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Help Us Make A Difference
Join Our School Counts! Campaign

School Counts! stands for everything that’s right in our community —being positive, believing in each other, and making a difference. That's why we are very excited to announce the launch of a new fundraising campaign to ensure the lasting legacy of this program. This is our call to action throughout the community that will help to ensure that we will be doing our part to make life better in Cumberland County.

The College and Foundation views the School Counts! program as a vital, countywide program that will enrich the quality of life in our region by making higher education more accessible to our students.  The first School Counts! campaign that began in 2002 raised close to 3 million dollars and we are looking to surpass that goal with this new campaign!  With your help, we can continue to provide School Counts! scholarships for our students.  The Scholarship has unfortunately been spent down and without this program many families would not be able to send their children to school.

Join us in this campaign to increase awareness and provide scholarships for our students!

The CEO Group presented a check for $25,000 to School Counts! in September of 2020
The CEO Group presented a check for $25,000 to School Counts! in September of 2020
Amount raised as of 3/21/24
Amount raised as of 3/21/24

About Our School Counts! Countywide Scholarship Program

Our School Counts! Legacy

School Counts! stands for everything right in the community—being positive, believing in each other, and making a difference. The Foundation views the School Counts! Program as a vital, countywide program that will enrich the quality of life in our region. The first School Counts! Campaign that began in 2002 raised close to three million dollars. With your help, we can continue to provide School Counts! Scholarships for our students, and we need your support. 


School Counts! Scholarships for Cumberland County High School Students

The School Counts! program provides two-year Rowan College of South Jersey to Cumberland County residents who earn four consecutive School Counts! certificates from participating high schools. To earn a School Counts! certificate, students must:

  • have a 95% or better attendance record;

  • have a grade of C or higher in every course;

  • have completed Algebra I; and

  • be scheduled to graduate from high school on time.

SchoolCounts! Scholarship for

Career Technical Education Students

The SchoolCounts! Scholarship program has  expanded to qualifying students who are in the Career & Technical Education non-credit certificate programs at Rowan College of South Jersey for Cumberland residents.

The School Counts! CTE Scholarship is a $500 reimbursable scholarship students can apply for when registering for a non-credit certificate program. Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the scholarship:

  • Must be a Cumberland County resident
  • Must show a current year tax return in order to demonstrate a financial need.
  • In Class, students must have a 95% attendance records by certificate completion.
  • Students must maintain a C or better in the course/program.

The Career & Technical Education Division of Rowan College of South Jersey offers a variety of short-term non-credit certificate programs in in-demand fields such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and information technology lead that to industry-valued credentials.

To register for an upcoming certificate program visit: https://cccnj.gosignmeup.com/.

To learn more about the School Counts! Scholarship program or to make a gift contact:

Maria LeBlanc, Ed.D., Executive Director
Email: mleblanc@cumberlandfoundation.org

School counts

Thank You to Our Current Sponsors

  • Kejzman Hospitality & Realty
  • Mr. & Mrs. Carl Kirstein
  • Dr. Keith Figgs
  • Mrs. Mary Jo & Dr. Scott Williams
  • Dr. Ken & Mrs. Cathy Ender
  • Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Josephine Spinelli
  • Mr. & Mrs. Cosmo & Beatrice Terrigno
  • Dr. Shelly & Mr. Steve Schneider
  • Dr. Christine Ward Garrison. & Mr. Gary Garrison
  • Mr. & Mrs. Gus & Linda Foster
  • Fabietti & Fabietti Accounting
  • Mr. Peter Galetto
  • Mr. & Mrs. George & Darlene Barber
  • WKR Construction Company
  • Daily Fitness of Newfield
  • Dunkleman Farms
  • Fiocchi Tire Center
  • Ms. Veronica Jo Chainey
  • Ms. Parth A. Eubanks-Leach
  • Mr. Craig R. Terry
  • Mr. Alex Curio
  • Mr. Albert R. Maccani, CPA/PFS
  • Ms. Linda Randazzo
  • UBC Local Union 255
  • Dr. Mary Gruccio
  • Mr. & Mrs. Bill & Sherry Soutiere
  • Mr. Bob DeSanto
  • Ms. Carmen D'Augustine
  • Mr. Charles Marandino
  • Mr. & Mrs. Mitchel & Susan Kizner
  • The Roth Family
  • Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Ro Brady
  • Mr. & Mrs. Bob & Diane Sacco
  • Mr. Denis Labo & Ms. Carol DeSanto
  • Mr. & Mrs. Gary & Betty Galloway
  • Ms. Helen Kejzman
  • Ms. Leslie Jones
  • Dr. Jill Mortensen
  • Forest Grove Auto Body
  • Frank Conroy Insurance
  • Herb's Shamrock Landscaping
  • Loyle Limos
  • The John H. Gibbs Estate
  • Ms. Michelle Swerdlow
  • Ms. Marie Gittone
  • Mr. & Mrs. Gus Foster
  • Mr. & Mrs. Paul Spinelli
  • The Woman's Club of Vineland
  • Ms. Lilly Kejzman
  • Ms. Maryanne Zucal
  • Ms. Sandra L. Weber, EA Tax Preparation & Bookkeeping Services
  • Mrs. Susanna Philippoussis - Berkshire Hathaway
  • Mr. Tony Mancini
  • Direct Page
  • DNS
  • Mr. & Mrs. Norm Neill
  • Mr. M. Jay Einstein, CLU - Einstein Associates
  • JBL Auto Wholesalers, Inc.
  • FC&S4 Capital, LLC NJ
  • Fresh Wave
  • Beacon Title Agency
  • Mid-Atlantic Landscaping
  • Tommy Serra Salon
  • Trabuchi & Trabuchi Dental
  • Evolutions
  • Mrs. J. Kathy Abrams
  • Ms. Ginger Chase
  • Dr. James R. Piccone, Sr.
  • Mr. Phillips Nyambura
  • Mr. Kevin Kreiser
  • D'Onofrio-Galetto Realty, L.P.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Agostino Fabietti

School Counts Students FAQ

School Counts! is a scholarship to Rowan College of South Jersey - Cumberland Campus. The scholarship program encourages and rewards students for developing skills necessary for college and the workforce: Punctuality, discipline, hard work, and motivation to achieve goals.

Students who are Cumberland County residents can contact their high school guidance counselor to enroll. A high school student can earn a School Counts! Certificate for each year of enrollment. Students can enroll at the start of the year through November 1st.

Students must be a resident of Cumberland County and obtain 4 School Counts! Certificates from participating high schools.

Students must enroll at Rowan College of South Jersey - Cumberland Campus and maintain full-time, degree-seeking status to receive a School Counts! Scholarship. Students must complete 12 credits or more each semester with a minimum grade of a “C" in each course. A reduction in credits to less than full-time will forfeit the scholarship and may result in an account balance. Students must apply for financial aid (fafsa.gov) annually. All applicable financial aid (Pell Grant, NJ Stars, eligible grant scholarship monies, and other funding) will be applied to each semester's tuition before the School Counts! Scholarship. Students are responsible for paying any costs not covered by School Counts! or other financial aid.

The School Counts! is a tuition scholarship that covers the cost of fifteen (15) college-level credits per fall and spring semesters for two consecutive years (60 credit hour limit). It does not cover books, fees, or remedial classes.

Students may defer the School Counts! Scholarship for up to one year if Rowan College of South Jersey - Cumberland Campus is the first college to which the student is admitted, and the student has notified the Admissions Office.

Remind your child each year to apply to the School Counts! Program. Encourage your child to arrive at school every day on time. Motivate them to practice time management and good study skills to achieve good grades. Help them to stay on track to complete high school in four years. Encourage them to challenge themselves by taking more than the minimum required courses.

The student must achieve the following each year of high school:

  • Obtain a grade of “C" or better in every course, a C- is not acceptable.
  • Achieve a 95% attendance and punctuality record.
  • Complete high school in four consecutive years.
  • Take more than the minimum required courses and take Algebra I.

Each year the criteria are met, your child will receive a School Counts! Certificate from their high school.

School Counts!
Scholarships cover the cost of fifteen (15) credits per Fall and Spring Semesters, including fees up to $200 per academic year for two consecutive years with a 60 credit hour limit.

If eligible, School Counts! Scholarship will cover (3) credits of internship course IC 211, not including fees and books for up to 40 students per academic year.

A student must maintain a minimum of a C grade in every course from the semester to continue participating in the School Counts! Scholarship program. The final grade for each course's transcript must be a C or higher, and a grade of C- or lower is not acceptable.

High School students who take classes at RCSJ, including Early College High School, Dual Enrollment, or Dual Credit courses, must maintain a minimum of a C in every course to maintain their eligibility to participate in the School Counts! Scholarship program. The final grade on the RCSJ transcript for each course must be a C or higher, and a C- or lower grade is not acceptable.
School Counts! Program Guide

Contacts

For general information

Guidance Director/School Counts! Liaison at your high school.

For questions regarding scholarship or admissions eligibility

Phillip GoldenMBA 

Director, College Outreach 

Phone: 856-468-5000 ext. 6475 

For information on the School Counts! scholarship transfer option to Rowan University

For information regarding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and the School Counts! scholarship

Contact

Dr. Maria LeBlanc, Executive Director
mleblanc@cumberlandfoundation.org
Contact Phone:
(856) 807-5250

School Counts! is a program of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation

TESTIMONIALS

LILLY K EJZMAN, Donor and Foundation Board Member

“I believe that someone's $1 donation is as important as someone else's hundred or thousand or million… What might not be an astronomical amount to me can make such a huge difference in someone's life."

“When we (our family) started a scholarship, and I was on stage for the first time handing a $500 scholarship to a student, I realized what that meant to her and her sincere thanks. I went, 'wow.' I said, it really does make a difference."

DAVE HEMPLE, CEO of Century Savings Banks

“We probably support over 100 nonprofit organizations, but many of those, we can't look at statistics and see do we make a difference? But with School Counts! we can. We can see how many students from Vineland, Millville and Bridgeton can take advantage of the program here and start their higher education. And we know we're an important part of that."
Testimonials from current School Counts! Students