Three Named as 2008-09 Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars

Three Hoboken High School seniors were recently named as 2008-09 Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars. The students are Steven Barrett, Zach Markle and Stephanie Vallejo.

The Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholarship is intended to recognize the highest achieving graduating high school students in or from New Jersey and to reward these students with awards that are granted regardless of need.

Students are selected on the basis of the following criteria:
*class rank of one, two, or three in the graduating class and rank within the top 10 percent of the graduating class at the end of the junior year; or
*class rank within the top 10 percent of the graduating class at the end of the junior year with combined critical reading and math SAT scores of 1,260 or higher at the end of the junior year.

New Jersey students attending out-of-state secondary schools must rank in the top 10% of their class and have combined critical reading and math SAT scores of at least 1,260. Distinguished Scholars are offered an annual award of up to $1,000 without regard to financial need. The scholarship may be available for up to four years of undergraduate study at a New Jersey college or university, if funds are appropriated by the New Jersey Legislature each year. The recipient must enroll full time during the academic year following his or her secondary school graduation at a New Jersey college or university to receive payment of the award. More than 5,000 Distinguished Scholars received award offers for the 2006-07 collegiate academic year. For the 2005-06 selection process, secondary schools submitted names and academic information of more than 20,400 students.