(above) Mackenzie Pierce, who attended Governor Livingston High School from her home in Berkeley Heights, served as president of Governor Livingston’s National Honor Society, founder and president of the school’s Student Activism club, managing editor of the newspaper, and a board member of the Mayor’s Youth Council. She is a competitive rock climber and on the varsity track team. She plans to major in economics and international relations at Boston University. SCC’s Barbara Sayres presented the Summit College Club Foundation Scholarship to Mackenzie.
SCC 2021 Scholarship Award Winners
Six Exceptional Young Women Step into the Sun
Submitted by Marylou Motto
On May 18 and 19, the Scholarship Committee of Summit College Club (SCC) visited six houses, each one the home of a local high school scholarship winner, in order to award the SCC 2021 scholarships. This year Summit College Club, a branch of AAUW, awarded a total of $24,000.
This was the second year that the dangers of COVID forbade holding a reception that would gather all the winners indoors. This was the second year also that the Scholarship Committee, which runs the program, undertook the in-person, on-site delivery of the awards. At each house, the young woman in question emerged from her home, some with one parent, some with two, some with a sibling. There were even a few family dogs in on the fun.
Outside each home, the presenter delivered a short talk about Summit College Club, the particular scholarship being awarded, and some of the reasons why that particular girl had been chosen. Each girl received a bouquet of flowers, a certificate, and a check for $4,000.
The sunny, breezy weather could not have been better. The smiles—on the part of the winners, their families, and the Scholarship Committee—could not have been wider. Over and over, it was a joyful occasion.
Several members of the Scholarship Committee noted that this year’s winners seemed exceptionally accomplished. Hedy Tukey, president of Summit College Club, said that the organization has given out scholarships in nearly every year of its 101-year history; “indeed, the Tilla Thomas award is named for the woman who founded the club in 1920 and who started the tradition of awarding scholarships just a few years later.”
(above) Alayo Oloko, Berkeley Heights, attended Kent Place High School in Summit, where she earned outstanding academic grades and boasted a record of innovation in developing her interest in “building things.” She organized her school’s first “Hack-a-Thon” and mentored younger girls of color in the Kaleidoscope program. According to her guidance counselor, Alayo is “a natural leader, charismatic, dynamic, and the social conscience of the class.” She will bring all of this and more to her study of mechanical engineering at M.I.T. SCC’s Kathy Brock presented Alayo with the Summit College Club Merit Scholarship.
(above) Alison Araten, who lives in Millburn and attended Millburn High School, presented a record of unbroken straight A’s in her classes along with a passion for scientific research. At Tufts University last summer and during her senior year, she worked with doctoral students to study neuro degenerative diseases; she will be listed as one of the authors of the published study. Politically active, Alison began a chapter of Students Demand Action and spoke on a panel with Congressman Tom Malinowski against gun violence. She also works with a child in the Special Skaters Program of the Special Olympics. At Princeton University next fall, Alison will major in science. Marilynn MacLean, co-chair of the Scholarship Committee, presented SCC’s Kathi C. Madison Scholarship to Alison.
(above) Elizabeth Krska is a resident of Summit who attended the Union County Magnet High School for Science, Mathematics and Technology. Her activities include tutoring, singing in a choir, playing volleyball, and presiding over her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. She has won a top prize for her skill on the piano and has performed at Carnegie Hall. Elizabeth shares her musical talent by teaching inner-city children, and she plans to combine architecture, mechanical engineering, and music at Washington University in St. Louis next fall. SCC’s Elie Redington presented the Summit College Club Merit Scholarship to Elizabeth.
(above) Annabelle Avelino, who resides in Summit, was cited as the founder of Summit High School’s first a cappella club, “Fear the Note,” a section leader for Concert Choir, and a lead vocalist for SHS’s Big Band Jazz Ensemble. As a junior board member at Overlook Hospital, Annabelle helped raise the funds necessary to save the music therapy program. After her own experience with Lyme Disease, Annabelle began work as a mentor with the Global Lyme Alliance and started a Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign at school. She will attend Georgetown University and major in business and managing for social impact at Georgetown University. Kathy Tatlow, co-chair of the Scholarship Committee, presented Annabelle with SCC’s Tilla Thomas Merit Scholarship.
(above) Anna Torell, also of Summit and Summit High School, was another recipient. Her achievements include winning a bronze medal for the USA in Croatia in the event of synchronized figure skating. She is a talented artist who currently works in ceramics. She hopes for a career that combines statistics and math in helping to address climate change, and she will attend the University of Michigan because that school offers such a program as well as competitive synchronized figure skating. Her guidance counselor calls her “a go-getter who doesn’t let anything stand in her way.” SCC’s Elie Redington presented the club’s Mary K. Tennant Scholarship to Anna.
