Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) students recently participated in a scholarship contest designed to bridge academic learning with real-world business challenges. The initiative was launched through the collaboration of ABCO Systems, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), and Capacity LLC.
The contest, now in its second year, has become a significant effort in fostering innovation and career development for RVCC students. Faculty members from the college’s Business & Public Service department play a crucial role by mentoring participants throughout the process.
Five finalists—Roland Hofmann, Aaron Czajkowski, Robert Lamptey, Debra Burnejko, and Thais Barros—were recognized for their creativity and critical thinking during the competition. Hofmann won first place with a $3,500 scholarship, while Czajkowski received $1,000 for second place. Awards were presented at a ceremony on January 23.
Czajkowski expressed that the contest allowed him to apply his studies practically: “Hearing about how the competition connected the topics taught in business courses at RVCC with real-world practices sounded like a fun and exciting experience.”
ABCO Systems partnered with CSCMP and Capacity LLC to provide students opportunities to tackle real business challenges and gain industry insights. As part of this experience, students visited ABCO Systems and Capacity LLC to interact with professionals and tour facilities.
Participants also earned service-learning credit through RVCC's Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement. Last year’s winner Maíra Mendonça returned as a mentor after securing a full-time position following her internship at ABCO Systems.
RVCC is located in Branchburg. For more information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
