Warren County commissioners present scholarships to six Warren Tech grads; students receive NJAC Foundation awards

WARREN COUNTY, N.J. – Six recent graduates of Warren County Technical School who were selected for scholarships through the NJAC Foundation — the charitable arm of the New Jersey Association of Counties — were honored by the Warren County Board of County Commissioners.

“We are immensely proud of these students from Warren County, who are among the NJAC Foundation scholarship winners in all 21 counties,” Commissioner Deputy Director Lori Ciesla said, adding the students have “such impressive resumes already.”

“They exemplify everything we try to instill at Warren Tech: the dedication, the commitment to the training. Congratulations to all students and their parents,” said Warren County Technical School Superintendent Derrick Forsythe, who attended the presentation during the Commissioners’ meeting.

The NJAC Foundation is awarding $110,056 in scholarships to county vocational-technical school graduates who plan on continuing their education in New Jersey at a county college, state college or state university.

NJAC Executive Director John Donnadio noted this was the first year the foundation reached and exceeded $100,000 in money raised and scholarships awarded.

Commissioner James R. Kern III praised NJAC for making sure scholarships were available in all 21 counties. The six Warren County recipients “have such a bright future that started here at Warren Tech,” Kern added.

“Congratulations all the outstanding students and their families,” Donnadio said.

The NJAC Foundation Amazon Scholarship of $1,000 was presented to Kaelly Abad-Quizhpi of Hackettstown. At Warren Tech, Abad-Quizhpi was at the top of her graduating class, a member of the National Honor Society and was secretary of Key Club. She is secretary for Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad where she contacts organizations for donations, and tracks service hours and member involvement, and in February she became a certified EMT. Abad-Quizhpi was the Bible Study teacher for 4th and 5th graders at her church, and currently is a summer intern in the county Commissioners and Administrator’s office. Abad-Quizhpi will be attending Rutgers University, where she plans to study Business Management.

The AT&T Scholarship of $1,000 went to EmmaLeigh Hozer of Washington. A four-year member of Warren Tech’s Cosmetology program who passed her state exam, Hozer was a regular member of the High Honor Roll and active in Student Government. She also participate in Project Homeless Connect and Ladies Night at the local library. Hozer plans to study Business Management when she attends Warren County Community College this fall.

Investors Bank, a division of Citizens Bank N.A., awards two $500 scholarships in all 21 counties, and the Warren County recipients were Julianna Fox and Rylee Mullane. Fox is from Washington and was a four-year member of the Child Development CTE program at Warren Tech, where she created lessons and taught eight pre-schoolers, four days a week. She was on the Bowling Team for four years, the only girl on the team for two of those years, and received the Most Improved Player award freshman year and the Coach’s Award her sophomore year. Fox will be attending Warren County Community College to study Early Childhood Development.

Mullane is a Phillipsburg resident who was a four-year member of the Health Sciences program at Warren Tech. Since November she has worked as a co-op at St. Luke’s Care Now, handling patient registration, taking vitals and relaying the information to the medical professionals. Mullane was a three-year member of the Varsity Soccer team, and volunteered for Special Olympics during her sophomore year. She will be attending Warren County Community College to study Radiography.

The SHI International Scholarship of $250 is given to one student in each of the 21 counties who plans to pursue a degree in technology or cyber security. Warren County’s recipient is Joseph LoManto of Blairstown, who was ranked Number 3 in his graduating class and was in the Engineering CTE program for four years.  A Boy Scout for more than seven years, LoManto became an Eagle Scout in December last year, and is now an assistant scoutmaster. He will attend New Jersey Institute of Technology and study Civil Engineering.

The South Jersey Industries, or SJI, scholarship of $1,650 is given to students in 12 of New Jersey’s counties, and the Warren County recipient is Dylan Schulze of Belvidere. Schulze was Warren Tech’s Junior Assistant Technology Coordinator, helping the technology coordinator around the building with needs throughout the year and during the summer. He also achieved a Black Belt in Karate, which he has been doing for 10 years, and now helps teach young kids in the Karate studio. He will attend Warren County Community College to study Business Administration.