College Bound
PBA awards annual scholarships n BY AMBER RAMUNDO n PHOTO BY ED CARATTINI JR.
When Terrance Benson received a call from NJ State PBA First Vice President Pete Andreyev at the end of March asking if he’ d like to become the chair of the Scholarship Committee, Benson didn’ t hesitate to accept. The chance to lead the PBA’ s efforts to aid members’ children seemed like a refreshing change of pace for the Burlington County Corrections Local 249 State Delegate.
“ I’ m not one to turn down anything the State PBA asks,” Benson stressed.“ I’ m always willing to help, so I took on the responsibility.”
It might have been Benson’ s first year chairing the committee, but he knew the application selection process well from the three years that he had been involved. So, in April, when the NJSPBA mailbox in Woodbridge started to fill with submissions, Benson scheduled the first of two meetings to sort through the candidates.
As committee members reviewed the 450 applications, they quickly adopted their familiar sorting method to make sure each one contained all the required pieces: a transcript, SAT or ACT scores, paperwork signed by the Local State Delegate and, of course, the essay.
Reading through essays and looking at the stellar grades of applicants was a humbling experience for Benson, who is used to working in a correctional facility where he is exposed to a lot of negative aspects of society. The committee found it uplifting to learn about students who want to succeed and give back.
“ A lot of the students have goals in mind. They have a plan,” Benson explained.“ Some of them have struggles, but they don’ t let their struggles outweigh their endgame.”
The committee also looked for inspirational stories of perseverance to jump off the page. Kylie Ippolito, daughter of a Beach Boro Local 106 member, and Brianna Marrone, daughter of Marlboro Township Local 196 member, were both awarded special scholarships for demonstrating how they overcame hardship in their lives and aspire to succeed in college.
After much debate and hours of deliberation, the committee selected 43 children of PBA members to receive scholarships.
On June 26, the committee was able to put faces to the stellar applicants during the June PBA state meeting at Caesars in Atlantic City. As the students’ names were called and they each shook hands with President Pat Colligan and Executive Vice President Marc Kovar, members were reminded of how important it is to support the families of law enforcement and show their children that no matter where they go, they are always a part of the PBA family.
“ A lot of times in what we do, our families are the forgotten ones other than in times of tragedy,” Benson expressed.“ We are very humbled and honored to represent the PBA and have the opportunity to help the future college students on their paths to becoming successful.” d
2018 NJ State PBA Scholarship recipients
NJSPBA Special Scholarship: Kylie V. Ippolito, Beach Boro Local 106
Direct Title & Closing Agency Scholarship: Brianna Marrone, Marlboro Township Local 196
Boys: Anthony J. Auriemma, Parsippany-Troy Hills Local 131 Garrett Bennett, Atlantic City Local 24 Joshua Bollard, Jackson Township Local 168 Matthew Campbell, Jackson Township Local 168 Mark Clopp Jr., Mainland Local 77 Jared A. Chimento, North Morris Local 198 Nicholas D’ Annibale, Allendale-Waldwick Local 217 Matthew Friend, Allenhurst-Ocean Township Local 57 Damien Giannotti, Saddle River Boro Local 348 Chase Jones, Ocean City Local 61 Bryce Lee, Mainland Local 77
Connor S. Lyon, Franklin Lakes Local 150 Joseph Liam McDonough, Elizabeth Local 4 Joseph Millar, Bergen County Local 102 Robert E. Osborn, Sussex County Local 138 William Otto, Beach Boro Local 106 Micah Rucci, Wildwood Local 59 Ethan Jared Ruiz, Clifton Local 36 Matthew Ryan, South Brunswick Local 166 Austin Whiteman, Parsippany-Troy Hills Local 131
Girls: Maya Barnes, Burlington County Corrections Officers Local 249 Natalie Booth, Bergen County Prosecutors Local 221 Alessandra Cioppa, Passaic County Prosecutors Office Local 265 Thomasina Colombaroni, Bound Brook Local 380 Amanda Gerity, Saddle River Boro Local 348
Isabella Gonzalez, Englewood Local 216 Peyton Rose Grant, Lavallette Local 372 Rebekah Hobbs, Bridgewater Township Local 174 Lauryn King, Paterson Local 1 Christina Mandriota, Old Bridge Township Local 127 Madison Mitzak, Bridgewater Township Local 174 Hope Morey, Long Branch Local 10 Kaitlyn Perniciaro, Port Authority Local 116 Caroline Reverendo, Monmouth County Detectives Local 256 Jessica Romito, Montclair Local 53 Elena Runfeldt, Lincoln Park Local 192 Rachel Sauer, Union Township Local 69 Kara Nicole Thomas, Dover Township Local 137 Gianna Nicole Tolomeo, Totowa Local 80 Jessica Yeats, Mainland Local 77 Victoria Rose Zdanowicz, Pascack Valley Local 206
42 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JULY 2018