Chamber Awards Annual College Scholarships

As part of its goal to support local communities, the Suburban Chamber of Commerce awards scholarships to college-bound seniors from the high schools in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit.

“While our main mission is to support local businesses and downtowns, we also think it is essential to reach out to younger community members and let them know we believe in them and want to help them further their educations,” said Karen Fern Hadley, executive director of the Suburban Chamber. “We are pleased to be able to continue our long tradition of awarding these scholarships, and we wish the recipients the best as they enroll as college freshmen.”

The Class of 2021 recipients, chosen because they showed leadership both academically and within their communities, are:

From Governor Livingston High School and headed to The College of New Jersey, Brian DeSousa

founded and serves as president of the school’s Peer2Peer Club, which he said “allows special education students to interact with general education students during lunch. The goal of this club is to promote inclusive education at Governor Livingston and help improve the social skills of the special education students involved.” In addition, Brian was inducted into GL’s Spanish Honor Society, was named to the High Honor Roll every quarter, works part time in the township at Rita’s Italian Ice and has served as a leadership intern working with third and fourth graders at Camp Invention. He noted that experience helped him improve both his leadership and his conflict resolution skills.

From New Providence High School,

Jeffrey Bello

is headed to Kean University.

His school counselor described Jeffrey, who plans a career in law enforcement, as “first to recognize that his will and dedication are the catalysts for his success…I can see him as one of those police officers who will be revered and inspire those in the community that he serves.”

Jeffrey rounded out his academic course choices with selections that included Law, Sociology and Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and was active with the YMCA’s Achievers Program, where his relationship with his mentor has motivated him to mentor younger students. Jeffrey, according to his school counselor’s recommendation, “thrives on connecting and relating with other people, especially his peers. With his imminent graduation, it will be very difficult to replace him as the ambassador for our school’s Speaker’s Bureau.” Jeffrey’s goal is to attend college to delve deeper into the social sciences in an attempt to understand people and society better. He will be the first in his family to attend college, and said he seeks to honor his parents’ immigration to the U.S. from Mexico in search of a better life by actualizing their dreams for him.

Genesis Ramirez

has enrolled at Georgetown University. Her volunteer activities include working at the Sharing Network and the New Providence Memorial Library, while at school her extra-curriculars ranged from the Student Alliance for Gender Equality Club and the Italian Club to being in the cast of three spring musicals and heading publicity for the Future Civics Leaders. While playing varsity tennis, she was also in the Color Guard for the NPHS Marching Band and was selected for membership in the National Italian Honor Society and National Honor Society.

The fluent native Spanish speaker is also vice president of the NPHS Diversity Club, sings in the Select Choir and was part of her school’s Peer Leaders Program.

Summit High School’s