The Ocean County College Foundation continues to make a powerful impact—both on campus and across the community. The OCC Foundation continues to inspire, innovate, and invest in the future of Ocean County College.
The OCC Foundation is proud to support an array of programs to benefit OCC students and Ocean County Residents as a whole.
The Blauvelt Speaker Series
From headliners at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts to more intimate settings, the OCC Foundation invites intellectuals, entertainers, scientists, authors, and artists alike to participate in our Signature Blauvelt Speaker Series. The Blauvelt Speaker Series is funded in part by the generosity of the late Bradford Thomas & Eleanor G. Blauvelt and the Wintrode Family Foundation.
The Foundation Art Collection
The Foundation Art Collection launched in October 2023 with a temporary display from the esteemed Seward Johnson Atelier of 20 bronze sculptures placed across campus grounds. One of those sculptures, Embracing Peace, is now a permanent exhibit on our campus. The Foundation Art collection has grown with additional donations from artists Creighton Michael, Stephan Crohn, Perry (Sammy) Applegate, Francesco Scavullo, Vincent Baldassano, and more.
The Free School
The Faces of Faiths: A Journey through World Religions
Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey through the beliefs, rituals, and philosophies that have shaped civilizations across time. This year, The Free School is back with a bold new theme: The Faces of Faiths: A Journey through World Religions. In the fall, we’ll kick off by zooming out—exploring the tools, methods, and mindsets that help us understand religion.
Global Education Experiences
Ocean County College’s global education experiences, spanning both national and international destinations, offer students and community members invaluable opportunities for experiential learning. The OCC Foundation frequently offers partial scholarships for full-time OCC students to participate in OCC-sponsored travel seminars and study abroad experiences.
The Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands provides Ocean County College and Kean Ocean students with non-academic support to help them succeed. The pantry offers snacks, drinks, and meals to students in need. The pantry accepts food items, non-food items, and monetary donations throughout the year! Donations can be dropped off anytime the pantry is open.
Honors by Contract Program
In this program, eligible students collaborate with faculty on advanced coursework while enrolled in regular classes. Each completed Honors by Contract course is noted on the student’s transcript as an honors course. Students who finish four such courses with a 3.5+ GPA graduate as Honors Students. The OCC Foundation proudly supports participants by offering monetary awards for exceptional work and scholarships for those who meet Honors Graduation requirements.
The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts
The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, located on the campus of Ocean County College, is a performing arts center that celebrates the arts of dance, theater, music, and visual art. Featuring acts from across the globe, the Grunin Center’s intimate venue allows visitors to experience once-in-a-lifetime performances at our multi-venue complex, which includes the Main Stage, the Gia Maione Prima Foundation Studio Theater, the OCC Black Box Theatre, and a brand-new Art Gallery.
OCC Repertory Theater Company
Under the direction of Performing Arts Program Chair Paul Chalakani, the mission of The OCC Repertory Theatre Company is to create opportunities for college and community participation in a variety of rich and diverse theatrical experiences. The Company seeks to engage, entertain, inspire, and educate, in order to enhance the cultural life of Ocean County College and the surrounding communities.
The Robert J. Novins Planetarium
Explore the universe by seeing the stars and planets as you have never seen before with our Laser Shows, Sky Shows, and Full Dome Movies. Presenting a wide variety of fun and educational programs for all ages in our 103-seat dome theater, the Novins Planetarium is a gateway to learning about our earth, the solar system, and beyond. In addition to our public shows, the Novins Planetarium offers programs for school and camp groups, birthday parties, and special themed events.
Workforce and Professional Education
Ocean County College’s Workforce and Professional Education (WPE) department offers specialized certifications to help you start a new career or become an expert in your current occupation. WPE offers opportunities for fast-track career training leading to immediate employment upon program completion. WPE’s fast-track training programs, which last from three to six months, can serve as a successful career ladder for further educational growth and prepare you to take exams for state and national certifications.