Maplewood Girl Scout Sofia Kopytek of Troop 20299 is one of five Girl Scouts in Essex and Hudson Counties to receive The 2026 William and Ida M. Kiefer Memorial Scholarship from the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) as they take the next step in their educational journeys.
According to a GSHNJ new release, a total of $17,209 was awarded this year to five recipients, with individual scholarships ranging from $2,300 to $4,700.
The William and Ida M. Kiefer Trust provides annual scholarships for deserving students in Essex and Hudson counties who wish to further their post-high school education, whether at a trade school, two-year college, or four-year university. Recipients are selected based on a combination of academic achievement, community service, Girl Scout involvement, extracurricular participation and financial need.
Kopytek graduated from Columbia High School and spent 10 years in Girl Scouts Troop 20299, where she participated in numerous volunteer opportunities and community leadership-building programs.
“Girl Scouts taught me the importance of volunteerism and gave me perspective on the needs of my greater community,” she said in her college applications.
Kopytek, who is headed to Boston University, was also a captain of the CHS swim team, a lifeguard at the Maplewood Community Pool, an Achieve tutor, a National Honor Society member and a member of the Maplewood Youth Advisory Committee.
Sofia Kopytek, a William and Ida M. Kiefer Memorial Scholarship recipient from Maplewood, is headed to Boston University. (Photo by Anna Herbst Photography)
The other 2026 Kiefer Scholarship Recipients are:
- Elena-Michelle Allen, Troop 12004, Jersey City, Saint Peter’s University
- Nariya Bohn, Troop 12026, Jersey City, Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Vega Sarma, Troop 12946, Weehawken, Syracuse University
- Isabella Veras, Troop 12882, Weehawken, Loyola University Maryland
“Each of these Girl Scouts has demonstrated a commitment to learning, serving others, and creating a meaningful future for themselves and their communities,” said Lynn Earle, member of The Kiefer Scholarship Review Committee. “As they begin this exciting next chapter, we are proud to celebrate all they have accomplished and honored to support them as they continue their education. We know the confidence, leadership, and determination they have developed through Girl Scouting will continue to serve them wherever their paths lead.”
The release states that through opportunities that encourage leadership, service, exploration and personal growth, Girl Scouts helps young people build the skills and confidence to pursue their goals and make a difference in their communities. The Kiefer Trust Scholarships extend that support as recipients move beyond high school and continue building toward their futures.
The Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey encourages girls to join scouting because it “provides young people with the skills necessary to navigate life with purpose and joy by offering unique experiences and the support they need to discover their interests, build self-confidence, and become agents of change as global citizens. Life Ready—for today and tomorrow,” the release states. Learn more or join by visiting the GSHNJ website.
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey provides more 13,000 girls from kindergarten through 12th grade access to leadership programs and mentors throughout Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, southern Warren and parts of Middlesex counties. To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join. visit the website.
