It has been fi ft y years since Brookdale Community College was established in Monmouth County, opening up new opportunities for local residents to earn a college degree, develop career skills, and build a better life for themselves and their families.

And what began as a small operation – with an inaugural class of 306 students studying on a converted horse farm – has become one of the largest and most esteemed community colleges in the nation. In the last few years alone, Brookdale students have been named the best in the state and among the best in the United States. Th ey have transferred to universities like Columbia and Georgetown; they have worked for NASA and defeated celebrity chefs on national television. Th ey have traveled the world, started their own businesses, and made a profound impact in local communities and communities across the globe.

Th is year, we had an opportunity to step back and refl ect on Brookdale’s long legacy of success during a year-long 50th anniversary celebration. We reconnected with some familiar faces, welcomed in some new ones, and raised a record amount for college scholarships to support the Brookdalians of the future.

Contained in this report are some of the highlights of our 50th anniversary year, including the opening of our new Wall Campus classroom building and the launch of four new early-college high school programs in towns across Monmouth County. From student success stories to groundbreaking new approaches to curriculum, this report off ers a small glimpse of what we call “Th e Brookdale Diff erence.” To learn more, or to view expanded articles and photo galleries from the 2016-17 academic year, please visit www.news.brookdalecc.edu

On behalf of all Brookdale employees, trustees, and the tens of thousands of students who have reimagined their lives at our college over the past fi ve decades, I thank you for your support. Together, we have built one of the fi nest community colleges in the country, and we are looking forward to another 50 years of success.

Sincerely,

Dr. David StoutInterim President, Brookdale Community College

From the interim president

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Brookdale student and Howell resident Kelsey Giggenbach was named New Jersey’s top achieving community college student in the All-USA Community College Academic Team competition.

Giggenbach, 20, was named a 2017 New Century Scholar, joining 51 top scorers from across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. She received a $2,000 scholarship sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the American Association of Community Colleges, and the Phi Th eta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society.

Th e competition, which included more than 1,800 nominees from more than 1,000 community colleges, evaluated students on grades, leadership, activities, and their contributions outside of the classroom.

A social sciences major and aspiring occupational therapist, Giggenbach was nominated for her work as a PTK offi cer, a peer mentor in the Brookdale Honors program, and for her community service eff orts on and off campus.

Giggenbach currently volunteers at the Brighton Gardens of Middletown assisted living facility while working as a youth reading instructor at the Kumon Math and Reading Center in Howell. She also works part-time at a local restaurant while enrolled as a full-time student at Brookdale.

“I am kind of shocked, but very humbled to receive this recognition,” said Giggenbach, a graduate of Howell High School. “To be selected from among so many outstanding students is a tremendous honor.”

Aft er graduating from Brookdale in May 2017, Giggenbach is pursuing a master’s degree and a career working with autistic children and their families. Her passion, she said, began in high school, when she joined a program allowing her to spend time with a young autistic student during the school day.

Brookdale Student Named Best in New Jersey

“It gave me purpose, in a way, to be able to witness how pure his heart was,” Giggenbach said. “Luckily, he had a wonderful family. But upon research, and in some other experiences that I’ve had, that’s not always the case. Not all parents are willing or able to allow their child to develop fully when they have autism. I’d like to be that middleman, so to speak, to make the process easier. I want to help parents adapt and assimilate to their child being autistic, and to help those children have the happiest and most fulfi lling life possible.”

Giggenbach is the second consecutive Brookdale student to be named a New Century Scholar. Fellow PTK member and Brookdale Honors student Sameerah Wahab earned the distinction in 2016.

Giggenbach was recognized with her fellow New Century Scholars during the American Association of Community Colleges National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 24. Th e All-USA Program is sponsored by the Follett Higher Education Group and presented by USA Today and Phi Th eta Kappa.

Kelsey with Vice President for Student Success David Stout and President Maureen Murphy.

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From the classroom to the community, Brookdalestudents were able to build, create, and achieve tremendous things during the 2016-17 school year. And with a few weeks remaining before graduation, dozens of students came together for the 2017 Student Achievement Showcase on April 20.

Whether you were interested in the science of music, the eff ects of climate change, the prospects of sustaining life of Mars, the cultural roots of ISIS, or the benefi ts of studying abroad, the Spring 2017 showcase off ered something for everyone.

Some students, like Brookdale NASA STEM fellows Joe Bongiorno, Joseph Guth, and Christine Little, discussed their year-long research projects in fi elds such as electrical engineering, astrophysics, and entomology. Others presented on their experiences as members of a Brookdale club or initiative, including the newly established chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).

Students Shine at 2017 Achievement Showcase“If you want to have your own business, or if you want to go into law enforcement, or be an acclaimed scientist, you can. Here, we teach you how to do that,” said NSLS chapter president Chanell Singletary-Eskridge. “Being a part of something like this has defi nitely allowed me to grow and prosper, to learn more about myself and take things beyond just what I’m learning in class.”

Some students handled double- or even triple-duty during the showcase, presenting on multiple topics and initiatives throughout the aft ernoon. Brookdale Honors student Gaetano Jones joined colleagues David Coleman, Anna MacInnis, and Colin Th ompson to discuss the potential implications of artifi cial intelligence before returning for a panel discussion on the college’s new Global Citizenship Distinction Initiative.

Members of the Honors Program hosted back-to-back panel discussions centering on the strategies students can use to make the most of their time at Brookdale,

while members of Th e Innovation Network presented on their service-learning projects on campus and in the community, including a new eff ort to establish a community garden on the Lincroft campus.

Th e showcase also included a presentation on culture shock and the challenges faced by visiting students, led by a panel of Brookdale international students, along with presentations on drug addiction, brain chemistry, attribution theory, and the science of pet birds.

According to event organizers and Brookdale faculty members Deborah DeBlasio and Howard Miller, this year’s program was as vivid, diverse, and impressive as the student body it represented.

“Th e level and the range of work we saw on display today is simply astounding,” said Miller. “Th e showcase is one of our favorite annual events, because it gives students the opportunity to share their accomplishments with their friends, family, faculty and staff . It’s a very proud day for all of us.”

SuccessMore than 2,000 students graduated from Brookdale Community College on May 12 during the college’s 47th annual Commencement ceremony on the Lincroft campus.

A total of 2,162 students from 21 diff erent countries earned associate degrees from the college, with diplomas handed out during two ceremonies held in the Robert J. Collins Arena. Th e class of 2017 included 219 distinguished scholars and 31 students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Th e 2017 graduating class was recognized by a host of local and state dignitaries, including Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, Monmouth County Freeholders Lillian Burry, John Curley and Th omas Arnone, the Brookdale Board of Trustees and hundreds of Brookdale faculty, staff , and administrators.

2,162 Brookdale Graduates Th e ceremonies began with graduate addresses by Elementary Education major Teresa Burns and Biology and Health Sciences major Sameerah Wahab. Burns, a single mother of two and a paraprofessional in the Hazlet Township School District, described her experience returning to college as an adult learner and navigating the challenges of work, school, and family simultaneously. Burns excelled at Brookdale and graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Wahab discussed her own academic career at Brookdale, which will go down as one of the most noteworthy in recent memory. Wahab has served as a NASA STEM Fellow, Brookdale PTK offi cer, Honors Program mentor, and was named to the All-USA Academic Team and recognized as one of the top 20 community students in the country.

Honorary degrees were awarded to Carlos Rodriguez, Executive Director of the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, and Carol Stillwell, President and CEO of Stillwell Hansen, Inc. College offi cials also presented Distinguished Alumni awards to Brookdale alumna Deborah Josko, Associate Professor and Director of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at the Rutgers University School of Health Professions, and to master sculptor Brian Hanlon.

Graduates representing each of Brookdale’s academic institutes were presented with Outstanding Student Awards. Recognized for their exceptional academic and personal achievements, were: Erich Ballard, Tracey Cahill, Kelsey Giggenbach, Michael Anthony LaMura, Samuel Monroe and Diana Pauciullo.

Twenty-One Graduate from Welding Training Program

Jesus Fonseca of Red Bank used to be acommercial painter. Doug Brain of Tinton Falls owned a body shop for 26 years. Henry Berkebile of Manchester was in construction. As of February 2017, however, all three were unemployed. And, like many in their situation, they were looking for a new start.

Th e trio, like 18 others from across Monmouth and Ocean counties, decided to enroll in a unique welding training program off ered jointly by Brookdale and Ocean County College. Th e program, funded

by federal and state grants, was cost-free and open to unemployed individuals with a high school or equivalency degree.

From February 7 to March 30, the students spent 166 hours at Brookdale and at the Ocean County Vocational Technical School in Toms River learning the ins and outs of professional welding. From arc welding, welding fabrication, and blueprint reading to resume writing and job search skills, the students honed the practical and technical skills necessary to become certifi ed welders upon graduation.

By the time of the class’s commencement ceremony, held on April 5 at Brookdale, four of the 21 students had already been hired by area employers. Berkebile, a young husband and father of two, was one of them.

“It feels great,” said Berkebile, who lost his former construction job when the company went bankrupt. “I began working for Brick Recycling a few days ago. I really enjoy the job and the atmosphere. It works for me.”

Berkebile and his 20 fellow graduates - ranging in age from early 20s to mid-60s - were recognized by a host of college and local offi cials during the commencement ceremony for completing the program and moving one step closer to a rewarding career.

According to Brookdale Business Training Manager James McCarthy, the graduates will help address a growing skills gap in New Jersey and across the nation, as qualifi ed welders continue to age out of the industry.

Brain, who had previous welding experience and is now attempting to restart his career at the age of 66, said opportunities abound for young, qualifi ed welders in today’s workforce.

“Th ere’s been a drop-off in younger people who are interested in doing this kind of work. But the demand for the work isn’t going away,” said Brain, who had received two job off ers from employers in Monmouth County prior to the graduation ceremony. “Th ere’s way more of a demand for this kind of work than even when I was in school. It’s unbelievable. So I defi nitely think there should be more hands-on workers.”

Th e training program, funded by a National Emergency Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, is the second such program co-hosted by Brookdale and Ocean County College. Brookdale also hosted a similar welding program in Monmouth County in 2015.

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Success

Second-year computer science major Michael Giacona joined an elite group of community college students from across the country in 2017 as a new member of the National Science Foundation‘s Scholarships for Service (SFS) program. Giacona, 19, received a full-ride scholarship for his fi nal year at Brookdale, along with a $22,500 stipend and an allowance of up to $9,000 for books, health care expenses, and professional development services.

Aft er successfully completing the program, Giacona will be eligible to receive a full scholarship to Stevens Institute of Technology, along with an additional stipend of $22,500 and a high-level internship. Aft er graduation, he will be able to begin his career as a cybersecurity professional with the federal government.

Th e SFS program, hosted in New Jersey by the Stevens Institute of Technology, is designed to encourage students to pursue careers in cybersecurity and help recruit the nation’s best and brightest computer science graduates to work as cybersecurity professionals for federal agencies.

Brookdale St ud ent A w arded C yb ersecuri ty Sc h olarsh ip

Th e Brookdale Jersey Blues men’s and women’sbasketball teams claimed Region XIX supremacy on March 5, earning their spot in the NJCAA Division III National Championship tournament.

Th e men’s team defeated the Camden Cougars 72-69 in a thrilling conclusion to the Region XIXtournament, which was held at Brookdale’s CollinsArena in Lincroft . Kerry Kirkwood excelled,scoring 14 points while grabbing fi ve rebounds.Th e sophomore guard also dished out two assists onhis way to earning MVP honors for the tournament.Following the season Kirkwood was named as afi rst team All-GSAC and second team All-Regionhonoree. Sophomore center Jordan Little madesecond team All-GSAC and third team All-Regionwhile sophomore forward Sky Harris earned a spot

M en’s and W om en’s Basketb all Team s W in Regional Titles

on the All-GSAC team. Blues Head Coach Paul Cisek was named Region XIX Coach of the Year.

Th e Brookdale women’s team outlasted the Northampton Spartans 58-51 on March 5 to capture the Region XIX Division III Championship. Freshman point guard Che’Kasha Andrews earned MVP honors. Head Coach Rich Brunson was named Region XIX Coach of the Year aft er the victory. Andrews went on to be named as a fi rst team All-American by the NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee, and was named the 2016-17 Region XIX Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Sophomore forward Colleen Branagan earned third team All-Region and second team All-GSAC honors for her performance in the 2016-17 season.

Both teams competed in the 2017 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament.

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Quality

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Following countless hours of clinical study,building circuit boards, peering into microscopes, studying invasive species, analyzing medical data, and other intensive research, Brookdale’s eight NASA STEM Fellows offi cially presented the results of their year-long research projects to the college community on April 11.

Addressing classmates and faculty gathered in the Student Life Center, the Fellows detailed the goals, procedures, and results for each of their research projects.

“I am very proud of the work they have accomplished,” said assistant biology professor and fellowship program coordinator Gitanjali Kundu. “From the human body to Mars to hybrid cars, there was something for everyone to take from today’s program. Th is is going to be a big feather in the students’ caps as they all move on to new, interesting places to pursue their careers.”

Th e program began with a presentation titled “Tabula Rasa” by chemical engineering major Michael LaMura, who spent the year researching methods of binding microparticles using strands of DNA. Biology major Christine Little gave a presentation titled “Investigating density dependence survival of spotted wing Drosophila,” which detailed her work studying an invasive species of butterfl y known to pester area farmers.

Physics and astronomy major Joseph Guth gave a presentation titled “Analysis of Martian concrete driven by mineral composition,” which sought to identify materials that could be mixed with Martian soil to create a reliable source of concrete on the Red Planet.

Brookdale biology major and honor student Grace Groh gave a presentation titled “Have bio-absorbable inference screws revolutionized anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery?” Th is project sought to determine if bio-absorbable screws are more eff ective than metal screws in surgically repairing a torn ACL. Mechanical engineering major Anthony Mauro gave a presentation titled “Th e forgotten hybrid,” which detailed his attempt to restore a 14-year-old hybrid car to its original gas mileage specifi cations.

Electrical engineering and physics major Joe Bongiorno gave a presentation titled “Coloring sound,” regarding his eff orts to study and reconstruct digital music eff ects using custom-built analog circuit boards. Health science and biology major Sameerah Wahab gave a presentation titled “Investigation of invasive fungi on Monmouth vineyards,” which studied the impacts of pestilential fungi on local crops of wine grapes. To conclude the program, environmental science major Andrea Sissick gave a presentation titled “Th e eff ect of climate change on the spiny dogfi sh population,” which described her work with two Rutgers scientists to study three local species of fi sh which have recently migrated as a result of changing ocean temperatures.

Each of the NASA STEM Fellows received a $5,000 fellowship for participating in the program, which was sponsored by grants from NASA and the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium. Th e Fellows also provided free peer tutoring to fellow students this year in Brookdale’s STEM Lounge, located in the MAS building.

Th e fellows were the third cohort of Brookdale NASA STEM Fellows, following two groups of students selected in the spring and fall of 2016.

Brookdale NASA STEM Fellow Anthony Mauro shows off his system for reconditioning ahybrid car battery.

NASA STEM Fellows Present Year-Long Research Projects

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Brookdale Among Top DegreeProducing Colleges in U.S.

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Brookdale Community College continuesto be one of the top associate degree-producing colleges in the country.

On September 20, Community College Week released its annual Top 100 rankings, in which Brookdale ranks number 72 nationwide for total associate degrees conferred during the 2015-16 school year. Brookdale’s Class of 2016 earned a total of 2,054 associate degrees, the second highest total in the state for the third consecutive year.

Th e college’s #72 ranking is up fi ve spots from last year, with a 7 percent increase in total degrees conferred.

“We could not be prouder of the class of 2016, who worked so hard to earn this incredible number of degrees,” said Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy. “We also congratulate our dedicated faculty, staff , and administrators, who worked alongside these students and helped make their successes possible.”

Th is year, Brookdale also ranked near the top in a number of specifi c degree programs. Th e college produced the 8th most associate degrees in Education in the nation in 2015-16, and ranked 15th nationally in the production of homeland security, law enforcement, fi refi ghting, and related protective services degrees.

Brookdale also ranked 26th in the nation in the production of business, management, marketing, and related support services degrees.

Th ree Brookdale employees joined a pantheonof outstanding Brookdalians on May 5 when they received the Alumni Association’s prestigious Barringer Award during the 32nd annual Barringer Awards Dinner at Th e Mill at Lakeside Manor. Th e award, named in honor of the college’s third president and long-standing champion of academic and student success Bob Barringer, is considered one of the college’s highest honors.

Th is year’s honorees – Communication Media professor Deborah Mura, Chemistry professor Shahin Pirzad, and Institutional Research and Evaluation director Laura Longo – received hundreds of nominations from colleagues and community members for their combined 55 years of outstanding service to the college and its students.

Each honoree was introduced by one of the many Brookdale colleagues who had nominated them for the award.

Longo was introduced by long-time colleagues Norah Kerr-McCurry and Ann Tickner-Jankowski, who said Longo’s nomination was supported by nearly 100 Brookdale administrators, faculty, and staff .

Mura chose to dedicate her speech to the countless student journalists and community volunteers she has worked alongside for the past 19 years.

“Th is award means a great deal to me, because I know it is not about me, but rather an acknowledgment of the hard work my journalism students did this year fi ghting that diversity be upheld as a core Brookdale value,” said Mura. “And it’s recognition for my TIN students, for their countless hours of work with Habitat for Humanity and with the Helping Hands initiative, where they are fi ghting food insecurity at Brookdale, and for their greening of Brookdale initiative. On behalf of them, I will accept this.”

Pirzad was introduced by fellow professors Tom Berke and Michael Qaissaunee, who spoke of Pirzad’s myriad accomplishments as department chair, a supporter of college grant programs, and advisor for Alpha Pi Th eta, Brookdale’s chapter of the Phi Th eta Kappa International Honor Society. Under his leadership, they said, Alpha Pi Th eta has produced two New Century Scholars in the last two years, establishing Brookdale PTK students as among the top performers in the nation.

Three Honored at 32nd Annual Barringer Awards Dinner

Quality

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Brookdale A rts M agaz ine W ins 201 6 Gol d C row n A w ard

Collage, Brookdale’s long-running student artsand literary anthology, has once again been named one of the top scholastic publications in the country. In March, Collage 2 0 1 6 was awarded the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s (CSPA) Gold Crown Award, given annually in recognition of outstanding achievement in a student publication.

Th e honor, presented by an international student press association comprised of student journalists and faculty advisers, marks Collage’ s second consecutive Gold Crown award and its third in the last fi ve years. Collage has also earned two CSPA Silver Crown Awards since 2011.

“We seem to have a tradition of excellence with Collage, and in my opinion that is simply a refl ection of the high caliber of our students,” said Brookdale Graphic Design instructor Basem Hassan, who led a team of students in the production of this year’s edition. “Th e contributions we had – and we had a lot – came from students in every discipline, every department. We received art submissions from nursing students, writing contributed by STEM majors.”

“Th en we had a team of skilled, dedicated students who worked hard on the book for months,” Hassan added. “Th ey did research and we took fi eld trips to New York City, Red Bank, and Asbury Park to fi nd inspiration. It wasn’t just about producing a book. It was about, ‘What can we do to raise the bar?’ We wanted people to say, ‘Wow, this is something we haven’t seen before.’”

Th at work, produced by a team of nine Brookdale students and alumni throughout last year, clearly paid off . Collage 2 0 1 6 earned a near perfect score from the CSPA, receiving 964 out of 1,000 available points. Th e completed book featured more than 60 short stories, poems, paintings, photos, architectur-al designs, 3D modeling, ceramics, sculpture, and other artwork by dozens of student artists.

Th e student staff members who produced Collage 2 0 1 6 were: Rachel Hemple, editor-in-chief; Tyler Lee, art director/director of photography; Shane Connolly, art director/print management; Matt Petersen, literary illustrator; Katelyn Kennedy, director of social media; Diana Pauciullo, design editor; Coral Serrano, design editor; Kenny Bieber, literary editor; and Brittany Cote, literary editor.

Faculty and staff advisors for Collage 2 0 1 6 included: David Stout, Vice President of Student Success; Robert Quinones, Director of Student Engagement; Jennifer Kaminsky, faculty literary advisor; Basem Hassan, faculty art advisor; and Marie Maber, art professor.

C ul inary C enter H osts ‘Grow n in M onm out h ’ C om pet ition

Brookdale Culinary Education Center (CEC) students and alumni joined local highschool students, Monmouth County dignitaries and community members, college offi cials, and a panel of acclaimed judges in Asbury Park on October 17 for the fi rst ever Grown in Monmouth Culinary Competition.

Th e event, inspired by the Food Network program “Chopped,” pitted three teams of CEC students, alumni, and Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) students against one another in a “Grown in Monmouth” themed competition. Just before the competition began, competitors received a mystery basket of produce, meat, seafood, wine, beer, and condiments, all of which were grown, raised, bottled, and brewed in Monmouth County. Each team was required to use all of the ingredients in some way, while preparing a three-course meal for a panel of expert judges.

Th e judges were: Andrew Araneo, CEC alumnus and acclaimed owner of Drew’s Bayshore Bistro in Keyport, who defeated celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a Jersey Shore “throwdown” in 2013; Emily Chapman, CEC alumna, Executive Sous Chef at Pasquale Jones in New York City and winner of Food Network’s “Chop p ed: I m p ossib le” tournament in 2015; and Erik Witherspool, Executive Chef for Gourmet Dining Services at Monmouth University and Culinary Operations Manager for Monmouth Race Track.

Th e competition kicked off with a welcome from the Monmouth County Freeholders, CEC Principal Michael Sirianni, Brookdale Culinary Arts Associate Professor Michelle Zuppe, Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy, and a host of other offi cials who were on hand to celebrate both the students and the county’s new Grown in Monmouth initiative.

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Th e teams had one hour to prepare an appetizer, entree, and dessert, which were then reviewed and graded by the judges. While two of the three judges were CEC alumni, they pulled no punches when it came to serving up criticism.

“I know what they are capable of,” said Araneo, who was a member of the CEC’s fi rst graduating class in 2000. “I’ve brought in, I don’t know how many interns from the CEC to work at my restaurant, and I always try to hire graduates when I can. It’s a great school… the students and alumni cooking here tonight worked hard. Some dishes were better than others, but I was impressed with what they did in such a short time.”

Top honors in the competition went to Team C, which featured CEC alumna and current Langosta Lounge chef Sharon Kircher, CEC student Sean Yim and MCVSD student Chelsea Mendes.

Second place went to CEC alumnus Oleg Scorpan, chef of Yvonne’s in Neptune, CEC student Tyler Berman, and MCVSD student David Ardizzone. Th ird place went to alumna Wendy Escobedo, chef of Kula Cafe in Asbury Park, CEC student Erin Cotterell, and MCVSD student Giana Lupo.

“It was tough, but I think it was a good test of our skills,” said Cotterell. “You really learn the importance of the little things, like your knife cuts and accuracy. It was little intimidating being on a team with a professional chef, but she worked really well with us. I defi nitely grew as a chef tonight.”

Brookdale culinary studentSean Yim competes in the Grown in Monmouth Competition onOctober 17.

Quality

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Vision

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Voting unanimously on June 20, the BrookdaleCommunity College Board of Trustees appointed Vice President David Stout to be the college’s interim president, beginning on July 1, 2017.

Stout, who has served as Brookdale’s chief student services offi cer and Vice President for Student Success since 2015, fi rst joined the college as a Learning Assistant in 1997. Th roughout his 20-year Brookdale career, Stout has worked as a student counselor, a full-time faculty member, department chair of the Psychology and Human Services department, and as Dean of the college’s Freehold campus.

As Vice President for Student Success, Stout has overseen nearly all of Brookdale’s student services offi ces, including recruitment, registration, fi nancial aid, counseling, career development, athletics, and veterans services. He has also served as a member of Brookdale’s senior executive leadership team and the president’s cabinet.

Outside of Brookdale, Stout has served as an adjunct faculty member at Monmouth, Rutgers, Kean, and Th omas Edison State universities. He holds a Ph.D. in Behavioral Medicine and Health Psychology from Northcentral University, a Master’s degree in Psychological Counseling from Monmouth University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Richard Stockton College, now known as Stockton University. He lives in Wall.

“Vice President Stout has an outstanding set of qualifi cations and the detailed knowledge of Brookdale gained through his more than 20 years of service to the college,” said Brookdale Board of Trustees Chair Carl Guzzo, Jr. “Th e board is confi dent that Dr. Stout is the right person to lead Brookdale and is looking forward to working with him during his tenure as interim president.”

Stout assumes the duties of outgoing president Maureen Murphy as college offi cials conduct a national search for a permanent president. Murphy, who served as Brookdale President since 2012, accepted the presidency of the College of Southern Maryland.

“I am honored to serve in the capacity of Interim President of Brookdale as we celebrate 50 years of providing exceptional educational and training opportunities for the citizens of Monmouth County,” said Stout. “Th anks to the support of our Freeholders and the eff orts of our trustees, faculty, administrators, and staff , Brookdale will continue to focus on the success of our students during this transition period.”

David Stout Appointed as Interim Brookdale President

Dozens Inducted intoBrookdale Leadership SocietySixty-seven students were welcomed into one ofthe fastest-growing student organizations on campus May 9 during the Spring 2017 induction ceremony for the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) at Brookdale.

Th e inductees – who spent a combined 816 hours this semester participating in intensive workshops, leadership training sessions and interactive seminars – were presented with offi cial NSLS pins and certifi cates of recognition in front a capacity crowd of friends, family, classmates, and college offi cials in the Student Life Center.

Th e induction ceremony began with a welcome address and overview by NSLS chapter advisors Sarah McElroy and Jill Donovan, who explained the benefi ts and requirements of the program and

what students can expect aft er joining the nation’s largest leadership organization. Nationwide, McElroy said, the NSLS boasts more than 730,000 members at 550 colleges across the U.S. As of the Spring 2017 semester, Brookdale’s NSLS chapter had grown to a total membership of more than 1,070 students.

Successful NSLS members earn lifetime membership in the national organization, as well as an offi cial NSLS designation at commencement and a host of exclusive benefi ts. For example, incoming Spring Term members were able to participate in invite-only broadcast seminars hosted by the likes of Anderson Cooper, Trevor Noah, Curt Menefee, Barbara Corcoran, Andy Cohen, and Leigh Anne Tuohy, among others.

“Th ese skills are so, so valuable for today’s college students, and our students really seem to understand that,” said McElroy. “Th ey really enjoy the opportunity to work and study alongside like-minded students, while setting and working towards their personal and professional goals. We are so proud to help fi ll that need here at Brookdale and to see NSLS continue to grow each semester.”

Th e ceremony also featured addresses by chapter president Chanell Singletary-Eskridge and treasurer Michael LaMura, two of 144 inaugural NSLS members who graduated with an offi cial NSLS distinction at commencement on May 12.

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Offi cials from the Asbury Park School Districtand Brookdale signed off Aug. 4 on the Asbury Park Dream Academy Early College Program, which will allow eligible students to earn an associate degree by the time they graduate from high school.

In the fall of 2016, fi ft een Asbury Park High School (APHS) freshmen began supplementing their traditional coursework with college-level courses taught by Brookdale faculty in Asbury Park.

In their junior year, Dream Academy students will begin taking courses at Brookdale’s Branch Campus in Wall, before becoming full-time Brookdale students and completing their senior year on the college’s Lincroft campus.

Successful Dream Academy students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree in social science, ready to begin their junior year at the college of their choice.

Th e students are also off ered a wide range of academic services and support, including a four-week college preparatory program. Running fi ve days per week from July 11 through August 4, the program included class trips, museum tours, yoga classes, and seminars on leadership, team building, note taking, research, literature, ceramics, Chinese culture, and World War II history.

At the conclusion of the preparatory program, the students gave a college-level presentation to a capacity crowd of parents, siblings, and representatives from the school district, Brookdale, the Asbury Park City Council, the Brookdale

Board of Trustees, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Th e presentation, held in Brookdale’s Student Life Center, was followed by a ceremonial signing and an offi cial kickoff for the Dream Academy program.

Incoming Dream Academy students spoke about their hopes for the program and the impact it could have on their academic and professional goals.

“One person can change a community, or change a society. Th at’s why I’m here,” said student E’Niah Preston, who chose the Dream Academy over a local private high school. “I want to work hard. I want to achieve. In truth, I don’t know what occupation I want to have yet. Th e only thing that matters is that I want to leave a legacy. I want to show my parents, I want to show my siblings, I want to show everyone I know and love that I can actually do it.”

Brookdale, Asb ur y P ark An noun ce N ew ‘D ream Ac adem y’

Early College Programs Launched in Middletown, Wall, and Keyport

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Public school offi cials from Middletown, Wall, andKeyport joined representatives from Brookdale Community College and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders on May 23 to offi cially announce new early-college high school programs set to launch in each district this fall. Th e programs will allow eligible students to earn a Brookdale associate degree by the time they graduate from high school.

“It takes a village to educate the students in our county,” said Brookdale president Maureen Murphy. “Previously we oft en served the same people, just at diff erent times in their lives. Now we are going to start serving them at the same time.”

Th e Middletown Township Early College Academy will admit an inaugural class of approximately 25 students each from Middletown North and Middletown South high schools in the fall of 2017. Students will complete advanced placement courses and a college-level human development course at their respective high schools during their freshman and sophomore years before studying on Brookdale’s Lincroft campus to complete their degree program. Students will have the option of earning an Associate of Arts degree in social sciences or an Associate of Science degree.

Th e Wall Crimson College Academy will admit an inaugural class of between fi ve and 10 students in the fall of 2017. Students will complete advanced placement courses and a college-level human development course at Wall High School during their freshman and sophomore year before studying at Brookdale’s Wall location in their junior year. Wall Crimson College Academy members will become full-time college students and complete their studies on Brookdale’s Lincroft campus in their senior year. Students will have the option of earning an Associate of Arts degree in social sciences or an Associate of Science degree.

Th e Keyport Rising Stars Early College Academy will welcome an inaugural class of 10 students in the fall of 2017. Students will work at Keyport High School during their freshman and sophomore years and begin studying at the college’s Hazlet location in their junior year. Rising Stars members will become full-time college students and complete their studies on Brookdale’s Lincroft campus in their senior year. Successful graduates will earn a Brookdale Associate of Arts degree in social sciences.

Th e signing ceremony was attended by a host of local dignitaries and offi cials, including Monmouth County Freeholders Th omas Arnone and Serena DiMaso, Board of Education members and school representatives from each district, Brookdale Vice Presidents Matthew Reed and David Stout, Associate Vice President Nancy Kegelman, and other members of Brookdale’s senior leadership..

Keyport School District superintendent Lisa Savoia (left) and Brookdale presidentMaureen Murphy sign off on a new early college high school program on May 23.

Vision

18

In May 2017, following years of planning, design,grant applications, and construction, Brookdale’s brand-new 37,000-square-foot building opened to students enrolled in Summer I Term.

Th e building – boasting 14 classrooms, two science labs, a state-of-the-art nursing suite and a host of new student lounges, study rooms, and computer stations – is now the centerpiece of Brookdale at Wall,

Brookdale opens New Wall Campus Buildingwhich was granted offi cial Branch Campus status by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Th e campus now off ers complete associate degree programs in Business Administration, Health Science, Social Science, Humanities, and Criminal Justice. Th ey also feature a wide range of general education courses for Brookdale students.

Th e $19 million classroom building will also serve at the home of the Brookdale-NJCU University Partnership, which off ers eight New Jersey City University bachelor’s degree programs in majors including nursing, business management, criminal justice, and marketing.

Th e Wall Campus also serves students in two of Brookdale’s newest Early College High School programs, run in partnership with public school districts in Wall and Asbury Park.

Vision

21

More than three dozen local high school students got a crash course the summer in one of the nation’s fastest growing career fi elds during the fi rst-ever GenCyber Jersey Blues Camp.

Th e free program, hosted on Brookdale’s Lincroft campus and funded by grants from the National Security Administration and National Science Foundation, off ered two groups of 20 students the opportunity to work with industry experts and get hands-on experience in the fi elds of cybersecurity and information security.

During a two-week camp in July and a one-week camp off ered in August, the GenCyber students participated in a wide range of interactive activities and challenges, including a scavenger hunt to fi nd “weak points” in the college’s infrastructure, a soft ware coding session on a Raspberry Pi computer, and a guest lecture by renowned cybersecurity professional Ed Skoudis.

Th e program was directed by award-winning Brookdale Engineering and Technology Professor Michael Qaissaunee and taught by a team of industry experts, including Red Bank Regional High School teacher Mandy Galante.

Students were taught how to use Python coding with the Raspberry Pi unit to control a series of LED lights, they ran hacking soft ware on a series of login IDs to understand the importance of creating strong passwords, and they concluded the week with a computer-based training simulation oft en run by the U.S. Air Force.

Th e simulation, Qaissaunee said, required the students to “harden” a personal computer and its network, scanning lines of code and reports for unregistered users, unapproved media fi les, vulnerabilities, and other real-world threats.

For each threat removed, the students earned points – and a donut hole. While the students were driven by a desire to outscore their classmates – and to get free dessert – the real benefi t of the exercise was experience, Qaissaunee said.

“Th ese are real tasks that real cybersecurity and information security professionals are required to do,” he said. “We talk to a lot of employers who hire university graduates who have degrees but can’t really do much. Community colleges are particularly good at teaching hands-on skills, and this camp off ers a lot of hands-on work and activities.”

Th e GenCyber students were also treated to free lunch in Lincroft and received a number of parting gift s, including a Raspberry Pi unit,

Brookdale Hosts Cybersecurity Summer Camp

Cybersecurity trainer Ed Skoudis speaks to students during the GenCyber Jersey Blues camp.

Vision

keyboard, and free access to over forty web-based training modules, so they can continue their training at home.

For GenCyber student Tyree Battle, the camp was an exciting opportunity to explore the world of computer coding and the possibilities available to cybersecurity professionals.

“In my school, I take computer classes already, but it’s more design than coding,” said Battle, a junior at Howell High School. “I thought about going into the design fi eld, but now that I’m taking this class I might consider going more into tech. Yesterday, when we were in class working on the Raspberry Pi’s – I thought that was cool. Th e fi rst time was really hard, but I think with practice it will get easier. It’s been really fun, and defi nitely interesting.”

Commitment

Hundreds Recognized for Earning Brookdale Scholarships

23

More than 200 students received some well-deserved time in the spotlight on March 23 during Brookdale’s annual Scholarship Recognition Ceremony in the Collins Arena. Th e students, some of the more than 500 who received scholarships through the Brookdale Foundation in 2016-17, were recognized by Brookdale administrators and staff in front of a capacity crowd of friends, classmates, and family members.

“Congratulations to all of our scholarship students,” said Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy. “I encourage you to continue to work hard and to seize all the opportunities that Brookdale provides so that you can succeed in your pursuit of knowledge. Please know that Brookdale values the academic and personal success of our students, and your achievement is the hallmark of our mission.”

Th e ceremony also served as an opportunity to thank the countless community partners and individual donors who fund many of the foundation’s scholarships. Donors like Esther McQuaide, who, along with her husband Chet, funds the Timothy A. McQuaide Scholarship in honor of their son, were able to meet directly with the students who benefi ted from their support.

Timothy Zeiss, Executive Director of the Brookdale Foundation and Alumni Aff airs, included a statement from McQuaide in his opening remarks. “Brookdale Community College has been a blessing for our family,” said McQuaide, an alumna who graduated from the college in 1987.

“Aft er a fi rst attempt at college led to disappointment for our son Tim, he found earning his Brookdale degree to be ‘a renaissance experience,’ leading not only to enhanced academic skills and renewed confi dence, but also to a scholarship at a major

university, a BFA degree, and a challenging and creative career. I am proud to support the excellent educational experiences which Brookdale provides.”

Each of the more than 200 honorees was called to the stage by Brookdale Financial Aid Director Stephanie Fitzsimmons, where they were presented with an offi cial certifi cate of recognition and congratulated personally by Murphy.

It was a proud night for many students and parents in attendance, including fi rst-year nursing student and new scholarship recipient Mardly Pierre-Jerome.

“It’s not easy to get scholarships in today’s world, so to be told that you earned something like this is inspiring,” she said. “It shows you that people here believe in you, they see something in you, and it makes you want to work that much harder.”

Chet and Esther McQuaide (l-r) meet with scholarship recipient Faith Tucker and her family

Th e Brookdale Foundation off ers scholarships to a wide range of students each year, including working class students who don’t qualify for traditional fi nancial aid. Th is year alone the foundation awarded nearly $430,000 in scholarships to 524 students. In the past 17 years, the Foundation has awarded nearly $5 million in scholarships and grants to over 7,000 students.

24

Beginning on September 3, NJ TRANSIT unveiled new and adjusted bus routes in Monmouth and Middlesex counties that off er more frequent service, longer hours of operation, fewer required connections, and direct access for students attending classes in Lincroft and Hazlet.

During the Brookdale Board of Trustees monthly meeting in Lincroft on August 16, college offi cials joined representatives from the Monmouth County Planning Board, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and NJ TRANSIT to announce the route changes to local residents and the Brookdale community.

Beginning in the Fall 2016 semester, NJ TRANSIT expanded access to the Lincroft campus, which is currently served by the 833 bus route running between Freehold and Red Bank. Th e 833 route currently runs every 70 minutes between 7:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. and provides no weekend service.

Th e 833 route has been combined with NJ TRANSIT’s 835 route to create a new 838 route, which operates between the Freehold Raceway Mall and Sea Bright. Th e 838 route runs hourly, off ering a “single-seat” ride to Lincroft or Freehold for residents commuting from Sea Bright, Rumson, Fair Haven, and eastern Red Bank. Th e 838 also operates between Sea Bright and Lincroft on Saturdays, running every 85 minutes.

NJ TRANSIT’s 832 bus route has also been extended to Brookdale, running hourly on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Th e 832 off ers “single-seat” rides to Lincroft for residents commuting from Shrewsbury, Eatontown, Ocean Township, Neptune Township, and Red Bank.

Th ose changes are great news for second-year biology major Zil Shah, who said she oft en spends hours on the bus commuting between Lincroft and her home in Keansburg.

Brookdale, NJ TRANSIT Announce Improved Bus Routes

“It’s a long journey. But for me and many other students, there’s no other option,” said Shah, while waiting for a bus home from Lincroft on August 17. “So I am very happy to hear about these changes, in particular the extension of evening hours. Th at will allow students to take more courses at diff erent times of day, or spend more time on campus studying during exams. It opens up many more possibilities, and I think it will be very benefi cial to Brookdale students. It’s a very big improvement.”

Th e route adjustments also expands service to Brookdale’s Northern Monmouth Higher Education Center in Hazlet, which is currently located 1.5 miles from the nearest bus stop.

NJ TRANSIT’s 817 route has been extended to the Hazlet campus, off ering service to commuters from Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Old Bridge, Aberdeen, Keyport, Union Beach, Keansburg, and Middletown. Th e 817 also off ers timed connections with the 834 line, providing service to commuters from Red Bank, Leonardo, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands.

Th e route changes also includes schedule adjustments designed to improve connectivity at major hubs in Red Bank, Middletown, Long Branch, and Asbury Park. All of the route adjustments have been made at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Offi cials from Brookdale, the Brookdale Board of Trustees, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen

Freeholders, the Monmouth County Planning Board and NJ TRANSIT stand together on August 16.

Scholarships and Support Offered to Minority Male Students

25

MalachiLawrence (left)

and Kaymar Mimes speak

during the third annual

Minority Male Initiative

conference on February 17.

More than a dozen area professionals and community leaders came together to provide career advice, guidance, and academic support to local minority students during the third annual Minority Male Initiative Conference, held February 17 at Brookdale.

Th e conference, titled “ Setting Priorities f or C areer Success,” was co-hosted by Brookdale and the Monmouth/Ocean County Pan Hellenic Council and sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health and Brookdale’s Educational Opportunity Fund program.

More than 170 high school juniors, seniors, and Brookdale students were off ered a unique opportunity to network with area professionals, apply for dedicated scholarships, and learn how to pursue their professional dreams in one of four diff erent career clusters: STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), health care and health science, business and social science, and communications media.

“We learned a lot about persistence, about making connections and developing more than one skill,” said Long Branch High School junior K aymar Mimes, who attended the Business and Social Science workshop. “We also learned that it’s important to remember that one’s success is not measured by how much money they make. Success is living life in the manner that one chooses.”

Following a free catered lunch and a prize raffl e, students were invited to apply for one of seven Brookdale scholarships off ered exclusively to conference participants as part of the Minority Male Initiative. Since its inception in 2015, the Initiative has off ered 12 college scholarships totaling more than $5,000 to local high school graduates and Brookdale students.

During lunch, conference attendees were also treated to a guest lecture by Comcast IT Supervisor K ina Steele- C rawf ord and Regional Information Technology Director Reginald Anderson, who

provided the students with a number of practical tips for interviewing, networking, applying for internships, and setting a “career GPS” while still in school.

Th e Minority Male Initiative, spearheaded by a volunteer committee of Brookdale employees and Pan-Hellenic council members, is designed to address a growing gap in college completion rates and career success between minority male students and their white counterparts.

According to Neptune High School junior and aspiring Psychology major Malachi Lawrence, the conference was an eye-opening experience and a valuable opportunity to speak candidly with working professionals.

“It’s very encouraging,” said Lawrence. “People always think we are going to be part of the statistics. But if a young man can make a diff erence in the world, it can show that it doesn’t matter what race you are, or how old you are, or who you are, you can always accomplish your dreams. You don’t have to be who society says you are. You can make your own name.”

Commitm

ent

Th e day-long conference began with a series of talks by multiple guest speakers, including Brookdale Vice President for Learning Dr. Matthew Reed, New Jersey Council of County Colleges Communications Director Jacob F arbman, Pan-Hellenic Council President K enneth Morgan, Brookdale Assistant Professor F idel Wilson, and keynote speaker Dr. Brian Roper.

Th e students were then broken up into groups based on their interests and invited to dedicated career workshops hosted by a wide range of local professionals and educators.

26

For fi ve local high school seniors, college isnow free. Th e students, inaugural graduates of the new Asbury Park College Promise program at Asbury Park High School (APHS), will pay no tuition or fees this fall when they enroll at Brookdale Community College. For their fi rst two years, or up to 64 college credits, the students will receive a last-dollar scholarship covering all tuition and fees not funded by other grants or scholarships.

St ud ents Earn Ful l Sc h olarsh ips T h rough ‘C ollege Prom ise’ I nitiative

Th e funding is the capstone of the College Promise program, an initiative launched in September that provides APHS students with comprehensive college readiness training throughout their junior and senior years. Students complete advanced courses in math, English, and reading while participating in an “Achievement Motivation” seminar and preparing for the Accuplacer college entrance exam.

Students who successfully complete the program receive a Brookdale scholarship allowing them to eff ectively earn an associate degree or certifi cate with zero tuition. Th e scholarships are funded by a $240,000 grant from the Jules L. Plangere, Jr., Family Foundation to the Brookdale Foundation.

On June 6, district and college representatives came together at the high school to congratulate the inaugural cohort of College Promise students, which included the fi ve graduating seniors along with seven APHS juniors.

Students received certifi cates of achievement and were recognized by a variety of college and district offi cials, including Matthew Reed, Brookdale Vice President for Learning; Brian Stokes, APHS District Supervisor of College and Career Programs; Franklyn Rother, Brookdale Dean of K-12 Partnerships; and Margaret Agha, 2016-17 Program Manager for the College Promise Initiative.

Anahi Ramirez-Meza, a graduating senior pursuing a career in clinical psychology, said the College Promise scholarship will allow her to avoid to student loan debt and begin saving money for an advanced degree during her fi rst two years of college.

But the most signifi cant benefi t of program, she said, came from the training itself.

“At the beginning of the program, we took the Accuplacer [college entrance exam] and I failed all of the sections,” said Ramirez-Meza, 18. “Now, as of today, I have passed every section. And I wouldn’t have been able to do that if it wasn’t for everyone in this room right now. I would like to say thank you to everybody here.

“I feel much more prepared to enter the college life,” she added. “I also feel a little bit nervous, because I know that I am receiving free tuition, and for myself I know that I will need to achieve good grades and high scores. I want to earn what I am being given here.”

27

Commitm

ent

Hundreds of former Brookdale players, coaches, administrators, and supporters came together to honor the Jersey Blues’ storied legacy on February 10 at the 2017 Brookdale Athletics Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel in Eatontown. Six former Jersey Blues players, two coaches, an administrator, and the 2005 national champion Brookdale soft ball team were all welcomed into the Hall of Fame, the fourth cohort to join the Hall since it was established in 1979.

Th e player inductees included multiple national champion athletes, including two-time All-American soft ball player Jessica Williams (2003, 2005) and back-to-back men’s tennis champion John Macchio (2000, 2001), who was the fi rst national champion in Brookdale history. Macchio, now a Jersey Blues coach, was inducted into the Hall by acclaimed head coach Rich Karpinski, who joined the hall of fame on the same evening.

Th e winningest coach in program history, Karpinski has coached 17 national champions, more than 80 regional champions, 47 all-Americans, and won a

record 198 games since 1989. He was joined on stage by his brother Bob Macchio and former Brookdale tennis star Abel Lampa, who joined the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Two beloved Brookdalians were also honored posthumously for their contributions to the athletic program. Former tennis coach and Brookdale Literature Professor Kevin Hayter was inducted into the hall by Brookdale Humanities Institute Dean Carl Calendar, with the honor accepted by Hayter’s son Michael. Later, former Dean of Enrollment, Development and Student Aff airs Jim Palumbo was inducted by former Brookdale Athletics Director Frank Lawrence.

Also inducted into the Hall of Fame were men’s basketball player John McDermott (1974-76), baseball and men’s basketball player Peter Peltz (1974-76), women’s tennis player Carol Hammond (1980), multi-sport standout and current Brookdale fi tness professor Mike Toomey (1972-74), and the 2005 National Champion soft ball team.

Th e induction dinner was emceed by Brookdale alumnus and current Baltimore Orioles play-by-play man Jim Hunter, a 39-year broadcasting veteran who has covered the Olympic Games, multiple Super Bowls, and other prestigious sporting events since fi rst reporting on the Jersey Blues for Brookdale Public Radio. In recognition of his achievements, Hunter was declared a lifetime member of the Brookdale Alumni Association by Executive Director Timothy Zeiss.

“In listening to all these speeches, there is one theme that runs through all of this,” said Hunter, who hosted the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 2015 and 2016 as well. “All of us who went to Brookdale either thought we knew what we wanted to do or didn’t know what we wanted to do and, at Brookdale, we found it. And that’s really special.”Jersey Blues Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2017

A cclaimed head coach Rick Karpinski and M en’ s tennis honoree John Macchio.

28

A record number of golfers and communitysponsors came together in support of local students at the Brookdale Community College Foundation’s 37th Annual Education Open, held September 15 at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale. Th e tournament raised $68,407 for Brookdale scholarships and student services, the largest amount ever collected since the tournament was established in 1979.

“We could not be more grateful to the nearly 200 community members, local businesses and volunteers who helped make this our most successful Education Open in history,” said Timothy Zeiss, Executive Director of the Brookdale Foundation and Alumni Aff airs. “Th eir generosity will provide scholarships to hundreds of deserving local students who are attempting to build a better life for themselves and their families.”

Golf Outing Raises Record Amount for Brookdale Scholarships

More than 125 golfers participated in the tournament, which featured a full day on Eagle Oaks’ championship golf course and a star-studded awards dinner with appearances by famed former New York Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko, former New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles, former New Jersey Devil Grant Marshall, and former New York Rangers fan favorite Nick Fotiu.

Th e athletes were on hand to support their colleague and 2016 Education Open guest of honor Peter Grandich, who was recognized for his support of area athletes, business owners, and nonprofi t organizations, including the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and the Ashley Lauren Foundation. Grandich, of Freehold, is president and CEO of Peter Grandich & Company and author of the autobiography “Confessions of a Wall Street Whiz Kid.”

All Education Open proceeds benefi t the Brookdale Foundation’s “Building Minds, Building Futures” scholarship fund, which has provided more than $4.4 million in college scholarships to nearly 7,000 local students over the past 16 years.

Th e tournament was co-chaired by Domenick Servodio of TD Bank and Tina Munson of Lomurro, Munson, Comer, Brown & Schottland in Freehold. A team of current Brookdale students, each of whom have received a Foundation scholarship toward their education, volunteered to help run the tournament.

“Th e funds raised at this tournament will help provide more than $425,000 in scholarships to Brookdale students of all abilities, backgrounds, and ages,” said Munson, during the awards dinner.

“Th ese students are from local, middle-class families who don’t receive fi nancial aid and grants, and who are determined to succeed and achieve their dream of earning a college degree. Every cent that we raise here tonight really goes to help these students and get them a start in their career. We really, really thank you for that, and I know the students thank you tremendously as well.”

George McGovern (l-r), Jason Welch, Jeff Feagles, Joe Klecko, Peter Grandich, Grant Marshall, Nick Fotiu and David Suckey at the Education Open.

Commitm

entMore than 20 Brookdale faculty and staff members were honored for their outstanding achievements this past academic year at the Brookdale Board of Trustees’ monthly public meeting in Lincroft on April 18.

Nineteen faculty members from all four academic institutes were recognized for earning promotions or tenure, while three staff members were presented with 2017 Performance Recognition Awards. Addressing a capacity crowd of honorees, colleagues, friends and family, President Maureen Murphy thanked the employees for helping to make Brookdale one of the fi nest community colleges in the nation.

“Th e folks here tonight are truly impressive, with a real commitment to our students, to their learning and their progress,” Murphy said. “More than that, they contribute to their disciplines, they contribute to the life of this college and the life of this community.”

Brookdale Faculty, Staff Recognized by Board of TrusteesTh e faculty promotions are:

Full Professor: Mary Beth Boylan, Psychology; Eleanor Horgan, Counseling; Olga Malpica Proctor, Mathematics; and Michelle Zuppe, Culinary Arts.

Associate Professor: Brent Costleigh, Psychology; Dara Evans, English; Helen Heinmets, Nursing; Susan Monroe, Mathematics; Bonnie Ross, Nursing; and Robert Th omas, Philosophy.

Assistant Professor with tenure: Sara Barnett, Psychology; David Bassano, History; Basem Hassan, Graphic Design; Stephen Hiamang, Mathematics; Kelsey Maki, English; Jaclyn Wilt, Reading; Tiff any Wojcicki, Reading; and Ashley Zampogna-Krug, History.

Tenure: Robert McClure, Automotive Technology.

Th e program continued with the presentation of the 2017 Professional Staff Recognition Award, which recognizes staff members who continually go beyond the call of duty.

Introducing the honorees, Associate Vice President of Human Resources Patricia Sensi said, “Th is recognition is well deserved, and it takes years of sustained engagement and excellent performance to achieve,” said Sensi. “We all applaud the honorees for their accomplishments and their commitment to excellence.”

Recognized were: Margaret Agha, Account Specialist for Continuing and Professional Studies; John Magliacane, Academic Tutor for Computer Science; and Tatiana Shabat, Academic Tutor for Mathematics.

30

Connections

31

Brookdale H osts M ul ti-F aith D ialogue on ‘Th e Go lden Rul e’

Dozens of local religious leaders, advocates,and community members came together in a spirit of commonality and mutual respect on April 20 for the fi rst-ever “Multi-Faith Dialogue” program, hosted in Brookdale’s Student Life Center in Lincroft .

Th e program, titled “Th e Golden Rule,” featured an overview of fi ve diff erent faith traditions and their approach to the centuries-old credo, which encourages individuals to treat others as they wish to be treated.

Panel members included Fatima Jaff ari, founder of the Kumon Learning Center in Howell and co-founder of the award winning Interfaith Youth Leadership Program of Garden State MOSAIC; Sarbmeet Kanwal, Brookdale Physics instructor and co-founder of MOSAIC’s Interfaith Youth Leadership Program; Rabbi Lawrence Malinger, member of Temple Shalom in Aberdeen and the multi-faith clergy group Bayshore Ministerium; Rev. Terrence K. Porter, senior minister of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Red Bank and President of the Board of Trustees for the Red Bank Aff ordable Housing Corporation; and Uma Swaminathan, a cultural anthropologist, bestselling author, retired educator, and advisor to the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Th ought (MCWRET).

Th e panelists – representing Islam, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism, respectively – each gave an overview of their religion and the ways in which practitioners approach “Th e Golden Rule.” Th e panel discussion, moderated by MCWRET board member and New Jersey Interfaith Coalition member Joseph Ritacco, also touched on the shortcomings found in the “Golden Rule,” which can oft en lead to false assumptions about others’ needs and desires.

“We attribute to other people the ways of thinking that we have, and by now we should know that that’s not the case,” Ritacco said. “So there is what I refer to as ‘Th e Platinum Rule,’ which is to hold yourself to a higher

standard than you do others. Basically, be strict about your own behavior and cut other people a lot of slack. If we were to treat others with that kind of respect, I think we would have much less confl ict in the world.”

Th e program also featured a brief intermission, during which audience members were encouraged to engage in conversation with a nearby stranger, and a Q&A session hosted by the panelists.

One of the questions from the audience centered on cross-cultural hatred and terrorism, and the idea that religion may play a role in both. On a day when the terrorist group ISIS claimed responsibility for a fatal attack in Paris, panel members stressed the important distinction between religion and politics.

“Each one of the religious beliefs represented on the panel, and others, have a segment of the Golden Rule,” Porter said. “Unfortunately we live in this postmodern society, where many of our beliefs and religious positions have been hijacked by radicals that believe they represent our faiths and our traditions. Th at’s why I applaud what we are doing here today, because we can see the sincerity in the actual beliefs and principles by which faith communities operate.

“I hope we take from this gathering today a greater appreciation that we may be of diff erent faiths and diff erent traditions, but we all have the same purpose,” Porter added. “And that purpose is allowing humanity to live together as one.”

Thousands Attend Homecoming Food Truck Fest

More than 5,000 students, employees, andcommunity members came together on October 15 to celebrate Brookdale’s 5 0 th Anniversary and support Brookdale Public Radio during the fi rst ever Homecoming Food Truck Fest, held on the Lincroft campus.

Th e event, hosted by Brookdale Public Radio, featured more than 12 award-winning food trucks, live music acts, and a host of family friendly activities, contests, and prize giveaways.

Attendees lined up throughout the aft ernoon to sample sandwiches, sliders, noodle bowls, tacos, cupcakes, frozen cheesecake, and other off erings from some of the most popular food trucks in the Monmouth County area, including Empañada Guy, Mary Queen of Pork, Surf and Turf Truck, House of Cupcakes, and the Tasty Trolley.

Live music acts included Sharif , Matthew Logan Vasq uez of Delta Spirit, Anthony D’Amato, Waiting f or Henry, and Boo Ray. Local acoustic duo

Strumberry Pie also made a guest appearance and led some of the younger attendees in a kazoo singalong.

Activities included a Corn Hole tournament and pie throw featuring 90.5 Th e Night radio personalities, sand art, pumpkin and face painting, a bounce house, an “escape room” experience, and a wide range of local arts, craft s, and clothing vendors scattered across the Lot 7 venue.

Th roughout the aft ernoon, representatives from the Middletown Township Fire Department off ered chaperoned rides in their ladder truck while zombies from Brookdale’s Haunted Th eater roamed the grounds to take pictures with the families in attendance.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Brookdale nursing student K rissy Plaza, who attended with her four-year-old daughter. “It’s a great opportunity to come out with my daughter, try some of the diff erent food, and just have some fun. We were just at the bounce house for an hour, and now she’s doing some pumpkin painting. She’s having a blast. “My coursework can be pretty stressful at times,” she added. “So it’s a nice break to come to campus and not be worried about that.”

Th e event served as a fundraiser for Brookdale Public Radio and an unoffi cial kickoff to Brookdale’s 50th anniversary celebration, which continued throughout the 2016-17 school year. During the festivities, Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy joined 90.5 Th e Night Station Manager T om Brennan to help slice and serve an oversized “Brookdale birthday cake” to the crowd.

33

Connections

Nine Honored at 32nd Annual Wilbur Ray Scholarship Dinner

It was a night to recognize the unsung heroesof Monmouth County, while raising money to support the students who may one day carry on their legacy.

Th e 32nd Annual Wilbur Ray Scholarship Dinner, held March 10 at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, honored nine local professionals, community leaders, volunteers, and activists for their oft en unheralded work in towns such as Asbury Park, Freehold, Hazlet, Howell, Red Bank, and Neptune Township.

Th e 2017 honorees were: Wanda Brauner, Howell; Ronald Dukes, Red Bank; Gerald Eugene Glisson, Paterson; Diteko Hammary, Cliff wood; Jordan and Joelle Hernandez, Hazlet; Yesenia Madas, Brick; Mychal Mills, Neptune; and Lamont Repollet, superintendent of the Asbury Park School District.

Nearly 120 attended the annual dinner, with proceeds supporting the Wilbur Ray Scholarship Program,

which supports students of color at Brookdale. Th e scholarship program and the gala are named in honor of the late Wilbur Ray, former Brookdale police sergeant and an active volunteer in Long Branch.

Hammary, founder of the Sportz Farm Foundation in Asbury Park and long-time supporter of youth enrichment programs, remarked on his own experience as a young student in the city and as a 2005 graduate of Brookdale. Introduced by former Brookdale mentor Lisa Savage, Hammary described the power of education and thanked his fellow honorees for helping local students “bridge the gap.”

“I’m not talking about a generation gap or a racial gap or anything like that. I’m speaking about a gap that exists between today and tomorrow,” said Hammary. “It’s a real life struggle, and you are helping to make that transition. You aren’t doing it for the awards – you’re doing it for the passion.”

Th e power of education was highlighted again by Asbury Park School District Superintendent Dr. Lamont Repollet, who accepted the fi nal Wilbur Ray Award of the evening.

“As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon, which we can use to change the world,” said Repollet. “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination, but when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”

Th e evening also featured speeches by two recipients of the Wilbur Ray Memorial Scholarship: Jae’ Vani Prince, a Criminal Justice major and Brookdale graduate from Tinton Falls, and Salvador Valdez, a Brookdale Nursing student from Red Bank.

“Financially, it was a big help for me and for my family,” said Valdez. “But it was more than that. People at the college saw something in me. Th e scholarship showed me that my work meant something, that people believe in me, and it has inspired me to work even harder.”

Dr. Lamont Repollet, joined by members of “Hard Hat Nation,” accepts his award

34

Brookdalians Return for 50th Anniversary Retiree Breakfast

Nearly 80 Brookdale employees spanning thecollege’s 50-year history returned to campus on March 31 for the fi rst ever Retiree Breakfast Reception, held in the Student Life Center.

Th e event, emceed by Business Management Professor Barbara Boyington, was held in honor of Brookdale’s 50th anniversary, and featured addresses and testimonials from Brookdalians both past and present.

Following an introduction by Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy, attendees were treated to a few words from the college’s founding president Dr. Ervin Harlacher, who submitted some remarks and a video message to be shared with the group.

“My memories of the Brookdale early years are still fresh and special to me,” said Harlacher, who served as Brookdale’s president until 1974. “Th e Impossible Dream sums it all up, as it turned out to be possible aft er all. I’d like to send my greetings to all who participated in that challenging and wonderful start-up period.”

Attendees were able to mingle with fellow Brookdale retirees and share stories of decades past during breakfast, before the event was opened to current employees for a college-wide mixer.

Guests included: Linda Barna, Kerry Behler, Joanne Behrens, Helen Benham, Susan Bliss, Joseph Boehler, Wanda Bolam, Carol Burkard, Cecilia Castro-Abad, Arlene Cohen, Nancylynn D’Averso, Edna Deegan, Carl DeJura, Mary Ann DeSarno, Dolores Engel, Joanne Eskola, Donald Fegan, Mary Fiorillo, Arnold Gelfman, Linda Germann, Henry Green, Alma Haft el, Judith Handleman, Th omas Hartman, Th eresa Hicks, Kathryn Hjelle, Betty Holobinko, Doris

Hudak, Betty Hunt, Lynn Johnson, Paul Keating, Susan Kenney, Carleen Kierce, Mary Kikolski, Rosalie LaPorta, J. Laurence Lowenstein, Th omas Mason, Carolyn McCreesh, Dana McKay, Ralph McMillan, Charles Meehan, Mary Kay Merritt, Laura Miceli, Carmen Montes, Jacob Needle, Diane Nuttall, Cecile Owsianik, Louis Pullano, Marion Quinn, Millicent Rein, Ilene Rutan, Bob Salam, Tanya Salas, Arline San Antonio, William Sandford, Alyse Scally, Harvey Schmelter-Davis, Lynne Schmelter-Davis, Mildred Schwarz, Howard Seigelman, Joyce Semoneit, Maureen Sherman, Enid Sidel, Ronald Sopenoff , Sally Sorrell, Brenda Spielzinger, Carole Stengel, Melissa Stryker, William Templeton, Webster Trammell, Ronald Topham, Karen Topham, Dorothea Travers, Sherri West, Leila Wollman, Diane Wran-Farris, and Lenise Young.

ConnectionsESL Students Put Artwork AND Heritage on Display

A new exhibit in the Center for Visual Arts (CVA)Gallery shines a spotlight on the artistic talents and cultural heritage of students studying English as a Second Language (ESL) at Brookdale.

Approximately 30 students contributed more than 100 pieces of original artwork, ancestral clothing, and family heirlooms to the exhibit, which went on display October 31. Donated items include Turkish jewelry, Egyptian papyrus artwork, an Ecuadorian “jaguar table,” Indonesian masks, Chinese vases, Indian wood carvings, Vietnamese fi gurines, clay sculptures and Aztec fi gurines from Mexico, a Bornean bark painting, Native American pottery, decorative china from Peru, Russian nesting dolls, a child’s coat from Japan, and countless more contributions from across the globe, and across the centuries.

ESL students also were encouraged to contribute their own hand-craft ed drawings, paintings, and photographs as well.

“It’s a wonderful exhibit that showcases the talents and the wide range of cultures and backgrounds represented in our program,” said ESL administrator Synde Kaufman.

“Th e students are absolutely thrilled to see their work and their contributions hanging in the gallery, and to feel like they are really a part of the college community. To have the students walking around the gallery with their families and saying, ‘Th at’s mine!,’ is just beautiful. Seeing their reaction is the best part for me.”

Th e student contributors joined Kaufman, Brookdale President Dr. Maureen Murphy, Humanities Dean Carl Calendar, Associate Vice President Nancy Kegelman, faculty members, and dozens of friends and family members in the CVA Gallery on October 18 for a public reception and an offi cial grand opening of the exhibition.

In addition to the artwork, attendees were also able to watch a video produced by the Brookdale TV Club featuring testimonials and interviews with some of the more than 300 students in the college’s ESL program.

“It makes me happy,” said second-year student Aml Mekhael, who contributed a wide range of jewelry and an elegant dress representing her native Egypt. “I’m very proud today.”

36

Impact

Brookdale Students Join Effort to Preserve, Restore Fort Hancock

Brookdale interior design students andfaculty have partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) to help reimagine one of the Jersey Shore’s most iconic historical landmarks.

Over the last fi ve months, ten students worked with Professor Celeste Chirichello, Instructor Erica Tufaro, and NPS offi cials to create comprehensive redevelopment proposals for three buildings at Fort Hancock, the decommissioned military base on the northern tip of Sandy Hook.

Th e proposals – which were showcased to local builders during an Open House tour on June 6 – envision bringing a bed-and-breakfast, a banquet hall, and a combination night club and bowling alley to the fort.

Jillian Gutleber, of Little Silver, worked with two classmates to reimagine Building 50, a 14,000-square-foot former YMCA facility located near the center of the fort. Currently, she said, the building is “not much to look at.” With a little work, however, it could be a multi-story banquet facility capable of accommodating weddings, craft fairs, trade shows, fundraisers, and other special events, she said.

“Being from the area and living close by, you kind of understand the area and what was here and what could be,” said Gutleber. “Everything here is so beautiful, so peaceful, and we really want people to just take a second and imagine the possibilities. We could make this something so much more than it is.”

Fort Hancock, a U.S. Army installation that grew up around the Sandy Hook Lighthouse beginning in the early 19th century, was used for coastal defense and military training throughout World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. It was decommissioned in 1974. In the decades since, dozens of the fort’s unused buildings have fallen into disrepair, putting the future of the designated historical landmark at risk.

Offi cials with the NPS’s Gateway National Recreation Area are now working with private developers, builders, and community partners to bring new life to Fort Hancock, while preserving its historical legacy for generations to come. One challenge, however, lies in helping prospective builders envision potential new uses for each building. And that, said Chirichello, is where interior design students come in.

“We decided to create a large capstone project for our upper-level students, in which they completed many hours of research, site visits, interviews, and design work for specifi c buildings at Fort Hancock,” said Chirichello. “And the work they did was incredible. Simply incredible.”

Louise Hosseini and three classmates were assigned to Building 25, a former barracks that was one of the fi rst in the army’s history to provide exclusive housing for women in the 1940s. As proposed, the team’s bed-and-breakfast would off er dormitories and hostel-style accommodations for tour groups and visiting students while providing private suites for couples and families.

Emily Leppig, of Middletown, worked with two classmates to transform Building 70, an 8,700-square-foot former gym and postal building. Recognizing a need for both refreshment and recreation at the fort, the team decided to propose a night club and bowling alley.

“Th e builders we showed it to loved the concept,” Leppig said. “I really hope someone would want to use our design, or even just take some inspiration from it. I would love for this little town to become something new that people would want to come visit. It has so much potential.”

Project-Based Learning Takes ‘Root’ at Brookdale

More than 100 students and a growing cohortof employees are at work on a series of project-based learning initiatives, collectively run under the banner of Th e Innovation Network (TIN). Brookdale now off ers a new course section devoted entirely to project-based learning on the Lincroft campus.

TIN, which began as a small pilot program in 2014, has grown into a college-wide, interdisciplinary reimagining of the higher education experience, off ering students the opportunity to supplement their coursework by designing and carrying out projects that benefi t their school and the communities they live in.

“We look at two things: what do the students need to learn, and how can they make a diff erence,” said Chemistry Professor Tom Berke, who spearheaded the initiative alongside fellow members of Brookdale’s Global Citizenship Project (GCP). “Th e results, so far, have been tremendous.”

In Spring 2015, twelve students were granted release from one of their classes to participate in the new TIN initiative, and the group was given one simple task: “the greening of Brookdale.”

Th e fi rst TIN cohort identifi ed a series of rain gardens on the Lincroft campus which had fallen into disrepair.

“We expected them to come up with a plan. Th ey did that, then they went ahead and fi xed the gardens,” said Associate Professor Debbie Mura. “Th ey researched the gardens, they learned how to repair them, they raised funds on their own and they did the planting. Again and again, they exceeded our expectations.”

Th e success of the pilot project carried over to the following fall, as more faculty and students sought to become a part of TIN. Th e greening theme continued, as did the focus on student-led projects. TIN students selected two environmentally driven initiatives for the 2015-16 school year: solar energy and composting.

TIN members also decided to branch out from campus this year, putting their skills to work for local community members in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Students volunteered for Habitat’s ongoing Neighborhood Rejuvenation initiative in Long Branch and worked to support Habitat for Humanity’s new ReStore in Freehold, collecting and selling student artwork to raise funds while helping to set up, support and promote the store itself. Each of those initiatives

will continue in 2016-17, with an expected TIN membership of more than 100 students and volunteers and a growing list of faculty and administrative partners.

And this fall, for the fi rst time, a Brookdale course section will exclusively off er project-based learning curriculum. Environmental Science 105, section 002RL, will use hands-on, collaborative assignments to teach students about sustainability, ecological relationships, the natural environment and man’s responsibility to the planet.

For TIN council members, volunteers, and student leaders, the expansion of project-based learning at Brookdale is a win-win for students, faculty and community members alike.

“Th is has helped me tremendously,” said TIN student leader Alex Nichols. “I was able to work on my own time, create my own schedule – I was able to feel like an adult, and learn like an adult. It felt like I had a job, and it was great.”

39

Impact

Brookdale Receives $900K National Science Foundation Grant

As textbook costs continue to rise andcollege faculty look for new ways to engage a younger generation of students, the demand for digital classroom content in the U.S. has reached unprecedented levels. In particular, there is a growing interest in e-textbooks, which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of their paper counterparts and oft en include interactive charts, learning modules, and other digitally enhanced content designed to help students navigate tricky subjects in a particular course.

To help meet this growing demand, Brookdale faculty and staff successfully applied for a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2011 to produce two e-textbooks and to provide tools and advice to other educators who were looking to do the same.

Th e grant project – titled E-books and Mobile Apps for Technician Education (E-MATE) and led by Professor Michael Qaissaunee and Program Administrator Kelly Parr – included three Brookdale graphic design students and two engineering students, who were paid to help create digital learning content, build an informative website, and present their work at a national Advanced Technological Education (ATE) conference in Washington D.C. in October.

Th anks to a new grant from the NSF, an expanded team of Brookdale students, faculty, and staff will build on their previous work and to provide new resources and digital content to educators across the country.

E-MATE 2.0, funded by an $899,899 NSF grant,will create and disseminate interactive digitallearning materials designed to help collegestudents grasp diffi cult course topics at collegesacross the country. Th e program, funded throughAugust 2019, will also give hundreds of educatorsthe tools and guidance they need to createinteractive course materials of their own.

Several Brookdale students studying graphic design, engineering and technology, environmental science, physics, computer science, or chemistry will be enlisted to work with faculty and representatives from fi ve of the NSF’s national ATE centers to create interactive learning content and disseminate it to educators nationwide.

E-MATE 2.0 team members will also create anonline training course and host face-to-faceworkshops to provide more than 300 Americaneducators with the resources they need todeploy interactive learning content in their ownclassrooms.

In addition to Qaissaunee and Parr, the E-MATE 2.0 team will include Chemistry Professor Shahin Pirzad, Environmental Science Instructor Juliette Goulet, Physics Professor Nancy Liu, Innovation Center Director Norah Kerr-McCurry, and Instructional Designer Jonathan Shaloum. Students will be selected to the team beginning this fall, and will begin their paid work on the E-MATE 2.0 program in Spring 2017.

“In addition to the tremendous benefi ts off ered to students and technical educators in the form of interactive course materials, this initiative will also provide our student team-members with an invaluable learning experience,” said Parr. “Th ey have the opportunity to gain real-world experience while building resumes and portfolios of work. Whether students transfer to a four-year school or enter the workforce, working on the project will benefi t them immeasurably.”

Brookdale Scholarship Ball Raises Record $124,000

More than 260 community members helped celebrate Brookdale’s 50th anniversary and raise a record amount for local students during the Brookdale Foundation’s 2017 Scholarship Ball, held June 9 at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale.

Th e event, which featured dinner, dancing, live entertainment and more than 100 prize auctions, raised $124,162 for student scholarships and support services at Brookdale. Th e net proceeds topped the scholarship ball’s previous fundraising record by nearly $30,000.

“I could not imagine a more fi tting tribute to Brookdale’s 50th anniversary than the outpouring of generosity and support we saw this year,” said Timothy Zeiss, Executive Director of the Brookdale Foundation. “On behalf of my colleagues and the hundreds of students who will receive foundation scholarships this year, we express our sincerest thanks to everyone who helped make this event a historic success.”

Honorees included Bob and Joan Rechnitz, local philanthropists and founders of the Two River Th eater; Th e Anabel Foundation, a Fair Haven-based charity supporting a variety of nonprofi ts across Monmouth

Members of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Brookdale Foundation Scholarship Ball Committee

County; and Zodiac Aerospace, a Wall Township-based world leader in aerospace equipment and a longtime supporter of Brookdale students and the foundation.

In recognition of the college’s 50th anniversary, special Founders’ Awards were also presented to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Northern Monmouth Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which were instrumental in establishing a public community college in Monmouth County fi ve decades ago.

Th e scholarship ball also featured a special cocktail hour musical performance by speech professor Barbara Baron and music professor Joseph Accurso, two members of the Brookdale Big Band, and a “50th Anniversary 50/50 Raffl e” that raised more than $4,000 for the foundation’s scholarship fund.

Recent graduate Sameerah Wahab, who was named one of the top 20 community college students in the nation in 2016, drew the 50/50 winner aft er thanking those in attendance for their support of Brookdale students.

“I could not imagine starting my college career anywhere else,” said Wahab. “On behalf of all the current and future students who will benefi t from your support here tonight, I thank you all.”

Th e 2017 Scholarship Ball was co-chaired by Carol Stillwell, of Stillwell-Hansen Inc., Foundation board trustees Candy Langan-Sattenspiel, of Sattenspiel Surgical Arts Pavilion and Karen Escobedo of New Jersey Natural Gas

41

Dozens Graduate from Brookdale ESL AND GED Programs

Impact

For Jose Escobar, learning English has not been easy. Twice a week for the last four years, the Matawan-based landscaper and painter has left work and ridden his bicycle more than four miles to Brookdale’s Higher Education Center in Hazlet, where he has spent his evenings conjugating verbs and practicing grammar in the college’s noncredit English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

In more ways than one, it’s been a long road for Escobar, who came to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2010. But, as he can tell you now in perfect English, it’s been worth it.

“In the beginning I was having problems at work, because I didn’t speak English at all,” said Escobar. “Now I can communicate with my boss and I can speak with customers and answer their questions when my boss isn’t around. Wherever I go now, I don’t have any

problems. It’s a lot of sacrifi ce, for sure. But when you want to learn, there’s no easy way.”

Th is week, Escobar and nearly 100 other students were recognized by college offi cials for their achievements in Brookdale’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) division, which includes ESL, and the college’s General Education Development (GED) program. Th e grant-funded programs, off ered for free each year in Freehold, Hazlet, Long Branch, and Neptune, currently reach more than 800 students across Monmouth County.

In separate ceremonies at each location on June 14 and 15, course instructors and administrators presented dozens of successful students with a Certifi cate of Educational Gain, certifying that they had completed a portion of their studies and were ready to move on to the next level.

In Hazlet on June 14, Escobar and many of his classmates celebrated with ABE Director Linda Roma, ABE Coordinator and Instructor Patricia Tierney, GED Instructor Pete Urbanowicz, and ESL Instructor Erin Marie Tierney.

“We are all so proud of you,” Roma said. “It takes incredible courage and tenacity to achieve what you have, and to work towards your share of the American dream… Regardless of where you came from or where you are in your journey, we want you to know that our doors are always open to you. You are always welcome at Brookdale.”

Th e Hazlet ceremony also featured a pot-luck dinner of pizza, snacks, a congratulatory cake, and variety of homemade dishes contributed by students and members of the Hazlet ESL class.

Patricia Tierney (l-r), Jose Escobar, Linda Roma, and Erin Marie Tierney

Expenditures

FY17 Brookdale Financials

Tuition $39,419,986 49.6% State $10,414,993 13.1% County $20,027,019 25.2% Fees $5,918,816 7.4% Continuing & Prof. Serv. $3,007,892 3.8% Other Income $754,635 0.9% Total Revenue $79,543,341 100.0%

Learning Division $31,760,156 42.0% Continuing & Prof. Serv. 3,214,772 4.3% Student Success Div 5,558,319 7.4% President's Div 509,447 0.7% Finance & Operations 8,770,129 11.6% Human Resources & Safety 2,048,828 2.7% Planning & Inst. Effectiveness 486,055 0.6% Advancement Div 1,265,853 1.7% Utilities 2,895,000 3.8% Benefits 14,687,118 19.4% General Expenses 4,381,348 5.8%Total Expenditures $75,577,025 100.0%Excess Revenue/(Expenditures) 3,966,316

Tuition and Fees 57.0%

Monmouth County Funding 25.2%

State Funding 13.1%

Other Income 4.7%

REVENUE

Sources of Operating Funds

Financials

FY17 Brookdale Foundation Financials

Revenues: Expenditures:

monmouth

Special events

investment income

contributions

$274,772

$304,352

$455,810

$74,934

$110,829

$552,963

scholarships/grants

operating

fundraising