Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Summer-Fall - Flipbook - Page 4
OCEAN NEWS
The Veteran and Military Resource Center
(VMRC) partnered with JBJ Soul Kitchen to
host an unforgettable, hands-on culinary
experience for student veterans and their
families this spring.
into the kitchen and learned how to create
a full three-course meal alongside professional staff. The evening was filled with
laughter, learning, and connection, bringing together veterans and family members
of all ages in a warm, welcoming environment where they could share a unique
experience with their guests.
From dicing fresh strawberries to perfecting a creamy risotto, participants stepped
With nearly 20 attendees, the event was a
huge success. The excitement was clear,
Events like this highlight the power of
community and experiential learning, and
the VMRC is incredibly grateful to the team
at JBJ Soul Kitchen for their generosity,
partnership, and commitment to creating
meaningful opportunities for our student
veterans. – Christina Hernandez
Economic Study Highlights
OCC’s Impact
The study also found that one out of
every 69 jobs in Ocean County is connected to the college and its students.
members. The study found that every
dollar invested in the college generates
$7.50 in economic and social benefits.
A recent economic impact study conducted by Lightcast found that Ocean
County College generated $355.8 million in annual economic impact during
Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and supported
4,849 jobs throughout Ocean County.
“Ocean County College is more than an
educational institution; it is a cornerstone
of our community,” said Ocean County
Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione, liaison to the college. “Its impact can be seen
in our workforce, our economy, our arts
and culture community, and in the opportunities it creates for residents of all ages.”
“OCC is deeply woven into the fabric of
Ocean County,” said OCC President Pamela
Monaco. “Beyond the classroom, the college serves as a hub for cultural enrichment, workforce development, lifelong
learning, and community engagement.”
as students were already asking about
future cooking classes even before the
night ended.
photos: Christina Hernandez
Student Veterans
Visit JBJ Soul Kitchen
According to the report, OCC alumni
contribute $291 million annually to the
local economy through increased earnings and workforce participation across
industries such as healthcare, education,
business, public service, and technology.
Happy Anniversary,
Kean Ocean!
photos: Lisa Elrick
For 20 years, Kean Ocean has been helping students turn academic ambition into
achievement through a unique partnership
between Ocean County College and Kean
University. The first such collaboration
of its kind in New Jersey, Kean Ocean has
become a model for this type of partnership between community colleges and
four-year institutions.
4 Summer-Fall 2026
During Fiscal Year 2023-2024, OCC
served more than 12,500 credit students and 755 non-credit students
while employing 901 faculty and staff
Kean Ocean provides Ocean County College
students with a convenient and affordable
path to complete their bachelor’s and
graduate degrees while staying close to
home and work. Students who take advantage of the partnership gain access to the
same curriculum and degree programs
they would receive at Kean University’s
main campus, attending classes taught by
Kean faculty members in the state-of-theart Gateway Building on OCC’s campus in
Toms River. Students also benefit from
County and college leaders said their
ongoing partnership will continue to
support the region through education, workforce development, arts and
culture, and community engagement.
smaller class sizes and lower overall cost
compared to a large public university.
Since it was established in 2006, Kean
Ocean has grown from 10 to over 40 undergraduate degree options, several graduate
and certificate programs, as well as online
options through Kean Online. Currently,
there are over 1,000 students enrolled at
both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
For more information about Kean Ocean,
visit www.kean.edu/keanocean.
