The Ocean County College Foundation has announced 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,” noted media liaison Dori Londres. “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 through the Foundation’s General Scholarship Fund, providing critical financial support to students pursuing their educational goals.
According to Londres, “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,” OCC Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Casey Yetman remarked. “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 supporters.
In addition to named awards, the OCC Foundation provided general 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 donors across the community, including supporters of the Foundation’s Annual Gala and Annual Golf Classic.
“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,” OCC Foundation Scholarship Review Committee Chair Kristin Farfalla stated. “We encourage everyone who applied to apply next cycle again 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.”
For more information about scholarship opportunities, or to support OCC students through the Foundation, visit occfoundation.org or call 732-255-0492.
