Brookdale Student Awarded Travel Scholarships

Madison Margaret Shevlin, a full-time psychology student and entrepreneur at Brookdale Community College, will travel to Ireland and Amsterdam this summer as part of Brookdale’s study abroad programs—her first trip to Europe. To support her participation, Shevlin has been awarded three scholarships.

Shevlin earned first place in the Study Abroad Association’s national scholarship competition, receiving $1,500 to fund her Amsterdam experience. She was also awarded the Jody Calendar and Elaine Baran scholarships through Brookdale, totaling an additional $2,000 toward her travel expenses.

“I could not be more honored to have won these grants,” Shevlin said. “They will not only support me studying abroad but will help keep me financially afloat as I step away from work for a few weeks.”

A passionate artist and business owner, Shevlin has been selling artwork since she was 14 and became a certified tattoo artist at 18. In 2022, at just 21 years old, she opened her tattoo studio, Resilient Visions, located on Broad Street in Red Bank. She continues to manage the business while attending Brookdale full-time, maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Unfortunately, a month after she moved into her shop, she was rear-ended at a red light and suffered a traumatic brain injury and spinal injuries. During recovery, a neuropsychologist encouraged her to return to school gradually as a form of cognitive therapy. That advice proved life-changing. “There will never be a perfect time to return to school,” Shevlin recalled from that experience. “Even taking one class at a time could offer amazing cognitive therapy.”

Now nearing the completion of her associate degree, Shevlin hopes to begin her bachelor’s in psychology in spring 2026. She is currently exploring online and local university options, including university partnerships that offer programs on the Brookdale campus.

Beyond the classroom, Shevlin is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She works remotely as a content creator for NJveg through Brookdale’s Career Center, regularly attends events at the Caroline Huber Holistic Wellness Center, and stays active on campus.

“I’m looking forward to visiting art museums, eating delicious food, getting tattooed in both Ireland and Amsterdam, hiking to castles, and maybe even playing an Irish harp,” she said. “I’m so excited to visit Europe for the first time and meet more friends on my journey.”

Shevlin credits Brookdale professors Angela Saragusa and Jess Levine for their support and recommendation letters, which were instrumental in her scholarship success.

To see her tattoo work and follow her travels, visit resilientvisions.com or follow her Instagram accounts @resilient_visions and @madimargs.

“I hope if you read this far I can inspire you to dare to dream in life and work hard every day towards achieving those dreams,” she said.