Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) students recently participated in a scholarship contest designed to connect academic learning with real-world business challenges. The initiative, now in its third year, was organized through the collaboration of Element Logic of Carlstadt, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), and Bergen Logistics of North Bergen.
The contest offered students practical experience in material handling, logistics, and data analysis. Faculty from RVCC’s Business and Public Service department played a key role by mentoring participants throughout the competition.
Six finalists—Roland Hofmann, Christian Vandergoot, Emily Cherubino, Bryce Baucom, Eva Guastella, and Abida Zaidi—were recognized for their creativity and critical thinking. Christian Vandergoot received first place and a $3,500 scholarship. Emily Cherubino was awarded second place with a $1,500 prize. The other four finalists each received $500 cash prizes funded by RVCC Professor William Klinger and his wife Sheila. Awards were presented at an event on January 20 at Bridgewater Manor hosted by Element.
Vandergoot described the impact of the contest: “This competition has truly helped me with my professional growth, giving me the confidence to approach real-world business challenges and find effective solutions. The experience helped me to think like someone in the [third-party logistics] industry and how to clean and analyze data and benchmark productivity.”
Element Logic partnered with CSCMP and Bergen Logistics to provide students opportunities to address actual business problems while gaining insight into industry practices. Students visited Bergen Logistics last fall for hands-on experience, interacting with professionals and exploring facility operations.
Keith Spero, RVCC Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Business & Public Service department said: “This competition offers a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the business world, apply what they have learned, and grow in ways that textbooks simply can’t provide.”
Participants also earned service-learning credits through RVCC’s Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement.
RVCC alumna Maira Mendonca returned as a mentor after previously winning the contest’s first year. Following her participation as a student, Mendonca interned at Element Logic before accepting a full-time position there.
“Participating in the scholarship contest gave me the confidence to improve my communication skills, gain industry knowledge, and face real-world challenges. It was a turning point that opened doors to opportunities I never imagined,” Mendonca said.
For more information about Raritan Valley Community College visit www.raritanval.edu.
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) is not directly involved with this initiative but serves as New Jersey’s largest statewide employer organization representing businesses across multiple sectors such as manufacturing and services. The NJBIA supports its members through advocacy efforts, essential resources aimed at enhancing prosperity among employers statewide, fostering collaborations between businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions like colleges such as RVCC (https://njbia.org/). Michele Siekerka is president and chief executive officer of NJBIA (https://njbia.org/).
