On June 11, the Columbia High School Library was crowded with happy faces.
More than 100 students and former students were receiving awards from the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund (CHSSF) which was established in 1923 to provide need-based financial assistance to graduates of Columbia High School for post secondary education.
Since its founding, CHSSF has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships to thousands of students.
Scholarship recipients include graduates of CHS (in fact, 60% of this year’s recipients are graduates) and current graduating seniors. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000. One former graduate who is a medical school student drove from Michigan with a friend to accept her scholarship this year. Students who spoke to Village Green are attending schools such as Rutgers University, Kean University, Howard University, Temple University and Syracuse University.
Several scholarship sponsors were in attendance including realtor Vanessa Pollock and Pastor Heather Francis of Irvington Faith Gospel Tabernacle on Mill Road.
Dr. Jackie Cusack, a CHSSF donor and former assistant superintendent of the South Orange-Maplewood School District gave an inspiration speech at the reception. Also on hand were Joan Lee, President of CHSSF and numerous Trustees of the organization.
CHSSF Trustees include: Lee (President), Brigid Casey (Vice President), Jean Campbell, Treasurer), Nancy Painter (Recording Secretary), Ed Reuter (Corresponding Secretary), Carl Adrien, Brenda Amarant, Carol Barry-Austin, Rowland Bennett, Cecelia Cancellaro, Jackie Cusack, Carol Gallo, Sue Goodman, Liz Hempstead, Mila Jasey,Jonathan Kohn, Nina Lerner, Nancy Painter, Sheila Perruzzi, George Robinson, Joan Rosenbaum, David Schechner, Gwen Slaton, Madeline Tugentman and Allan Tumolillo.
Columbia High School Scholarship Fund (CHSSF), P.O. Box 315 Maplewood, NJ 07040, chssf@chssf.org, 973.763.8246. www.chssf.org.
Click on any image below to see a slideshow of photos from the reception.
