Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) awarded $35,000 in scholarships to seven women graduate students as part of the EWNJ Merit Scholarship Awards during EWNJ’s Annual Holiday Celebration.
This year’s awards bring their total giving to nearly $1.5 million since the program’s inception 30 years ago.
Among this year’s honorees, two recipients earned special distinction: the President’s Award, presented to the scholarship recipient with the highest level of academic achievement, leadership, and professional promise; and the Past President’s Award, presented to the recipient with the next highest qualifications and demonstrated commitment to excellence.
Awardees include doctoral and master’s candidates from Felician University, Rider University, Jersey City University and Seton Hall University.
These are the scholarship recipients:
- Talin Medzadourian Araian, President’s Award
- Yeasmin Ali, Past President’s Award
- Kierstyn Mackenzie Castillo
- Judith Hopkins
- Lisa M. McLaughlin
- Nadège Napoleon
- Audrey Simon
“EWNJ is proud to recognize these remarkable women who exemplify resilience, ambition, and leadership,” said Susan Dromsky-Reed, EWNJ president. “Our scholarship program reflects EWNJ’s commitment to creating pathways for women to achieve their academic and professional goals. By investing in their success, we are investing in a stronger, more inclusive future for New Jersey’s business and civic communities.”
EWNJ’s Graduate Merit Award Program is the largest provider of scholarships for women who are non-traditional graduate students in the state. Scholarships help students ease the financial burden of graduate school costs.
The organization actively pursues ways to advance women leaders from those beginning their careers to seasoned executives. The non-profit organization has been leading the way to create a pipeline of diverse women leaders in New Jersey for over 40 years.
Presidential Award recipient Talin Medzadourian Araian is a fourth-year doctoral student and counseling psychology major at Felician University who returned to graduate school to pursue her passion for psychology and advocacy after a prior career in pharmaceutical sales.
“Receiving this award from Executive Women of New Jersey is both an honor and a profound affirmation of my journey,” Medzadourian Araian said. “It represents resilience, growth, and the power of reinvention, returning to school after a prior career to pursue my passion for psychology and advocacy.”
Founded in 1980, Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) is dedicated to advancing women into senior corporate leadership and board positions. Through research, advocacy, and strategic programming, EWNJ promotes gender equity in business and builds a pipeline of future leaders.
