(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Ocean County College Foundation has been awarded $50,000 from Santander Bank to provide scholarship programming to support the school's English Language Learners (ELLs) through tuition assistance, providing enrollment in credit-bearing ESL courses, increased access to non-credit ESL programs for underserved populations, and enhanced community engagement and economic mobility for Ocean County residents.
The new grant will enhance the Foundation’s established commitment to supporting students through scholarship programs that enable them to pursue their academic and career goals. These programs ensure that all students have access to higher education and make it possible for them to achieve their aspirations with as little debt as possible.
“We are grateful to Santander for recognizing the vital role English language learning plays in unlocking opportunity,” said Kenneth J. Malagiere, executive director of the OCC Foundation. “This investment directly supports our students’ success and fuels the economic mobility of families across Ocean County.”
Santander Bank is committed to expanding access to education, supporting employability, and fostering entrepreneurship. Through its Universities program, Santander partners with colleges and universities to provide resources and funding that help them create scholarships, programs, and initiatives tailored to their students’ needs.
"At Santander, we believe in creating opportunities that help every student succeed. Through our partnership with the Ocean County College Foundation, we are proud to support initiatives that provide students with the resources, programs, and experiences that make a meaningful difference in their education and future careers,” said Angela Moultrie, Region President, Santander Bank, N.A.
Applications for the scholarship are available now and will remain open to those currently enrolled. Students interested in applying should visit go.ocean.edu/ELLS.
Since 1965, the Ocean County College Foundation has been a cornerstone of student support, awarding more than $23.5 million in scholarships and special program funding. Through the generosity of its donors, the Foundation continues to strengthen the College and enrich student life by supporting initiatives such as the Helping Hands Food Pantry, Blauvelt Speaker Series, Grunin Center for the Arts, Global Travel Experience, Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC), Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Viking Athletics, and many other college and studentled programs. Together, the OCC Foundation and its supporters are building brighter futures—one student at a time.
Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (SHUSA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) (Santander), recognized as one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune Magazine in 2025, with approximately 176 million customers in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. As the intermediate holding company for Santander’s U.S. businesses, SHUSA is the parent company of financial companies with more than 11,300 employees, 4.5 million customers, and assets of $165 billion in the fiscal year ended 2024. These include Santander Bank, N.A., Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Banco Santander International, Santander Securities LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC and several other subsidiaries. Santander US is recognized as a top 10 auto lender as well as a top 10 multifamily bank lender and servicer and has a growing wealth management business.
