Marking the third year since its inception, the Diocese of Trenton PTA tuition scholarship contest has recognized five exemplary students with $500 awards for their outstanding contributions.
“It has been wonderful watching the contest grow over the years and seeing more and more schools participate,” said Jessica Jarmer, DOT PTA vice president.
The contest was introduced, Jarmer explained, “as a way for students to examine their Catholic education more deeply. It also gives the students an opportunity to contribute to their tuition by striving to win the scholarship awarded by this contest.”
Divided by grades and counties, participants respond to a particular theme with either a poster design or an essay. This year’s theme was “Reverence, Respect and Responsibility.” Students in kindergarten through third grade were invited to create a poster drawing representing “What does REVERENCE mean to you?” Grades four and five were asked to write 300 to 500 words on “What does RESPECT mean to you?” and sixth through eighth graders were asked to write their 500-750-word essay on “What does RESPONSIBILITY mean to you?”
“Our DOT PTA president, Elia Landino, came up with the theme,” Jarmer noted. “She presented it to the board for a vote and we all approved the theme. The essay contest is her creation, and she has used it to help students examine the value of Catholic schools.”
Essays are first submitted to classroom teachers for preliminary judging, then to school principals, before the final selections go to the DOT PTA board and Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, to review and pick the winners.
Hundreds of entries came in from across the Diocese, impressing the diocesan judges.
“The entries this year were extraordinary,” said Jarmer. “The artwork was ornate, and the essays were heartfelt as the children communicated their love and appreciation for Catholic schools.”
The scholarship fund is provided for by annual fees collected from all Catholic school PTA chapters in the Diocese. Winners, who must be continuing with Catholic education in the Diocese, will receive their certificates and $500 tuition vouchers at the Diocese of Trenton PTA Fall Conference.
“I am so grateful to be a part of the essay contest that Elia created,” she continued. “This contest will shine as part of her legacy with the DOT PTA.”
WINNERS OF THE 3RD ANNUAL DIOCESE OF TRENTON PTA SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST:
GRADES K-3
BURLINGTON-MERCER
Helene Corvino – 3rd Grade, St. Paul School, Burlington
GRADES 4-5
MONMOUTH-OCEAN
Olivia Kartholl – 5th Grade, St. Benedict School, Holmdel
BURLINGTON-MERCER
Elizabeth Foley – 5th Grade, St. Paul School, Princeton
GRADES 6-8
MONMOUTH-OCEAN
Ayla Ergunay – 6th Grade, St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach
BURLINGTON-MERCER
Kaitlin O’Neil – 6th Grade, Our Lady of Sorrows School, Hamilton
A Fresh Start: New academic year embraced by Diocese’s Catholic school students, teachers