Beyond Financial Assistance

Winter 2018 Issue

COVeR Story

Beyond Financial Assistance

淫性视频鈥檚 Educational Opportunity Fund Program inspires hundreds of hard-working students.

by Marielena Dottoli 鈥18

EOF
Left-right: Deon Davis, a junior Communication Studies major, EOF student and a student trustee alternate; Maralyn Mason, director of the EOF program; John Gray, assistant dean of the School of Education and EOF alumnus; and Naijasia Thomas, a senior Literature major and EOF student. 

 

Inspire. That鈥檚 what John Gray hopes to do in his life. It鈥檚 something he felt firsthand as a student in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at 淫性视频.

The EOF Program, a state-funded grant program, provides financial assistance and support services to college students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

John Gray淫性视频鈥檚 EOF program, under the direction of Maralyn Mason, currently assists over 350 students.

According to Mason, the EOF program is much more than financial assistance. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an extension of family,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ot only does the program provide financial aid, but it also assists students academically and personally.鈥

Students accepted into the program take part in the five-week summer program, where they live on campus, take classes and participate in social events with other incoming EOF students. The program provides the opportunity for students to get to know each other and learn about the University and the career, academic and social support it has to offer.

The support does not end with the completion of the summer program. Throughout their time at 淫性视频, EOF students also receive support from EOF staff and advisers as well as other professional staff members, faculty members and student leaders.

鈥淢any of our students come from disadvantaged backgrounds,鈥 said Mason. 鈥淭his program gives them a leg up.鈥

In 1986, Newark native John Gray was one of those students. Growing up in the foster care system, Gray knows how necessary the EOF advantage and support can be.

鈥淚 turned 18 my first semester here at 淫性视频,鈥 Gray said. 鈥淢y caseworker wished me good luck with the rest of my life before walking out of the door after our last meeting in upper J-wing.鈥

At that time, Gray said that 淫性视频 and the EOF program became his cheering section.

鈥淸With the support of the EOF program], I said to myself, Okay, I can do this,鈥 he recalls.

Gray graduated in 1992 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Criminal Justice. He would go on to receive master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees years later.

In 2017, after spending over two decades as a school administrator, Gray returned to 淫性视频 as the assistant dean of the School of Education. Ironically, his office is now located in upper J-wing.

Naijasia Thomas Like Gray, senior Naijasia Thomas attributes many of her personal successes to the support she has received through the EOF program.

鈥淓OF is the best thing I could have done for myself,鈥 said Thomas, a Literature major.

鈥淜nowing that there are people there who want to help me, gives me the support I need,鈥 Thomas said. 鈥淎nd going through everything with other EOF students really creates and strengthens our bond. We know we can do it together.鈥

In addition to tutoring students in writing, Thomas also serves as an admissions ambassador, the Vice President of the 淫性视频 NAACP chapter, the public relations director for the Alliance for EOF Students of N.J. and a member of Sigma Tau Delta, an English honor society.

In Fall 2017, she traveled to Cyprus, Greece as an exchange student to teach writing as the first exchange student in a new program started by 淫性视频 alumna Ciara Barrick, who put together a writing center in Cyprus as a Fulbright. While there, she was able to interact with ESL (English as a Second Language) students and help guide them in their writing.

EOF AT A GLANCE

The EOF Program, a state-funded grant program provides financial assistance and support services to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who attend colleges and universities in New Jersey. Students who meet the academic and financial criteria receive financial awards ranging from $250 to $2,500.

Last year, 淫性视频鈥檚 EOF retention reached a record high, where 98 percent of the students enrolled in Fall 2016 re-enrolled for Fall 2017.

The six-year graduation rate for 淫性视频鈥檚 EOF students is 67 percent. That鈥檚 12 percent higher than that of the 2015 national average reported by the .

Thomas believes the support she has received through the EOF program and from people like Mason has helped her to become who she is today.

鈥淢ama Mason,鈥 as she is affectionately referred to by her EOF students says that her students are highly motivated. 鈥淭he goal of the program is to help them succeed. We tell them all the time, 鈥榶ou鈥檙e capable of so much.鈥欌

Mason attributes the success of the program to the drive of her students and the support from the entire University community.

鈥淭he work we do isn鈥檛 hard work, it鈥檚 heart work,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e give our time and commitment to the students and to the program and the students really feel that love.鈥

Mason says that love is quickly helping turn 2018 into a year of milestones. As the State of N.J. EOF program turns 50 years old, 淫性视频 will expand its program with a new EOF program in Atlantic City, which aims to support 50 students beginning in Fall 2018.

鈥淔or many of the students in Atlantic City, college is some far-away entity, but to have a college the caliber of 淫性视频 right in their backyard, I think that鈥檚 something that鈥檚 awesome for them to see and be exposed to,鈥 said Gray, a former educator and administrator in Atlantic City.

EOF is the best thing I could have done for myself.鈥鈥 Naijasia Thomas, a senior Literature major

Along with Gray and Thomas, many other successful students and alumni have gone through the program. Many current students are leaders on campus, successful athletes and gifted academically, while alumni have gone on to earn advanced degrees and certifications in their fields of study and have successful careers.

鈥淭his program does so much,鈥 Thomas said. 鈥淐oming through it is a true accomplishment. I鈥檒l always be a proud EOF student.鈥

EOF Awards
Maralyn Mason, director of the EOF program, with students at a recent EOF awards ceremony.

Learn more about 淫性视频's EOF Program.