February 16, 2021
Centenary University to Distribute Additional $784,500 in Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding to Students Affected by Pandemic
University President Bruce Murphy, Ed.D., lauds Centenary committee for expeditious awarding of aid to students demonstrating exceptional financial need for spring and fall 2020 semesters
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Feb. 16, 2021—Centenary University is preparing to distribute a new round of financial assistance to students through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which was signed into law in December. The act provides economic relief to American workers, families, and businesses who, through no fault of their own, have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. The new funding builds on the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act adopted last spring.
The CRRSAA awarded nearly $2.2 million in additional funding to Centenary University to provide institutional aid and assistance to individual students. Of that amount, the University will distribute more than $675,262 to students demonstrating exceptional financial need. In addition, Centenary will roll over $109,000 in funds reserved from the CARES Act, bringing pending federal student aid to more than $784,500. The University is finalizing the process for CRRSAA student aid applications, which will be announced directly to students and their families.
The new funding issued through the CRRSAA extends eligible expenses to include unpaid college cost of attendance balances, a factor that has been identified as critical nationally to keeping students in college. Denton Stargel, vice president for business and finance at Centenary, noted, “Parents and students have lost jobs, and money for many families is tight. The central purpose of this funding is to keep students in school, at a time when some think their only option is to sit out a semester. This is an important way we can ease their burden and ensure they stay on track to earn a Centenary University degree.”
The good news about additional federal aid came as University President Bruce Murphy, Ed.D., presented Presidential Challenge Coins to members of the Centenary CARES Task Force for their outstanding commitment in distributing more than $565,635 in coronavirus relief funding to qualified students for the spring and fall 2020 semesters. “I couldn’t be happier with what you have done,” said Dr. Murphy. “I know it’s been hard work, intellectually and emotionally, to process and determine these awards that are so critical to our students. And once a Centenary student applies for assistance, that process has generally happened within a week.”
Centenary CARES Task Force members honored by Dr. Murphy during a virtual ceremony are task force Chair Margie Pavlichko, and members John Brandes, Linda Poisseroux, Ph.D., Rachel Danitz, Sherri Calabrese, Tammy Quasius, Tara Clausen, Keith Morgen, Ph.D., Kristen Straut, Scott Kushner, Nicole Corley, Robert Battistini, Ph.D., Ahmet Kukrek, Ph.D., Erin Andersen, Ph.D., Patrick Douglas, Laura Marcelli, Matthew Lavery, Theresa Lord-Stoudt, Wendi Blewitt, and Stephen Davis.
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township. The Centenary University School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in Parsippany, as well as online and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.