Annual Fall Graduation Awards 869 Degrees

The Annual Fall Graduation ceremony took place in the Stockton Sports Center, Sunday, December 18.  There were 869 degree candidates including 108 advanced degrees.

During his remarks to the graduates, Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp stressed today’s students are facing rewards and challenges different than any other previous generation.

“The American poet Wallace Stevens wrote that we live in a description of a place and not in the place itself.  Our graduates are living in a significantly different description of a place.”

Dr. Saatkamp stressed the instantaneous global communication made possible through the digital age meant that job opportunities virtually anywhere in the world are available, but that the competition for these jobs is global as well.

“Our global challenge is greater than ever before, and our hope for the future lies in the talents of these students, the leaders of our future,” he said.

Dr. Jennifer Barr, Professor of Business Studies, served as faculty Grand Marshall.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Lynn Stiles, Professor Emeritus of Physics, urged the graduates to chase their dreams, rather than financial rewards.

“Experiment with new ideas,” he said.  “Don’t fear failure, but rather use failure as a tool.  Embrace the uncertainties in life as you embark on this next phase. You are living in an unprecedented time of opportunity.”

Dr. Stiles, a faculty member at Stockton since 1973, is a world leader in energy conservation.  His efforts, and those of the College, resulted in the building of one of the world’s largest geothermal energy systems and other conservation efforts which have saved the college more than $3.2 million in energy costs over the last 15 years.

Stockton Dedicates New Art Gallery, Offices

Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp, Board of Trustees President Stan Ellis and Rodger Jackson of the Faculty Senate cut the ribbon on the new L-Wing complex as other members of the Board of Trustees look on.
  
New entrance to the Performing Arts Center

Stockton has a new Art Gallery, faculty and staff offices for External Affairs, Affirmative Action, Institutional Research, classrooms and meeting spaces in L-Wing, on the site of what had been the old swimming pool.

The facilities were formally dedicated earlier this month,  as well as a new entrance to the Stockton Performing Arts Center (PAC) and a new PAC Box Office.

The two-level art gallery includes a reception area, function room and is located just a few steps from the PAC.

“This new Art Gallery is on par with a gallery one would see in New York,” Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp said. “Having it located next to the PAC opens up all kinds of very nice possibilities for receptions and the like.  During intermissions, PAC patrons have the opportunity to enjoy the visual arts while they are enjoying the performing arts.”

The new PAC signage and box office represent major upgrades for the PAC patron experience, according to Dr. Saatkamp.

“For years, one of the most frequent questions I received from visitors was how to find the location of the PAC,” he said.  “This new signage should certainly help us in that regard,” he said.

The new L-Wing also includes faculty offices, staff offices, the Office of External Affairs, the headquarters of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy and the HERO Campaign.
 

Stockton Plans Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Monday January 16

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service has become a tradition at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

The event has grown each year both in participation and in the number of agencies served.

“We are urging everyone to honor Dr. King by making his national holiday a day on and not a day off,” said Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp.

Dr. Saatkamp, who also initiated an annual Freshman and Transfer Students Day of Service prior to the start of classes each fall semester, said the event  was a great way to help those less fortunate, make a positive impact in community engagement and have fun.

“It is a tremendously rewarding feeling to be able to help others and I am quite proud of the way our students, faculty and staff have responded to this initiative.”

Dr. Saatkamp said the program allows students to work outside the classroom, give back to the community and network with other volunteers. Volunteers will aid more than a dozen local charities and organizations by taking part in activities both on campus and off.

Participation is open to Stockton students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Stockton community. Please visit the Stockton web page at www.stockton.edu and click on the Day of Service icon to sign up electronically.
 

Galloway Legion Post Donates $100,000 to Aid Student Veterans

Stockton Employee Russell Konraddy (left) led a delegation from the Galloway Township American Legion post in presenting a $1000,000 check to the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey for Veteran scholarships.

American Legion Post 430 of Galloway Township has donated $100,000 to fund scholarships to local veterans at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Representatives of the Post made the donation at a recent meeting of the Stockton College Board of Trustees.

“Stockton is committed to helping student veterans in numerous ways,” said Russell Konrady, a Vietnam era veteran and Stockton employee who was among the representatives of the Post for the presentation of the check. “We felt this was a great way to advance the educational opportunities for our brave men and women who selflessly serve the United States.”

Under the terms of the donation agreement, recipients will be honorably discharged veterans who reside in Galloway and did so at the time of their service. If there are no applicants from Galloway, the scholarships are open to veterans who reside in Atlantic County. The applications are open to all student veterans from New Jersey if there are no applicants from within Atlantic County.

“We are extremely grateful to the Legion Post 430 for their generosity,” said College President Herman Saatkamp. “Stockton’s history includes decades of opportunities for returning veterans. This gift will certainly build upon that legacy.”
 

Stockton President Named Educator of the Year

Stockton College President Herman J. Saatkamp has been named “Educator of the Year” by the Research and Development Council of New Jersey.

Dr. Saatkamp received the award as part of the R&D Council’s annual 32nd Thomas Alva Edison Patent Awards Dinner last month at the Liberty Science Center in Liberty State Park, Jersey City. In its long history, only two other people have received the Educator of the Year designation. Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman (2003), and Merck Institute of Science Education Executive Director Dr. Carlo Parravano (2010).

The Council said Dr. Saatkamp earned his Educator of the Year honors for “shaping educational programs and outreach to bring together industries and communities and build on the strength of the region’s economy.”

In this regard, Dr. Saatkamp served as president of the NextGen Aviation Research and Technology Park currently under development near Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, and has spearheaded Stockton’s growth in the region including new centers in Atlantic City and Hammonton, support of the arts through partnerships with the Noyes Museum of Art and Dante Hall in Atlantic City, among many other initiatives.

“Stockton has an obligation to serve as a community partner and to leverage our resources for the greater good,” he said.

The Research & Development Council of New Jersey is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating an environment that supports the advancement of research and development throughout New Jersey. The Council is composed of senior representatives from industry, academia and government. Many R&D Council members represent today’s Fortune 500 companies.

The Office of Plant Management recently installed new environmentally-friendly lighting at Lakeside Lodge.

The old 150-watt recessed lights were replaced with 17-watt LED bulbs, resulting in 4,788 less watts consumed by the same number of bulbs. This represents an 89 percent reduction in the amount of electricity used to light the area surrounding Lakeside Lodge.

Source: Stockton College