$2M Gift to Create STEM Scholars Program in Atlantic County

Stockton University, in partnership with the Levine and Gormley Family Foundations, has launched a new $2 million initiative to expand access to high-quality STEM education for Atlantic County students.

The pledge from the two foundations will create the Levine-Gormley STEM Scholars Pathway Program that will provide scholarships and other support for Atlantic County students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics degree programs at Stockton. Eligible students may receive up to $10,000 per year in scholarships renewable for up to four years.

“This is the kind of giving that lifts students, fuels dreams and ripples outward to strengthen the entire region. Today, we’re celebrating a gift that goes far beyond dollars. It’s about believing in our students, investing in their potential and building a future we can all be proud of. It’s a partnership rooted in care and vision, one that will open doors for generations to come,” said Stockton President Joe Bertolino.

The Levine and Gormley families, long-time Atlantic County residents and community leaders, have a deep history of civic engagement and philanthropy in the region. In November, the families donated $100,000 to create a fund benefiting students in Stockton’s Master of Social Work program. Sen. Bill Gormley, a former longtime New Jersey State Senator, and his wife, Ginny, are from Margate, and Lee and Sandra Levine live in Longport.

The families’ investment in the STEM Scholars Pathway Program and the Stockton Foundation reflects a shared belief in education as a powerful tool for long-term community growth and prosperity.

The program features a cohort-based model in which up to 10 students per year with specific STEM majors are grouped together to foster peer support, aligned advising and targeted professional development.

“This program is about more than scholarships. It’s about belonging,” Bertolino said. “It will create a cohort of STEM-focused students from Atlantic County, support them as they move through their degree programs, and help them build confidence, community and purpose along the way. It tells students: You matter. You belong here. And Stockton is here for you.”

A selection committee composed of representatives from Stockton and the Atlantic County Institute of Technology will identify students in their junior year of high school and provide them with early decision admission to Stockton. Students will also be able to take advantage of several dual enrollment courses the university offers to high school students to accelerate the time it takes to earn a degree.

Once enrolled, the students will benefit from enrichment programming at the university’s Atlantic City campus, including career preparation, internship opportunities, industry engagement, networking events and coordinated campus visits.

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