STARS Spotlight
Jenna Santacroce, ‘20 Jenna Santacroce, of Saddle Brook, expressed gratitude for the NJ STARS program because the scholarship enabled her to focus on her studies, extracurriculars, and personal and professional development during her time at Bergen Community College. Without the financial burden of paying for college tuition, she said she was able to spend those formative years in community college devoting time and effort toward advancing her future. Aside from the small class sizes, Santacroce’s favorite part about Bergen was the supportive peers and faculty. Throughout her time at the College, she said that there was always a peer or faculty member there willing to offer guidance with whatever endeavor or goal she aimed to achieve. She feels that her experience would not have been half as rewarding without the help she received from the family she found at Bergen Community College. In 2018, she was one of eight Bergen Community College students invited to present their papers at the Beacon Conference in Montgomery College in Maryland and won first place in her panel presentation. She also was one of eight Bergen students invited to present their papers at the 2019 Beacon Conference at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Pennsylvania. Santacroce was very engaged with Phi Theta Kappa, the official international honor society for community colleges. She campaigned and was elected International Division I Vice President, serving 240,000 active Phi Theta Kappa members. In 2020, she was one of 15 students selected for the Guistwhite Scholars award, the second-highest scholarship offered by Phi Theta Kappa, which includes a $5,000 scholarship. Winners were selected from among 3,400 applicants nationwide, and their selection was based on academic excellence, leadership accomplishments, and engagement in Phi Theta Kappa programs. Recipients also received a commemorative medallion. Santacroce also earned a spot on the New Jersey All-State Academic Team for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service recognizing her as one of 38 top community college students in the Garden State. At Commencement 2020, she was one of 60 students who graduated with a 4.0 GPA and one of 53 students who earned a Dr. Judith K. Winn School of Honors Dual Honors Award for both the honors program and PTK.
Over winter break in 2020, Santacroce completed a Plastic Pollution and Coastal Conservation internship program in Thailand. One of their major initiatives as volunteers was to clean the coastlines. The volunteers spent countless hours collecting and disposing of trash from beaches along the west, southern coast of Thailand. The amount of plastic was incomprehensible, and at first, she admitted to feeling disheartened. Santacroce said, “I often get questioned why I make an effort to switch to reusable bottles and bags when celebrities and companies cause more destruction than I, as one person, am capable of reversing.” Her answer is one of her favorite quotes by American author Edward Everett Hale, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” She said, “It is easy to detach yourself and feel that as an individual, your contribution is minuscule, but there are seven billion other individuals in this world. If each person takes ownership and takes charge, change is inevitable.” In Thailand, despite falling asleep feeling disheartened because of the plastic pollution, Santacroce said, “I woke up each morning eager as ever, not allowing what I cannot do to interfere with what I can do and knowing that any stride made toward protecting the planet is worthwhile.” Her experience in Thailand promoted her interest in environmental policy, where she intends to address coastal and ocean conservation issues through a preventative, legislative approach. As a result of her accomplishments at Bergen Community College, Santacroce earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Mississippi, where she is studying Public Policy with a minor in Environmental Studies. She intends to continue her education at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she will receive a Master's degree in Coastal and Ocean Policy. Santacroce’s long-term goal is to create, campaign for, and implement policies that protect the coasts and oceans worldwide. ● 2018 Beacon Conference First Place Presenter in Panel ● 2019 Beacon Conference Panel Presenter ● 2018-2019 Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Phi Chapter Director ● 2019-2020 Phi Theta Kappa, International Vice President ● 2020 New Jersey All-State Academic Team Member ● 2020 Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholar ● Dr. Judith K. Winn School of Honors & Phi Theta Kappa Dual Honors Award ● Phi Theta Kappa Graduate ● Graduated with a 4.0 GPA • University of Mississippi - B.A. in Public Policy, Environmental Studies minor by 2023