F-SP College Club Proudly Announces the 2024 Scholarship Recipients

Celebrating its 91st Anniversary, the College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains continues its tradition since its inception in 1933: to provide scholarships to support the pursuit of a college education for young women in the Scotch Plains and Fanwood communities. To date, the College Club has awarded approximately $810,000.00 in scholarships to approximately 595 local young women.

The thirteen 2024 scholarship recipients, 5 SPFHS seniors who graduated in June and 8 who are currently attending college, have been awarded a total of $31,000.00 for the 2024-2025 academic year. These awards include a special education award donated in honor of Elaine Carmen, a current College Club member, the Marie Leppert Community Service Award in honor of the club's past president and dedicated community leader, and the Academic Award of Excellence, which is presented to the top female student in the SPFHS graduating class.

The 2024 College recipients are Minahal Azhar, daughter of Azhar Abbas and Tahiti Parveen, a rising sophomore at Rutgers University; Riley Dwyer, daughter of Michael and Diane Dwyer, who will be a junior at TCNJ in the fall; Jessica Gallagher, daughter of Cheryl and Brendon Gallagher, a rising sophomore at TCNJ; Katelyn Gaulin, daughter of Eric and Karyn Gaulin, who will be a sophomore at TCNJ in the fall; Alexis Gutierrez, daughter of German Gutierrez and Marguerite Sahaj, a rising senior at Stony Brook University; Briget Hernandez, daughter of Jans and Jennie Hernandez who will be a sophomore at the University of Arizona in the fall; Chloe Howell, daughter of Philip and Holly Howell, a rising junior at the University of San Diego; and Natasha Vega, daughter of Jose Vega and Jacqueline Soto who will be a sophomore at Case Western Reserve University in the fall.

The 2024 High School recipients are Elizabeth Diamond, daughter of Richard and Katarzyna Diamond, who will be attending SUNY at New Paltz in the fall; Lily Gaulin, daughter of Eric and Karen Gaulin, a rising freshman at the University of Florida; Katelyn Lester, daughter of Lawrence and Margaret Lester, the recipient of the Marie Leppert Community Service Award, who will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall and Sairah Llano, daughter of Joe and Sapna Llano, the recipient of the Elaine Carmen Education Award, a rising freshman at TCNJ.

The Academic Award of Excellence was presented to Diti Nainwal, salutatorian of the SPFHS graduating class and daughter of Riu and Mayank Nainwal, who will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall.

This is the 88th year that the College Club's fundraising efforts have helped female students seeking financial assistance pursue a four-year college degree. The club's major efforts are the Community Calendar, the annual spring luncheon, and the fall clothing drive.

The College Club hosts informative and entertaining programs presented by guest speakers on the third Monday of each month from September through April; these programs are free and open to the public. Additional information about the College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains can be found on the club's website at www.fspcollegeclub.org.