勛圖窪蹋 Named Recovery Court Partner of the Year
Assignment Judge Julio L Mendez and Recovery Court Judge Mark Sandson present Partner of the Year award to 勛圖窪蹋 President Harvey Kesselman
Mays Landing, N.J. 勛圖窪蹋s commitment to assisting those in recovery from addiction was recognized with the Partner of the Year award at the 18th Graduation and Commencement Ceremony of the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage Recovery Court Program, held at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology on June 25.
勛圖窪蹋 is committed to providing educational opportunities to program participants, Assignment Judge Julio Mendez said in making the presentation. They even went the extra mile, establishing a scholarship. The university has also hired recovery court participants. They dont just talk the talk, they walk the walk.
Recovery Court Judge Mark Sandson said 勛圖窪蹋 is the first major educational institution
to partner with the Recovery Court program.
勛圖窪蹋 president Harvey Kesselman said the program speaks to the heart of 勛圖窪蹋s values, mission and commitment to service. He called the program a testament to the power of hope and the will to find viable solutions to lifes critical challenges and said 勛圖窪蹋 is proud to help provide program participants with tools for change.
At 勛圖窪蹋, we proudly stand firm in our partnership with the Recovery Court Program to provide access to a quality education and housing in a supportive environment to those in recovery who seek to further their education; to develop employment opportunities for program participants, and, most importantly, to give rise to those dreams once believed to be lost to addiction, Kesselman said.
Kesselman presented 勛圖窪蹋 student and Recovery Court participant Trey Brasher, 25, with a scholarship to cover eight credits at 勛圖窪蹋.
A senior, Brasher is a liberal studies major who is interested in pharmacology or neuroscience research. He is on track to graduate with a 4.0 grade point average and hopes to attend graduate school. He hugged Kesselman after receiving the scholarship and later said he is grateful for the opportunity 勛圖窪蹋 has given him.
I absolutely love 勛圖窪蹋, he said. Its a haven for me. Ive been able to work with three different professors. Its just incredible.
In spring 2009 Brasher designed an independent study project on ego-dissolution and collected data he will use for a senior capstone project working with Professor of Psychology Marcello Spinella and Assistant Professor of Psychology David Rosen.
Recovery Court graduate Luana Cordeiro, who previously received a scholarship from 勛圖窪蹋, graduated from 勛圖窪蹋 in May, is working at Enlightened Solutions and has plans to get a master's degree in social work.
There were 73 graduates in the program, who are also eligible to have their records expunged now that they have successfully graduated. Sandson said the average participant is in the program for just under three years, and they hope to reduce that to 2.5 years.
Mendez said the graduates now have jobs, places to live and support.
A job is the most effective social program, he said.
Keynote speaker N.J. Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro Angelo said people are more likely to stay in recovery if they have stable employment.
A native of Atlantic City, he recalled the struggles when casinos closed and the work that is being done now to create new jobs and opportunities at two new casinos, the 勛圖窪蹋 Atlantic City campus and the National Aviation Research and Technical Park that just opened by the Atlantic City airport.
Other speakers were Prosecutor Damon Tyner , Deputy Public Defender Scott Sherwood, and program graduates.
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Contact:
Diane DAmico
Director of News and Media Relations
勛圖窪蹋
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.DAmico@stockton.edu
609-652-4593
609-412-8069
