RCSJ expands partnership with Catholic Diocese of Camden High Schools

On Monday, October 23, 2023, Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ), hosted a signing ceremony between Rowan College of South Jersey, the Rowan College Foundation, and the Catholic Diocese of Camden in partnership with the South Jersey Scholarship Fund, and the Gaetano Foundation. The event took place in the College Center Mezzanine at 12 p.m.

“We are here to recognize a collaboration offering two, unique opportunities to students. One opportunity is providing access to college classes to parochial students while still attending high school and that’s the South Jersey Scholarship Fund. The second opportunity is the Gaetano Foundation providing parochial high school graduates scholarships to attend RCSJ. Education is the great equalizer. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to give them an affordable and accessible pathway to college and that’s what today is all about,” states Dr. Fred Keating, president of RCSJ.

The event marks an expansion of the already established “Start Smart” Scholarship initiated by Dr. Fred Keating, president of RCSJ in 2012. The partnership provides two unique opportunities for parochial school students attending high school in the Catholic Diocese of Camden. As part of this expansion, parochial students can earn college credits while attending high school through RCSJ’s High School Option Program (HSOP) program. After graduation, these students can also take advantage of the Gaetano Foundation “Start Smart Scholarship,” in partnership with the Rowan College Foundation, to provide qualified first-year students from parochial high schools with a $1,000 award towards higher education at RCSJ.

Earn college credits while in high school

“I said to my parents, ‘This probably sounds crazy, but I want to earn my associate degree in criminal justice before I graduate high school,’” shares Isabella Teti, Gloucester Catholic High School senior and RCSJ-HSOP student. “My parents supported me, and the opportunities didn’t stop there. I was invited to join RCSJ’s National Society of Leadership and Success and the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. I stand here today as a future graduate of RCSJ this upcoming May, but most importantly, I stand here as a Catholic High School student who was given an opportunity and has proven that age has no barrier to achieving greatness.”

RCSJ’s High School Option Program (HSOP) program provides the opportunity for Catholic Diocese of Camden High School students to take RCSJ classes at a reduced rate supplemented by the South Jersey Scholarship Fund - HSOP Scholarship. The HSOP credits will transfer to their college or university of choice.

“What this collaboration does is help students and their parents leverage the investment they make in Catholic education for even more opportunities, especially at the college level. It takes an outstanding opportunity like this, that Catholic high schools are ready for, and helps elevate them even further,” says Dr. Bill Watson, superintendent of the Catholic Diocese of Camden Schools.

Through the SJSF-HSOP Scholarship, parochial students can jump start their college education at RCSJ and complete courses under HSOP that can be applied to a RCSJ associate degree or be easily transferred to other institutions of higher education. Students may take just one class, all the way up to earning an associate degree.

Student eligibility for the South Jersey Scholarship Fund - HSOP Scholarship includes:

• Students 15 to 18 years of age

• Those who have completed their freshman year of high school

• Complete the HSOP enrollment steps

• Additional eligibility determined by the high school

“My role in representing the South Jersey Scholarship Fund (SJSF) is to build awareness that the Fund exists to assist underprivileged families who want to give their children a Catholic school education. It was such an innovative move by Dr. Keating to have a public institution reach out to the Catholic schools and ask, ‘How can we help more people together?’ I’m blessed to be a member of the Messina family and so thankful to RCSJ’s leadership and Foundation for this partnership with SJSF, which allows more students to have a supported pathway from a high school diploma to a college degree,” stated Christine Messina, a representative of SJSF.

Opportunities at RCSJ

In partnership with the Rowan College Foundation, The Gaetano Foundation has established a “Start Smart Scholarship” to provide qualified first-year students from parochial high schools with a $1,000 award towards higher education at RCSJ.

The Gaetano Foundation was established in honor and in memory of Gaetano (Tom) Messina, Frank Messina’s father. “I loved my father. I am so honored that I could represent him today at this learning institution where he never dreamed there would be a foundation in his name, so thank you,” said Frank Messina, founder of the Gaetano Foundation.

With academic programs in business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, the sciences and technologies, RCSJ offers students seeking to build upon a parochial education, a more affordable transfer pathway. Start Smart at RCSJ then transfers to your preferred four-year using our transfer agreements and scholarship opportunities with institutions like La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Villanova.

“The Rowan College Foundation is thrilled to be part of the collaboration with the Gaetano Foundation and the mission to help us broaden and deepen how we assist the whole student, the whole college experience, and the needs of the community we serve. We are proud to work with another foundation whose work will serve the students of our community. We are pleased to match their generous donation furthering the commitment to help students achieve their educational goals,” shared Mike Girone, Rowan College Foundation Chair.

Student eligibility for the Gaetano Foundation “Start Smart Scholarship” includes:

• A high school senior who has completed a college preparatory program of study and is

selected by the high school to be a recipient

• Complete an RCSJ application and RCSJ Financial Aid Disclosure and Release

form by June 1, and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• Apply for State and Federal need-based grants and merit scholarships, and submit

requested documentation required for completion and verification of application

data within the established deadlines (June 1)

• Enroll for the fall semester at RCSJ in a full-time course of study immediately

after graduating from high school

• Take a minimum of 12 credits each semester

• Be a permanent New Jersey resident (parents/guardians and student) pursuant to

regulations established by the College at the time of high school graduation and

upon college enrollment

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and a legal New Jersey resident for a

minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to high school graduation

January Teti, Isabella Teti’s mom, closes the event by sharing, “I’d like to thank Gloucester Catholic [High School] and Rowan College of South Jersey for this amazing partnership that allowed us, as parents, to pay for college at a discounted price. I hope every student at Gloucester Catholic takes this opportunity to take classes at RCSJ . . .they will be happy for this new challenge and will be prepared as they begin their journey at a four-year university.”

For information on RCSJ’s HSOP program visit RCSJ.edu/HSOP and for information on Rowan College Foundation scholarship opportunities visit RCSJ.edu/Scholarships.