We are just one week away from this year’s Midterm Elections and on Tuesday, officials throughout the state held a series of events in support of the state’s only ballot question.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, October 30th, Camden County Freeholders joined officials from Camden County College and the Camden County Vocational School District to host one of three events throughout the state in support of the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act.
The event showcased some of the joint career technical education opportunities offered between community colleges and vocational schools to prepare high school students and young adults for careers in high-demand industries that can be launched without a four-year degree.
To students, the Bond Act would mean helping to increase opportunities to find successful career paths they can enjoy doing.
“The experience I’ve had with my technical school I would want for every student to have as it is our duty to provide our students with proper preparation for their futures,” said Dahmir Gunter, a Camden County Technical School student.
“With additional funding more students and young girls like me will have the chance to find their career, get hands-on training and gain all the amazing benefits of a technical education,” said Tatiana Cunningham, a Camden County Technical School student.
Ballot Question No. 1 asks voters whether they approve or disapprove of the “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” which would allow the state to issue $500 million in bond grants.
The bonds would be used to provide grants to county vocational school districts and school security projects, while also supporting community college programs and upgrading water infrastructure in school districts across the state.
To learn more visit njelections.org.






Meet Kojo Abanyie (18), a pharmacy student transferring to Rutgers this year. Kojo is a member of the Chemistry Club and Phi Theta Kappa. Kojo started as a dual credit student, which made it easy for him to get his high school diploma and college credits at the same time. “There are a lot of professors here that work at other institutions of higher learning,” which means he is getting the same education someone else is paying much more to obtain. Kojo wants the Rohrer Foundation to know that he is thankful for the recognition of his hard work. He promises to continue to work hard in the future. Kojo believes donating to a scholarship fund “is a good thing to do because it not only helps with someone’s money situation, but also gives them encouragement to continue to do well.”
Meet Kristin Burke (37), an elementary education major transferring to Stockton to major in liberal studies. Kristen wants to become a middle school teacher. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and is secretary for Kappa Delta Pi. Kristin remembers, “I had a job that I hated and had to drive past the College to get there. One day I decided, I’m going to apply to this college and change my life. And I did. And I don’t regret it.” She wants her donor to know, “It’s a wonderful thing that you’re doing and it’s changing peoples’ lives. It’s changing future generations as well. My children are watching me work hard and my students are going to know that I got scholarships. I plan on telling everybody about how CCC did this for me and you don’t have to go hugely in debt at a four-year university right away. It’s affordable and workable, and the scholarship really is changing lives.”
Meet Ashlee Dever (32), is a nursing major who will continue her studies here in Blackwood as a Rutgers University nursing student. She decided to attend CCC because of the convenience. “I took morning classes, afternoon classes, weekend classes, online classes. It was just totally flexible. It was easy to fit it in my schedule.” She wants her donor to know that her Rohrer scholarship “really did make a huge difference and helped make it possible for me to go on and get a four-year degree.”
Meet Elizabeth Doan (20), a double major in education and foreign languages. She wants to transfer to Rowan and major in musical education so she can travel the world and teach music. She chose CCC because she was a NJ STARS recipient, and it was close to home, but once here, Elizabeth realized, “it’s so sophisticated. There’s so much going on and it’s such a vibrant campus with so many different programs.” She is thankful to Linda Rohrer and the Rohrer Foundation. “Thank you so much to Linda Rohrer. This isn’t the first scholarship I received from her. I’m so honored that her foundation supported me as an incoming CCC student and now a transfer student.”
Meet Mia Sanchez (20), a business administration student at CCC transferring to Rutgers-Camden to earn her bachelor’s degree. Mia also has been an intern at the US embassy in Azerbaijan. She currently works at The Center and is an executive board member for Phi Theta Kappa. Regarding her scholarship, Mia wants her donor to know: “This scholarship made my future education possible and took away a lot of the financial burden placed on me.” She believes, “People who are capable should invest in students like me, so we can focus on school without having to worry about money.”
