MAYS LANDING – The 59th Annual Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation Scholarship Recognition Ceremony acknowledged the unwavering generosity and continued support of the College’s sponsors and donors, while recognizing the academic achievements of Atlantic Cape’s students by awarding 353 individual scholarships worth $371,690 to 235 students on May 18 in the Jonathan Pitney Hall Gymnasium on the Mays Landing campus.
Seated at the tables together throughout the duration of the ceremony, student scholarship recipients, and their invited guest(s), had the opportunity to meet their respective donor(s) who generously provided the funding for their academic scholarships.
Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba thanked the many scholarship donors in attendance for their continuous support of the College’s students and welcomed members of the College’s Board of Trustees, Leadership Cabinet, Scholarship Selection Committee and Financial Aid department for their hard work and commitment to this annual celebration.
“I am honored as President of Atlantic Cape to be here tonight to celebrate the achievements of our students, as well as recognize and thank our donors for supporting and creating opportunity for our deserving students,” said Gaba. “We cannot do this important work alone. The support from our philanthropic community is essential to our success. I am so proud of the positive impact our work has on all the students for over 60 years. I look forward to many more years of success and achievement ahead.”
Over the past nine years during her tenure as College president, Dr. Gaba and her husband, Peter, have generously given $100,000 to the College through their endowment, scholarships and other fundraising activities.
Delivering the ceremony’s welcoming remarks, New Jersey Legislature, District Two, Assemblyman Donald A. Guardian touted the benefits that Atlantic Cape plays in the lives of its students while extolling the virtues of continuing their post–education lives in Atlantic County.
“You’re opening up a new chapter and your life is a book. This chapter is your continuing education. As you look to your future, there's three things that you should be looking for in your life with your job. Have a job that you actually love, have a job that you do really well and make enough money and benefits to be able to take care of your family,” said Guardian. “We have so many exciting things going on in Atlantic County and we want you to stay right here. The future is ahead of you.
You couldn’t make a better choice than Atlantic Cape Community College. This is the best bet for your continuing education.”
Atlantic Cape Foundation Trustee and City of Cape May Mayor Zachary Mullock; Atlantic Cape Professor Heather Boone; and Atlantic City Public Schools, Uptown School Complex Principal Dr. Ananda Davis–Wright ’06 spoke of the importance that being a donor has on Atlantic Cape’s students.
“I want to thank and congratulate each and every one of you here tonight. As a Foundation board member, this is exactly why we do the work that we do. This is determination, hard work, and promise. This is why we give; not just to support education, but to open doors and create opportunity,” said Mullock.
“I got a promotion a few years back and it came with a little bit of money. My husband and I were thinking what were we going to do with this money. I decided to use it to help students get out the door to attend their classes. Maybe the scholarship means students have some money for gas, the bus, books or allow you to buy some food,” said Boone.
“It seems like only yesterday that I was a student here, and now here I am standing before you as a donor and I feel very proud and honored to be able to do that. Looking out at this room, I don't just see students, I see the incredible grit and potential that defines the Atlantic Cape community. These scholarships awarded today are proof that there is a village behind you — donors, faculty and family — people, individuals and organizations that believe in you,” said Davis–Wright.
The positive impact that the power of giving makes was emphasized throughout the evening. Two Atlantic Cape students, who were recipients of various scholarships this year, spoke of the life-altering experiences that these financial awards did for their education and their lives.
South Jersey native Braxton Jeter is a student in the Professional Pilot Program, a full–time mom and a work study student for the Foundation as well. At the age of 14, Jeter’s mother enrolled her in the United States Air Force Auxiliary’s Civil Air Patrol cadet program. After having the chance to fly a Cessna 172 at 14, Jeter found love for flight.
“Through these scholarships I have equal opportunity to create a career as a professional pilot. Through this I'm an example for my son, for children, for young women, for people who struggle to find hope, for people in a low–income household and for the person who feels way too different to find hope,” said Jeter.
Ocean County natives and twin sisters Amy and Danna Jimenez are both students in the Academy of Culinary Arts. The sisters, who are both officers with the Culinary Student Association, were forced to take gap year. It was during this time that Amy, a baking & pastry major, confirmed her love for the culinary arts and found her true calling.
“In my gap year, I took time to reflect and ask myself if being in this field was really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I'm so happy to say that my love only grew stronger. Now, as I'm finishing my last semester, I'd like to thank Atlantic Cape and Academy of Culinary Arts. Without these scholarships and your support, I would not be in the position I am in today,” said Jimenez.
The outpouring of giving from such donors has allowed the Atlantic Cape Foundation to support thousands of Atlantic and Cape May County students over the past 59 years and given them the financial means to pursue their academic dreams.
In Giving Year 2025, the Foundation awarded 767 scholarships worth $767,000 to Atlantic Cape students. The Foundation received $1.5 million from 762 donors and sponsors. Meanwhile, $404,095 was raised in direct support for Atlantic Cape, $21,500 was raised for emergency funds and $31,000 for the Campus Food Pantry.
Since 2015, the Foundation has raised more than $11 million for student scholarships, academic programs and enhancing the campus environment. The Foundation’s mission is to provide funding and support to the College, its students and educational endeavors through special event fundraising and community philanthropy.
View a photo gallery from this event on Flickr here.
Visit atlanticcape.edu/give to help support the Atlantic Cape Foundation.
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About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States-accredited, Hispanic-serving institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 34 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City, and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and to its highly acclaimed Nursing program for more than 60 years. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
