5 NJ Students Win $1K Scholarships for Service & Leadership

Burlington County just invested in five future leaders who are already changing their communities.

Delores King, Sydney Robateau, Ayanna Wilkins, Nylah Settle, and Rayna Staley each received $1,000 scholarships at a reception Tuesday in Mount Holly. The awards recognized their outstanding grades, public service, and the ambitious goals they're chasing.

These aren't just good students. Delores King, heading to Rider University for biochemistry, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and serves as Executive Officer for her high school's Army JROTC. She dreams of developing medications and vaccines for the U.S. Army.

Sydney Robateau wants to protect people from deadly viruses after being inspired by the movie Outbreak. The Penn State biology student volunteered at Virtua Memorial Hospital and organized blood drives as National Honor Society Blood Drive Chair.

Ayanna Wilkins earned the STEM Innovation Scholarship from Remington & Vernick Engineers for her plans to pursue science and technology. Nylah Settle won the Virtua Health Light Maker Scholarship for her healthcare career goals. Rayna Staley received the Chamber of Commerce Future Entrepreneur Scholarship for her business ambitions.

All five scholars share something special beyond their grades. They've spent countless hours volunteering at food pantries, building benches for historic trusts, making toys for shelter animals, and serving their communities in dozens of ways.

The Ripple Effect

Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel says these young women represent something bigger than individual achievement. They're proof that today's students are stepping up as leaders and servants before they even graduate high school.

The scholarships came from a partnership between Burlington County Commissioners, the Women's Advisory Council, Virtua Health, Remington & Vernick Engineers, and the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Director Dr. Felicia Hopson says the Women's Advisory Council takes seriously its responsibility to mentor the next generation of women leaders.

The goal is to grow the program so more outstanding students get recognized and supported. Each of these five women plans to pursue careers where they'll help others, whether through medicine, science, business, or military service.

Their volunteer hours and leadership roles show they're not waiting until graduation to make a difference.