The Gift of Education Endowed to the Residents of Long Branch

The Gift of Education Endowed to the Residents of Long Branch

This is the first Brookdale scholarship dedicated exclusively to Long Branch residents.

Creating a legacy and touching the lives of future generations, Dr. Anita Voogt, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships at Brookdale Community College, has established an endowed scholarship in honor of her parents, Edna and Charles Robert Voogt. The endowment will provide two $1,000 scholarships each fall and spring semester of the academic year for years to come to deserving students who are residents of Long Branch, NJ, and preferably graduates of Long Branch High School. As an endowed scholarship, the loving legacy of the Voogt family will be continued for many generations into the future while each year helping Long Branch youth strive to achieve their dreams.

“We are tremendously grateful to Dr. Voogt for her generosity,” said Nancy Kaari, vice president of Advancement. “This endowment is a direct reflection of her passion for, and dedication to, education and her deep appreciation for the City of Long Branch.”

Dr. Voogt’s parents, affectionately called Mod and Pod, raised their four children to value education and hard work to accomplish their dreams. “Our dad was an immigrant from the Netherlands who worked multiple jobs to support his family to allow them opportunities for the American Dream,” said Voogt. “And our mom was a first-generation Italian-American mom who worked to provide an education for their children and stressed the importance of their two daughters going to college as well as their two sons.” The scholarships are a way for the Voogt family to “give back” and encourage those values in today’s youth.

“Thanks to Dr. Voogt’s leadership and generosity, this scholarship will help more people in our community afford a college education,” said Dr. David M. Stout, president of Brookdale Community College. “We ask that the scholarship recipients, in turn, use their skills and knowledge to make a positive difference in their families and in their communities.”

The scholarships are open to students in any major and can be used for tuition and fees, books and supplies, and academic-related expenses like transportation and babysitting. To be eligible for the scholarships, current Brookdale students must be enrolled full- or part-time, be in good academic standing and be a current resident of Long Branch. Preferences will be given to students who are the first-generation in their family to attend college, single parents, transgender, or females in STEM programs. Students who achieve a “B” or better in the funded courses may apply multiple semesters to continue their education until graduation. There is an essay requirement that asks applicants: “When you dream about your future, what do you dream for yourself, your family, and your community, and how do you plan to make those dreams come true?”

In addition to building upon a longstanding relationship with Brookdale, this scholarship fund is also a token of appreciation to the City of Long Branch, which is the city that made dreams come true for Dr. Voogt and her husband, Dennis Sherman. This lifetime gift will support Long Branch residents to achieve their educational, personal, and professional goals and promote their civic engagement toward the continued improvement of the city.

For more information or to apply for the scholarship, go to the Brookdale Foundation website at: https://www.brookdalecc.edu/available-scholarships/ or call Margaret Agha, confidential assistant to the Vice President of Advancement at 732 224 2260.