New Jersey post establishes scholarships for social work graduate students
(Photo courtesy Kevin Monko/Stockton University)

New Jersey post establishes scholarships for social work graduate students

‘Tis the season of giving, and one American Legion post recently gave a gift that will keep on giving to veterans, and others, for years to come.

On Dec. 7, American Legion Post 430 in Galloway, N.J., gave $25,000 to the Garden State’s Stockton University to establish an endowment to help student veterans enrolled in the university’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program.

In signing the endowment agreement, Stockton University Interim President Harvey Kesselman noted the immediate and long-term benefits of the post’s gift.

“The Legion is deeply supportive of what we do here, and we are really honored that you have chosen us,” said Kesselman in a Stockton University press release. “To have support for this academic discipline pays double the benefits, as the graduates will be able to help others in need. It is the gift that keeps on giving.”

The university said its MSW program is designed to educate social workers for advanced-level practice with diverse individuals, families and communities.

“We were approached by the MSW program to see if we could help the graduate students,” Post 430 Commander Russell Konrady said. “This will be one scholarship annually for $1,000 for as long as the program is in existence.”

Along with the MSW program endowment, the university is also using funds from the post to establish four additional scholarships, which will each support undergraduate students who are veterans with $2,500 annually for the next decade.

According to Stockton University, the initial awards will be distributed in the 2016-2017 academic year, and recipients will be determined by the university’s scholarship selection committee.

The post generated money for the scholarships from a recent sale of its post home, and the Legionnaires decided to use it to give back to their nation – something they have been doing since they signed up for military service years ago.

While only 4 percent of the university’s students are veterans, the Military Times recently ranked Stockton University 6th amongst the best colleges and universities for veterans nationwide in 2016.

Additional contributions to the endowment may be made at any time.