(above) April Doyle of New Providence (2020 graduate of New Providence High School) received a scholarship from Missy’s Miracle Scholarship Fund. April was moved to connect with NJ Sharing Network after the unexpected passing of her close childhood friend, Maddie, who gave the gift of life to restore the health of seven people. April is the captain of the Miles for Maddie 5K Celebration of Life team, and she organized fundraisers and has spoken at community events as a certified volunteer for NJ Sharing Network. April plans to attend Stockton University in the Fall.
NJ Sharing Network Awards Scholarships
NJ Sharing Network, a non-profit located in New Providence, is a federally designated organ procurement organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue in the state, has awarded scholarships to nine high school graduates for their passion and dedication to raising awareness of organ and tissue donation. Each student was individually presented with their scholarship award at the NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence during a private ceremony in the Landscape of Life Meditation Garden.
NJ Sharing Network’s scholarships are made possible thanks to several of the organization’s Foundation family and partner funds:
- Betsy Niles Scholarship Fund – created in memory of Betsy Niles, a children’s book editor and lifelong Montclair resident whose organs were donated in 2011.
- Missy’s Miracle Scholarship Fund – created to celebrate Missy Rodriguez’s life-saving liver transplant.
- Hearts for Emma Partner Fund – created to celebrate Emma Rothman’s heart transplant and focused on supporting high school education and donation advocacy efforts.
- The NJ Sharing Network Foundation presented additional scholarship awards focused on Newark residents to help raise awareness as there are currently 162 Newark residents waiting for a life-saving organ transplant – the highest in the state.
“We are delighted to provide scholarship support to these amazing students who have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to supporting our life-saving mission,” said Joe Roth, president and CEO of NJ Sharing Network. “We know they will continue to be strong leaders in educating others about donation and transplantation as they move forward to begin college in the Fall.”
NJ Sharing Network’s scholarship program provides an opportunity to recognize and award graduating high school seniors whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Applicants were measured on academic achievement, community and volunteer efforts, extracurricular activities and advocacy for organ and tissue donation. The application process was completed in June, and applications were reviewed by a committee of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board members and volunteers.
The 2020-2021 scholarship winners are: April Doyle of New Providence, Jessica Buron graduate of Middletown, Morgan Krempasky of Hillsborough, Ruqaiyyah Lucas-Caldwellof Newark, Kaiel Maynor of Newark, Elexa Rogolsky of Morganville, Tiffany Rolon-Lucasof Woodbridge, Emily Scranton of Manasquan, Sydney Shea of Skillman.
For more information about NJ Sharing Network’s scholarship programs, please contact scholarship@njsharingnetwork.org.
About NJ Sharing Network
Dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation, NJ Sharing Network is the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for the nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents waiting for a life-saving transplant. With headquarters in New Providence, NJ, the organization, selected by NJBiz as one of the state’s “Best Places to Work” for the third consecutive year, is also part of the national recovery system, serving the nearly 115,000 people on the national waiting list. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit NJSharingNetwork.org.
About NJ Sharing Network Foundation
The NJ Sharing Network Foundation is committed to increasing the number of lives saved through innovative transplant research, family support, public awareness and education about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. By making a contribution, you empower our efforts, bringing us a step closer to providing the greatest gift of all… the Gift of Life.
