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The North Ward Center awarded five scholarships to Newark students of Puerto Rican descent at its 31st annual Puerto Rican Scholarship Dinner.
Valued at $1,000, the scholarships were awarded to four college students and one high school student.
The annual scholarship dinner Thursday was started in 1980 to recognize students of Puerto Rican descent who have exhibited academic excellence and triumphed over adversity.
"We hope the scholarships will help these students achieve their goals of getting a college education," said Stephen N. Adubato, the founder of The North Ward Center and the Robert Treat Academy Charter School. "It's also important to honor these students, who are role models to other young children growing up in our community."
Adrianne Davis, the executive director and co-founder of The North Ward Center, said the annual scholarship dinner is an opportunity to showcase young members of the community.
"All too often, we only hear about the negative stories about the young people of our city," Davis said. "This is an opportunity to showcase the positive. These are hard-working students who are dedicated to achieving academic success. They deserve our recognition and praise."
The North Ward Center honored five students at its 31st annual Puerto Rican Scholarship Dinner.
The scholarship recipients were: Robert Mercado, a freshman at William Paterson College; Elysha Padilla, a senior at Rutgers University; Sandy Ferrer, who also attends Rutgers, Katherine Morales, a freshman at George Washington University; and Austin Medina, who is attending the School at Church Farm, a private boarding school in Exton, Pa.
The scholarships were presented by successful Hispanic role models: Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Vales , Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Alberto Rivas, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, Robert Treat Academy Vice Principal Marcelino Trillo; Sam Delgado, the vice president of external affairs for Verizon New Jersey and Bridget Velez, who presented in honor of her father, Federico Velez, a prominent lawyer and former member of The North Ward Center board of trustees who passed away two years ago.
Several of the scholarship recipients said they hoped to continue their education beyond college and return to Newark to give back to the community.
Ferrer, who plans to earn a MBA so she can help small business owners who are in financial need, said her upbringing taught her that it was important to give back. She participated in Newark Youth Leadership, volunteers at the Essex County Environmental Center and painted a wall on the Integrity House building in downtown Newark for a visit by the Dalai Lama earlier this year.
"My past and observations of my surroundings have convinced me to reach up for a goal beyond my parents and peers," Ferrer said.
Padilla credited her decision to study planning and public policy partially because of Stephen Adubato.
"Years ago, I sat in the audience of the first scholarship ceremony I attended as a guest, and listened to "Big Steve" talk about his passion for this community," Padilla said. "I saw what he did for my neighborhood, and I told myself at that very moment I wanted to be like him. I have followed an educational track that would lead me back to some place I call home to service others."
Mercado, who attended Robert Treat Academy and Science Park High School, said he realized the importance of giving back to the community while volunteering for the North Ward Center's Youth Development and Recreation program.
"As a Puerto Rican representing the Latino Community, I am committed to serving as a role model for inner-city youth," Mercado said. "I have found a passion in helping others with their problems. Helping others work through their issue gives me a strong sense of purpose."
Medina, who is studying to become an engineer, said he wanted to help rebuild cities in a more positive manner.
"I want to come back and rebuild project housing so that the kids that live in those houses can spend more time on their studies and less time on the negative distractions around them," he said. "I want to come back and build a playground for kids where they can express themselves without any fear. I want to be able to come back and find more efficient ways to capture criminals in hopes that it will deter children from following in those footsteps."
Morales, the first in her family to attend college, said she would have been lost about applying to college without the help of Theresa Adubato, the principal of Robert Treat Academy. Morales attended Robert Treat, and graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall, a private boarding school in Connecticut.
"It was amazing to me that although I felt I had no one, I still had people caring for my future," Morales said. "My greatest support all stems from people I am connected to from the Robert Treat Academy. Although I can say I earned my rewards, Robert Treat was the first place I was encouraged to reach my full potential."
