Record $635K Awarded At Morristown High School Senior Awards Night

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) awarded a record-breaking $635,000 in scholarships to 38 graduating seniors from Morristown High School this year, helping students pursue degrees at colleges and universities across the country.

The scholarships were presented during Morristown High School's Senior Awards Night on June 10, marking the largest amount the nonprofit has awarded in a single year. Scholarship awards ranged from $1,000 to $100,000.

Among the largest awards were three Judy and Eliot Steinberg Scholarships, providing up to $25,000 annually for four years to Mateo Cardona, Frank Serrano Reyes and Angie Simbana, who will all attend Rutgers University. The scholarships were funded by Morristown High School alumni Robert Steinberg (Class of 1969), Julian Steinberg (Class of 1973) and Andy Steinberg (Class of 1975) in memory of their parents.

Another top award, the Carl George & Shirley L. Eklund Scholarship, will provide up to $100,000 over four years to Tessa Niznik, who plans to study elementary and special education at Seton Hall University.

The foundation also awarded the $80,000 Clifford Starrett Scholarship to Orianna Jaimes Drayer, who will study biomedical engineering at Rutgers University, and the $30,000 Wong Family Scholarship to Melanie Funk, who plans to major in physics at Cornell University.

This year's scholarship program also introduced four new endowed awards:

• Colonial Cancer Foundation Scholarship, honoring students whose lives have been impacted by cancer.
• Charles D. Seligson Scholarship, supporting students pursuing careers in STEM.
• Christopher L. Martin Scholarship, also benefiting STEM students.
• Jeff Leloia Scholarship, recognizing a student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to community service.

"We are incredibly proud to award a record-breaking $635,000 in scholarships to this exceptional group of graduates," said Chrissie Wetherbee, scholarship chair and chair of the Morris Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.

"These students have distinguished themselves through their hard work, resilience, leadership, and commitment to their education. This milestone reflects not only their remarkable achievements, but also the extraordinary generosity of our donors, whose investments are helping make college more accessible and empowering these graduates to pursue their dreams with confidence."

According to the foundation, the scholarships are funded through donations from alumni, community members and families who establish named scholarships to invest in future Morristown High School graduates. Many of the awards have been created in memory of loved ones or through estate bequests.

Since launching its scholarship program 25 years ago, the Morris Educational Foundation has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarships to Morristown High School students.

Largest 2026 Scholarship Awards:

• Judy and Eliot Steinberg Scholarship: Mateo Cardona (Economics, Rutgers), Frank Serrano Reyes (Engineering, Rutgers), Angie Simbana (Pharmacology, Rutgers)
• Carl George & Shirley L. Eklund Scholarship: Tessa Niznik (Elementary & Special Education, Seton Hall University)
• Clifford Starrett Scholarship: Orianna Jaimes Drayer (Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University)
• Wong Family Scholarship: Melanie Funk (Physics, Cornell University)
• Ann Marie (DeFazio) and Marc Manahan Scholarship: Ethan Santos (Political Science, Boston College)
• Charles D. Seligson Scholarship: Aryaa Vyas (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University)

A breakfast reception honoring scholarship recipients, donors and their families was hosted by the Morris Educational Foundation on June 11.

The Morris Educational Foundation, a nonprofit supporting more than 5,700 students across the Morris School District's 10 schools, raises private funds to enhance educational opportunities from preschool through high school. For more information, visit morrisedfoundation.org.