Pleasantville, N.J. – Stockton University spent the past school year bringing the college admissions
process directly to Pleasantville High School, a pilot initiative that helped boost
applications, enrollment and college access for local students.
Stockton admissions counselors Grace Hind and Michelle Puerta built lasting relationships with students,
spending every Thursday in a dedicated office at the high school answering questions
about everything from the application process to scholarships and aid. Hind even admitted
24 students during one very busy Instant Decision Day last spring.
“We saw an area that is close to campus with students who were hungry for information,”
Hind said of the decision to test out embedding a Stockton admissions counselor at
the high school.
And the model is working. Stockton saw a 78% increase in applications over the previous
year and a 57% increase in deposits for the fall semester from Pleasantville High
School (PHS).
As a first-generation student, attending Stockton University is more than just the
next step in my education. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for my family. I hope
my journey encourages other students, especially those who may be unsure about college,
to take chances and believe in themselves.Ja’vira Blake
Pleasantville High School Valedictorian
Among those who will attend Stockton are six of the Top 10 Pleasantville 2026 graduates
including Ja’vira Blake, Rabi Moya-Luna, Ema Ortiz-Antonio, Marlet Cruz-Diaz, Jeremiah
Wright and Rudilania Cruz-Carrasco.
Due to the success of the partnership with Pleasantville, the university is considering
similar models at other regional high schools, Hind said.
“Our regular presence made it less scary for students to ask questions. They knew
our faces and that they had someone who genuinely cared who would be there consistently,”
she said.
Their guidance had a significant impact on Blake’s decision to attend Stockton.
“They introduced me to different opportunities that I could apply for, they helped
me navigate through the application process, and they were always giving me advice.
Without their support, I wouldn’t have known what Stockton has to offer,” Blake, the
class valedictorian, said.
Puerta noted the students could have gone anywhere, but they chose to stay in the
community.
“These visits allowed us to connect with students and help them overcome challenges
throughout the admissions process,” Puerta ’15 said. “As an Educational Opportunity Fund alumna, I was able to share my own experience and reassure students that Stockton
is a supportive place where they can succeed.”
“As a first-generation student, attending Stockton University is more than just the
next step in my education. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for my family,” said
Blake, who plans to pursue a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. “I hope my journey encourages other students, especially those who may be unsure
about college, to take chances and believe in themselves.”
Pleasantville guidance counselor Annalysa Coleman, a 2011 Stockton graduate and EOF
alumna, said Stockton’s presence in the school is inspiring more students to consider
college.
“Many students think college is not possible financially, but we work together to
find opportunities to make it work,” she said, noting these students also earned their
associate degrees while in high school through the Early College program with Atlantic
Cape Community College. “Stockton is so supportive of our students and students are
buying into that.”
Wright said the personal connection is what made him choose Stockton.
“I met with (Hind) and (Puerta) every time they visited my school, and they had a
huge impact on my decision. Before getting to know them, Stockton was actually at
the bottom of my college list. They took the time to answer my questions, put things
into perspective, and helped me realize that Stockton was the best fit for me both
academically and personally,” said Wright, who will major in Psychology.
Weekly access to counselors eased anxiety about financial aid and applications for
first-generation students like Cruz-Diaz and Ortiz-Antonio.
“The process of applying, housing and money are all things that I worried about when
deciding on which school I wanted to commit to. The Stockton counselors were there
to support and guide me through the process making it less stressful,” Cruz-Diaz,
a Psychology major, said.
Ortiz-Antonio, who will major in Health Science, also credits her parents for their support.
“As a first-generation student all my achievements go to them. I can’t wait to show
them that their sacrifices didn’t go unnoticed,” she said.
–Story by Stacey Clapp; Photo by Abbigail Erbacher
