The Ocean County College Foundation is proud to announce the award of over $500,000 in scholarships and grant support to more than 475 students for the Fall 2026 semester, representing one of the largest scholarship investments per semester in the Foundation’s history.
This milestone comes during a year of unprecedented demand. A record number of students applied for Foundation scholarship support, making this one of the most competitive scholarship cycles the Foundation has ever experienced.
Scholarship awards were distributed through named and donor-designated funds, as well as the OCC Foundation’s General Scholarship Fund, providing critical financial support to students pursuing their educational goals.
The OCC Foundation Board’s Scholarship Review Committee carefully reviewed and evaluated every application. The depth, resilience, and determination reflected in the applicants’ stories made this one of the most meaningful, and difficult, selection processes in the Foundation’s history.
“I was genuinely moved by the stories in these applications,” said OCC Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Casey Yetman. “These are students who have overcome homelessness, immigrated alone as teenagers, returned to school as parents, and cared for sick family members — all while pursuing degrees and certificates that will change the trajectory of their lives. Reviewing these applications reminded me exactly why the work of this foundation matters so deeply to our community.”
The Fall 2026 scholarship cycle also introduced several new named scholarship opportunities, established through the generosity of our supporters. A complete list of named scholarship funds is available on their website.
In addition to named awards, the OCC Foundation provided general Foundation scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,250 to additional students. These awards ensure that outstanding applicants who may not meet the specific criteria of a named scholarship can still receive meaningful financial assistance. Funding for these scholarships was made possible through the generosity of donors across the community, including supporters of the Foundation’s Annual Gala and Annual Golf Classic. Proceeds from these signature fundraising events help expand scholarship opportunities and remove financial barriers for OCC students.
“Ten years ago, the Foundation awarded $250,000 in scholarships. This year, we’ll surpass $2 million,” said OCC Foundation Executive Director Kenneth Malagiere. “That growth reflects what happens when a community decides that a student’s financial situation shouldn’t determine their future.”
While celebrating this year’s scholarship recipients, the Foundation also recognizes the significant unmet need that remains. With a record number of applicants and limited funding resources, not every deserving student could receive an award this cycle.
“We want every applicant to know that submitting this application took courage, and we read every word,” said OCC Foundation Scholarship Review Committee Chair Kristin Farfalla. “We encourage everyone who applied to apply again next cycle as you continue your OCC journey, and we remain committed to growing our scholarship capacity so that one day, every qualified student may receive the maximum award.”
The OCC Foundation congratulates all scholarship recipients and extends its sincere appreciation to the individual donors, family foundations, businesses, and community organizations whose generosity makes these awards possible.
For more information about scholarship opportunities or to support OCC students through the Foundation, visit their website or call 732-255-0492.
About the OCC Foundation
Since 1965, the OCC Foundation has proudly served the Ocean County College community, awarding over $25 million in scholarships and special program funding for deserving students. The generosity of our donors continues to make a lasting impact, supporting initiatives like the Helping Hands Food Pantry, the Blauvelt Speaker Series, the Grunin Center for the Arts, the Global Travel Experience, the Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC), the Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Viking Athletics, and many more college and student-led initiatives. For more information, visit occfoundation.org.