The Council of Black Faculty and Staff at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey hosted its 29th Annual Awards Dinner and Dance recently at the Carriage House in Galloway. Since its inception more than a quarter of a century ago, the Council of Black Faculty and Staff has worked to expand the opportunities available to Stockton’s diverse community.

 The Council has awarded more than $220,000 in scholarship money to deserving Stockton students since 1981. This year the Council awarded nine $1,000 scholarships, one of which was named in memory of Annette Thorpe, a former Stockton staff member, and awarded to Phillip Bennett.

This year’s honorary chairperson was Stockton’s Provost and Executive Vice President, Dr. Harvey Kesselman. The following award recipients were honored for their contributions, which are making a difference both locally and internationally.

• Lifetime-Achievement Recipient–Dr. David Carr
• Merit Award Recipient–Ms. Yuberky Pena
• Distinguished Stockton Alumna–Dr. Agathe Franck, M.D., ‘02

From left, Earl Nelson, a Stockton alum, Harry Maurice, Assistant Director of Student Development, and Nick White, a Stockton graduate and a former Alumni Association president.		Yubi Pena, this year’s Merit Award Recipient, is pictured with her family. Surrounding Yubi from the left are her daughter Melissa, her daughter Jessica, a staff member in Stockton’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, her son Edwin, her fiancé, Neil Allen, and her daughter Elisha.

Gerry Matthews, Stockton’s Men’s Basketball Coach, Wendel White, Distinguished Professor of Art, and Mr. Kenneth O’Reggio ‘92, a member of the Richard Stockton College Foundation Board of Directors, were recognized for their dedicated service to the College and community.  Henry Glickel of Sales Recruiters, Inc., provided corporate sponsorship of the event.