TRENTON, NJ – After reviewing submissions from almost 200 New Jersey high school seniors, the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission has announced the ten winners of the ‘Looking Back at Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech’ 2024 Scholarship Essay Contest.
The winners are as follows:
- Rchin Bari from Belleville, Essex County Newark Tech, attending Brown University.
- Brooke Bokser from Closter, Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, attending Cornell University.
- Alondra Calva from Elizabeth, John E Dwyer Technology Academy, attending Villanova University.
- Taylor Douglas from Freehold, Freehold Township High School, attending American University.
- Ella Ehrlich from Fort Lee, Bergen County Academies, attending Cornell University.
- Bernard Liang from Morganville, Manalapan High School (college TBD).
- Reese Passuth from Clark, Union County Vocational Technical High School, attending the University of Hartford.
- Savannah Rodriguez from Rahway, Rahway High School, attending Hampton University.
- Makenna Thomas from Glenwood, Vernon Township High School, attending Alvernia University.
- Rochelle Vil from Jersey City, William L. Dickinson High School (college 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. “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 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, all 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 give us all abundant hope for the future.”
The 2024 MLK Scholars will each be awarded a $5,000 scholarship for their chosen university or college in fall 2024.
About the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Commission:
Established by the Legislature and based in the Department of State's office under Secretary Tahesha Way's oversight role as Lieutenant Governor; this commission develops statewide activities commemorating Martin Luther King's birthday while also advising gubernatorial initiatives aligned with educating residents about him along with broader Civil Rights Movement history.
