Issue link: http://tcnj.uberflip.com/i/1543060
11 Prairie WINTER 2026 4. The winning stride Men's cross-country head coach Justin Lindsey grabbed the Metro Region's coach of the year title from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Lindsey led the 2025 Lions to their first regional championship since 2005. 5. Community connections TCNJ's Bonner Scholars continued an annual tradition of giving. Last semester, the group donated 174 pounds of fresh produce grown in the campus garden to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and collected 80 pounds of nonperishable food and personal care items for HomeFront. 6. Shaping the state's strategy Education dean Tabitha Dell'Angelo was tapped as a member of Mikie Sherrill's interdisciplinary advisory task force to guide the governor-elect into New Jersey's top office. Other Lions who were part of the transition team: Debbie Hart '81, Chuck Garrity '94, Jeff Kolakowski '99, Kevin Drennan '02, Brandon McKoy '09, and Madeline Urbish '11. 7. We dare you not to smile Odin Gonzalez's joy was contagious as he participated in a photo shoot for this magazine issue (page 22). He wears his smile so well, we can't help but share it. 8. Impressive prizes Cheers to a trio of students who earned coveted awards: Marlo DeSimone '27 received the 2025 Deloitte Foundation SWE Scholarship, a $10,000 national honor presented through the Society of Women Engineers; and chemistry majors Dylan Gregson '27 and Kashish Sood '28 each won a $5,000 American Chemical Society scholarship for undergraduates in chemistry. 9. Open for business The School of the Arts and Communication launched Creative State, a student-run public relations and design agency that gives students real-world experience in the field. The agency was made possible by a generous gift from Andy '83 and Maria '83 Polansky. FACING PAGE BILL CARDONI; THIS PAGE PETER MURPHY 11 Prairie WINTER 2026