A Worthy Charity Is The Final Exam For An OCC Class

As college students spread out across the area for Winter break, there were many lecture halls filled with final exam takers this past week. But one class at Ocean County College had a different kind of exam - to help a local charity.

OCC's "Conferences, Conventions, and Special Events" class had the assignment to organize an event for a local non-profit organization. This semester's class decided to hold a toy drive for Brandon's Elves, a local charity in memory of Brandon Hold, the Toms River six-year-old who was tragically killed in a 2013 gun accident.

The class set a goal of collecting 50 gifts to donate to the charity.

They ended up with over 200.

OCC Lecturer of Marketing, Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism, Jennifer Evans said that the community "rallied around the project", as both students and members of the community donated toys and gift cards.

It's a lesson that will probably stick with the students much longer than any paper or written exam ever would. Especially during the holiday season.