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.

Website: NJ Department of State - New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission