TRENTON, NJ – After reviewing submissions from almost 200 New Jersey high school seniors, the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission announces the 10 winners of ‘Looking Back at Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech’ 2024 Scholarship Essay Contest:
MLK24 SCHOLAR | HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY |
Rchin Bari | Belleville | Essex County Newark Tech | Brown University |
Brooke Bokser | Closter | Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest | Cornell University |
Alondra Calva | Elizabeth | John E Dwyer Technology Academy | Villanova University |
Taylor Douglas | Freehold | Freehold Township High School | American University |
Ella Ehrlich | Fort Lee | Bergen County Academies | Cornell University |
Bernard Liang | Morganville | Manalapan High School | TBD |
Reese Passuth | Clark | Union County Vocational Technical High School | University of Hartford |
Savannah Rodriguez | Rahway | Rahway High School | Hampton University |
Makenna Thomas | Glenwood | Vernon Township High School | Alvernia University |
Rochelle Vil | Jersey City | William L. Dickinson High School | TBD |
“The 2024 essay contest winners shared insightful comments about the significance of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. King as reflected in his remarkable speech,” said New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the MLK Jr. Commission in her capacity as Secretary of State. “I applaud these young people for their commitment to community service and furthering the legacy of Dr. King through both their words and their actions.”
A virtual awards ceremony was held on the evening of May 29 to announce the 2024 MLK Scholars who come from across the state. Hosted by NJ MLK Jr. Commission Chairman George Guy and members of the Commission, the ten scholars were in attendance to accept their awards.
“On behalf of the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, we extend our congratulations to our ten MLK Scholars who will be moving onto post-secondary education in the fall,” said Commission Chairman George Guy. “Their essays about Dr. King’s famous Nobel Prize speech and how his work continues to inspire both their academic work and community service, gives us all abundant hope for the future.”
The 2024 MLK Scholars will be awarded $5,000 scholarship for the university or college of their choice in the fall of 2024.
About the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission:
Established by the Legislature, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, based in the Department of State, develops, coordinates and advises the Governor on Statewide activities in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Further, it is the purpose of the Commission to create programs designed to educate the people of New Jersey about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.