OCC Foundation Executive Director Kenneth Malagiere welcomes attendees to the 2026 Scholarship Celebration June 4th on the College's main campus in Toms River. Photo by Juan Esteban Molina Garcia
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Ocean County College Foundation celebrated its annual Scholarship Celebration on Thursday, June 4, 2026, raising over $200,000 to support the students of Ocean County College.
The event, held on the College’s main campus in Toms River, brought together 200 friends, colleagues and community members for an inspiring evening in support of the Foundation’s Scholarship Fund. Highlights included entertainment, an elegant culinary spread and a silent and live auction, with proceeds going to advance the Foundation’s mission to empower all students to pursue their dream of a college education.
"The Scholarship Celebration is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together as a community. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our supporters, we are not only raising critical funds—we are opening doors of opportunity and helping students realize their dreams of a college education. It is truly inspiring to witness the impact of this collective commitment to Ocean County College and its students," shared Casey Yetman, Foundation Board Chair.
The program also featured the recognition of several individuals and organizations that have made an extraordinary impact in our community. This year’s distinguished honorees included Linda Novak, in recognition of her decades of exceptional service as a trustee of both the Ocean County College Board and the Foundation Board; Paul Chalakani, program chair of Performing Arts–Theatre at OCC and director of the OCC Repertory Theatre Company; and Kean University and the Kean Ocean Partnership, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the collaboration which has provided countless students with an affordable pathway to a highquality education in Ocean County and beyond.
For more information about the Scholarship Celebration, please visit occfoundation.org/scholarship-celebration2026.
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.
