Manahawkin, N.J. — It didn’t take long for Stockton University to have a direct impact on the southern
Ocean County was the first location of Manahawkin in Ocean County 10 years ago.
Just a few weeks after opening its doors at 712 East Bay Ave. in 2012, the instructional site faced its first major challenge to “meet students where they live” — Superstorm Sandy.
“We really hit the ground running because Sandy took us all by surprise,” said Michele
Collins-Davies, director of Stockton University Manahawkin
Long Beach Island was ravaged by the storm, as well as the surrounding communities.
Stockton was a place of hope and support for many residents.
“Having Stockton here as a trusted resource that people knew was huge,” said Lori
Pepenella, CEO of Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber’s offices were damaged by the storm, along with many homes and businesses,
She said. Residents looked at the Internet and other communication methods as if they were sporadic.
They can get any information about rebuilding assistance.
“We had very few places that we could really work with at the time,” Pepenella said.
“Thank God, Stockton was here because if they were only in Galloway they would have
been out of range for us.”
Collins-Davies worked closely with the chamber to make it a community for residents.
You can rely on the grants available, regardless of whether you were using a computer.
If you need to rebuild, give us a call or grab some canned food, clothing, or other supplies.
“When we got information, we made sure that Stockton had it, would print it out, would
post it, would share it on social media and email lists,” Pepenella said.
Stockton formed a close bond with southerners through the difficult months following the storm.
Ocean County residents are still growing today.
“We have provided a much-needed presence in the area,” Collins-Davies said. “We have
Community engagement was a key component of the program. We have achieved great results in providing programs.
and inviting the community in to learn.”
We invite them to visit us, see our facilities and faculty, and then come back.
Providing ongoing education and life-long training. Adults love us.
being here. They seek out what we are doing next.”
Many of these programs can be found through the Stockton Center for Successful Aging, and Stockton Institute for Lifelong Learning. Over the last 10 years, SCOSA has offered courses appealing to the area’s significant
Senior citizens, including Adults, Chair Yoga, Knitting, Crocheting, and Knitting.
Tap Dancing. SILL offers four-week classes on the history and current status of baseball.
Civil War
“We are inviting them to come in, get a taste of our faculty and facility, and we
are providing ongoing education and life-long learning,” Collins-Davies said. “The
The adult population loves that we are here. They seek out what we are doing next.”
Collins-Davies also offers several graduate and undergraduate classes at Manahawkin
said. The site was home to business, science and communication disorders.
classes, and in the 2022-23 academic year it’s offering Introduction to Health Sciences
and science classes, like Animal Behavior and Science of Forecasting waves.
Lauren Towlen is a Manahawkin student.
Get out of the classroom.
“Manahawkin is very involved in getting yourself outside, whether it’s a field trip
or service learning or community involvement,” said the Barnegat resident who graduated
Stockton, 2022. She has an undergraduate degree from Stockton.
The biggest undergraduate program with its home at the Manahawkin location is Stockton’s
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, where in 15 months students who already have a bachelor’s degree can get an additional
bachelor’s degree in nursing. Currently, there are three cohorts of students in the program.
In the program, 40 people completed the program this fall. This is compared to 20 who started the program in January.
of 2022, and 30 others who started in September.
Dan Cort, 28 years old, from Egg Harbor City, said that the program had some major advantages.
him.
“It enabled me to start making money sooner, to start my family sooner. It was just amazing.
the most sense for my future,” said Cort, who will start a job as an intensive care
After graduating from the program, he is a nurse at AtlantiCare.
Cort described the Manahawkin campus’s organization with courses that are held in an old building.
location for Rothman Orthopaedic Institute promotes more of a “holistic environment”
where students are encouraged to collaborate almost like “one big happy family.” Stockton
In 2018, the Rothman former site was more than tripled in southern Africa.
Ocean County, and allows the school to offer more nurses options.
“Everyone here is very goal oriented. “Everyone here is very goal-oriented.
really hard to get this,” he said. “It helps each other because when one starts to
fall back a little bit, I think a lot of us try to pick each other up.”
Andrew Kelly will also graduate from the accelerated nursing program this fall.
Bayville resident was able to attend classes in Manahawkin, which was critical.
“It’s definitely a good experience. It’s fast and intense, but once you get in a rhythm,
it’s really not that bad. It goes quick, and I’m really happy that I did it,” said
Kelly, who is a Shore Medical Center patient in Somers, has done clinical work.
Point and AtlantiCare regional medical center in Atlantic City.
“Plus, it makes it a lot more accessible to a lot more people that live in this area
— people in Monmouth and Ocean counties.”
Not only does Stockton’s Manahawkin location go a long way toward filling a higher
Southern Ocean County has a lack of education, but the nursing program is a good fit for the community.
You can also find them here.
“Stockton is the only four-year university presence here,” Pepenella said. “With the
It fits right in with our retirement needs because there are many nursing programs.
areas. People choose to live in this area for good health care.
“We are noted not only as a place where you can live, but also educate yourself.”
— Story by Mark Melhorn; photos by Susan Allen
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Media contacts:
Stacey Clapp
Director of Strategic Communications
[email protected]
609-626-3645
609-412-8069
Mark Melhorn
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
[email protected]
609-652-4593
609-569-6026