the NAACP; and storyteller and motivational speaker Michelle Washington Wilson.
Saturday’s keynote speaker was the Rev. David Mallory of First Baptist Church of Richland. Museum founder Ralph Hunter Sr. also paid tribute to local businesswoman and philanthropist Rita Mack and former Press of Atlantic City entertainment reporter Vincent Jackson. Descendants of individuals involved in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case also spoke.
View photos from Friday's event on .
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
: And just like that, it's summertime! What's one thing you're looking forward to this summer, Ospreys?
: We can’t wait! 📚
WHAT'S TRENDING @ #STOCKTONU
Gmitter Chosen to ABCA Region IV All-Defensive Team
ĢƵ senior Joe Gmitter was to the ABCA Region IV All-Defensive Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association for the 2026 season. Gmitter became the second straight Osprey to be named Region IV All-Defensive Team at third base, following 2025 honoree Robbie Ford.
After playing first base for ĢƵ a year ago, Gmitter shifted to third base in 30 of his 36 games played and recorded a .955 fielding percentage in 134 defensive chances this season. The senior totaled 72 putouts and 56 assists while committing just six errors. Gmitter participated in 10 double plays for the Ospreys.
In addition to the defensive prowess for which he was rewarded, Gmitter compiled 38 hits, including eight doubles and two triples, plus 26 RBI, 19 walks, and 18 runs on the offensive side.
IN MEMORIAM
The Office of Human Resources is saddened to announce the passing of employee Shawn Manuola, PSS1, from the William T. Daly School of General Studies and, most recently, Admissions,
on Friday, June 19. She was 61.
After a 32-year casino career in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Shawn joined the ĢƵ staff in September 2015, first in the Performing Arts Center before moving to the School of General Studies two years later.
Among her many professional achievements at ĢƵ, Shawn will be most remembered — and missed — for her leadership managing the Dual Credit High School Program.
“She was the very nerve center of it,” one colleague said.
When Shawn transferred to General Studies in 2017, she was given the opportunity to run what was then a still-burgeoning program. At the time, only a handful of school districts were participating. Through “the sheer force of Shawn,” as another General Studies colleague put it, Dual Credit became a $1.4 million revenue- and enrollment-generating program.
Shawn’s enthusiasm for this work was evident to everyone she collaborated with, or even chatted with in the hallway. She loved sharing positive news about the growing success of the program.
It was Shawn’s tireless dedication as the Dual Credit administrator that led to her being named the first recipient of the “Consider It Done” Award at the inaugural Osprey Awards Ceremony in 2024. Her supervisor, when recommending her for the award, noted that Shawn had grown the program to 60 participating high schools throughout the state, including one school that had ended a relationship with another university so it could join the growing number of schools working with ĢƵ.
“Shawn Manuola is the person responsible for that,” he said.
He cited her initiative and dedication to providing students, parents, instructors and high school administrators with exceptional customer service as the reasons Shawn deserved the “Consider It Done” Award.
Another colleague, who also nominated her, added that Shawn immersed herself in a challenge.
“When you ask Shawn to get something done, she will,” the colleague said. “If she doesn’t know how, she will figure it out, and you can ‘consider it done.’”
Those in Human Resources who worked to assist Shawn over the last year during her illness can attest to her love for that work. No matter how difficult things became at various points in her struggle, even recently, there was never a conversation with her where Dual Credit didn’t come up. Part of her brain — and her heart — was always there with that program and those students.
But Shawn wasn’t just about work.
As one General Studies faculty member put it, “Shawn worked hard, played hard and loved hard.”
Shawn and her beloved husband, Joe, loved to travel, both around the country and overseas, and cheer on Philadelphia sports teams. Shawn was a lover of all types of animals, especially her beautiful German shepherd, Jia, and cat, Abby.
“No one made me laugh as hard as Shawn,” one faculty colleague said.
She recalled a party where Shawn spent the evening telling her General Studies friends all her best stories about her days working for Steve Wynn at the Golden Nugget in the ’80s and ’90s. She discussed catering to Tina Turner’s breakfast needs and told them how Diana Ross tried to steal her away from the casino to work as her personal assistant.
“Who could blame her?” her friend asked. “Shawn was unbeatable. I already miss her so much. General Studies won’t ever be the same.”
Our condolences and prayers go out to Shawn’s husband, Joe, as he grieves this loss. We also keep in our thoughts her colleagues and close friends at ĢƵ whose lives Shawn impacted in so many ways.
Service arrangements are still being finalized and will be shared when they are available.
STOCKTON SITES & CENTERS
Read the SCOSA July Newsletter
Read the ĢƵ Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA)'s July for interesting upcoming events and newly added programming.
OSPREY NOTES
Legacy Bike Ride Raises Money for Student Scholarships
The 18th G. Larry James Legacy Bike Ride hit the road Saturday, June 13, as 105 riders took part in one of three distances: 12 miles, 30 miles or 62 miles. The event raised about $14,000, with proceeds supporting student scholarships at ĢƵ.
Since its inception in 2009, the ride has raised more than $500,000 and awarded scholarships to 218 students. The ride is named after G. Larry James, the former Olympic gold medalist who worked at ĢƵ for 36 years as a coach, athletic director and dean.
The 19th G. Larry James Legacy Bike Ride will take place June 12, 2027.
Confirm Your Ospreys in Summer Session III
Happy Summer, faculty! As Summer Session III has begun, it's almost time to Confirm your Ospreys!
Faculty are reminded to complete the Academic Engagement process by confirming student attendance/academic activity. 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 goĢƵ portal.
For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit stockton.edu/academicengagement.
🎡 Eye Spy: Take a quick down the Atlantic City Boardwalk with a live look at beachgoers, bikes, rolling chairs and all the summer people-watching your inbox can handle.
POLLING ALL OSPREYS
What's your official summer personality? Beach bag packed at all times; Happiest in the air conditioning; Find me in my garden; Road trippin'; or Boardwalk nights?
UPCOMING EVENTS
🖼️&Բ;
June 27:
July 4: Independence Day(University closed July 3 in observance)
July 7:
July 15:
July 17: 10th Annual Pinelands Summer Short Course
July 21:
Aug. 2:
