With the school year coming to a close, the next class of Ospreys are flying off to a new stage of life, both from undergraduate school and graduate school. On Friday, April 24, many graduating students gathered in the Event Room to celebrate their great accomplishments with good food, fun prizes, and a glass of champagne. The big screens showcased information on Grad Events taking place in the days leading up to Commencement and other information.

The Office of University Advancement and Stockton’s Graduate Admissions offered information about grad programs and the green honor cords given to seniors who donate $26 or higher to recognize their philanthropy.

Talon the Osprey attended, taking pictures with many of the excited and grateful graduates. The buffet included fried chicken tenders, spinach and artichoke dip, spring rolls, salad, and delicious vanilla cupcakes for dessert.

Each graduate was given one glass of sparkling cider (under 21) or champagne (over 21) to save for the big toast. Between each speech, there was a round of raffle prizes each graduate had a chance to win; they ranged from $50 Target Gift Cards to brand-new Stockton tumbler cups.

The Masters of Ceremony were Steve Radwanski, Executive Director for Residential Life, and Ayisha Williams, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations.

Dr. Martha “Marty” Wygmans, the new Vice President for Student Affairs, gave the celebratory remarks. She brought nostalgia to the room by having the graduates think back to how they were in high school, and how the pandemic changed and upended many lives; many students had to deal with a delayed graduation, making this a very anxiously-awaited moment.

“What I want you to think about is how that experience shaped you,” Wygmans said. “What did you learn? How did you cope? What are you taking with you when you leave Stockton to go into the world and start making a difference in a new way?” She commended the new class, stating, “I stand here before you as a first-generation college student, with parents that had no idea how to help me. I’m guessing that many of you in this room had similar experiences. Sometimes that’s really hard, but look what you’ve done! Look what you’ve accomplished when things were stacked against you.” She announced that this year’s class has amounted to 2,600 total graduates, all of whom are joining an alumni family of 68,000 Ospreys.

Sara Faurot, Director of Alumni Relations, gave the Alumni Association Greeting, welcoming the Class of 2026 to the alumni family. She announced: “You guys are the class that gives us over 70,000 [alumni]!” She encouraged the graduates to keep in touch with Stockton and return for volunteer events, orientation events, panels, and other opportunities that highlight alumni.

Ahnjeles Maldonado served as the Undergraduate Student Toastmaster and gave a heartfelt, emotional speech to encourage, uplift, and congratulate her fellow graduates, stating: “As I stand here, I feel I finally have the answer to the question many of us have heard throughout this journey: ‘Well, what’s the point?’ Through my own experience navigating life, stepping into adulthood, and feeling that constant sense of urgency, I’ve come to understand that the answer can look different for each of us. But for me, it comes down to three things: leadership, mentorship, and exposure.”

She proceeded to explain how each quality has developed her as a student and as a person. She is graduating with a major in Health Science and a minor in Public Health.

Finally, Samantha Whitehurst concluded the event with the Graduate Student Toast, giving an inspiring speech about her journey as a graduate student, which was not the “traditional” route one would expect. She said, “About ten years ago, when I finally landed my first full-time job, I told my great-grandmother I was thinking about going back to school. She said, ‘Do it now, before work, marriage, kids, and life get in the way!’ Clearly, I didn’t take her advice.” She followed with: “If she were here today, I’d tell her she was right.” She spoke about the difficulties and hardships that came with her career: losing her father to cancer in June right after enrolling in May, having her role in Stockton change after President Bertolino started at the University, and raising a toddler who “didn’t believe in sleep or silence.”

However, she added: “She [great-grandmother] was also a little bit wrong. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have had the perspective, the resilience, or the empathy that shaped my journey.” She talked about the advantages that came with her decision to wait to enroll in graduate school. She concluded with, “Maybe that’s the point. Life will always get in the way– of our plans, our timelines, our expectations– but it also gives meaning to what we achieve. So, class of 2026, whether you arrived at this moment exactly as you’d planned it, or by a much longer road; you are not behind.” She is graduating with a Master’s in Digital Storytelling and had graduated with her Bachelor’s at Stockton in 2013.

Dr. Wygmans commented, “I’m so proud of the class of 2026. They overcame so many obstacles to get to where they are, and they deserve every bit of recognition we can give them.”

Steve Radwanski gave a genuine, appreciative remark for the class of 2026, saying: “I’ve worked here for so long, and seen so many students graduate. It’s probably one of the best parts of my job. A student out in the hallway said, ‘Do you remember me from freshman year?’ I said, ‘Absolutely!’ To really see the students grow from their first days here, all the way to walking across that stage… whatever comes next and however we can help them– that’s the most important part of our job here at Stockton.”

Analise LoPresti, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Literature with a concentration in Literary Studies and a minor in Africana Studies, was very uplifted by Samantha Whitehurst’s speech: “I liked the whole part of [Whitehurst’s] speech that pretty much said, ‘You’re not late; you’re never late; this is the right time, no matter what’. Everybody has their own timing and their own journey, and that’s life. I think that’s definitely my experience.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. Soar Higher, Go Ospreys!