
L to R: Jamie Doyle, John Maniace, Casey Raff, Meredith Mitchell, Al Komjathy
WINNERS OF THE 2022 OGBF JOHN JACKSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Ocean Grove Beach Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 John Jackson Memorial Scholarship. This year's winners are John Maniace, Casey Raff, and Meredith Mitchell.
John has been an Ocean Grove lifeguard for 5 years. He attends Boston University, working towards his journalism degree.
Casey has worked as a Beach staff member for 2 years. He will be entering his sophomore year at the Quinnipiac University where he is majoring in Nursing.
Meredith has worked as a Beach staff member for 3 years. She will be entering her senior year at Louisiana State University where she majors in Elementary and Special Education.
Please join us in congratulating these deserving students.
Congratulations, John, Casey, and Meredith!
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Ocean Grove Beach Foundation Scholarship
The Ocean Grove Beach Foundation has established a scholarship in the memory of former Ocean Grove lifeguard John Jackson that is awarded annually to the lifeguard who exhibits exemplary performance as a lifeguard, leadership, financial need, and an expressed interest in pursuing a secondary education.
Scholarship Criteria
PURPOSE
The Ocean Grove Beach Foundation awards an annual scholarship to a lifeguard employed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. The award is based on exemplary performance as a lifeguard, leadership, financial need, and an expressed interest in pursuing a secondary education.
CRITERIA
Lifeguards and beach operations personnel are eligible for the award and must be high school graduates or enrolled in schools of secondary education. Secondary schools of education include colleges and universities or technical schools.
GUIDELINES
One scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis and dispersed in one payment in the month of August.
AWARDEE DESIGNATION
To be eligible for the awarded scholarship, an individual lifeguard or beach operations employee is to submit an application to the Ocean Grove Beach Foundation. All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Executive Board of the Ocean Grove Beach Foundation and the Head Lifeguard of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
DEADLINE
The application deadline is August 1, 2022, after which applications will no longer be accepted. Applications are to be submitted to the Ocean Grove Beach Foundation. Completed applications should be sent to:
Ocean Grove Beach Foundation
20 Benn Lane
Ocean, NJ 07712
Or email to: ogbf@ogbeachfoundation.org
Past Winners
2021: Talula Dechev - U of North Carolina Wilmington
2021: Jonathan Sweeton - Messiah University
2020: Aubrie Hart - Fairleigh Dickinson University
2020: John Gannon - St. Thomas Aquinas College
2020: Ryan Gannon - New Jersey Institute of Technology
2019: Elizabeth Luick - Brookdale Nursing
2018: John Degnan - Vanderbilt University
2017: Gabriella DiLiberto - Montclair State University
2016: Tara Maniace - Rider University
2015: Greg Augustino - Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
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L to R: Heather Kleinle, Al Komjathy, Jonathan Sweeton, Dave Jenkins, Talula Dechev, Jamie Doyle
WINNERS OF THE 2021 OGBF JOHN JACKSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Ocean Grove Beach Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 John Jackson Memorial Scholarship. This year's winners are Lifeguard Talula Dechev and Beach Staff member Jonathan Sweeton.
Jonathan has been a Beach Staff member for 6 years. He will begin his sophomore year at Messiah University, working towards his electrical engineering degree with a minor in cross-cultural ministries.
Talula has worked as a Lifeguard in Ocean Grove for 5 years. She will be entering her junior year at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where she is double-majoring in political science and psychology with a minor in neuroscience while being on a pre-law track.
Please join us in congratulating these deserving students.
Congratulations, Talula and Jonathan!
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WINNER OF THE 2019 OGBF SCHOLARSHIP IN THE MEMORY OF
JOHN JACKSON
We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2019 Ocean Grove Beach Foundation Scholarship dedicated to the memory of John Jackson is Elizabeth Luick. Liz has been lifeguarding since she was 16 – nine years at Seven President’s Park in Long Branch, and 3 years in Ocean Grove. She is a soon-to-be graduate of the Brookdale Nursing program and is looking to join the Nurse Residency program at Jersey Shore Medical Center where she currently works as a Patient Care Technician on the Oncology and Hospice unit. Liz is obviously a very busy woman with a dedication to service! In her spare time, she is an avid devotee of yoga.
Congratulations, Liz!
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WINNER OF THE 2018 OGBF SCHOLARSHIP IN THE MEMORY OF
JOHN JACKSON
We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2018 Ocean Grove Beach Foundation Scholarship dedicated to the memory of John Jackson is John Degnan. John is a recent graduate of Alexander Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. He began playing French Horn when he was nine years old, and has been an Florida All-State hornist every year from 6th through 12th grade. He will be attending the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in the fall as a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar, double majoring in Musical Arts (French Horn) and Law, History, & Society. John lives in Jupiter, Florida, but spends his summers with his family in New Jersey. He grew up attending the youth programs and Junior Guards in Ocean Grove and has worked for Ocean Grove Beaches since he was 14 years old. John tried out for the Ocean Grove Peach Patrol at 16 and has been lifeguarding for the past three summers. When he is not working at the beach or at school, he enjoys playing guitar and banjo, attending concerts and theater in New York City, and spending time with his family and friends.
Congratulations, John!
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OGBF SCHOLARSHIP DEDICATED TO JOHN JACKSON
We would like to announce the OGBF Scholarship has been dedicated to memory of former Ocean Grove lifeguard, John Jackson.
John was born on June 4, 1969. He spent his early years learning from his mother Kathy the lesson that would form the basis of both his character and his deep personal faith. In his own words, she taught him “to treat other people the way that he would want to be treated.”
He took that lesson seriously, becoming a man of service, to both his community and his country: Navy veteran. Lifeguard. Volunteer fireman. Neptune Township Police patrolman for two decades. John volunteered his time at St. Paul’s United Methodist, serving in many capacities, but most familiar to the congregation as an usher, and as a reader to the children of the Tender Care Nursery School. Known to only a few people during his life, it became evident after his death that John made a regular habit of funding church youth group activities whenever budget could not be otherwise found.
John was a man of few words, but quick to laugh or smile. An avid athlete, John participated for years in local volleyball leagues and tournaments, and spent much of his spare time either on the beach or in the woods, enjoying the beauty of nature.
John Jackson passed away on December 6, 2017 – and was entombed with military honors by a nation grateful for his service, and a community saddened by his loss. He left behind a legacy of service, generosity, and love.
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2017 SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
We are pleased to announce the 2017 OGBF Scholarship winner is Gabriella DiLiberto. Gabriella is studying Family and Child Studies at Montclair State University, with the goal of educating children. Gabriella and her family have summered in Ocean Grove since 1998. In 2005 her family decided it was time to move to the one square mile town they loved so much. She grew up frequenting the Main Ave. beach and learned how to swim in front of Bench Three; this is where she developed her love for the ocean and fascination and admiration for the lifeguards. At sixteen years old, Gabriella tried out for the Ocean Grove Beach Patrol and has been guarding for the past five years. Currently Gabriella is going into her senior year at Montclair State University with a major in Family and Child Studies and working towards her certification in K-6 and middle school math and history. Her dream is to become an educator and be able to make a difference in the lives of youth, as well as be a role model to her students.
Congratulations, Gabriella!
Ocean Grove Beach Foundation Scholarship
The Ocean Grove Beach Foundation has established a scholarship that is awarded annually to the lifeguard who exhibits exemplary performance as a lifeguard, leadership, financial need, and an expressed interest in pursuing a secondary education.
Scholarship Criteria
PURPOSE
The Ocean Grove Beach Foundation awards an annual scholarship to a lifeguard employed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. The award is based on exemplary performance as a lifeguard, leadership, financial need, and an expressed interest in pursuing a secondary education.
CRITERIA
Lifeguards eligible for the award must be high school graduates or enrolled in schools of secondary education. Secondary schools of education include colleges and universities or technical schools.
GUIDELINES
One scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis and dispersed in one payment in the month of August.
AWARDEE DESIGNATION
To be eligible for the awarded scholarship, an individual lifeguard is to submit an application to the Ocean Grove Beach Foundation. All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Executive Board of the Ocean Grove Beach Foundation and the Head Lifeguard of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
DEADLINE
The application deadline is July 12, after which applications will no longer be accepted. Applications are to be submitted to the Ocean Grove Beach Foundation. Completed applications should be sent to:
Ocean Grove Beach Foundation
20 Benn Lane
Ocean, NJ 07712
© 2019 Ocean Grove Beach Foundation