Colin Stevenson and Kelsey Cogan were both awarded the 2016 Watts Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded based on academic excellence, community service and merit.
Stevenson graduated this year with a 3.9 average from Governor Livingston High School and has an extraordinary academic career to date. He is a member of the Athletic honor society and the Mu Alpha Theta, the Math Honor Society, showing his success athletically and scholastically.
Saying Stevenson has an interest in fitness is in an understatement. In addition to the Athletic Honor Society, he has also volunteered his time in equipment set up at the USA Gymnastics Federation Competition, as well as in the Joint Motion Physical Therapy, in Scotch Plains. Stevenson plans to pursue more knowledge in fitness and health in Quinnipiac University, where he will study physical therapy.
“This award has had an amazing impact on me and my family,” stated Stevenson. He believes that although he is honored to have been awarded this scholarship, the bigger picture is the financial burden that was relieved of his parent’s shoulders. With three kids attending college at the same time in the fall of 2016, Stevenson is aware of the benefits of earning this scholarship from a financial standpoint.
“This award gives me the opportunity and freedom to pursue my dream job at the school of my choosing, and I am extremely grateful for that,” expressed Stevenson.
Stevenson’s equally impressive counterpart Kelsey Cogan recently graduated from the Academy of Allied Health Sciences in Scotch Plains and throughout her high school career she has been able to maintain superior grades and be a part of the honor roll. Cogan is in tune with the community and has made community service a major part of her life. She volunteers at Overlook Hospital and for three years has been a camp counselor at Sister Pat’s Kid’s Camp, a camp, which runs one week every summer for kids with cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other blood disorders.
“I love working with the other volunteers and children; I find that they have altered my outlook on life,” explains Cogan. She is amazed and inspired by the positive outlook these young kids have, despite their obstacles. This experience has impacted Cogan’s life so much it has motivated her to study public health at The College of New Jersey. Her ambitions are high as she hopes to work for the World Health Organization and directly affect global health, which she feels is an incredibly important issue.
“I am so beyond grateful to the Watts Foundation for this scholarship. This is an amazing opportunity and I am very thankful that I can use this money towards my future career goals,” expressed Cogan.
(above) Colin Stevenson and Kelsey Cogan winners of the 2016 Watts Foundation Scholarship.
