TCNJ

30 The College of New Jersey Magazine Scholarships open doors for TCNJ students Please give by June 30 at give.tcnj.edu to support our students. "Scholarship support lifted a tremendous financial weight off my family and me, giving me the freedom to pour my energy into my coursework, leadership roles, and opportunities I never imagined I'd have. Because of this support, I was able to graduate early, pursue my CPA, and step confidently into competitive internship opportunities. I'm grateful, not just for the financial assistance, but for the belief it represents in my potential and future." — Claudia Malkinski '26, accounting The CohnReznick LLP Accounting Scholarship Recipient Village. Like all of the shops that would follow, it sold premade bracelets carrying a variety of inspirational words and phrases. It also offered shoppers the opportunity to book seats at the Bead Bar, a literal bar stocked with beads rather than alcohol, where they could create their own bracelets with custom messages and designs. The company's expansion to brick-and-mortar shops not only delighted consumers but also caught the attention of Disney, whose representatives reached out in 2024 to propose their now-successful partnership. Working with Bill, who became CEO in 2025, has been a boon to "She'sthepersonIcangotomorning, noon, or night." Aimee Ogbonna '12 Carrig — and not just because of his finance degree and years of business experience. Certainly, it supports a healthier work-life balance, especially since the birth of their two sons, Ford, born in 2021, and Jett, in 2023. "When one of us has to step in more at work, the other gets to step up more at home," she says. And Bill, she says, "is just willing to do what it takes to support our family and my dream." She also hired Aimee Ogbonna '12, her sorority sister, roommate, and now best friend. After college, Ogbonna worked in luxury hotel marketing before founding her own marketing business. Carrig hired her as a consultant in June 2023 and was

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