Fundraising for planetarium getting closer to $1.5M goal
The Ocean County College Foundation's "Reach for the Stars" campaign has received more than $1.3 million to date in pledges, donations and grants in support of the renovation and renewal of the Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Toms River.

According to a press release, the campaign is under $200,000 away from meeting its $1.5 million goal.

Among the campaign's major supporters, the Ocean County College Foundation's "An Evening Under the Stars" gala netted more than $200,000, which was donated to the "Reach for the Stars" campaign. Also, the foundation recently pledged an additional $200,000.

"The Novins Planetarium has been bringing the universe to local school children, Ocean County College students and community members for over 30 years," said Sandy S. Broughton, director of the Ocean County College Foundation. "The foundation is dedicated to the renovation and renewal of the planetarium and we look forward to the next 30 years."

While the campaign is still in full swing, the planetarium remains closed for regular programming. However, planetarium staff continue to pursue ways to reach out to the community and keep its goal of space exploration and space education at the forefront.

Gloria Villalobos, Novins Planetarium director, recently became president of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society (MAPS), one of the oldest and largest regional planetarium associations in the United States. MAPS members represent some of the largest and best known planetariums, as well as small and mid-sized public, private and educational installations.

"It's a great honor to have been elected president and I look forward to being able to give back to the organization," Villalobos said. "I intend to work on helping to increase awareness of planetariums within our communities. That is something that's vital to the success and future of all our members."

In other planetarium news, students at the Milford Brook School, Manalapan, became part of a space mission when their signatures were launched aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-120 on Oct. 23. According to the press release, Teresa St. Angelo, a Novins Planetarium lecturer and teacher at the Milford Brook School, played a key role in getting her school involved and also helped coordinate support from the Novins Planetarium for the project.

Last May, Milford Brook School pupils signed their names to a poster over the course of two days, during which time they enjoyed space related items, models and activities on loan from the Novins Planetarium. The signatures went into space last week as part of Discovery's mission to the International Space Station.

The Ocean County College Foundation is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth and development of the college through scholarships, endowments and capital and special projects.